70-300mm IS II best? or?

[DoubleJoyner2]

Hi, I am wanting a lens to go on my T6 so I can get pictures of wild birds,  lizards etc - Canon says 70-300 IS II  is my best bet -  will this lens get me close enough - does anyone know what is the X on this lens I can not find it anywhere? I am trying to stick within a $500 range - is this going to be worth it for me? does anyone have any pics to share so I can see what pics look like?

I don't want to waste my money if it isn't going to be a decent shot - I have the 75-300 and it is only 4X which is not good enough for what I want.  Thank you, CJ

[kvbarkley]

Actually for lizards, you probably want a macro like the 100 mm.

[ebiggs1]

"Road runners don't move in straight lines and are very difficult to shoot, so for me, framing is the problem."

You mean these guys?  They do stop from time to time.    Especially if you are not right on top of them.  A long FL lens like the 150-600mm super zoom is the choice because you can keep your distance.

[DoubleJoyner2]

Thanks for taking the time to share your info....guess one just has to try different lens out to see what works for them. I hope you get to see your bears..... be safe tho!

[DoubleJoyner2]

Great shots - thank you for posting them. We have a few of those around here..... Las Vegas area.... would love to get shots of them!

[John_SD]

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@DoubleJoyner2 wrote:
Great shots - thank you for posting them. We have a few of those around here..... Las Vegas area.... would love to get shots of them!

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Yes, thanks for posting those, Ernie. Excellent shots.  In the field, I generally see them when they are on the move, but would love to be able to capture some good images of them. I do have a 75-300mm kit lens which I haven't used much. Maybe I'll start walking around with it a bit and see what I can do with it. 

DJ2, whenever we go to Vegas, I try to make time for a side trip to Valley of Fire, a great place to shoot. It's rare to go there in the early mornings and not encounter the bighorn sheep. People always talk about Red Rock Canyon, which I do enjoy, but for me I'll take Valley of Fire every time, even though it's farther out. A photographers' paradise. 

[ebiggs1]

"...would love to get shots of them!"

You can, get out there and get'er done.

"... whenever we go to Vegas,..."

Try Big Ben Park.

[John_SD]

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@ebiggs1

Try Big Ben Park.

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It''s on my list. We have a niece in Austin, so next time we're out in Texas, we'll make some time for Big Bend. 

[ebiggs1]

I expect to see some beautiful shots!  Please post a few.

[John_SD]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

I expect to see some beautiful shots!  Please post a few.

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Will do.

Speaking of roadrunners, I'd love to find one doing battle with a rattlesnake, like this guy did. Thus, I will give myself an assignment, to try to capture something similar. Could take days, weeks or years LOL.

https://goo.gl/images/v4Q2Qp

[ebiggs1]

... or decades!  

About the rattlesnake and RR photos, Photoshop is your friend.  Just saying.