Yeah, the Nikon is the same, you must have f/5.6 for autofocus - so that
tends to rule out the teleconverter - however, when I was using a
third-party 1.4x teleconverter, I did find that autofocus worked, so I guess
you take your chances. Certainly according to the Nikon website, it should
not work.
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of David Stowe
Sent: Tuesday, 9 December 2008 9:29 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Digital SLR for bird photography
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 = f11).
Sorry this relates to Canon - have no idea about Nikon but assume it
to be 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get outdated/better every year.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 kit 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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