Sigma 400mm (prime). Here's my test shots with it, nothing too exciting. Unedited, except slight crop and resize. No levels, usm, etc.

and more....

The bird is too cute!!

LOL - I love that first gorilla shot in post #2. It reminds me of a couple people I know :p

Wow, another 400mm owner?! Seems to be the popular focal length lately.

Now I see what you mean. Me thinks that there will be a lot of super-tele photos posted on these here boards :p

A 12' minimum focus (I think the Canon 100-400mm is about the same). You'll see the benefit of putting on that extension tube. Still, standing back 6' to shoot a small insect seems like watching a far-sighted elder trying to read the paper.

Can't wait to see more of your stuff :thumbsup:

looks like somebody found a zoo .

The sigma 400 is a quite good 400 for the $$!

Loupey, the 100-400 focuses to under 7 feet pal and I get subjects of the avian persuation too close :D

Yeah, it's good, considering I paid around $200 for it. I didn't find the zoo, I revisited. :p

Originally, we went to Kennesaw Mountain, I found that from your advice on birding resources, Paul. This place is supposed to be a "hot spot". I saw NOTHING!! Thought at first, it was just us then we talked to some birders we found, and they said it was odd, as it is typically busy, and they had seen nothing either. So, we went to the zoo to test the new piece. I really prefer wading birds, and like shorebirds more, so we're going to do more research, and hit some new places over the next month.

Loupey, the reason I replied that I won't change, is that some of the photos taken today were 1/160 @ 400mm handheld. Some of the photos are ISO 1600, and have not had any noise reduction. However, if you'd be willing to donate a 1D, and the Canon IS versions of my current lenses (minus the tamrons), I may reconsider. :p