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Recently ive been using a 80-200 f2.8 lense of Dug's .. bloody nice lense.. but now im in the search for my own.. ive been looking at the 70-200 sigma.. and a few others.. but one that caught me by mere curiosity is the 50-500 that a friend of mine wants for sports fotos on the field... i mainly want a lense i can use for fishing fotos.. of jumping fish.. marlin and such.. but also be able to use it for birds and nature fotos.. mainly finches... which are only about 2.. to 3" long in size...

Any suggestions?? im not rich heh.. so i gotta look for something around the $1300 mark

cheers
Tim

For that price I'd definately go the Bigma.

Try the Sigma 70-200 2.8, then get the 2X Sigma TC. Around that price.

Zeeke wrote:Recently ive been using a 80-200 f2.8 lense of Dug's .. bloody nice lense.. but now im in the search for my own.. ive been looking at the 70-200 sigma.. and a few others.. but one that caught me by mere curiosity is the 50-500 that a friend of mine wants for sports fotos on the field... i mainly want a lense i can use for fishing fotos.. of jumping fish.. marlin and such.. but also be able to use it for birds and nature fotos.. mainly finches... which are only about 2.. to 3" long in size...

Any suggestions?? im not rich heh.. so i gotta look for something around the $1300 mark

cheers
Tim

Tim,
With your nominated budget, there're only two lens which you can look at:
Sigma 70-200 or Nikkor AF-D 80-200.

Glen that's still going to only give him 400MM of focal length. Which if he's interested in finches is going to be tough going.

kipper wrote:Glen that's still going to only give him 400MM of focal length. Which if he's interested in finches is going to be tough going.

Pls. note: his budget is AU$1300.00 not US$1300.00

I have been trying to shoot finches with the 80-400vr and I personally dont think it is enough glass unless you are within 6 feet.

Steve

avkomp wrote:I have been trying to shoot finches with the 80-400vr and I personally dont think it is enough glass unless you are within 6 feet.

Steve

Steve,
The 80-400VR is over his budgetary.

Kipper, Bigma gets variable reports, the 70-200 gets good ones and we see many great samples of its work here.

Zeeke,
Our new member only can afford AU$1300.00.
Bigma and Nikkor 80-400VR is out of his sight.

yep.. $1300 AU.. the 50-500 works in at around that price landed..

atm im planning to sell my boat.. and with about $4000 out of that.. i plan on getting a decent zoomish lense.. a 105mm macro.. a sigma 10-20... a laptop (Cheap job.. just need it for storage and to burn dvds) and a sb800

hopefully after all that.. with the kit lense.. ill have enough camera gear to keep me happy for a while.. reason im selling my boat is because ive got bills to pay.. and they will take a big chunk out of the boat.. so might aswell get something i want when i can

Thanks again for the replys..
Tim

You can try the Tamron 200-500 for about 850 or so. I've got one and have no problems with it.

Wouldn't the 70-200 F2.8 and a TC be out of his budget aswell?
Not sure how much the TCs go for.

Glen, it might get varied reports but I've seen some alright nature shots taken with it on NSN.

Tim, just a hint, most quality zooms offer a 2-3 zoom ratio (the max size divided by the min size). There are exceptions, but the reason is that it is hard to make a lens good at all things. Probably worth bearing in mind when looking at a 50-500, also note no major manufacturer makes a pro lens in such dimensions.

I knew it was over budget but mentioned it because I feel you need 500 plus for small birds. BTW I shot 2 small finch sized birds today. red brow finch and a white eye,
both very small I could post them if anyone is interested

Steve

Zekee,
With AU$1300.00 you won't be able to shoot handholding with the 50-500, It's a damm heavy lens, need a tripod or monopod then it'll add to your expenses.

Ve very interested Steve..

Bird: Ill be investing in a tripod aswell.. thats not listed in the $4000.. but it'll be coming from another Source.. planning a manfrotto btw.. Finches wont be my main focus.. but one of them.. being a mad keen fisho.. ill be taking fotos of alot of water birds

This pelican was taken with Dug's 80-200


Tim

Kipper you are right, think the 70-200 is $1100-1200, TC is $2something so close. Yes, I have no doubt the Bigma gets good shots, as the 70-300 does, but it is when the chips are down and the light is working against you the better lenses shine


Steve, look forward to seeing your finch shots

Tim, nice how you got the bird to line up with your logo

Magic mate, trick is, spray the bird with epoxy 5min glue.. soon as it sets.. ya have free range on setting up the perfect shot... lol

Thanks for the help btw..

Tim

Zeeke, I posted the 2 shots I took today to the image review and critique forum.

See also the finch I posted last week which had a better perch and background but dud light.

I personally would save a few bickies and get around 500mm although you can generally get within 8-10 feet of small birds and crop a bit.

Also, is it my imagination as I am on my notebook right now, but does the pelican shot have a magenta cast ??

Steve

Not you lol.. the pelican shot was very late arvo as the sun was close to setting.. nearly roosting time for them...

Tim

Zeeke wrote:Magic mate, trick is, spray the bird with epoxy 5min glue.. soon as it sets.. ya have free range on setting up the perfect shot... lol

Thanks for the help btw..

Tim

Tim! Stop giving away my wildlife shooting secrets.

Doug

Bound to leak eventually.. lol .. sorry Dug

Tim

Nice shots Doug on ya site.