birding-aus

Digital SLR for bird photography

To: Peter Shute <>
Subject: Digital SLR for bird photography
From:
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:37:26 +1100
I agree with spending more money on a lens is better than spending more money 
on a body,
especially with a 300mm, 400mm etc prime lenses. The difference in quality of 
photos between my
tamron 70-300mm and my nikon 300mm is clearly visible to the naked eye and even 
with x1.4
converter on the 300mm it blows away the 70-300mm.

I know macro extension rings only work to a certain f-stop but my nikon 300mm 
and the x1.4 still
works at f8 etc.

cheers, simon muirhead

Quoting Peter Shute <>:

> Can anyone tell me how much it would matter not to have AF?
>
> For me, using a compact camera, it's essential because manual
> focusing is f=
> iddly, and the electronic view finder isn't really good enough to be
> sure t=
> he focus is right anyway.  But with an optical viewfinder and a
> focusing ri=
> ng, I'm guessing I wouldn't do too bad a job but might miss a few
> quick sho=
> ts.  What are people's experiences with the speed of manual focusing
> vs AF?
>
> And why does the small aperture prevent AF working?
>
> Peter Shute
>
> ________________________________________
> From: 
> =
>  On Behalf Of Alistair McKeough 
> Sent: Tuesday, 9 December 2008 9:54 PM
> To: David Stowe
> Cc: 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Digital SLR for bird photography
>
> Same for Nikon mate.
>
> 2008/12/9 David Stowe <>
>
> > Bob,
> > Don't forget that you won't get autofocus if you use a
> teleconvertor on a
> > lens with a max aperture of f5.6 or worse.
> > (unless you buy a Canon 1 series body).
> > All the mid range/lower end SLRs only focus to f5.6. Adding a 1.4X
> takes =
> it
> > to a max aperture of f8
> > (2X =3D f11).
> > Sorry this relates to Canon - have no idea about Nikon but assume
> it to b=
> e
> > similar...Alistair or Paul???
> >
> > Cheers
> > Dave Stowe
> >
> > PS- i agree with the comment about getting better glass before a
> better
> > body. Digital cameras (SLRs included) are like computers and get
> > outdated/better every year. A good lens will last a lifetime.
> > And forget the twin lens kit with the Canon! The longer lens in
> that kit =
> is
> > crap and i know a few people who have ended up getting 100-400 in
> the end
> > anyway due to the disappointment in the performance. It is cheap in
> the k=
> it
> > because it is cheap.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 09/12/2008, at 6:54 PM, Bob Cook wrote:
> >
> >  Russell
> >>
> >> Yes, I think that for bird photography, the lens appears to be the
> key.
> >>  The
> >> just above entry level bodies, either latest or nearly latest,
> seem now =
> to
> >> be excellent for supporting a variety of suitable lenses, either
> good
> >> quality zoom or up to the 500mm high quality better aperture lens.
>  And =
> it
> >> appears that using a 1.4 or 1.7 teleconverter is OK, as long as it
> is a
> >> good
> >> quality converter, but you do lose one f stop.
> >>
> >> It is interesting to conclude that $3000 to $4000 is the cost to
> get to
> >> that
> >> "better than entry level" with one good lens.
> >>
> >> Then, one day, we can dream about the $25,000+ setup that the pros
> use.
> >>
> >> Bob Cook
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Russell Woodford 
> >> Sent: Tuesday, 9 December 2008 6:22 PM
> >> To: 
> >> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Digital SLR for bird photography
> >>
> >> Hi Bob
> >>
> >> Thanks for posting that summary so birding-aus readers can keep
> up
> >> with the info you've been collating from around the web.
> >>
> >> Much appreciated - I'm also thinking of heading down that path
> myself.
> >> I have access to a Canon 400D at my school and I've enjoyed using
> it -
> >> was even allowed to take it to Cairns for a holiday break! BUt of
> >> course it goes back to the AV dpt once I'm back at school, so it
> would
> >> be nice to have my own :-)
> >>
> >> Apparently the 450D is a reasonable step up from the 400D. Canon
> >> introduced the 1000D as its entry level "cheapie" so now there is
> the
> >> choice of 3 levels before you get into the really expensive ones.
> From
> >> what I've gathered from friends, it is worth spending as much or
> more
> >> on the lens as on the camera. The canon 400 lens is a very nice
> unit,
> >> but I wouldn't want to be carrying it a long way!  I've only used
> the
> >> kits lens 75-300 at school but another birder let me try his 400IS
> and
> >> it really was very nice to use.
> >>
> >> Anyway ... just a dream at this stage, but it's good to have the
> info
> >> - and of course important that this sort of data gets added to
> the
> >> birding-aus archive!
> >> That's birding-aus, not Oz!
> >>
> >> Cheers
> >>
> >> Russell
> >>
> >> Russell Woodford
> >>
> >> 
> >> Learning Technologies Coordinator
> >> Sacred Heart College Geelong
> >> An Apple School of Excellence
> >> http://www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/
> >>
> >> On 09/12/2008, at 6:06 PM, Bob Cook wrote:
> >>
> >>  Thanks to you all!!
> >>>
> >>> Much appreciated, excellent information has been forthcoming.
> And
> >>> the issues
> >>> I should consider.
> >>>
> >>> It seems that for my needs / desires (budget) the way to go is
> with
> >>> the one
> >>> generation ago body, i.e. Canon EOS40D or Nikon D80 together with
> the
> >>> 100-400 IS or 80-400 VR lens.  Still likely to be just over the
> >>> $3000 and
> >>> without any spare battery, filter, tele-converter, bag, etc.
> >>>
> >>> Comments I have seen on the Nikon 80-400 VR lens is that it is
> slow to
> >>> focus.  Many user reviews have mentioned this.  Is this the same
> >>> with the
> >>> Canon 100-400 IS?  Any experience?
> >>>
> >>> Regards
> >>> Bob Cook
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
>
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