Birding Lens Recommendations for EOS Rebel T5

[CatchFitz22]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site.  I've had my Canon for years and my strongest lens is 300mm.  I've been taking many photos of birds for the last couple of years and would appreciate a recommendation for a stronger lens.

I've been enjoying it, but I'd like a clearcut closeup when I'm out and about and need to grab my camera for a quick aerial shot or if the bird is up high.  The 300mm does ok, but it can only get so close.

Thank you for any responses!

[deebatman316]

Which version of these lenses exactly do you have because they're multiple versions of them. The full name of the lens can be found on the front of the lens with the lens cap removed. Or on the outer ring of the lens on some lenses. I have 2 example lenses below on how to identify your exact lens model.

Here is a picture of an example picture of a lens. This may NOT be your exact lens. So please provide the full name of yours.

[ebiggs1]

"The 300mm does ok, but it can only get so close."

You are totally missing the point on the purpose of a tele lens. But you are certainly not alone in that.

"The purpose of a long focal length is not to allow you to capture photos of subject from great distance."

Great point. The purpose of a super tele is to fill the screen with the subject. If you shoot a small bird, it will be a small bird in your frame unless you are close to very close. Even with a 600mm FL lens you need to be in the range of 20 to 30 feet. Of course bigger birds allow somewhat greater distances and much larger wildlife can be at even greater distances in order to fill the frame.

Plus if you don't post edit which allows cropping you may still not get the desired photo. Post editors are mandatory end of story. Canon offers one for free for you to d/l called DPP4.

[ebiggs1]

One last thought, Canon had a fantastic prime lens that is now discontinued but readily available on the used market. It is super sharp and very light and "L" level build. That means it is white! 😊 Check out the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens especially if you find one of the super zooms to be too heavy. BTW, 400mm is the shortest focal length I ever recommend for birding. It is also a constant f5.6 aperture prime lens where the super zooms are variable apertures. I own two of them (the 400mm L) and love'em.

[CatchFitz22]

Wow, ok...just learning more and more daily ha!

- Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS II

- Canon Zoom Lens EF 75--300mm 1:4-5.6 III

[deebatman316]

Do you have a budget to spend on a new lens. The EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 lens lineup is the worst lens lineups that Canon made. All of which are very poor optically lack IS (Image Stabilization) and use a very slow AF motor called Micro Motor. This lens motor was first released in 1993 and has been retired from use by Canon and replaced by STM (Stepper Motor) in 2012. Here is Canon's naming convention below.

• EOS: Electro Optical System (What EOS stands for)
• EF: Electronic Focus: lens mount ALL EOS DSLRs & Film SLRs use (original EOS Mount) (Red Circle Mounting Index, 12 o’clock position)
• EF-S: A separate lens Mount designed for APS-C DSLRs NOT compatible and won’t mount to any Full Frame Digital, 35mm Film SLRs or APS-H DSLRs. Note this is a DSLR Crop Sensor ONLY Mount. (White Square Mounting Index, 1 o’clock position)
• EF-M: Lens Mount for EOS-M series Mirrorless cameras. Incompatible with DSLRs or EOS Film SLRs & EOS R Series. (White Circle Mounting Index, 11 o’clock position) (2012-2023, discontinued). 
• RF: Lens Mount for EOS R series Mirrorless cameras. Incompatible with EOS DSLRs or EOS Film SLRs. (Red Oval Mounting Index, 12 o’clock position)
• RF-S: Lens is optimized for EOS R series APS-C cameras. Can be used on EOS R series Full Frame cameras but the image is cropped to the APS-C image circle. Note this is NOT a separate lens mount.
• Full Frame Digital: Image sensor is the same size a single negative of 35mm Film which measures 36x24.
• APS-H (Advanced Photo System Half Frame): Image sensor is 1.3x smaller than 35mm Film. An APS-H image sensor measures (27.7x18.5). This format was previously used by Canon in older 1D series cameras.
• APS-C (Advanced Photo System Classic): Image sensor is 1.5 or 1.6x smaller than 35mm Film. An APS-C image sensor measures 22.6x15 Canon uses a 1.6x crop factor.
• L: Canon's professional grade lenses only available in Full Frame lenses NO APS-C lenses available.
• DO: Diffractive Optics uses Fresnel lenses
• I, II, III, IV, V: Some lenses have multiple revisions such as the EF 28-80 F/3.5-5.6 V USM (ONLY lens to have a Version V)
• Ring Type USM: AF motor type. Provides fast focusing stands for Ultrasonic Motor. Ring Type USM is the original USM AF motor. Shaped like a ring inside the lens. Allows Full Time Manual Focus either Focus by Wire or mechanical.
• Micro Motor USM: Cheaper and slower AF Motor doesn't allow Full Time Manual Focus. Lens uses gears to adjust focus. EXCEPT for the EF 50mm F/1.4 USM lens (refer to Ring Type USM Mechanical Focus override). (1993-2008 retired, replaced by Nano USM)
• Nano USM: Combines STM and USM technology for fast AF. Allows Full Time Manual Focus is Focus by wire. (2016- Present)
• STM: Stepper Motor for quiet AF. Allows Full Time Manual Focus which is Focus by Wire. RF 10-20mm F4L IS STM (First L series lens to use an STM AF Motor) (2012- Present)
• AFD: Arc-Form Drive original EOS AF motor. No longer in use was replaced by Micro Motor in 1993 for new lens designs. No Full Time Manual Focus (Retired 1987-1992)
• Micro Motor: Older least advanced AF motor slower AF used in cheaper lenses. No Full Time Manual Focus. (Retired, 1993-2012) Replaced by STM in 2012.
• IS: Image Stabilization available in the lens.
• IBIS: In Body Image Stabilization available in select EOS R Series cameras.
• Macro: A macro lens with 1:1 magnification
• Compact Macro: Lens is able to focus closer than a normal macro lens.
• MP-E: Manual Focus only electronic aperture control no focus to infinity.
• TS-E: Tilt Shift lens with electronic aperture control no Autofocus. 
• Soft Focus: Lens is designed to provide a creamy bokeh effect.
• PZ: Power Zoom lens. Only 1 lens released with this feature. Only the EF 35-80mm F/4-5.6 PZ lens used this. 
• TTL: Through The Lens Flash metering. Flash system relies on light reflected off the film. NOT compatible with EOS Digital cameras.
• A-TTL: Advanced Through The Lens Flash metering system in EOS film bodies released in 1986. Replaced by E-TTL in 1995. System uses a pre-flash measured by a sensor on the speedlite itself. NOT compatible with EOS Digital cameras. Uses EZ series speedlites
• E-TTL Version 1: Evaluative Through The lens Flash metering system. System uses a pre-flash measured by the camera body to calculate flash exposure. System also relies on AF point selection too. Compatible with EX or EL series speedlites. Replaced by E-TTL II in 2004.
• E-TTL II: Refer to E-TTL Version 1. System was released in 2004 and works similarly to the original E-TTL. But uses focus distance information from the lens. Via a distance encoder in the lens. E-TTL II doesn't rely on AF point selection. Note E-TTL II is IMPLEMENTED in the camera body NOT the speedlite.
• EOS M Series: A discontinued APS-C mirrorless lineup of cameras (2012-2023). Replaced by EOS R Series APS-C cameras in 2023. EF-M lenses CAN NOT BE ADAPTED to EOS DSLRs or EOS R cameras.
• EOS R Series: Originally released in 2018 with Full Frame cameras only. Later in 2023 with APS-C cameras. New APS-C lenses were released. 
• Z: Lens has an optional attachment to allow power zoom. Only the RF 24-105mm F/2.8L IS USM Z lens has this feature.
• Automatic Brightness Adjustment of LED AF Assist Beam: Feature IS NOT SUPPORTED on the R3, R7 & R10 camera bodies.

