first trip to Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale Arizona: Hi all, I am planning to visit the Butterfly Wonderland this weekend and would like some recommendations. I plan on using my...

Thomas Firth

Hi all, I am planning to visit the Butterfly Wonderland this weekend and would like some recommendations. I plan
on using my Tamron 90mm macro and wondered if I should also take my 24-70 lens too or possibly my 70-200. All
these are f2.8 lenses. Has anyone been to this exhibit and what settings do they find useful in capturing the butterfly's?
From what I read so far they don't allow tripods but monopods are Ok. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Tom

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

If the exhibit is similar to one at the Santa Barbara Museum where you enter an enclosed area to photograph butterflies I see no reason for any other lens than the macro lens you have. My ASSUMPTION is you want to photograph live butterflies as close as possible. No need for the other lenses.

Dennis

MT native Loc: Big Sky Country — Montana

When I went there, I used my 18-105mm. Your macro may be a good option. I believe your 24-70 will be the lens you use most of the time. Personally, I see no need for a 70-200 as you will find the butterflies are already pretty close to you. The lighting is pretty good in there so your 2.8 should be excellent. Enjoy your visit to BW !!

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Was there a few months ago. Took one lens for crop sensor, 17-55.
For me, that was enough.
I don't see an problem in bringing them all. Plenty of places sit and change the lens.
If school kids come thru, they don't stay long.
I enjoyed the 3D movie!
They have a cocoon section with many different species. The lady there gave a lot of interesting info. She knew a lot! Spend some time there. You may get the see a butterfly, "born".
I don't remember camera settings. I use aperture priory.
There are some birds in there and fish.
Pat

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I was there some time back. I believe I used my 28-135.

TJ28012 Loc: Belmont, NC

90mm only. Very humid in exhibits. One of our group changed lens after coming from AC area and got condensation on mirror and sensor. Lenses may fog both entering and leaving.

Next visit, I will bring a LED light - not a strobe - as although well lighed, there are many shadows from foliage, etc.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Thomas Firth wrote:

Hi all, I am planning to visit the Butterfly Wonderland this weekend and would like some recommendations. I plan
on using my Tamron 90mm macro and wondered if I should also take my 24-70 lens too or possibly my 70-200. All
these are f2.8 lenses. Has anyone been to this exhibit and what settings do they find useful in capturing the butterfly's?
From what I read so far they don't allow tripods but monopods are Ok. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Tom

I shot in the butterfly gardens in Key West several times. I took an 18-70mm Nikkor on the D70s and a 70-300 Nikkor on the D7100. The wife shot with the D70s and I shot with the D7100. Between us we got a lot of really nice shots. The building was an enclosed 3 story high room with winding sidewalks through and lots of bushes, trees and plants. There are small "flightless" birds and some other birds, a couple of flamingos, some turtles, and many varieties of butterflies. the wide lens had just enough zoom to get the lower creatures and the long lens gave the ability to get nice close ups or bring the butterflies and birds that were in the higher branches or further back between the walkways in tight. The nice thing about separate cameras with different lenses was that we got very few duplicate shots.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

If you have a 2 times teleconverter for the 90 mm macro, that might come in handy.
I would forget the zoom lenses.
Hope for an overcast day because on a bright sunny day the contrast can be horrible!

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

I've been there twice. Both times used my 70-200 f/2.8 lens with excellent results. I'd suggest getting there early afternoon, as I was told by one of their employees that most school groups come in the morning. Lots of kids can make shooting difficult. I didn't use a mono-pod, but it would probably prove to be useful.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Thomas Firth wrote:

Hi all, I am planning to visit the Butterfly Wonderland this weekend and would like some recommendations. I plan
on using my Tamron 90mm macro and wondered if I should also take my 24-70 lens too or possibly my 70-200. All
these are f2.8 lenses. Has anyone been to this exhibit and what settings do they find useful in capturing the butterfly's?
From what I read so far they don't allow tripods but monopods are Ok. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Tom

The choice is the 70-200mm, the longer the better! Using longer telephoto lens allows you to distance your self from the butterfly and not scaring it away.
I use 300mm plus a 1.4x converter, and shoot in the min. distance about five feet away. I will fill up the frame with the butterfly without disturbing it.

I don't recommend using mono-pod but hand held your camera, because butterfly won't stay still to post for you, you have to keep moving your camera to keep up with it.
Using AFc with burst mode will give you some good shots. Use higher shutter speed, I may say 1/1000sec or more. You will have to decide what ISO setting you need depending on the light condition. For me I use manual mode with auto ISO, aperture set at f5.6-f8.o to obtain better DOF.

Good Luck & have fun!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Thomas Firth wrote:

Hi all, I am planning to visit the Butterfly Wonderland this weekend and would like some recommendations. I plan
on using my Tamron 90mm macro and wondered if I should also take my 24-70 lens too or possibly my 70-200. All
these are f2.8 lenses. Has anyone been to this exhibit and what settings do they find useful in capturing the butterfly's?
From what I read so far they don't allow tripods but monopods are Ok. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Tom

I have been to Butterfly World here in Florida several times. You WILL WANT your 70-200 with a 10-12mm tube. Since your 70-200 is 2.8, you will want to be on a monopod - using a tilt head. Stop down to f9-10-11 if possible.

The 90mm would have very limited use - because you cannot usually get close enough - unless you sneak up on a cooperating butterfly - otherwise you can use the 90mm and crop and use pixel enlargement if necessary.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

TJ28012 wrote:

90mm only. Very humid in exhibits. One of our group changed lens after coming from AC area and got condensation on mirror and sensor. Lenses may fog both entering and leaving.

Next visit, I will bring a LED light - not a strobe - as although well lighed, there are many shadows from foliage, etc.

Yes, a powerful LED light can be very helpful - I have used that also !

Thomas Firth

Thanks all for the recommendations. I will take both the 90mm Macro and the 70-200 zoom so I
can try out both. I'm getting the annual pass so I can go back and perfect my shots. Tom

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Having been to many butterfly houses, I would say that first off you need to minimize your gear because butterfly houses are generally crowded with people. That is a big factor. The macro is the obvious choice, and the 70-200mm is also rather important --I had to switch to a zoom that went to 300mm many times to get a shot at a distance, over the heads of people or from up high. I don't see a need for the smaller zoom, and I would favor leaving it out to simplify the kit in a crowded butterfly house. If you have a lens that goes to 300mm, I would use that instead of the 70-200. The -300 ensures you will get the shot at a distance and the background more easily falls to a blur with it.
Finally, an external flash is helpful, but it should have a diffuser for this sort of thing.
Have fun (you will), and bring back pictures. I would enjoy seeing them.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

I don't see a need for the smaller zoom, and I would favor leaving it out to simplify the kit in a crowded butterfly house. If you have a lens that goes to 300mm, I would use that instead of the 70-200. The -300 ensures you will get the shot at a distance and the background more easily falls to a blur with it.

Use the 70-200 - and CROP if need be with pixel enlargement if need be - MUCH better than using 90mm ....! - leave the 90 out if need be !