I just ordered the 300 mm f/2.8 GM (and there's a rumour of the new 100-400 coming (real soon now))

[-ST-]

Oh oh, I just ordered my 300 mm f/2.8 GM. I'm picking it up in a few days. There's still time to cancel, I suppose. Given how long I've waited, is it worthwhile to wait and see what happens with the rumoured 100-400 f/4?

Three years ago 200-600
I had looked at the old 100-400 but opted for the 200-600 instead and been very happy with it.

Why not get the 400-800
I chose not to get the 400-800, thinking that I already struggle a bit with the 200-600 not being 'fast enough', and that the 400-800 would be harder to fling around for fast action (birds in flight).

And conditions (not enough light)
I shoot mostly in the hour before and after sunrise, and I get the impression that our weather here is not dissimilar to the UK. With software, I get decent results with ISO 16800 (needed to get reasonable shutter speeds), but that only gets you so far.

Why don't I already have the 300 mm
A year ago, I picked up the A1 II (and kept my A1) because I walk around with two cameras every day anyway. I traded in my A7 IV to get the A1 II.
I could have gotten the 300 mm, but I really wanted the pre-capture, better in body stabilization (low light) and updated autofocus in the A1 II. I have no regrets about getting the A1 II.

What I want from the 300 mm now
I already have the 2x teleconverter, and from everything I've read and watched (and seen here), the results should be at least as good as I get with the 200-600 f/5.6-6.3
And even with the 2x teleconverter, the 300 mm benefits (I hope) compared to 200-600

• shorter and lighter =
  • physically easier to follow birds in flight
  • physically easier to hold the lens for an extended time while waiting for a bird or animal to do something interesting
• higher shutter speeds = sharper images
• better OSS (optical steady shot) with A1 II
• faster autofocus (even with 2x teleconverter)
• in the early mornings, I expect to shoot at 300 mm f/2.8 (first 30 minutes I'm out) and then when it's light out, add the 2x teleconverter and shoot at 600 mm f/5.6

What do you think?

 

[spudhead]

Simple answer they are two completely different tools and the 300 2.8 will not disappoint, and used carefully with teleconverters it will return good results. I have the current 100-400 and it has had little use in the years I have owned it