Running dogs, which lens/settings (Page 2): Try the local dog park for pictures, lots of rooms.

Douglas Tharp Loc: Texas

Try the local dog park for pictures, lots of rooms.

CO

Your D850 is one of the best cameras at continuous AF tracking. Make sure to get a lens that has an AF motor that can keep up. I would check out the Nikon 70-200mm f/4 lens ($1396). It has great AF is less expensive and lighter than f/2.8 lenses. (850 grams for the f/4 version versus 1430 grams for the f/2.8 version)

Check out the AF performance here:
https://www.lenstip.com/371.10-Lens_review-Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_70-200_mm_f_4.0G_ED_VR_Autofocus.html

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Red Sky At Night wrote:

I have a very long, narrow yard and medium sized fast dogs who can run the length towards me in seconds. I mostly use a Nikon 200-500 VR lens on a D850. A friend told me this lens is too slow to capture sharpness at that speed. Is there a better lens for this? (I’m sure it’s actually more the lack of skill on my part.) Also recommended settings would be helpful. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Your lens can capture running dogs. Use a very fast shutter speed. Use GROUP AUTO FOCUS, and continuous auto focus. The following was shot at 1/5000 sec. wide open. Make sure to keep the dog within the four dots you see in the center of the viewfinder using GROUP AUTO FOCUS.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Shutter speed would depend on the effect you want. If you want to “freeze” the dogs in place, use high shutter speed. If you want to show movement, shoot slower and pan the dogs.
If you have a 70-200 that might work better. I have the 200-500 and it’s a tad heavy and tight for that kind of shooting if you can’t shoot from a distance.

Red Sky At Night

Douglas Tharp wrote:

Try the local dog park for pictures, lots of rooms.

Good idea to find a larger fenced area. Thanks.

Red Sky At Night

CO wrote:

Your D850 is one of the best cameras at continuous AF tracking. Make sure to get a lens that has an AF motor that can keep up. I would check out the Nikon 70-200mm f/4 lens ($1396). It has great AF is less expensive and lighter than f/2.8 lenses. (850 grams for the f/4 version versus 1430 grams for the f/2.8 version)

Check out the AF performance here:
https://www.lenstip.com/371.10-Lens_review-Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_70-200_mm_f_4.0G_ED_VR_Autofocus.html

I do own that lens so it will only be a matter of switching it out once we get a dry day. I will check out your links. Thank you.

Red Sky At Night

billnikon wrote:

Your lens can capture running dogs. Use a very fast shutter speed. Use GROUP AUTO FOCUS, and continuous auto focus. The following was shot at 1/5000 sec. wide open. Make sure to keep the dog within the four dots you see in the center of the viewfinder using GROUP AUTO FOCUS.

Wonderful pictures and just what I am wanting to capture. I will switch out the autofocus and up the shutter speed. Thank you.

Red Sky At Night

coolhanduke wrote:

Shutter speed would depend on the effect you want. If you want to “freeze” the dogs in place, use high shutter speed. If you want to show movement, shoot slower and pan the dogs.
If you have a 70-200 that might work better. I have the 200-500 and it’s a tad heavy and tight for that kind of shooting if you can’t shoot from a distance.

Freeze is what I want. I used to think the 70-200 was heavy. After using the 200-500, that lens is a lightweight. ;). Thank you for the help.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Red Sky At Night wrote:

Freeze is what I want. I used to think the 70-200 was heavy. After using the 200-500, that lens is a lightweight. ;). Thank you for the help.

Yes, I thought the same thing. I shot a volleyball tournament all day once with the 70-200mm. by the end of the day I couldn't lift my arm.

re: Freeze. then shoot wide open, fast shutter speed. Good shooting!

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Why not use a fast prime.... I shoot my dogs with a 75mm 1.8 Olympus lens which is equiv. to a 150 long portrait in FF... keep speed at 1000 or above and use continuous focus... vary your aperture for degree of isolation you desire. I don't do Nikon but I am sure you can find a long portrait in their lineup...

bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY

Red Sky At Night wrote:

I have a very long, narrow yard and medium sized fast dogs who can run the length towards me in seconds. I mostly use a Nikon 200-500 VR lens on a D850. A friend told me this lens is too slow to capture sharpness at that speed. Is there a better lens for this? (I’m sure it’s actually more the lack of skill on my part.) Also recommended settings would be helpful. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

That camera and lens is fine for your purpose there, and will serve to isolate and emphasize the dog in the composition.

Most important is keeping your shutter speed high and not losing autofocus lock on the dog as it's running toward you. Takes practice. BBAF, continuous autofocus, and burst shooting is a big help.

I shot this one of my granddaughter's dog, BettyLou, a week ago. 100-400 zoom lens @ 299mm, 1/1600th sec, f7.1, ISO 5000.

Ari&Family_27Nov2020_015 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr

Marshall

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

coolhanduke wrote:

. If you want to show movement, shoot slower and pan the dogs. .

Pan when shooting a dog running towards you?

wcmoorejr Loc: Birmingham Alabama

Red Sky At Night wrote:

I have a very long, narrow yard and medium sized fast dogs who can run the length towards me in seconds. I mostly use a Nikon 200-500 VR lens on a D850. A friend told me this lens is too slow to capture sharpness at that speed. Is there a better lens for this? (I’m sure it’s actually more the lack of skill on my part.) Also recommended settings would be helpful. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I have a friend who shoots FastCat races (dog sport where the dog chases a plastic bag bunny down a lane). He uses nikon equipment and a 300mm lens. His pictures are plenty sharp. Use a high shutter speed, low DOF, and continuous focus. With your lens you should be able to get great start line photos through to 3/4 of the course before the there is more dog than frame. Best of luck!

ggttc Loc: TN

I shoot at an animal shelter every week and use either a 35-135 $59 G lens or 80-200 on a D800e. I try to keep at f/4 or so for DOF...fences in background etc and 1250 1600. You can freeze the typical dog at 800. As always depends on light. Get the dog as far away as possible. Turn loose and pick him up in the frame and focus until 40 or so feet away and shoot CH until he’s almost in your lap. My 800e is only 4fps..so I might get 8 shots, but I rarely have to shoot the same dog twice.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

The issue here was the configuration of his yard, not that the 200-500 could not take that type of shot. This is so very typical of this forum for responders to get lost in a maze. Taking the shot with his dogs in a very narrow place was not working out as the dogs would quickly run into and out of the frame. Shooting at a beach, as one person who posted shots showed, is very different than shooting in a narrow backyard. Additionally, I was not aware that the poster asked for all of us to show our shots. The rules here are that you do not post in someone else's post unless you ask the person first. While everyone is well-meaning it is this kind of post that seems to be triggering the other posts about knowledgable photographers leaving this forum. I am now unlatching this post. Have a great day.