Bill Ferris
Well-known member
I wonder if the OP found their lightweight upgrade and, if so, would be interested in sharing how they've been enjoying the new(ish) kit?
Finally time for a new lightweight camera for birding and wildlife, would like some help deciding on a good fit for me.
- Thread starter fishrman
- Start date
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My selection criteria:
1-Can you handle 6 pounds? OM-1 mk-2/150-400 about $10K
2-Would you like 4# and inexpensive? Om-1 mk 2/100-400 about $4.5K
3-Can you handle 7+ pounds and money is no object? Sony A1-2/300f/2.8/1.4 TC about the price of a good used car.
4-I am really cheap so? Canon R-7/100-400 less than $2500
1-Can you handle 6 pounds? OM-1 mk-2/150-400 about $10K
2-Would you like 4# and inexpensive? Om-1 mk 2/100-400 about $4.5K
3-Can you handle 7+ pounds and money is no object? Sony A1-2/300f/2.8/1.4 TC about the price of a good used car.
4-I am really cheap so? Canon R-7/100-400 less than $2500
ricardo00
Well-known member
Not sure about your math (or mine), but the Sony A1ii plus 300mm f/2.8 plus 1.4TC would be more like 5.25 pounds (26 ounces plus 52 ounces plus 5.9 ounces)? Not 7 plus pounds. And about $13K, yes $3K more than the OM-1 mk-2/150-400mm but not that much relatively. For most people, even $2500 would be crazy to spend when one can use their phone for most pics. Also the Canon r-5 plus 100-500mm would be the more comparable system.
OM-1 mk 2 is currently on sale be OM Systems for $2K
There are 4 lens choices for birds:
1-100-400. This lens comes in two configurations. The ii has weather sealing and IS sync and costs $1500. The older version, which I have, has neither but is otherwise identical and costs $1000. The actual weight with cards, battery and lens hood is 3.9# I measured my rigs on my digital scale. With a couple of 128K cards and a battery charger and extra battery, a complete rig can be had for $3K
2-150-600. $2000. This lens has incredible reach and IS, but the resultant combo is about 6 pounds. The lens extends when zooming. A lot of casual bird photographers like this combo because the FF equivalent reach is 1200mm and many of us have difficulty getting close to subjects. This lens sometimes goes on sale for a $200 savings.
3-150-400 F/4.5. $7500. I have never seen it on sale. Most OM System pros swear by this lens. It does not extend while zooming and has a built-in 1.2 TC which gives 1000mm FF reach @ F/f.6. More significantly, this lens will AF @ 50 f/s.
I have this lens. Frankly I struggled mightily deciding whether to spend this amount of money or spend more for a Sony A1-2/ 300mm f/2.8 + a TC but ultimately decided that I wanted the flexibility of a zoom.
Originally, I had lens 4. a 300F4. $2700 but does go on sale for $2500. The combo with this lens comes in a little more than 4.5 pounds and will AF @ 50 f/s. I score some great shots with this combo but ultimately went to a zoom.
There are 4 lens choices for birds:
1-100-400. This lens comes in two configurations. The ii has weather sealing and IS sync and costs $1500. The older version, which I have, has neither but is otherwise identical and costs $1000. The actual weight with cards, battery and lens hood is 3.9# I measured my rigs on my digital scale. With a couple of 128K cards and a battery charger and extra battery, a complete rig can be had for $3K
2-150-600. $2000. This lens has incredible reach and IS, but the resultant combo is about 6 pounds. The lens extends when zooming. A lot of casual bird photographers like this combo because the FF equivalent reach is 1200mm and many of us have difficulty getting close to subjects. This lens sometimes goes on sale for a $200 savings.
3-150-400 F/4.5. $7500. I have never seen it on sale. Most OM System pros swear by this lens. It does not extend while zooming and has a built-in 1.2 TC which gives 1000mm FF reach @ F/f.6. More significantly, this lens will AF @ 50 f/s.
I have this lens. Frankly I struggled mightily deciding whether to spend this amount of money or spend more for a Sony A1-2/ 300mm f/2.8 + a TC but ultimately decided that I wanted the flexibility of a zoom.
Originally, I had lens 4. a 300F4. $2700 but does go on sale for $2500. The combo with this lens comes in a little more than 4.5 pounds and will AF @ 50 f/s. I score some great shots with this combo but ultimately went to a zoom.
ricardo00
Well-known member
For someone coming from a bridge camera (the OP), think #1 would be the clear choice. Lightest and cheapest. For those who want a much higher level of photography, adding the 150-400mm would definitely make sense. However, for $7,500 and 4 plus pounds, a number of other options become more comparable. Have you had the opportunity to try to photography an owl in flight at dusk with the OM system? Or any other low light situations with rapidly moving subjects? This is the kind of photo I am looking to take:
I just received my 150-400 and have no experience with it but I have photographed an OWL at dusk flying right at me with the 300f4
I was in Dick's boat in Florida. Wiskeyman, a member here, was with me. He can confirm the story. Dick was calling the Owls. I knew they were flying right towards the caller, so I set the camera to PROCap SH2 @ 50f/s, f4, 1/3200 sec. Back then I only had the mk 1 OM-1 and it only had a 90-frame buffer so I set the pre-frames to 20 (.4 sec). When the Owl flew it appeared in the viewfinder and I full pressed. I scored two decent shots of the owl in full flight. ISO was pretty high, but the owl was nicely in focus.
I did not pre-focus on the Owl on the branch. So essentially the camera/lens combo was able to pick up the bird and focus on it and I scored a couple of shots. Only happened once as the Owls didn't behave often. I do not believe that the 100-400 or the 150-600 would have done as well but my current rig, an OM-1 mk2 and the 150-400 would probably done better.
Previously, in much better light, I pre-focused on the Owl on the branch and full pressed when it took off, again right at me. Much better color but the background was close.
The issue with the OM-1 is low light because the 2:1 crop factor doubles the effective F/stop and low light shots have high ISO. That didn't stop the combo from focusing but did reduce the dynamic range.