Which lens do you prefer for BIF & Wildlife (Page 2): I have a 6D and and 7DII and find two lenses in my arsenal are my go-tos for shooting wildlife and BIF; the Canon 300 f4 L Prime...

Basil Loc: New Mexico

ronz wrote:

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

I have a 6D and and 7DII and find two lenses in my arsenal are my go-tos for shooting wildlife and BIF; the Canon 300 f4 L Prime is an older lens but still very good IMHO. AF is a little slow, but it still a good choice for subjects that are not super far away. Then other lens I use is the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary. There is also a "Sport" version but it is more $$ and harder to hand hold. The Contemporary is actually pretty easy to hand hold, although I still use a tripod when I can.

One lens I don't have that I wish I did is the new Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens, which on a Crop Camera would be 640mm or 896mm with a 1.4x converter. Reviews are very good for that lens!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

In use Nikon - my go-to on tripod and in low light is a 600mmF4. Handled in better light I use a Sigma 150-600 Sport. I can use the 600mmF4 with a 1.4 TC with good results, but not with the Sigma.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I use Nikon bodies and lenses and I am still using the old 80-400 VR lens for wildlife and birds in fly (BIF)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

My favorite, the Nikon 200-500 F5.6. The following shot was taken from 100 yards away and the image was cropped to 1/10 the size of the sensor. Please note the minnow in mid air in the great herons mouth. And the minnow is in focus from 100 yards away. Not bad for a $1300.00 lens.

oregon don

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

depends on what you are shooting, a beautiful young woman a 50 mm would be nice. a rattle snake then I would recommend a 50,000,000mm!

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

For me, Nikon D500 with the Nikon 200-55mm lens.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

ronz wrote:

I am in the process of retiring from my studio after 30 + years. Will keep shooting for a couple magazines but want to pursue the above as I have not had the time before. I can not hold up a heavy lens due to surgery and want to do mostly hand-held where possible. I would like to hear what lens many of you like best for this type of shooting. I have read many, many reviews but would appreciate your comment. Thanks much....

You didn't mention your current camera: nevertheless, I have two BIF/wildlife systems - Nikon and Olympus. As you cannot hold a heavy lens here is my suggestion. Nikon D500 + Nikkor 300mm f4 PF VR + Nikkor TC14EIII. This is an amazingly light set up and is brilliant for BIF/wildlife. I also have a Nikkor 200 - 500mm f5.6 - but it is rather heavy, though it is my favourite lens. My Olympus EM1 mark II + Olympus 300mm f4 + Olympus 1.4 TC are actually heavier than my D500 + 300mm PF VR + 1.4 TC but does provide a longer FF equivalent focal length.

rayr

bsprague wrote:

If you can live with the smaller M4/3 sensor there are some good choices that are compact, relatively light and have long reach. Panasonic puts stabilization in both lens and body for effective hand held shooting.

My preferred lens is the Panasonic Lumix 100-400 which has the FF equivalent field of view of 200-800. A little newer is a prime Panasonic Leica 200 shown next to a Nikon with the equivalent field of view:

I too could recommend a 4/3 camera, I recently moved from a Nikon D750 & Tamron 150-600 G2 to a Olympus EM1 Mark ll and the Panasonic 100-400. I like this combination very much and my back and arms appreciate it.

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

ronz wrote:

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

My "retired" passion is what you mention (BIF & Wildlife). Do it nearly everyday unless I have a sports photo assignment. I use the 5Diii and the 7Dii. I wanted an on-the-move lightweight setup so I bought the Canon 400L 5.6 prime years ago. It does everything I demand and grabs excellent images... and I am not tired from carrying this gear. (68 years-old)

Since that lens doesn't have IS, it's light, has excellent "reach", and requires only a light tripod when that is the best extra piece of the puzzle at some locations/situations that require it.

When I want the long reach heavy gear and plan relatively close stationary locations, I go with the same bodies with a 500L f/4 II and 1.4x and 2.0x on a carbon tripod.

Can't go wrong with the 400 L 5.6.

Tgbyrne

TMcD wrote:

Understanding that you have Canon gear, I'll still offer the suggestion of taking a look at the m4/3 systems. Although I also have Canon gear, I find that for BIF, the Olympus OMD E-M1 II with the Pana/Leica 100-400

I too am an Oly owner. What components of the image stabilization work with this combo? Camera obviously yes but does it have in-lens and does it work with Oly? Did a google search and couldn’t be sure. TX in advance.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

ronz wrote:

Sorry I shoot Canon, 5d iv & 7d ll. So I have full and crop

The Canon 100-400 Mk II with the 1.4 III extender will be hard to beat, of course the 500 or 600 would be better but your physical limitations makes them irrelevant.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

my favorite setup, a Minolta maxxum 200mm f2.8 G., on a fx or dx body with either a 1`.4x or 2.0x tc. makes for a light, fast handling, compact rig.

SonyBug

Frank W wrote:

Olympus OM-D E-M1 with 75 - 300
Because that's what I have and learned how to use it.

Sony a6500 with Sony 70-300 OSS (in camera OSS too)

jteee Loc: Montana

I have the Canon 6D and 7DII, along with the Canon 100-400 II and Sigma 150-600 Sport. For birds I primarily use the 7DII, and since I got the 100-400, it rarely comes off the camera. That lens has opened up numerous hand-held opportunities that I didn't have before I purchased it. I also have the Canon 1.4x III, but don't use it except with a tripod. Checkout Arthur Morris (one of the most respected bird photographers in the world), and you will see that his current gear is the 5DIV and 100-400 II for his BIF and hand-held work.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

BB4A wrote:

Those are my two in-the-field bodies, too! Either great minds think alike, or fools seldom differ?

For great handheld capabilities and relatively(!) light weight, I have found the EF 100-400L IS II USM to be awesome, on both / either body. Canon is doing a discount deal on them still I believe, and for me & my photography, just an awesome lens.

What he said.