70-200mm f2.8 for Owls and Big wildlife?

[wt_heck]

Hello! My name is Hector, I'm located in Canada and I'm new to the BCG Forum community!

I currently own the Nikon D850 and D500 (Both with grip), + Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3.

I'm considering buying the Sigma or Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 for lowlight situations specially for Owls, foxes, and bigger wildlife like moose and deer ( I understand that 200mm is not enough for warblers and other small birds that are very wary of humans )

I'm wondering if anyone is using one of these lenses and could share some photos of the animals previously mentioned taken at 200mm f2.8 or close to f2.8

I have considered the idea of the 300mm f2.8, but the price is out of my budget.

If you would like to see my work Instagram: @wt_heck

Thank you for your help!

 

[Warren D]

I can't speak to big wildlife, but 200mm isn't going to cut it for owls in the wild. Captive would work. Take a look at the shots you've taken in the past and see what focal length you were using. That should give you an indication of what to expect. The big unknown is how close can you get? If you can routinely get close enough so 200mm will work, then fine.
As for the 70-200 f2.8, if it's the Nikon EFL (current) version, it will take a 1.4 or 1.7 TC very well, IQ wise. You'll be trading off reach for f stop, get more reach but drop to f4-4.8. You'll gain a bit in AF performance.

 

[Steve]

Everyone shoots in different locations, but I agree with Warren - 200mm is usually not enough. I can count on one hand the number of times I use a focal length of 200mm or less each year.

 

[dmanning]

If you’ve considered the 300 2.8, what about the 300 PF? A bit cheaper with f4, but still an exceptional lens.

 

[BLev65]

I have used a 70-200mm f/2.8 on a D500 for a fair amount of wildlife, but this is super situational.
1. I happen to enjoy shooting wildlife landscapes, and this is a tough combo to beat when it comes to the inclusion of wildlife in its habitat.
2. I do some shooting from kayaks, zodiacs, and vessels where wildlife can be approached safely. Under these conditions, super telephoto lenses are just too much.
3. I have a few locations where the wildlife is accustomed to people, these situations make long lenses a real problem, as you get more animal than you need.
Posted are images taken with the 70-200E on a D500 at 102mm, 135mm, and 200mm (multiply by 1.5 for 35mm equivalent FOV).
I am currently trying to figure out a way to carry my 3 lenses w/ 3 bodies (70-200S, 200-400G, and 500PF)... this represents a very usable spread of gear that allows me to shoot from near to far, and from dawn to dusk.

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[Terry]

I am currently trying to figure out a way to carry my 3 lenses w/ 3 bodies (70-200S, 200-400G, and 500PF)... this represents a very usable spread of gear that allows me to shoot from near to far, and from dawn to dusk.


Check out the Holdfast money maker. I did a couple of mods so I have QD into my L brackets rather than the tripod socket mount. There's a 3 camera version. As a photojournalist I'm carrying an 850 with 70-200, D750 with 300 PF and a D500 with a 15-30. Works great!

 

[BLev65]

I am currently trying to figure out a way to carry my 3 lenses w/ 3 bodies (70-200S, 200-400G, and 500PF)... this represents a very usable spread of gear that allows me to shoot from near to far, and from dawn to dusk.


Check out the Holdfast money maker. I did a couple of mods so I have QD into my L brackets rather than the tripod socket mount. There's a 3 camera version. As a photojournalist I'm carrying an 850 with 70-200, D750 with 300 PF and a D500 with a 15-30. Works great!

