|
Wildlife Gear
Left Image:
Minolta Maxxum
9, 300mm f-2.8 APO lens, Fuji Provia 100, Bogen monopod.
Exposure not recorded. Multi-segment metering, aperture priority and
autofocus.
Wildlife photography is not
about wearing camouflage uniforms and using a long lens from a mile away. It
doesn't work that way. Understanding animal behavior and approach are the
most important factors along with the right equipment. Choosing the right
equipment depends on the type of wildlife you want to photograph. I use
lenses from 80mm up to 600mm but always try to use the shortest lens
possible. Longer lenses have a few draw backs. They are big and heavy,
especially fast ones. Even a slight camera movement can result in unsharp
photos with longer lenses. Haze can also be a big problem. Shooting through
haze will greatly degrade image quality. Positioning a long lens is also
more difficult than shorter lenses.
For wildlife photography however, longer
lenses are required since most wildlife won't allow close approach. The
question is which telephoto? I'd start with a fixed 300mm lens. This focal
length is great for most wildlife. A 300mm f-2.8 is ideal if you don't mind
the price and the weight. The main advantage is the maximum f-2.8 aperture.
It lets you shoot in low light and also gives the faster shutter speeds you
require. Attach 1.4X and 2X converters to this lens and you have quality,
reasonably fast 420mm f-4 and 600mm f-5.6 lenses. You are covered for almost
any type of wildlife from smaller birds to larger mammals.
If you can't
afford a 300mm f-2.8, you have another options. Try the slower 300mm f-4
lenses. You loose one stop of light but save a lot of money. You still get a
quality 300mm lens with a fast aperture and can still add a 1.4X and 2X
converters when you need to. 300mm f-4 lenses are a great first telephoto
lens to own.
400mm lenses are a good compromise between the shorter 300mm
and longer 500mm and 600mm lenses. This focal length allows frame filling
shots of mammals and many larger birds. Your choices are either 400mm f-5.6
(f-4.5 for Minolta Maxxum owners) or the faster f-2.8 models. 400mm f-5.6
lenses are readily available and very affordable. They are sharp and
lightweight to carry. Their f-5.6 maximum aperture is a bit slow for some
wildlife, but today's faster and better ISO 100 and 200 films or higher
resolution digital SLRs used at ISO 200 or faster can compensate
for the slower lens speed. If you can afford a 400mm f-2.8 lens, you can
have one of the most versatile wildlife lenses. 400mm focal length combined
with a fast f-2.8 aperture is ideal for any type of wildlife photography.
Carry a 1.4X and 2X converter and you can get frame filling shots of even
smaller birds.
Below: Two different types of 400mm lenses. Note the difference in size
between the f-2.8 lens on the left compared to f-5.6 of the same focal
length on the right.
Another long lens alternative is 500mm f-4 or f-4.5 lenses. I
don't think you need a 400mm f-2.8 and a 500mm f-4 lens. 400mm f-2.8 and a
1.4X converter gives 560mm f-4 lens with great quality. 500mm f-4 lenses
should be considered if you do a lot of wildlife photography and need a very
long lens. They are lighter than 600mm lenses and cost less, but still heavy
and pricey. 500mm and 600mm lenses come in handy for smaller wildlife and
those you can't get close to. These lenses need serious thinking before you
buy even if you can afford them. Most of the time they are left in the car
and used for certain type of subjects.
200mm f-2.8 lenses are extremely sharp. With 1.4x and 2x teleconverters,
they give you 280mm f-4 and 400mm f-5.6 lenses with high overall sharpness.
Shorter lenses such as 200mm are also useful for wildlife photography. Fast
200mm f-2.8 and 80-200mm f-2.8 lenses are affordable and light. They are
extremely sharp and fixed 200mm f-2.8 lenses can also be used with 1.4X and
2X converters. I don't recommend using zooms with teleconverters but you can
experiment to see if you like the results. If you are not ready for a fast
telephoto, try longer zooms. For wildlife photography, 75-300mm f-5.6 and
100-400mm f-5.6 lenses are very good. Use faster films, either ISO 100 or
200 to gain the extra shutter speed needed.
