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Lens for Wildlife


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35 replies to this topic

#1
Steve M

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I am new to photography. Maybe nine months. My goal was landscapes, trains and Wildlife. Eagles. I bought a D7200 that came with an 18 to 55 mm and a 55 to 300 mm. For most of what I do the two lenses do what I need except for the birds I wish to get. Mostly Eagles but come summer I monitor bluebirds and Tree Swallows and the 300 mm just isn't big enough. I have been saving for a 700 or 800 but it just seems once you hit that 700 the price goes way up there and out of my price range. I am old and my eyes are not the best so I want an automatic focus if possible. Eagles flying the automatic focus would be nice.

I was thinking of spending up to $2000 but I don't see a 700mm for under that. I can see I have to rethink my budget. Gee I saw a 420 to 800 for $169.00. LOL. Stay away is all I can think.

I ran across this Tamron one which I am told Tamron is a good lens. The is only a 600 mm lens so less than what I want but would maybe get me by The bald eagles are thick right now this time of year. But do I wait and get what I originally wanted which may be What does everyone think of this lens


https://www.bhphotov...f_5_6_3_di.html

#2
Daniel

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I like the Nikon 80-400 better. Its focuses faster and is sharper. I had the Tamron 150-600 for a couple of months then sold it



#3
Merco_61

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There seems to have been quite a lot of sample variation in the 150-600 production at Tamron. Some are about equal to the Nikon 80-400 but longer, some are real dogs and most are in between those extremes. As long as you buy new, you can send it in for calibration if it misbehaves. The Sigmas and the Nikon 200-500 have the same inconsistent quality, it is probably a result of the price point they are built for.



#4
Steve M

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I like the Nikon 80-400 better. Its focuses faster and is sharper. I had the Tamron 150-600 for a couple of months then sold it

 

 

I am just afraid the 400 won't give me what I need. I could make the price work in my budget.  I have a 300 and I can't get close enough for the eagles.    Right now with my 300 I have take the photo then blow the photo up quiet a bit.   I sure wish there was a place one could rent a lens. 

 

But I do want something that focuses fast and sharp


There seems to have been quite a lot of sample variation in the 150-600 production at Tamron. Some are about equal to the Nikon 80-400 but longer, some are real dogs and most are in between those extremes. As long as you buy new, you can send it in for calibration if it misbehaves. The Sigmas and the Nikon 200-500 have the same inconsistent quality, it is probably a result of the price point they are built for.

 

 

I am always afraid of the price point products.   I feel that is what I have with my 55-300 right now. 



#5
Merco_61

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lensrentals.com have several of the long tele zooms for rent. I think they are around $70-80 for 7 days rental. We have similar services here in Europe, even if few of them have as large an inventory. Renting one is a good way to find out if you like it or not.



#6
Daniel

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My thoughts are if you can't get close enough with a 400mm then you won't be able to with a Tamron 150-600. I could show some sample picks with the Nikon 80-400 if you like? 

I am just afraid the 400 won't give me what I need. I could make the price work in my budget.  I have a 300 and I can't get close enough for the eagles.    Right now with my 300 I have take the photo then blow the photo up quiet a bit.   I sure wish there was a place one could rent a lens. 

 

But I do want something that focuses fast and sharp


 

 

I am always afraid of the price point products.   I feel that is what I have with my 55-300 right now. 



#7
Steve M

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My thoughts are if you can't get close enough with a 400mm then you won't be able to with a Tamron 150-600. I could show some sample picks with the Nikon 80-400 if you like?


Daniel thank you so much. After spending a few hours on the web and reading here the Tamron is off my list. In fact Nikon made a 200-500 and it is off my list. I am most interested in the 80 - 400 and am going to do as suggested above by Nikonian and rent one. There is a place about an hours drive from me I can rent or rent online as suggested.

Thank you for your help,, all of you!

#8
Daniel

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your welcome and one thing to note is the Nikon 80-400 produces professional sharp images.  

Daniel thank you so much. After spending a few hours on the web and reading here the Tamron is off my list. In fact Nikon made a 200-500 and it is off my list. I am most interested in the 80 - 400 and am going to do as suggested above by Nikonian and rent one. There is a place about an hours drive from me I can rent or rent online as suggested.

Thank you for your help,, all of you!



#9
Merco_61

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The 80-400 is indeed sharp, with a nice rendering.

These aren't BIF, but they give an idea about what the lens can do. I have done very little post work on them.



#10
Steve M

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The 80-400 is indeed sharp, with a nice rendering.

These aren't BIF, but they give an idea about what the lens can do. I have done very little post work on them.

 

 

All very nice.   Here is an image I took with my 70-300mm.  I was lucky to get this close as they usually get nervous and move on.  This is the original I took and then the second one is after enlarging the photo and taking the center.  As you can see I am way short of the eagle.  I was originally thinking I would need something around a 700mm????

 

 

 

SJM_2643_Original.jpg

 

 

Here is after I enlarged the photo.   I don't want to buy something that does not give me what I need and then be unhappy.  I just wished I could tell how much more of the eagle I would get with the 400 over the 300.  I guess I will find out when I rent.

