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08/30/2011 09:41:36 AM · #1 |
Eagle Marsh is a 716 acre nature preserve, and although I have a Tamron 18-270mm zoom on a non-fullframe camera, I can't get close enough to birds & animals to get them full-frame. As good as the 270mm is, it still doesn't reach across a 1/4 mile...
I know there are bigger lenses out there, but anything > 300mm is big bucks. I'm looking for lower cost solutions that will allow shooting skittish wildlife & birds. In general, the marsh is an open, flat area.
Someone suggesting adapting a spotting scope to a camera.
Lens doublers are another option - but do you get acceptable quality shots with them?
Or maybe there is something I could do that would allow me to get closer, to where my current lens would be sufficient (no vehicles are allowed on the marsh - cars, bikes, etc.)
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08/30/2011 10:06:37 AM · #2 |
Teleconverters are not a good option for your lens. The 18-270 f/5.6-6.3 is already a darn slow lens, and with a 2x converter, you'd be at over 500mm, but you'd also be two stops smaller on maximum aperture, so you'd be at between f/11 and f/16 for your *widest* aperture. Not workable.
Digiscoping (coupling a camera to a spotting scope) is a possibility, but you'd need a P&S camera with a fixed front lens (one that does not extend and retract when zooming), something that is not at all common these days.
Another possibility is a mirror lens. Careful here. There are some really bad ones out there, and some pretty good ones. Even the very good ones have a little lower contrast than standard refractive lenses, and focusing is finicky, and shake is a real issue. They are relatively slow; the one I have is 600mm @ f/8.
Finally, at higher cost, consider the Canon 400/5.6L. On your camera, it will give you a 35mm equivalent of 640mm of reach @ f/5.6, and it is razor sharp wide open.
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08/30/2011 10:09:48 AM · #3 |
Eagle Marsh
It looks like a very special place!
I don't think you are likely to get satisfactory results by increasing your reach unless your budget is generous. Probably a 1.4 extender is the limit of what I would try in the way of longer glass. I think your best bet is to try to get closer to your subjects. You said that no vehicles are allowed, but what about boats of any kind? A pirogue or kayak? Something small and light that you could carry from the parking area to the water's edge, if it isn't very far. Just a thought.
Otherwise, I would think that camo clothing or a blind would be your best bet. I doubt that you are allowed to bait or feed the wildlife (and that's usually a bad idea anyway) but you could probably invest in a predator call, either a recording or one that you use to create the sound yourself. You might be surprised what would respond to that.
Edited to addt:
kirbic posted while I was composing... his hardware advice will always trump anything than I might say. I will stand by this though, you aren't likely to appreciably increase your reach and achieve good results without spending big dollars.
Message edited by author 2011-08-30 14:42:52. |
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08/30/2011 10:14:22 AM · #4 |
When you say low cost what sort of budget?
I only have experience with the mark III Canon extenders (which only work for specific Canon lenses but are very good), but from what I've heard the Kenko teleconverters are only a little less sharp. From what I've read the Tamron 18-270mm is already a little soft at 270mm though so perhaps a teleconverter wouldn't be your best option here. You'd also loose auto focus, though perhaps that's not a problem?
Another option would be to rent lenses if you don't go there too frequently, or save up and buy a nice lens if you do =). I really did get some fantastic bird shots last month when I rented out the Canon 400mm F/5.6 with a x2 extender. |
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08/30/2011 12:09:47 PM · #5 |
Lots of good advice and suggestions offered above. 1/4 mile is a formidable distance for any telephoto lens. At that distance, even a 500mm or 600mm lens would not fill your frame, unless you are photographing elephants. My 400mm f/5.6L approximates 10X magnification binoculars.
