New with lots of questions
Nov 29, 2016 20:30:41 #
dvier
Loc: Hopkinsville Kentucky
I really appreciate the chance to be a part of this forum. I'm fairly new to the digital photography world and have a new found interest in bird photography. This spring my only child left home so what's more appropriate for the empty nest syndrome;)
I splurged and bought a D 500 Nikon with the 200 to 500 lens with the 1.7 x converter. Only trouble is I really don't know everything I need to get colorful sharp images. They all seem to be drab and lack clarity. I would appreciate any help and advice. Look forward to being a part of this group. Thanks
I splurged and bought a D 500 Nikon with the 200 to 500 lens with the 1.7 x converter. Only trouble is I really don't know everything I need to get colorful sharp images. They all seem to be drab and lack clarity. I would appreciate any help and advice. Look forward to being a part of this group. Thanks
Nov 29, 2016 20:42:05 #
Welcome to the forum and hang in there someone will help you with your situation. One thing I can tell you is that the 1.7 TC will dramatically reduce your light. Learn to use the lens without the TC first.
Nov 29, 2016 20:49:24 #
Welcome to UHH.
You've got a really nice set-up with the D500 and 200-500mm lens.
I agree with WayneT's suggestion to put the TC aside for a while.
You've got a really nice set-up with the D500 and 200-500mm lens.
I agree with WayneT's suggestion to put the TC aside for a while.
Nov 29, 2016 20:57:02 #
If I read the table on the Nikon web site correctly, the 1.7 does not work in auto focus.
Be sure the lens as well as the camera body is set to manual.
Also, I find it best to not use the view finder, use a tripod and a remote release.
Be sure the lens as well as the camera body is set to manual.
Also, I find it best to not use the view finder, use a tripod and a remote release.
Nov 29, 2016 20:58:12 #
dvier wrote:
I really appreciate the chance to be a part of thi... (show quote)
Welcome. Lose the teleconveter and invest in a good tripod with a good pan/tilt head. Birds are easily spooked, so you may want to get a camo blind and a lot of patience.
Good luck with your excellent choice of camera and lens. Hopefully you are shooting in raw and post processing with Lightroom or Photoshop.
Nov 29, 2016 21:04:56 #
I don't know anything about the equipment you have except the 500 is extremely fast and the 200-500 is a sharp lens. There now you are as smart as I am on these two items.
So welcome to the forum. You will get lots of answers. If you don't go to the top of this page and in the blue print find 'SEARCH' click on it an it works like Goggle, sort of. It will bring up everything on the forum on the subject you posted,
welcome again. You have found a good friendly place.
So welcome to the forum. You will get lots of answers. If you don't go to the top of this page and in the blue print find 'SEARCH' click on it an it works like Goggle, sort of. It will bring up everything on the forum on the subject you posted,
welcome again. You have found a good friendly place.
Nov 29, 2016 21:18:15 #
dvier
Loc: Hopkinsville Kentucky
Thanks for all the feedback. I will use this advice and not use the converter until I get the camera and lens down first. I am using elements but new to that as well so have a lot to learn.
Nov 29, 2016 21:20:44 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
Welcome to the forum. You have a fine camera and lens. The D500 is now Nikon's best DX camera. There was a great Black Market deal on the D500. $1797 for body only. I'm building my lens collection now. Hopefully next Black Friday it will be the same price. Enjoy your new toys.
Nov 29, 2016 21:23:07 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
mas24 wrote:
Welcome to the forum. You have a fine camera and lens. The D500 is now Nikon's best DX camera. There was a great Black Market deal on the D500. $1797 for body only. I'm building my lens collection now. Hopefully next Black Friday it will be the same price. Enjoy your new toys.
I meant to say Black Friday Deal. Not Black Market deal.
Nov 29, 2016 21:41:34 #
mas24 wrote:
I meant to say Black Friday Deal. Not Black Market deal.
I caught that to and knew what you meant. I thought it was a funny slip.
Nov 29, 2016 21:42:18 #
dvier
Loc: Hopkinsville Kentucky
Thanks I love it so far. Just learning the longer lens seems to be the hard part.
Nov 29, 2016 23:26:23 #
Welcome! Lots of birders on this site. All will tell you patience is next on the list after that good equipment for capturing the birds. Good luck.
Nov 29, 2016 23:40:49 #
Nov 30, 2016 05:30:35 #
dvier wrote:
I really appreciate the chance to be a part of thi... (show quote)
In my experience, that's how you start. Your photos are drab, uninspiring and well...just lame. I know that when I started shooting (not that long ago) my images were horrible and I had no clear picture of how to move forward. (not that I'm a pro now or anything) My experience has been...improvement just happens if you keep shooting and trying and learning. You will pick up little bits of information that "click" and fill in gaps for you. In a year or two you will not even remember how much trouble you had today.
I'd pick up a good book or two to inspire you while you learn; Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" is a good book.
Beyond that, find pictures you like and try and imitate them....you will fail but that's part of the process.
Good luck!
Nov 30, 2016 06:14:19 #
dvier wrote:
... bought a D 500 Nikon with the 200 to 500 lens with the 1.7 x converter.
If you still can, try returning the 1.7x TC and exchanging it for a 1.4x model.
The D500 can auto focus with lenses that have a maximum aperture of no more than f/8. The 200-500mm lens is f/5.6 so it is okay. Add a 1.4x TC and the combination is f/8, and that is still okay. But an TC with greater magnification than that will make the maximim fstop (minimum aperture) too small to work with the D500.
Note that a 1.7x TC might actually work occasionally in good light and just the right scene. That won't be birding! And even though a 1.4x will work, it might be too slow too often.
Otherwise the D500 with a 200-500mm f/5.6 lens will be great for birding. Go one step at a time. Some famous fellow named Cartier-Bresson claimed that "your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." If you devote each shoot you do to learning about one specific problem, by shot 9,999 you've fixed a lot of problems! And had a lot of fun too...
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.