Been looking to upgrade my glass for my 90D since the kit lens just isnt cutting it for backyard birds. I saw folks raving about the Sigma 150-600 but its a bit pricey, and some reviews say the 100-400 is sharper, im just really torn. Im on a 600 dollar budget and want to get something before my trip to the mountains next month. Is there anything else worth looking at that wont break the bank?
Wildlife on a budget is tough, but you have options. For birding, reach is king, so 400mm is honestly the minimum I would recommend for backyard shots.
- Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD is usually right around your budget used and is quite sharp.
- Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM is cheaper and very fast to focus, though you lose some reach. Grab the Tamron if you can find one.
Building on the earlier suggestion, honestly, sticking to a 600 buck budget for a 90D wildlife rig is rough. I have used the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM for a while and while it is cheap, it just lacks the reach for serious birding. The images fall off in sharpness once you pass 200mm, which is super frustrating when you're trying to crop in. Maybe look for a used Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary. Its optical performance is much better than the smaller lenses, tho the autofocus can be a bit sluggish in low light. Unfortunately, finding one under 600 takes some patience on the used market. TL;DR: Save a bit more for the Sigma if you can, otherwise you'll just be disappointed by the lack of reach on the cheaper stuff. Let me know if you need help checking used listings.
Like someone mentioned, that 55-250mm just doesnt cut it. Honestly, I bought the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM years ago and was pretty disappointed with the lack of reach for backyard birds. Since you are headed to the mountains, save up a bit more for a used Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary. Its way sharper than the cheaper stuff and worth the extra stress on your wallet. Just keep the shutter speed high!