 

 

File_Feb_28,_8_30_15_AM.jpg



#11
alden

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I use a 400mm f/5.6 Tokina that's about 20 years old and it gets me very close most of the time.

 

I shoot in the large file setting to get about the maximum amount of information into every image, so that if I crop later I still get good sized sharp images. I can make a 400mm image look like an 800mm image in post that way.



#12
Merco_61

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OTRTexan has shot some eagles with the Tamron 150-600 on FX. That is the same field of view at the tele end as the 80-400 on DX. 

 

Eagles - Nature and Animals - NikonForums.com



#13
Steve M

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OTRTexan has shot some eagles with the Tamron 150-600 on FX. That is the same field of view at the tele end as the 80-400 on DX. 

 

Eagles - Nature and Animals - NikonForums.com

 

 

WoW what an awesome display.  Well done!    I am leaning at just buying the lens.  

I can save $500 for a used one from B&H Photo.   I am told B & H has one of the highest reputations out there.   Is the $500 worth it or just get new?



#14
alden

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WoW what an awesome display.  Well done!    I am leaning at just buying the lens.  


I can save $500 for a used one from B&H Photo.   I am told B & H has one of the highest reputations out there.   Is the $500 worth it or just get new?

 

It's worth it if the lens is in good condition. Why buy new when you can get the same thing for $500 less? A quality lens that has been taken care of will last a lifetime.



#15
Daniel

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Hawk shot at 600mm Focal point with Tamaron 150-600. Will give a sample with the Nikon 80-400 in a minutes.

 

Sorry I cropped the Ospreys wings but that shot will be printed and so that is why. Osprey shot with the Nikon 80-400

 

Notice the grain in the hawk show and the clarity in the Osprey shot. 

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#16
alden

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Osprey is much clearer.

 

Nikon glass is just superior.



#17
Steve M

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Hawk shot at 600mm Focal point with Tamaron 150-600. Will give a sample with the Nikon 80-400 in a minutes.

Sorry I cropped the Ospreys wings but that shot will be printed and so that is why. Osprey shot with the Nikon 80-400

Notice the grain in the hawk show and the clarity in the Osprey shot.

Great comparison! Big difference. Thank you so much



I just saw some photos taken by a sigma 150-600. The photos were very crisp and clear. Any comments on the Sigma

The more expensive one is a bit less than the Nikon

#18
Steve M

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Well I rented a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Nikon F. Glad I rented. I am not happy with my pictures. Out of 100 pictures 95 are blurry. Even with using my tripod they are blurry. I have the lens for seven days but at the rate I am going I will probably send back early.

I looked to see if I needed any special software for my D7200 but don't see that I do. If anyone has any tips or suggestions I would appreciate it. If I stay under 300mm then I seem to get a pretty old picture but still not as crisp as one would expect.

#19
Dogbytes

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Out of 100 pictures 95 are blurry. Even with using my tripod they are blurry.

If I stay under 300mm then I seem to get a pretty old picture but still not as crisp as one would expect.

 

That kind of photography is not what I specialise in and I've never used any of the lenses mentioned but, going back to basics, the first thing to consider, if you're not happy with how sharp your pictures are, is whether the culprit is subject movement or camera movement.

 

A 600mm lens is a difficult thing to keep still. Your tripod and head will need to be up to the task, a flimsy, lightweight one will not do it.

With animals, if they're not absolutely still, you tend to need higher shutter speeds than you might expect - hence the use of fast (and expensive!) glass by the pro's. What shutter speeds are you achieving with the sharp pics as opposed to the blurry ones? Is there a difference?

 

I'm sure there are better qualified people on here than me who will suggest something. However this is quite a demanding type of photography in which good technique is very important - and it is always easy to blame the gear...



#20
Steve M

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That kind of photography is not what I specialise in and I've never used any of the lenses mentioned but, going back to basics, the first thing to consider, if you're not happy with how sharp your pictures are, is whether the culprit is subject movement or camera movement.

A 600mm lens is a difficult thing to keep still. Your tripod and head will need to be up to the task, a flimsy, lightweight one will not do it.
With animals, if they're not absolutely still, you tend to need higher shutter speeds than you might expect - hence the use of fast (and expensive!) glass by the pro's. What shutter speeds are you achieving with the sharp pics as opposed to the blurry ones? Is there a difference?

I'm sure there are better qualified people on here than me who will suggest something. However this is quite a demanding type of photography in which good technique is very important - and it is always easy to blame the gear...


You are right in everything you say. Me being a beginner this lens is probably too much for me. I called Sigma and sent the a bunch of pictures. They are going to go through them. I even set my camera on my pickup hoping there would be no movement. Even with a row second delay the picture still turned out blurry. I took over hundred pictures again and one was well almost there.

Glad I only rented it. If it is movement I have a long ways to go. This lens is not for me.

Back to square one and get the 80 to 400 Nikon.