Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum
Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register
Main Photography Discussion
A GreatZoo Lens ?
Page 1 of 2 next>
Sep 12, 2021 20:38:20   #
robertneger
 
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 300 mm F4 lens on a D800, hand held, using mainly manual focus mode to avoid the anoyance of the camera focusing on the wire or bars.. The results have been good sometimes great however I have to crop aggressively as I can't get close enough with the 300 without getting eaten.
Any ideas on a zoo lens that will not break the bank. I usually purchase used lenses to save on sticker shock- so a used lens is a great option. I also don't need the newest or the best just glass that gets me closer. I have no preference for zoom lenses.
Thanks,
Ace.

Reply
Sep 12, 2021 20:42:08   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
robertneger wrote:
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 300 mm F4 lens on a D800, hand held, using mainly manual focus mode to avoid the anoyance of the camera focusing on the wire or bars.. The results have been good sometimes great however I have to crop aggressively as I can't get close enough with the 300 without getting eaten.
Any ideas on a zoo lens that will not break the bank. I usually purchase used lenses to save on sticker shock- so a used lens is a great option. I also don't need the newest or the best just glass that gets me closer. I have no preference for zoom lenses.
Thanks,
Ace.
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 30... (show quote)


A few suggestions:

1. Add at least the 1.4x teleconverter and use this new effective focal length of 420mm.

2. Use selective single AF point rather than manual focus and place that AF point on the nearest eye of the animal.

You should have more than enough pixels in your D800 to capture excellent images at 420mm and cropping into the 36MP of this camera.

Reply
Sep 12, 2021 20:53:19   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
robertneger wrote:
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 300 mm F4 lens on a D800, hand held, using mainly manual focus mode to avoid the anoyance of the camera focusing on the wire or bars.. The results have been good sometimes great however I have to crop aggressively as I can't get close enough with the 300 without getting eaten.
Any ideas on a zoo lens that will not break the bank. I usually purchase used lenses to save on sticker shock- so a used lens is a great option. I also don't need the newest or the best just glass that gets me closer. I have no preference for zoom lenses.
Thanks,
Ace.
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 30... (show quote)


Nikon 200-500 5.6

Reply
 
 
Sep 12, 2021 21:06:46   #
robertneger
 
Great advise on the AF and the teleextender. Thanks

Reply
Sep 12, 2021 21:08:20   #
robertneger
 
Thank you fantastic bird shots on your site- great

Reply
Sep 12, 2021 21:15:12   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
robertneger wrote:
Thank you fantastic bird shots on your site- great


Joe has exceptional work, so without using <quote reply> he might think you're talking about my images ....

The teleconverter is a modest expense relative to another lens. I use 1.4 and 2.0 extenders, but with a f/2.8 300mm lens, but also too at just 22MP to 24MP. Between the modest 40% extension and the deep megapixels, see if the TC is all the change needed before going the next step of another lens.

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 05:47:01   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
robertneger wrote:
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 300 mm F4 lens on a D800, hand held, using mainly manual focus mode to avoid the anoyance of the camera focusing on the wire or bars.. The results have been good sometimes great however I have to crop aggressively as I can't get close enough with the 300 without getting eaten.
Any ideas on a zoo lens that will not break the bank. I usually purchase used lenses to save on sticker shock- so a used lens is a great option. I also don't need the newest or the best just glass that gets me closer. I have no preference for zoom lenses.
Thanks,
Ace.
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 30... (show quote)


What would constitute "breaking the bank"?

Ordinarily I'd suggest a 150-600 - either Tamron G2 or Sigma Sport. Some might recommend the 200-500 Nikon, but on significant cropping, the images will not look as good as the other two.

This was not taken in a zoo, but it shows what the Sport will do when shot hand held using a D800 @1/25 second, F8, ISO 400, 600mm and heavily cropped. I looked at a 200-500 and in comparison, I couldn't get to this level of cropping without noticeable softness. I think I like the Nikon better on a 20mp or higher crop body, where you can get closer and not have to crop that much, if at all. But then you give up the low light performance.


