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
fiddly, and the electronic view finder isn't really good enough to be sure the
focus is right anyway. But with an optical viewfinder and a focusing ring, I'm
guessing I wouldn't do too bad a job but might miss a few quick shots. 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: 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 = 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 outdated/better every year.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
>>>
>>>
>>> ===============================
>>> www.birding-aus.org
>>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
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