100 vs 200 for shooting cats ? I have no telephoto experience-zip. My only lens is a 10-24, so that isn't going to cut it for indoor closeups of shy cats. I have been waffling between...

Dale Fiorillo Loc: Seattle

I have no telephoto experience-zip. My only lens is a 10-24, so that isn't going to cut it for indoor closeups of shy cats. I have been waffling between a Tamron 36-105 f2.8, and a Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6. My goal is really sharp closeups with very little depth of field. Is 100mm adequate from 10 feet with a bit of post cropping, or the slower 200mm? Price is not the biggest concern. Thanks for any help.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

I prefer a 22 mag, oops wrong forum.
100mm should do ya fine.
If the light is favorable for 200mm I would use that

and no I do not shoot cats with firearms

richnash46 Loc: Texas

Dale Fiorillo wrote:

I have no telephoto experience-zip. My only lens is a 10-24, so that isn't going to cut it for indoor closeups of shy cats. I have been waffling between a Tamron 36-105 f2.8, and a Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6. My goal is really sharp closeups with very little depth of field. Is 100mm adequate from 10 feet with a bit of post cropping, or the slower 200mm? Price is not the biggest concern. Thanks for any help.

I personally would go with the Nikkor 18-200 mm lens. You will be very happy with the shots you will get of the cats with that lens! You will definitely be able to achieve your goal of really sharp close ups with very little depth of field.

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Assume you're shooting DX, you don't mention camera. If so 36-105 gives yo effective reach of 54-157 whic is pretty good indoors. 2.8 is going to let you shoot faster shutter speed to stop blur if they are playing. 5.6 is pretty tough inside

sands Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Bruce with a Canon wrote:

I prefer a 22 mag, oops wrong forum.
100mm should do ya fine.
If the light is favorable for 200mm I would use that

and no I do not shoot cats with firearms

Very clever Bruce. You got there before I did!!

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

I find that my best pictures of Zoey the Cool Cat are at the long end of my 28-300mm lens. Lets me get up close and personal without her wanting to rub heads with me.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

I see your dilemma. The Tamron is a much faster lens better suited for indoor use but the Nikkor is a much sharper lens. Hmmm. I would say if you have plenty of indoor light with having to use a flash, then go with the Nikkor. If there is a Tamron owner out there, you might want them to jump in with some examples.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Dale Fiorillo wrote:

I have no telephoto experience-zip. My only lens is a 10-24, so that isn't going to cut it for indoor closeups of shy cats. I have been waffling between a Tamron 36-105 f2.8, and a Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6. My goal is really sharp closeups with very little depth of field. Is 100mm adequate from 10 feet with a bit of post cropping, or the slower 200mm? Price is not the biggest concern. Thanks for any help.

Go with the 18 to 200. You can get good shots at more distance without scaring the kitty by putting the camera in the kitty's face. My avatar of my Yorkie was taken at about the 135mm range I believe. :lol:

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I would think you need 200mm and F4 - that's what I would use - a Canon 70-200 F4 L !

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Use 200 grains of blackpowder. That was the first thing that came to mind when you asked about shooting cats.

Aldebaran Loc: Florida

But if you want the broader 18 range, the issue is between 135 vs 200. Is is safe to assume that lenses do better when theeir effective rane is shorter, say 18-135 better than 18-200? Is SpeciaLization better than generalization? I just had to return a 28-300 Tamron for lack of sharpmness, terrible lens! I dread that range!

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Dale Fiorillo wrote:

I have no telephoto experience-zip. My only lens is a 10-24, so that isn't going to cut it for indoor closeups of shy cats. I have been waffling between a Tamron 36-105 f2.8, and a Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6. My goal is really sharp closeups with very little depth of field. Is 100mm adequate from 10 feet with a bit of post cropping, or the slower 200mm? Price is not the biggest concern. Thanks for any help.

D90 with 70-300mm 4.5/5.6

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Dale Fiorillo wrote:

I have no telephoto experience-zip. My only lens is a 10-24, so that isn't going to cut it for indoor closeups of shy cats. I have been waffling between a Tamron 36-105 f2.8, and a Nikkor 18-200 3.5-5.6. My goal is really sharp closeups with very little depth of field. Is 100mm adequate from 10 feet with a bit of post cropping, or the slower 200mm? Price is not the biggest concern. Thanks for any help.

Hi Dale, I don't know if you have ever seen my comments regarding the Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 VR2 lens.
I have given it some very unfavourable reviews as a walkaround all purpose lens. And I still have that opinion.
That is mainly my attitude to superzooms more than to this specific lens.

BUT - in the case you outline here I actually think that this lens is a very strong performer (as long as there is enough light).

It is a great close up lens.
Specifications say that this lens close focuses down to about 500mm - but that distance is from the sensor.
Zoomed to 200mm it focuses down to about 8 inches in front of the front element.
Used like this though the 200mm is really the equivalent of about 130mm.
This comes about because of the complicated focusing requirements.

So from 10 feet down to 1 foot this lens can get your shot.
Its a thumbs up from me.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

10 feet is pretty close quarters with a 100mm lens...I use my 135mm in the house to shoot my dogs all of the time and it's hard to pull back enough to get them all in the frame, I can't do it in 10 feet..more like 15 or so...if you have the room...it will do the job.

As for which lens is better/ You've gotten some advice there...and for inside, faster is usually better but getting light on the scene is a good option too...mounting a flash in the corner of the room (setting a flash on a book shelf facing the corner of the room) puts enough light in the room where the speed of that lens doesn't make a difference at all.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Nikkor 200mm f4 micro or 70-200 F4 .... if price no object