600mm lens. Useful for small birds and mammals.
Any 35mm camera will work fine for wildlife photography. Some features are
absolute necessity. Aperture priority, manual mode, at least 1-1/1000 sec
shutter speed, continuous film advance, exposure compensation dial, and full
viewfinder information are required. Other features such as autofocus,
autobracketing, AE lock, etc., are useful and make photography easier. A
solid tripod is a must for quality wildlife photography. For sharp and well
composed shots, you need a good tripod. Other accessories you should
consider are: 1.4X and/or 2X converters, extension tubes, cable release, and
flash.
The Master Guide for Wildlife
Photographers
Detailing the knowledge required to obtain
professional-quality wildlife photographs, this book outlines techniques
usually reserved for hunters to get close to animals to produce intimate
portraits of wildlife. Photographers learn the keys to success, metering for
perfect exposures, and how to compose the perfect picture. The basic
elements of wildlife photography are covered, including photographic
equipment and information on the various species and their habits. Many
wildlife photographs are critiqued, providing budding wildlife photographers
with suggestions for improving their own images.
|
Recommended Equipment
Tamron SP AF 200-500mm/F5-6.3 Di LD (IF)
This is a
new zoom lens from Tamron that lets you bring your far away subjects
up close while compressing the distance between the main subject and
the background for professional-looking results. Even while covering
up to a 500mm that enables you to take ultra telephoto shots of
subjects further than the eye can see, its design is extremely
lightweight and compact. When mounted on an APS-C size digital SLR
camera, it provides a focal length equivalent to a 760mm for super
ultra telephoto imaging.
Other Lenses
For Canon
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom
The first EF lens with a
zoom range from 100mm to 400mm, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5- 5.6L IS
USM lens offers high resolution, superb contrast, neutral color
balance, and Canon's original built-in Image Stabilizer function.
Fluorite and Super UD glass completely eliminate secondary
spectrum for superb color rendition. Auto-focusing is fast and
silent with Canon's Ultra-Sonic Motor, and AF speed is further
enhanced through an advanced, lightweight rear focusing design
that incorporates a floating element for consistent image quality
at all focusing distances from 5.9 ft. to infinity. This lens is
also equipped with a dual-mode Image Stabilizer suitable for
panning as well as stationary subjects. With full-time manual
focus, one-touch zooming with a wide grip, and a special ring that
permits adjustment of zooming friction, this is a lens that's
extremely easy to use, and ideal for a wide variety of
applications including nature, wildlife, sports, and documentary
photography. |
For Nikon
Nikon 80-400mm
f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus VR Zoom Nikkor Lens
Nikon's new 80-400mm
high-power zoom lens features an innovative Vibration Reduction
(VR) system that allows handheld super-telephoto
shooting at dusk, at night and even in poorly lit rooms.
The Lens' VR system minimizes image blur caused by camera
shake, and offers the equivalent of shooting at a shutter speed
three stops (eight times) faster*. The lens offers a natural
viewfinder image even during VR operation and also detects
automatically when the photographer pans. This exciting new Nikkor
is ideal for candid portrait, sports photography and more.* Nikon
Results based on Nikon's internal performance tests. Note: VR
Operation works with the F5, F100, N80, N65 and
D1.High-performance, high-power 5X (80-400mm) AF zoom lens with
Vibration Reduction (VR) system Vibration Reduction (VR) minimizes
image blur caused by camera shake. Two VR modes available: 1)
Vibration Reduction for both the viewfinder image and the image on
film. Moderate VR operation is executed to ensure viewing comfort
for the viewfinder image. 2) VR for the image on the film only
(conserves battery power). VR operation can be canceled when not
needed. New optical design incorporates three ED glass elements
for superior optical performance throughout the entire zoom range
Rounded diaphragm opening (9 blades) is especially good for
close-ups and portraits High-performance Nikon Super Integrated
Coating offers superior color reproduction and minimizes ghost and
flare. |
|
|