• AF Assist Beam: An AF Assist Lamp to aid the camera’s AF system in low light or low contrast situations.

• IR AF Assist Beam: A red grid pattern projected by the speedlite to aid an SLR/ DSLR camera’s AF system. Note this red grid pattern IS NOT Infrared. This AF Assist Beam type IS INCOMPATIBLE with mirrorless cameras.

• Intermittent Flash Firing AF Assist Beam: Camera rapidly pulses the speedlite for AF Assist. This AF Assist Beam type IS SUPPORTED ON ALL EX & EL speedlites when used on the EOS R Series. Note speedlites that have a PERSONAL FUNCTION for IR & Intermittent Flash Firing. Always use Intermittent Flash Firing on the EOS R series regardless of the projection method. When set to Intermittent Flash Firing. If a color filter or flash diffuser is used. The camera body emits an LED AF Assist Beam on the EOS R series. Intermittent Flash Firing is DISABLED when a color filter or flash diffuser is used. Speedlites without a PERSONAL FUNCTION between IR and Intermittent Flash Firing. The speedlite WILL use Intermittent Flash Firing on the EOS R series. Note depending on the ambient lighting an AF Assist Beam may be projected by the camera body instead of the speedlite on the EOS R series. This AF Assist Beam type ONLY works on cameras released from 2007-onward. 
• LED AF Assist Beam: Bright white light (on a speedlite) or orange LED light (on an EOS R series camera body) that aids the camera for AF Assist. This AF Assist Beam type ONLY works on cameras released from 2007-onward. 

[CatchFitz22]

Thank you, Demetrius!  All of this info is wicked helpful.  I'll be sure to read into this and figure out what will be best for me.  I have seen what the range of pricing is for some of the lenses, but at least this will help give me a better idea as to what to look into and the cost of each.

If I have any other questions, I'll reach out.

[CatchFitz22]

Thanks for the insight and info, EB!  I greatly appreciate it and will keep this in mind along with looking into it more.

[deebatman316]

Note 3rd Party manufacturers use different naming conventions than what Canon uses. So pay attention closely to there naming conventions. Your camera uses the Canon EF or EF-S Mount lenses. You can't use any other lenses that are meant for any other camera manufacturers. They won't mount or work correctly and its not worth adapting either. 

[CatchFitz22]

Good to know, thank you!

[deebatman316]

Only stick with EF or EF-S Mount lenses you CANNOT use Canon's RF or RF-S lenses those are specifically made for use on the EOS R series camera lineup. You also CANNOT use Canon's discontinued EF-M lenses either. Super zooms like the Sigma 150-600mm and prime (fixed focal length) lenses ie 50mm are designed for full frame cameras in mind. When used on a Rebel series DSLR there will be a crop factor of 1.6x. This is due to the image sensor being smaller than 35mm film. The lens would have an AOV of 240-960mm when compared to Full Frame. When shooting you should shoot with this formula 1/ focal length x crop factor (1.6x in this case) to avoid camera shake.