Need a longer lens: Red Shouldered Hawk perhaps 200 feet away. Taken at 200mm with a Nikon 70-200 f/4 VR. Second image is a crop. The images look darker on my screen than they do when...

therwol Loc: USA

Red Shouldered Hawk perhaps 200 feet away. Taken at 200mm with a Nikon 70-200 f/4 VR. Second image is a crop. The images look darker on my screen than they do when I simply view the pictures. I don't know what's up with that.

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kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nicely done. You are correct; a longer lens would have helped.

therwol Loc: USA

kpmac wrote:

Nicely done. You are correct; a longer lens would have helped.

Thanks. I'm going to have to break down and buy something longer, perhaps a 200-500 and deal with the weight.

ricardo00

therwol wrote:

Thanks. I'm going to have to break down and buy something longer, perhaps a 200-500 and deal with the weight.

A 500mm PF is quite a bit lighter and focusses faster plus works better with a TC (yes I own both). You can probably pick up a used one these days for a decent price. Unless you think you might need to zoom our to get something close much of the time, why not get a prime? I usually end up cropping anyway for wildlife, especially birds. Just a thought.

therwol Loc: USA

ricardo00 wrote:

A 500mm PF is quite a bit lighter and focusses faster plus works better with a TC (yes I own both). You can probably pick up a used one these days for a decent price. Unless you think you might need to zoom our to get something close much of the time, why not get a prime? I usually end up cropping anyway for wildlife, especially birds. Just a thought.

Good suggestion. Thanks.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I've used a Nikon 200~500 with a D850 and a D500 for wildlife almost exclusively for the last @ five years. I'm not looking to change anything any time soon. I had the opportunity to use the 500mm PF recently. Yes, it's a nice lens, although I didn't notice any faster focusing. I choose the 200~500mm because it's more flexible. I usually shoot at the full 500mm or close to it. But when I need less reach, I need it NOW. I can't imagine lugging around a shorter lens or even a shorter lens on another body.

agillot

If you dont mine manual focus , you can get a long lens from the 80 / 90 s like a 600 or 800mm fairly cheap .i paid $ 700 for a nikkor 800mm f8 from the 80 s in like new condition , great for birds . use it almost daily . Heavy , you cannot hand hold it . Today , i would get a tamron g2 150 / 600 , used are very affordable .

therwol Loc: USA

All suggestions are appreciated. I'm leaning toward the Nikon 200-500. I have many opportunities to take pictures of birds, squirrels, turkeys etc just from my front porch. Even with cropping, the results leave something to be desired.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

therwol wrote:

Red Shouldered Hawk perhaps 200 feet away. Taken at 200mm with a Nikon 70-200 f/4 VR. Second image is a crop. The images look darker on my screen than they do when I simply view the pictures. I don't know what's up with that.

I think you did a fine job 🩵💙🩵

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

therwol wrote:

Red Shouldered Hawk perhaps 200 feet away. Taken at 200mm with a Nikon 70-200 f/4 VR. Second image is a crop. The images look darker on my screen than they do when I simply view the pictures. I don't know what's up with that.

Nice ones, Rherwol! Some longer glass would make even more fun...