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Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
http://x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8602		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  John_Vella [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
Hi,

After a weekend break in Lichfield I have discovered that I really like taking wildlife pictures, but I've got a slight problem. My lenses aren't any good for that kind of thing, as everything is too small unless I'm practically standing on top of whatever I want to take a picture of.

My question is, are any of you guys into wildlife photography and have you got any advice as to what sort of lens I'd need for my Nikon D90?

By the way, it would be really great of I could also use that lens for landscape stuff... :D

Thanks, and I'll try and upload the pictures either tonight or tomorrow night.
Author:  timark_uk [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
Long lenses, around the 300-400mm mark and fast aperture, around the 2.8 (or faster) mark.
A good tripod that will hold the lens (on these lenses the tripod attaches to the lens and not the camera).
Oh, and not camera related, but you'll need a lot of patience. (8+)
Long lenses are also goo for doing landscape photography as well.

Mark
Author:  EddArmitage [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
From the other thread, ISTR that JV has a 300mm lens, but I'd guess it's not the fastest in the world. I believe this is equivalent to 450mm in old money on his camera, but he does seem to want more reach.

Unfortunately this doesn't come cheap, and pretty much necessitates a tripod with a gimbal-style head.
Author:  John_Vella [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
EddArmitage wrote:
From the other thread, ISTR that JV has a 300mm lens, but I'd guess it's not the fastest in the world. I believe this is equivalent to 450mm in old money on his camera, but he does seem to want more reach.

Unfortunately this doesn't come cheap, and pretty much necessitates a tripod with a gimbal-style head.


Thanks edd. It was the 300mm lens I was using, but... tell you what, it's easier to shown than explain, so I'll try and upload a couple of test shots tonight, so you can see the sort of thing I'm after...

By the way, what is a gimbal style head?

timark_uk wrote:
Long lenses, around the 300-400mm mark and fast aperture, around the 2.8 (or faster) mark.
A good tripod that will hold the lens (on these lenses the tripod attaches to the lens and not the camera).
Oh, and not camera related, but you'll need a lot of patience. (8+)
Long lenses are also goo for doing landscape photography as well.

Mark


Thanks Mark. Patience is one thing I'm not short on, as I did have a whale of a time just walking then stopping and waiting for the animals I managed to get.
Author:  timark_uk [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
EddArmitage wrote:
From the other thread, ISTR that JV has a 300mm lens, but I'd guess it's not the fastest in the world. I believe this is equivalent to 450mm in old money on his camera, but he does seem to want more reach.

Unfortunately this doesn't come cheap, and pretty much necessitates a tripod with a gimbal-style head.
I have enough difficulty remembering my own lenses let alone some body else's.

Mark

EDIT - John, could you list the focal range and aperture of the lens/es you have please?
That way we (I) will be better informed before imparting (dubious) advice.
Author:  EddArmitage [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
John_Vella wrote:
By the way, what is a gimbal style head?

Something like this(or this). Induro also make one.

Al will hopefully be able to offer some advice, too, as he shoots a lot of fast jets, albeit with a Canon.
Author:  EddArmitage [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
timark_uk wrote:
I have enough difficulty remembering my own lenses let alone some body else's.

Well I did look up the thread about ten minutes before I finished writing my post, but work got in the way between finding out what length the lens was and sharing my wonderful thoughts with the world (8-p)

Tim wrote:
John, could you list the focal range and aperture of the lens/es you have please?
That way we (I) will be better informed before imparting (dubious) advice.

The "long" lens is a 70-300 AF zoom, so I'm guessing it's f/5.6 at the long end.
Author:  John_Vella [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
The lenses I have are:

Nikon AF NIKKOR 28 - 100mm. LINK
Nikon AF NIKKOR 70 - 300mm LINK

Oh and wow! you guys post fast! :D

Thanks.
Author:  EddArmitage [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
I just thought - I've got some photos taken with a 300mm f/5.6 lens like yours on a (slightly tighter) crop-sensor body on flickr. I certainly wouldn't want to use anything less than that focal length, and now I've got a full-frame camera, I'm tempted to sell my 70-300 when I have some funds to buy a 70-200 f/2.8, and maybe 1.4x teleconverter.

<eddit>Have you considered renting lenses?</eddit>
Author:  timark_uk [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
Sigma does an 80-400 F4.5-5.6 APO OS For Nikon AF that may be worth you taking a gander at.

Mark
Author:  John_Vella [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
timark_uk wrote:
Sigma does an 80-400 F4.5-5.6 APO OS For Nikon AF that may be worth you taking a gander at.

Mark


That looks ideal, but I think that Mrs. V. is going to need some persuading, as she thinks I'm obsessed, and it doesn't help that our 18 year old daughter keeps wading in with her tuppence worth. :evil:

Anyway, I've uploaded some photo's and here is the link...

Flickr Link
Author:  Tsar [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
John I got the same lens (Canon mount)

Great lens use it for airshows

BUT uses battery/s up very quickly
So I had to buy the canon power pack for my 450D

so spare battery/s is a must with it

other than that I love it as a lens
Author:  ProfessorF [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
I find wearing a high-vis jacket and announcing my presence with a portable handheld air horn very conducive to a successful wildlife shoot.
Author:  Tsar [ Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
ProfessorF wrote:
I find wearing a high-vis jacket and announcing my presence with a portable handheld air horn very conducive to a successful wildlife shoot.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Prof your :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Author:  John_Vella [ Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Wildlife Photography - Advice Needed
Tsar wrote:
ProfessorF wrote:
I find wearing a high-vis jacket and announcing my presence with a portable handheld air horn very conducive to a successful wildlife shoot.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Prof your :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:


They're not quite as effective as a double barreled shotgun and a sackful of flares ;)
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