(Download)


(Download)

Reply
 
 
Sep 13, 2021 08:30:39   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
robertneger wrote:
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 300 mm F4 lens on a D800, hand held, using mainly manual focus mode to avoid the anoyance of the camera focusing on the wire or bars.. The results have been good sometimes great however I have to crop aggressively as I can't get close enough with the 300 without getting eaten.
Any ideas on a zoo lens that will not break the bank. I usually purchase used lenses to save on sticker shock- so a used lens is a great option. I also don't need the newest or the best just glass that gets me closer. I have no preference for zoom lenses.
Thanks,
Ace.
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 30... (show quote)


Consider using a D7200 body instead of full frame .........back in the film days I used a 100-300 and was quite OK - today I use a 70-300 on crop frame. And, yes you do need a ZOOM for Zoos !
Otherwise, consider a Tamron 100-400 - light, easy to carry and affordable.
.

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 10:13:26   #
SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
A few suggestions:

1. Add at least the 1.4x teleconverter and use this new effective focal length of 420mm.

2. Use selective single AF point rather than manual focus and place that AF point on the nearest eye of the animal.

You should have more than enough pixels in your D800 to capture excellent images at 420mm and cropping into the 36MP of this camera.


I believe that lens has a focus limit switch. Make sure it’s set for 3 meters to infinity and it won’t try to focus on the fence.

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 11:35:42   #
ricosha Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
 
I use a 150x600 sigma contemporary; when zoo shooting, fairly cheap long lens, light and sharp.

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 13:49:23   #
Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC
 
robertneger wrote:
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 300 mm F4 lens on a D800, hand held, using mainly manual focus mode to avoid the anoyance of the camera focusing on the wire or bars.. The results have been good sometimes great however I have to crop aggressively as I can't get close enough with the 300 without getting eaten.
Any ideas on a zoo lens that will not break the bank. I usually purchase used lenses to save on sticker shock- so a used lens is a great option. I also don't need the newest or the best just glass that gets me closer. I have no preference for zoom lenses.
Thanks,
Ace.
I have been shooting at the zoo with a Nikon AF 30... (show quote)


I use the Nikon 80-400mm G on my D500 at the zoo and have gotten some terrific shots with it.

Reply
 
 
Sep 13, 2021 14:32:47   #
linda lagace
 
I use a tamron 150 - 600 at 600 mm and set my d800 to dx instead of fx
Works pretty good for birds.

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 14:41:45   #
PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA
 
imagemeister wrote:
Consider using a D7200 body instead of full frame .........back in the film days I used a 100-300 and was quite OK - today I use a 70-300 on crop frame. And, yes you do need a ZOOM for Zoos !
Otherwise, consider a Tamron 100-400 - light, easy to carry and affordable.
.


For even more magnification, try a bridge camera. Many swear by the Sony DSC-RX10 IV, it has a 1" sensor and zooms out to an equivalent of 600mm. I love my Canon SX50 HS which zooms to an equiv of 1200mm, but only has a 1/2.3" sensor. Nikon tops them all with the P1000 (3000mm) or P950 (2000mm), both with a 1/2.3" sensor.

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 15:41:00   #
montephoto
 
imagemeister wrote:
Consider using a D7200 body instead of full frame ...
.


Why buy another camera body when the D800 can be set to a crop sensor mode and have plenty of pixels left to crop?

Reply
Sep 13, 2021 15:45:59   #
Zooman 1
 
One thing you should take in to consideration is how close you can get to the wire/glass or what ever is used as a barrier. If you are shooting at a zoo with few "view" obstruction its a plus, if not you might need a lens long enough to shoot through the wire/glass.

Reply
Page 1 of 2 next>
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Main Photography Discussion
UglyHedgehog.com - Forum
Copyright 2011-2024 Ugly Hedgehog, Inc.