rjb0765

I am currently shooting a Nikon D3100 with a af-s 200 lens. I use paint shop pro 4x and aftershot for processing. My heart is in lanscape and wildlife photos so I find myself really pushing that little 200 mm lens to get me photos its not really meant to get. So i end up trying to blow them up for detail in paint shop and wind up with photo degredation. I can have a crystal clear shot of an eagle feeding as a 5x7 but when i try to make it grow i get noise. oh, by the way I view my pics on my tv, a visio 32 inch hi def. that may be part of the problem too. A 5x7 or 8x10 may always look noisy when it fills a 32 inch screen? I don't know. On the other hand I get some really great shots if conditions are right and i can get closer. Sorry about the blah blah....what I'd like is some advice on a great quality lens in the 500 to 600 mm range with auto focus that will work with my nikon (only because i've read that the manual focus on those is very tough to deal with) and some opinions as to whether i'm causing myself trouble by using my tv as a monitor. thanks to all. There is such a curve to this stuff i can use all the help i can get.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I have a D90 and just recently bought a D7000. I had been using the Nikkor 55-300mm for birds and critters, but on some occasions it just didn't reach out far enough. Last week I ordered a Sigma 150-500mm for more distance, it should be delivered tomorrow. Since I don't have it yet, I can't speak on it's quality, but others on this forum have indicated that it is a pretty good lens.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Looks like you want to go long for the wildlife but for landscape you need wide and a tripod

PhotoMan1929 Loc: Virginia, USA

Unfortunately, you do not give enough information for anyone to make a definitive recommendation. So I will make an assumption that your working distance will be 200 yards (600 feet). In that case, a Nikon 500 mm lens will give you a field of view of about 19 x 28 feet. If you add a Nikon 2.0 teleconverter, your field of view will be about 9 x 14 feet.

As for landscape lenses, there is a "newbie notion" that only a wide angle lens should be used. It is typical of newcomers that they usually want to include the whole world in their landscape shots. A wide angle lens will make a mountain range look like a row of low hills. There is no one "best" lens for landscape work. It all depends upon the scene and the image the photographer wants.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

I beg to differ, I'm no Newbie, shooting landscape with film since the 60's.

Landscape is generally associated with wide angle glass and tripods if for no other reason than it's deep depth of field, mirror lock up, and slow shutter speed ability on a tripod.

But you can call me a newbie if it makes you happy.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I just got rid of my Sigma 50-500mm zoom in order to get the Sigma 150-500mm zoom with OS. Its quite sharp and the OS allows me to use it handheld at full zoom. Only had it less than a week but love it already, its at least as sharp as the old one was, maybe more so. Taking it to Yellowstone Park next weekend for a real field test. And the price is right too! $1069, also it will yield a 225-750mm zoom on your crop sensor body.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Yes Mac, I got mine, you will love it! Only complaint I have is the location of the OS switch, to easy to turn off accidentally.

Mpeter45 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

If you want increase file size to facilitate cropping, try Genuine Fractals, a PS plugin. It interpolates files and and make a 6mb file into a 90mb file. Supposed to do a real good job.
Has anyone used this?

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

you could try useing a long lens,photographing a bunch of overlaping photos and stitching them together.

audpro1988

My wife has a Sigma 150-500 on a Nikon D7000 and it is great!!

dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

Genuine Fractals has been incorporated into the OnOne Photo Suite (Perfect Resize 7). I have used this as well as Alien Skin BlowUp and find that with either the larger the initial file size the better the final results.

Lupane Loc: Gainsville, Ga.

The Sigma 150-500mm is an extremely excellent lens, I own one and have been using it often. It is a bit heavy as it should be expected; no complaints here!. It is sharp throughout the zoom range, the pictures will satisfy anyone, my cost was around $900 then and it is a "steal" investment. Buy it, enjoy it, and use it, definitely you will not be disappointed.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

I don't normally buy third party lenses but you guys sure have my attention

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Ring (Rabbit),
You can't beat it for the price, I have posted some pics from mine already, will have many more next week.

thefunxtr Loc: Atlanta

Hi MT ... have you used it long enough to offer any comments on it's performance handheld at settings below 1/500 @ 500mm?