Currently I have 600 + 1.4 on an 850 and 180-400 on a second 850.
What lens(es) besides a super telephoto is essential for wildlife
- Thread starter Stephen Berger
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Calson
Well-known member
Most of the time I will have a super telephoto lens on one camera and the 80-400mm zoom on the second camera.
It is not unusual to have a subject too close for effective use of a 500mm or 600mm lens. or to not be able to use a tripod. Handheld lenses also make it easier for me to get down low and shoot at the same eye level as the subjects.
The 200-500mm is too long at 200mm as would be the 180-400mm in my own experience photographing wildlife. Even when I owned the 200-500mm lens I would more often take the 80-400mm lens as I wanted the 80-200mm focal length option to show more of the subjects surroundings. Along the rivers in a small boat the 80-400mm is the lens I use the most although I will often take the 500mm PF as well.
It is not unusual to have a subject too close for effective use of a 500mm or 600mm lens. or to not be able to use a tripod. Handheld lenses also make it easier for me to get down low and shoot at the same eye level as the subjects.
The 200-500mm is too long at 200mm as would be the 180-400mm in my own experience photographing wildlife. Even when I owned the 200-500mm lens I would more often take the 80-400mm lens as I wanted the 80-200mm focal length option to show more of the subjects surroundings. Along the rivers in a small boat the 80-400mm is the lens I use the most although I will often take the 500mm PF as well.
I'm a little late to the party just catching up. My answer is just a little different. I think first one needs to consider what is their definition of wildlife. First though is usually mammals and birds. However, insects, spiders caterpillars are also wildlife in my definition.
My camera bodies consist of a D500 and a D7200.
My 3 most used wildlife lenses are:
Nikon 200-500
Sigma 100-400
Nikon Micro 105mm.
Guess what I'm wanting to add to the discussion is don't overlook the tiny things where macro can come in handy.
My camera bodies consist of a D500 and a D7200.
My 3 most used wildlife lenses are:
Nikon 200-500
Sigma 100-400
Nikon Micro 105mm.
Guess what I'm wanting to add to the discussion is don't overlook the tiny things where macro can come in handy.
I was sitting on a rock in the middle of a pond once and a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron got so close that I had to lean back with my 70-300 at 70 to keep him in the frame. LOL. I'm glad I didn't lean all the way back into the water. I've been glad to have a second body with a 70-300 for large mammals many times. I also have an extension tube in my backpack for the occasional butterfly or other macro subject.
Larry Shuman
Well-known member
Since I shoot mostly birds, ducks, eagles and hawks I use a Nikon 600mm F:4G VR with a D810 and at times that is not enough so I go to the 1.5 crop mode and 900mm effective. I also have a 200~500mm F:5.6G VR on a D600 and is for in car use or 2nd camera/lens in the field. I use the TC 1.4 EII very sparingly. At Magee Marsh I use a Nikon 300mmF:4 AFS and the D810 on the boardwalk. It crops the view to that of a 900mm lens.
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OohMatron
New member
Larry the crop mode does not give you the magnification of a 900mm lens, only the field of view of one. It gives you the same magnification and therefore reach as the 600mm. You are better off shooting full frame and cropping later.
SNEDDERS6666
Active member
For me it's all about the subject matter and location....
I almost exclusively shoot Little Brown Birds here in Scotland, always have and probably always will, love them and to this end I have now and only recently got my kit sorted;
D500 with a 500PF and/or a 1.4TC
D850 24-85 or 70-200 2.8
My point here is that it can take a while to get comfortable with the circumstance and availability of subject matter to allow an individual time to work out what they are really interested in and happy shooting as well as any physical limitations imposed and when this happens and the kit acquiring process has slowed you can really get down to it and stop fretting over what gets the shot and GET the shot. If that makes sense.
I almost exclusively shoot Little Brown Birds here in Scotland, always have and probably always will, love them and to this end I have now and only recently got my kit sorted;
D500 with a 500PF and/or a 1.4TC
D850 24-85 or 70-200 2.8
My point here is that it can take a while to get comfortable with the circumstance and availability of subject matter to allow an individual time to work out what they are really interested in and happy shooting as well as any physical limitations imposed and when this happens and the kit acquiring process has slowed you can really get down to it and stop fretting over what gets the shot and GET the shot. If that makes sense.
Two DX bodies, one with 70-200mm and one with 200-500mm lenses on them served me very well on two African safaris. On those safaris there were a few occasions where I needed to us a shorter zoom lens as well.
My wildlife work in Canada and USA is mostly of birds and smaller animals like distant bears, wolves, deer, etc., and I rarely use anything other than the 200-500mm.
My wildlife work in Canada and USA is mostly of birds and smaller animals like distant bears, wolves, deer, etc., and I rarely use anything other than the 200-500mm.
Capelle Ch
Member
D810 + 24-120 mm + D850 + 150-600 mm (with bag) ---- D850 + 300 PF + (TC 1.4 ?) (walk and ligth, dim lighting, raised hand)