think i am missing a distance lens :/

[D.P.]

eventually i would probably like to end up with the 400mm and a zoom in between 100-300 to fill the gap

i am thinking 300mm f4 L with a TC too maybe to start,

That is what I use for 99% of my wildlife stuff now.

Before that I was using a 70-200mm f/2.8 with TCs but it was just way too shot 99% of the time.


70-200mm is actually much more fun for landscape and portraits.

 

[D.P.]

That''s an £800 lens secondhand though- why not save the extra £100 and go for the 100-400. You arguably won't miss the extra stop for wildlife, and you gain IS.

The 100-400 is no where near as sharp and is more expensive.

If Canon replace their 100-400 with something as good as the latest Nikon 80-400 then it is worth considering but then the price will be even more.

 

[413x]

so the 300mm is a lot better than the 100-400 across the 100-400s top end?

 

[CGrieves]

The 100-400 is no where near as sharp and is more expensive.

If Canon replace their 100-400 with something as good as the latest Nikon 80-400 then it is worth considering but then the price will be even more.

Yep, which is why I say save up the extra £100 and go for the 100-400. We're already over the £500 budget anyway.

300mm f4L is slightly sharper in the center, better in the corners on full frame, but on a crop camera like the 60D you're going to be in the sweet spot and wont see much of the corner benefit over the 100-400L

I'd go 100-400L every time on a crop, more versatile and it's known for having excellent sharpness in it's own right.