Thanks Terry,
I have a Cotton Carrier system that I can wear in the field. This allows me to carry gear on my body. If I combine this with a backpack, it is no issue. I work like this w/ my 200-400 + body on the back. Systems like this work great during the summer, or when I shoot in places like Costa Rica (a semi-annual thing). On the flip side, I intend to do some traveling again, and I also shoot during the winter. In MN it can get brutally cold. In fact, this morning I was out shooting a waterfall at -4 deg F (-20 F in the wind). The hike to falls requires a significant downhill climb on a snowy/icy slope as well as the climb back out. Today's climb was about as bad as I've experienced given the ice beneath the snow. Anyway, during conditions like these, I need my cameras mounted to my lenses. The cold can become so extreme that one becomes dumb as they fiddle about with body caps, back caps, etc... The solution is to keep everything ready for shooting. For example, during today's shoot the wind was blowing water off the falls, and the water was freezing to my hand and gear. Every body part (human not camera) stops working as you try to think about a composition. To minimize my cognitive investment, everything has to be ready in my bag... however, if a moose or otter would have meandered through the habitat (these things do happen from time to time), I would have been SOL because I left "that" lens home to accommodate for the cold.
FYI... current bags include an F-Stop Sukha and Tilopa w/ XL Pro, L Pro, and S Pro ICUs. The system is great, but not quite enough real estate.
regards,
bruce

 

[wt_heck]

I have used a 70-200mm f/2.8 on a D500 for a fair amount of wildlife, but this is super situational.
1. I happen to enjoy shooting wildlife landscapes, and this is a tough combo to beat when it comes to the inclusion of wildlife in its habitat.
2. I do some shooting from kayaks, zodiacs, and vessels where wildlife can be approached safely. Under these conditions, super telephoto lenses are just too much.
3. I have a few locations where the wildlife is accustomed to people, these situations make long lenses a real problem, as you get more animal than you need.
Posted are images taken with the 70-200E on a D500 at 102mm, 135mm, and 200mm (multiply by 1.5 for 35mm equivalent FOV).
I am currently trying to figure out a way to carry my 3 lenses w/ 3 bodies (70-200S, 200-400G, and 500PF)... this represents a very usable spread of gear that allows me to shoot from near to far, and from dawn to dusk.
View attachment 14166View attachment 14167View attachment 14168

These are great! Thank you! it helps me to have a visual idea of how a 200mm on the D500 would look like!

 

[wt_heck]

Thanks Terry,
I have a Cotton Carrier system that I can wear in the field. This allows me to carry gear on my body. If I combine this with a backpack, it is no issue. I work like this w/ my 200-400 + body on the back. Systems like this work great during the summer, or when I shoot in places like Costa Rica (a semi-annual thing). On the flip side, I intend to do some traveling again, and I also shoot during the winter. In MN it can get brutally cold. In fact, this morning I was out shooting a waterfall at -4 deg F (-20 F in the wind). The hike to falls requires a significant downhill climb on a snowy/icy slope as well as the climb back out. Today's climb was about as bad as I've experienced given the ice beneath the snow. Anyway, during conditions like these, I need my cameras mounted to my lenses. The cold can become so extreme that one becomes dumb as they fiddle about with body caps, back caps, etc... The solution is to keep everything ready for shooting. For example, during today's shoot the wind was blowing water off the falls, and the water was freezing to my hand and gear. Every body part (human not camera) stops working as you try to think about a composition. To minimize my cognitive investment, everything has to be ready in my bag... however, if a moose or otter would have meandered through the habitat (these things do happen from time to time), I would have been SOL because I left "that" lens home to accommodate for the cold.
FYI... current bags include an F-Stop Sukha and Tilopa w/ XL Pro, L Pro, and S Pro ICUs. The system is great, but not quite enough real estate.
regards,
bruce

I have the TENBA AXIS 32L, It has plenty of space to carry 2 bodies with lenses mounted and extra lenses in the bag.

The con of this bag is that you will really feel the weight on your back on long hikes.

Tenba Axis Tactical 32L Backpack - Black 637-703 Digital Bags - Vistek Canada Product Detail

Tenba Axis Tactical 32L Backpack Black 637703 Bags & Cases Camera Bags and Cases Digital Bags 637 703 backs cameras packs - Vistek - Product Detail Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Missisauga Canada

www.vistek.ca

 

[Don McCracken]

If you are interested in owls, the gear you have is okay, but you might want to invest in a good tripod if you don't have one already. Keep in mind that owls take a great deal of time and patience to locate and photograph. If you are from Canada, Jobu Design makes really good tripods and gimbals that are made in Canada and reasonably priced. I own the Algonquin tripod and the HD4 Series gimbal.