What you are asking for is a camera system that would capture an image like one would see through a 50X magnification spotting scope. AFAIK, no super telephoto lens like that exists. I've seen in the field (and online) camera adapters for spotting scopes. Implicit in this setup is a rock solid tripod to control the considerable camera shake at that magnification. And, as has been mentioned, the amount of light coming through the digiscope setup will be a limiting factor. Birds move a lot and to capture a sharp image of a live bird, you'd need to shoot at 1/800s or faster. The photography industry is coming through with cameras which can capture low noise images at very high ISO film speeds. So, anything is possible.
However, the cost of a setup like this rapidly escalates beyond the requested low cost budget range. Bottom line: Figure out a way to get closer to the subject.
Message edited by author 2011-08-30 12:14:22. |
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08/30/2011 12:41:06 PM · #6 |
^^ Pay attention to Richard, he probably has more wildlife photography experience than the rest of your respondents put together, LOL!
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08/30/2011 12:44:24 PM · #7 |
| This and this...cheaper than a new lens. :-) |
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08/30/2011 01:34:10 PM · #8 |
| Try to find a used manual focus M42 teleprime and an M42 converter. Monopod or tripod required, as those won't be the fastest. |
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08/30/2011 03:11:41 PM · #9 |
You need to think like a hunter and figure out how to get close to your prey...errm subject.
Consult with the locals i.e. the staff who manage the place, about where to find the critters you're after. A blind, especially if you can leave it set up for a while so the critters get used to it is ideal. Otherwise, wearing appropriate camo and sitting in a good spot can work too. Ask the people managing the wilderness you want to photograph, if they say no, perhaps one of the bordering property owners will oblige. You also may need a way to quiet your camera, meaning that you need a camera blimp, homemade or otherwise. You'll need to stay still, even inside your blind...noise is your enemy. Another thing that non-hunters don't consider is scent control, masking or covering your smell. Part of that is avoiding strong drink and foods because, trust me, critters with good noses will smell that garlic bread you had last night or your morning vanilla fu-fu latte on your breath.
To get the closest to your subject, you need to understand its behavior and then modify your behavior accordingly. Do they have good eyesight? hearing? smell? color vision?
As a hunter, I've had prey come so close that I could almost reach out and touch them...I would have needed a wide angle lens to fill the frame. |
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08/30/2011 08:08:30 PM · #10 |
Most of the times it is not a question of reach but a question of beeing closer.
Probably a shelter is cheaper than a new lens.
As said the teleconverters are not fot your lens.
Try to have more info on the birds you like to photograph. What they eat, their habits, the time they pass on to a specific place and be ready for them. Sometime sis helpfull to place in trategic points the food they like.
As for a "cheap" lens for this type of job I would go for the Sigma 120-300 f2.8, with a teleconverter if needed. If I was doing this professionally and was expecting to gain a lot of money from this shots I would invest in the amazing Nikon 200-400 f4 VRII. But beeing a Canon guy you can only drool over it :)
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08/30/2011 09:51:52 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by hahn23:
What you are asking for is a camera system that would capture an image like one would see through a 50X magnification spotting scope. AFAIK, no super telephoto lens like that exists. |
This one should come close ... |
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09/03/2011 05:27:21 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by nova:
Eagle Marsh
It looks like a very special place!
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It is a very special place. Last year, and starting again on Tuesday, I work in an office that overlooks the marsh. That makes it convenient during lunch hours to wander. However, that means limited time available, and usually worst-possible light.
The folks that operate LRWP are very open to photographers shooting on the marsh, but are also strong conservationists. I can talk to them about blinds, etc. I'm pretty sure no water craft of any kind would be welcome.
The LRWP folks are looking for wildlife pictures (like the possum on their web page), as well as bird & flower photos.
Thanks for the great feedback. |
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09/03/2011 05:30:30 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by hahn23:
What you are asking for is a camera system that would capture an image like one would see through a 50X magnification spotting scope. AFAIK, no super telephoto lens like that exists. |
This one should come close ... |
I was up at the Auburn - Cord - Duesenberg Festival today, so, in comparison, the Canon 1200mm at $120K seems affordable... |
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