New to Bird Photography
Jul 15, 2018 05:54:00 #
GED
Loc: North central Pa
Gene51 wrote:
While it is possible to do bird photography with a... (show quote)
Good advice and money well spent, that is a very impressive camera
Jul 15, 2018 05:56:04 #
I'd say that 55-300 for $200 would be a good start for her, much cheaper than the Tamron, she can crop in for those extra mm's, and, as you say, if she loses interest, less lost.
Jul 15, 2018 06:23:57 #
Katydid wrote:
I was never frustrated when I started bird photography with my D3300. I used my heavy Nicon 200-500 in the car only. I now have a Tamron 18-400 that I use with my newer and heavier camera, the D500, when I am out and about walking. It is much lighter than the 200-500 and I don't mind the combined weight. If your friend can't carry those, perhaps she should try out some bridge cameras.
Same here
Jul 15, 2018 06:32:15 #
There is a catch 22 in a beginner using a less than desirable lens/camera combination. Bird photography is specialized and difficult, and it requires skills, patience and research. Getting up at the crack of dawn to get good light, knowledge of the habits and behaviors - especially feeding behaviors, knowledge of where to find your subjects, being able to pan if you are shooting moving birds, perfect understanding of the features of the camera and lenses so that you aren't fumbling around with settings while you subject is dropping in and flying off, etc. In other words, successful bird photographers are - and have to be - committed. The rationale of keeping it cheap, just in case a photographer loses interest - well - keeping it cheap will be frustrating at best, and will only serve to frustrate, and serve as a disincentive.
It's like buying a cheap guitar for a kid. Those guitars are remarkably difficult to play - with the strings so far away from the fret board that it takes considerable strength to hold them down. And they rarely tune properly. I think that if you want a kid to get off the kick of playing guitar, buy them a cheap one.
I am not suggesting that a photographer wanting to do birding should go out and get an 800mm F5.6 to go on a D5 or an EOS 1D Mark II. It is possible to get decent bird pictures with a D3300 and a 70-300, etc but I would caution against buying used versions of this lens - the newer lenses are better than the older ones. I would think that anything longer will be a)too heavy, b)more difficult to hand-hold, at least in the beginning, and c)less sharp at max zoom if it is something like an 18-400, or more expensive (and heavier) if considering a Sigma 100-400.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=D3300%20birds
The AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED, reviewed here is pretty decent:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-70-300mm-vr
This is much better than the DX counterpart.
I do not recommend a person new to photography purchase a used product.
It's like buying a cheap guitar for a kid. Those guitars are remarkably difficult to play - with the strings so far away from the fret board that it takes considerable strength to hold them down. And they rarely tune properly. I think that if you want a kid to get off the kick of playing guitar, buy them a cheap one.
I am not suggesting that a photographer wanting to do birding should go out and get an 800mm F5.6 to go on a D5 or an EOS 1D Mark II. It is possible to get decent bird pictures with a D3300 and a 70-300, etc but I would caution against buying used versions of this lens - the newer lenses are better than the older ones. I would think that anything longer will be a)too heavy, b)more difficult to hand-hold, at least in the beginning, and c)less sharp at max zoom if it is something like an 18-400, or more expensive (and heavier) if considering a Sigma 100-400.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=D3300%20birds
The AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED, reviewed here is pretty decent:
https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-70-300mm-vr
This is much better than the DX counterpart.
I do not recommend a person new to photography purchase a used product.
Jul 15, 2018 06:36:13 #
pbcbob wrote:
A friend of mine was recently given a Nikon D-330... (show quote)
A good used copy of the brilliant Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR plus, at a later date perhaps, a Nikkor TC14EIII to compliment it. It is a fabulous, lightweight lens, which produces excellent results both with and without the TC. I owned one when I had a Nikon D500.
Jul 15, 2018 06:36:36 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
pbcbob wrote:
A friend of mine was recently given a Nikon D-330... (show quote)
The 18-400 is not light by any means. You might want to consider Nikon's 70-300 E lens.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1349415-REG/nikon_20068_af_p_nikkor_70_300mm_f_4_5_5_6e.html?sts=pi-ps
Jul 15, 2018 06:56:51 #
Jul 15, 2018 07:12:12 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
warzone wrote:
Canon recommendations?
That's easy. The new Canon 100-400 II. One of the nicest lenses you will find. And did I mention sharp.
Jul 15, 2018 07:32:02 #
While I found my 100 to 400 Canon lens to be tremendous, I find with photographing Birds to need a bit more length so I have the 1.4 tele extender. I really think the Tamaron or Sigma 150 to 600 does an excellent job although I understand they are somewhat heavier from the people that own them. My Canon 100 to 400 is spot-on in Clarity and permits a lot of light on those overcast days.
Jul 15, 2018 07:46:34 #
In the Nikon world the 70-300mm is the hidden gem of lenses, at a low price it has excellent IQ as endorsed by MP https://www.flickr.com/groups/32456670@N00/discuss/72157619093953918/
Gene51 wrote:
While it is possible to do bird photography with a... (show quote)
Jul 15, 2018 08:11:33 #
Katydid wrote:
I was never frustrated when I started bird photography with my D3300. I used my heavy Nicon 200-500 in the car only. I now have a Tamron 18-400 that I use with my newer and heavier camera, the D500, when I am out and about walking. It is much lighter than the 200-500 and I don't mind the combined weight. If your friend can't carry those, perhaps she should try out some bridge cameras.
Jul 15, 2018 08:43:33 #
Charlie'smom wrote:
She can get a 70-300mm Nikon or a 55-300mm Nikon used at a pretty good price. That’s where I would tell her to start, and if the photo bug does take hold, she can always upgrade. But she’ll get some decent shots with either of those lenses and camera. And if I remember, they’re not heavy at all.
Unless you are very close a 300MM will not cut it. I have a 100-400 and need a 1.4 extender for birds. Other wise you will cropping the heck out of every photo as the bird will be dot.
Jul 15, 2018 09:02:09 #
A Tokina manual focus 500mm f8 prime reflector lens is light and clear.
Jul 15, 2018 09:22:25 #
pbcbob wrote:
Thanks Imagemeister. The Tammy 100-400 is another option. I have read about Clear Image Zoom on my A99 but really never used it. Now we are up to about five lenses to choose from. Hope all is well up in Stuart.
You really should try the CIZ on the A99 - it won't be quite as good as on the A77 - ( due to less pixel density). I can also highly recommend the Minolta 500 AF Reflex lens ( less than $300)- especially on the A99.
..
Jul 15, 2018 09:32:02 #
lamiaceae wrote:
Others made several good suggestions for used lenses to keep you on a budget. Though I might suggest looking for a 400mm to 500mm solution. I own a Pentax FA 100-300mm Zoom. And I find it barely long enough to shoot birds at all with. But since birds are not my big thing in photography, I'll have to live at 300mm.
There is never enough focal length unless you get really in close. 300mm sounds like plenty but it does not do much for small birds a good distance away.
Thanks for the input.
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