"Ideal" Focal Length for Birding?
Dec 17, 2019 13:14:37 #
For nature photography,especially for birds I have used Nikon D810 and my current preference is the Nikon D850 coupled with a Tamron 150-600G2 lens. Can't beat the combination and the shots are taco sharp. You can count the strands on the feathers.
My daughter and son in law both shoot with the Nikon DX 500 with the Nikon 500 lens
My daughter and son in law both shoot with the Nikon DX 500 with the Nikon 500 lens
Dec 17, 2019 13:31:14 #
jwreed50 wrote:
What do most of you use for birding -- a zoom or prime lens? What do you find to be the "best" focal length for a lens used primarily for wildlife, esp. birding?
Fuji XT3 with 50mm-140mm 2.8 lens, 75mm to 210mm, 35 mm equivalent and the 100mm-400mm lens with 1.4 extender gives 210mm to 840 mm 35 mm equivalent...
Dec 17, 2019 14:30:50 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Look at some of Chg_Canon's topics for ultra-high-quality bird photos.
At almost the opposite end of the spectrum for gear, the photo below was shot with a $375 Canon SX50 at the "equivalent" focal length of 1200 mm.
I'm sure you are more interested in the upper end, but I always like to remind folks that there are alternatives to expensive and heavy that don't totally suck, at least for personal enjoyment.
At almost the opposite end of the spectrum for gear, the photo below was shot with a $375 Canon SX50 at the "equivalent" focal length of 1200 mm.
I'm sure you are more interested in the upper end, but I always like to remind folks that there are alternatives to expensive and heavy that don't totally suck, at least for personal enjoyment.
While I own a Tamron 150-600mm G2, I, too, often go to my SX50 for those "reach" shots. True, my 80D gives me more room to crop, if necessary. It has more pixels. But larger sensor size (mm²) is mostly helpful in low light.
Dec 17, 2019 14:35:17 #
wapiti wrote:
You rarely hear a bird photographer say that he[she] has too much reach. 
Agreed. That said, the most used and affordable seems to be the 150 or 200 to 600 zooms. Primes in the 600 usually also have larger apertures but also massively higher prices.
Dec 17, 2019 14:43:25 #
Thanks for the responses, guys and gals. This has been an interesting survey.
Dec 17, 2019 15:44:37 #
jwreed50 wrote:
What do most of you use for birding -- a zoom or prime lens? What do you find to be the "best" focal length for a lens used primarily for wildlife, esp. birding?
Some people use teleconverters for extra reach. This is my argument for not using one.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-623643-1.html
Dec 17, 2019 17:15:15 #
I'm in the "it's never too much reach" camp. My favorite setup is a 5D4 with 600 f4 + 2.0TC (1200mm); if hiking more, I'll choose a 400 DO f4 + 1.4TC or 2.0TC... usually a tripod with the 600. I started with the 7D2 + 100-400 II which was very good, but didn't quite do it for me so I went whole hog so that I couldn't blame it on the gear.
Dec 17, 2019 17:52:53 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
It depends ... What birds, what location, what camera, what budget?
Certainly, there is no universal 'best', only 'more' is always better and 'better' starts at 400mm for all sensor sizes.
Certainly, there is no universal 'best', only 'more' is always better and 'better' starts at 400mm for all sensor sizes.
Add “what distance”
Dec 17, 2019 18:37:53 #
Nikon D7200 with a Sigma 150-600 and a just purchased 1.4 TC. Need just a little more reach for where i typically will go. F8 should not be a problem for me.
Dec 17, 2019 19:44:23 #
joer wrote:
Some people use teleconverters for extra reach. This is my argument for not using one.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-623643-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-623643-1.html
Went to the UHH Post You listed, Beautiful Picture of a Blue Jay, but no dialogue on teleconverters, so I went to your 500 Pix Page and all Your Photographs are Outstanding which speaks for itself,,,I agree a teleconverter cuts down on incoming light and the extra glass can cause less sharpness, and getting close, using bird feeders, or a blind or a tape recording of bird songs to get closer is better than using a teleconverter, still they come in handy in a pinch...and some of our Photographers on this forum have no problem with teleconverters but are generally using them on a very expensive fast aperture telephoto lens with a high resolution camera...
Dec 17, 2019 19:57:04 #
joer wrote:
Some people use teleconverters for extra reach. This is my argument for not using one.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-623643-1.html
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-623643-1.html
And this is my argument for using one. The heron's nest was about 2000 ft away. I used a D800, 600mm F4, and a 1.4 TC - the image was heavily cropped from a much larger image. There was a swamp between me and the trees where the nests were. This was as close as I could get. The rookery had about 30 active nests. I had a 2X TC but the image quality took too much of a hit, so I didn't use it. Of course the camera was on a tripod.
Dec 17, 2019 20:19:49 #
pila wrote:
Once again, you demonstrate that it is all about the photographer and a steady hand or a great tripod.
Thanks!
I posted some pics taken with a D800 and a 600mm F4 with a 1.4 TC on a tripod.
These were all hand-held with a Sigma 150-600 Sport, and either a D800 or a D810 and no TC - but heavily cropped. You don't need a TC with a full frame camera. Note that most of these are very tiny birds, twitchy and nervous. Not having to rely on a tripod for support is a definite positive and helped me get some shots that I might have missed while tripping over the tripod's feet.
Ruby Throated Hummingbird, female
(Download)
(Download)
Blackpoll warbler, breeding female
(Download)
Red Tailed Hawk, Juvenile
(Download)
Ovenbird
(Download)
Black Throated Blue Warbler
(Download)
Dec 18, 2019 03:03:41 #
I agree with CaptainBobBrown 300pf and 500pf are a great combo for birds. Both take a 1.4tc so you get 300,420,500 and 700mm. Ticks most boxes for me and all light to carry.
Dec 18, 2019 03:05:03 #
I agree with CaptainBobBrown 300pf and 500pf are a great combo for birds. Both take a 1.4tc so you get 300,420,500 and 700mm. Ticks most boxes for me and all light to carry.
Dec 18, 2019 06:07:48 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
PH CIB wrote:
Went to the UHH Post You listed, Beautiful Picture... (show quote)
Your quote is dangerous, I quote you here, "or a tape recording of bird songs to get closer is better than using a teleconverter".
Using bird songs to bring in birds in very, very, wrong. I hope NO one here is using this method. It is not something ANYONE should do. It ends up messing up the bird, they are drawn in on a call that is used that most birds use for mating, the bird shows up, sees no mate, and leaves. If this is done repeatedly, it will discourage mating among birds. Please do not do this, and if anyone here is doing this, PLEASE, PLEASE, STOP!!!!!!!!!!
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