Nikkor 70-300 VR: BIF/BOWs post here: OK. I see a lot of use of true primes for BIF/BOW photos. Anybody using some more economical zoom lenses, such as the 70-300? If so, please feel...

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

OK. I see a lot of use of true primes for BIF/BOW photos. Anybody using some more economical zoom lenses, such as the 70-300? If so, please feel free to post here.

Oh anyone having the Canon or Tamron equivalents are also welcome....

Thanks.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Hey Allen
Here's a few. If you check any of my back post all of the birding photos were taken with the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens. Next to my $500 100mm Tokina Macro lens this 70-300mm lens was the Next best $500 I've ever spent for a Lens.
I shoot with the D7000 and recommend Auto Focus Continuous Mode when shooting BIF. Low ISO320 and below, spot metering and at this time I use Aperture Priority for the most part. As with most photography it's all about the light

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

fstop22 wrote:

Hey Allen
Here's a few. If you check any of my back post all of the birding photos were taken with the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens. Next to my $500 100mm Tokina Macro lens the Next best $500 I've ever spent on a Lens.
I shoot with the D7000 and recommend Auto Focus Continuous Mode when shooting BIF. Low ISO320 and below, spot metering and at this time I use Aperture Priority for the most part.

Thanks. Love the Golden Eagle shot. I did go out today-- but ended up deciding to trash them all. I had a great time, even though I froze my a** off-- saw lots of ducks-- but just didn't get any that thrilled me. I saw: Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, one GBH, Buch of Mallards, American Scoter, Lesser Scaups, Buffle Heads-- and a set of beavers. It was a gray day-- and the lighting was horrible. I was shooting at 800 ISO on aperture priority (f/8 to f/5.6) with the 6 degree spot AF on Continuous.... My shutter duration was too low-- even though I was using the VR-- it was from 1/60-1/160. I was well-braced-- but just didn't get any that I wanted to keep.

Still it was way better than my best day at the office.... I have errands to run tomorrow, but I'm taking the camera to see what I can find. There is some benefit to Winter-- fewer people out, lots of migratory birds (we are in the Pacific Flyway), and bare trees so they can't hide... Maybe I'll get a few worth posting-- but I guaranteed either way-- I'll enjoy it.

Oh, just saw the rest: Osprey shot is killer.

Thanks for checking in....

manderson Loc: Northeast Nebraska

I use this same lens and love it. Good quality photos. Not the fastest glass but works for my BIF.

kimssight

I just got one about a month ago along with a new D7100. I have been playing with different ISO, and shutter duration. I have been at f5.6.

Northern Flicker

Osprey

Great Blue Heron

treadwl Loc: South Florida

That 70-300 Nikon lens is a really fine lens--as long as you have good light. I started with that lens some years ago and really enjoyed using it. It just needs practice. Hang in there.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

kimssight wrote:

I just got one about a month ago along with a new D7100. I have been playing with different ISO, and shutter duration. I have been at f5.6.

Nice set, Kim. I particularly like the Osprey shot-- similar in positioning to f/stop22's.... You had much better light. I opened up to f/5.6 later in my first trial. I was at iso 800 & my shutter duration was way too low. I had some Wood Duck pairs & just couldn't hold the DOF for both-- one was behind the other. I'm going to go out again today-- but the weather looks much the same: very overcast.

How are you liking the D7100? I am needing to upgrade from my D300.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

treadwl wrote:

That 70-300 Nikon lens is a really fine lens--as long as you have good light. I started with that lens some years ago and really enjoyed using it. It just needs practice. Hang in there.

Thanks. It looks from your avatar like you are using a prime. I've seen a number of your photos-- and they are good. Agree with what you say regarding the light & the 70-300. I try again today-- but it doesn't look much better.

kimssight

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Nice set, Kim. I particularly like the Osprey shot-- similar in positioning to f/stop22's.... You had much better light. I opened up to f/5.6 later in my first trial. I was at iso 800 & my shutter duration was way too low. I had some Wood Duck pairs & just couldn't hold the DOF for both-- one was behind the other. I'm going to go out again today-- but the weather looks much the same: very overcast.

How are you liking the D7100? I am needing to upgrade from my D300.

I know what you mean about the DOF. I may have to play with that some more too. Overall I am loving my D7100! I still have to try other lenses...but I am afraid I will want to buy them.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

kimssight wrote:

I know what you mean about the DOF. I may have to play with that some more too. Overall I am loving my D7100! I still have to try other lenses...but I am afraid I will want to buy them.

That is, no doubt, true. I just got the 70-300. I have the 105 Macro-- and love that lens. I bought the 16-85 with my D300 & that is my "go to" lens for general photography.

I want that D7100!!

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

2nd attempt posted in the Photo Analysis section because not all photos were birds on water or flight....

infocus Loc: Australia

fstop22 wrote:

Hey Allen
Here's a few. If you check any of my back post all of the birding photos were taken with the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens. Next to my $500 100mm Tokina Macro lens this 70-300mm lens was the Next best $500 I've ever spent for a Lens.
I shoot with the D7000 and recommend Auto Focus Continuous Mode when shooting BIF. Low ISO320 and below, spot metering and at this time I use Aperture Priority for the most part. As with most photography it's all about the light

Fantastic shots - I particularly like 1,2,3,4,5and 6.
Seriously I do like every one on of them.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

UntamedImages Loc: Utah

I shoot a D7000 and the 70-300 lens as well. I have been lucky a few times and have captured a few decent pics with it. I have recently posted the, in this forum. I have used this lens for about 2 years now and I have found that it seems to like shooting around f8 and good light. With that combo I usually get a few keepers.

My frustration for BIF with this lens is the speed of the auto focus. It's just not fast enough for most situations in my experience. Sure, I get lucky and capture a few in focus but the majority not so much.

I never did try slowing down my capture rate as mentioned above and that would have probably worked (dang it). But, how can you complain? For the money, this is probably the best lens you could get.

Overall I loved this lens, but I have recently upgraded to the new 80-400 and so far I am really loving that one :-)

Funny though, I just can't seem to let myself part with the 70-300. Hmmmm

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

O_S_O_K wrote:

I shoot a D7000 and the 70-300 lens as well. I hav... (show quote)

Thanks. I wonder if there's another variable: the DSLR. Does anyone know if the AF speed varies by model. I would expect the D7000 to be more advance compared to my D300. Just wondering....

UntamedImages Loc: Utah

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

Thanks. I wonder if there's another variable: the DSLR. Does anyone know if the AF speed varies by model. I would expect the D7000 to be more advance compared to my D300. Just wondering....

I would also be interested to know. My next purchase will be the D7100 and I wonder if the images would be that much better with that body versus the D7100. From what I understand the autofocus has been improved but not sure about speed?