What Lenses Do I Need For Wildlife Photography ?

[Naylor77]

Hello, I am just starting out with photography & Im wanting to know If anyone could help. I am wanting to do wildlife photography but dont really know what lenses to use, the camera I use Is the Canon EOS 400D & apart from the 18-55mm lens that came with the camera I have a Sigma 170-500mm zoom, I do know that I will need a few lenses to use but what lenses I dont know. Can any wildlife photographers please help In telling me which lenses you use & how many lenses I would need to be serious about wildlife photography.....

I shall look forward to your resonses...

Sean........

[Global Grafx]

Naylor 77

What lenses are nessisary for wildlife photography??? It is always the lense you do not have!!! Although this holds true for all of photography!

I see you have a 170-500. This is a good lens to start with. It did not break your bank and will allow you to get some good shots. As time goes on it will become apparent what equipment will best suite your photography. For now take that lens with tripod out and shoot. Anything.


Reading books and Magizines will help you along the way. Work on composition and exposure settings. And photograph pets and Zoo animals. All good practise.

How many lenses??? How much can you carry??? Pro wildlife equipment is big and heavy. Did I mention REALLY expensive!!

Bob

[Naylor77]

HI global Grafx, Thanks for your reply I appreciate It. At least I know the Sigma I have Is good to start off with. So basically I should be photographing everything that moves. Im off to Snowdonia In a few months so Im hoping I get some good shots......Thanks again Bob..

Sean......

[BPK]

from this lens the upgrade path gets weird at best. some folks like to go to the 100-400is or sigma 80-400os for hand hold abilty. others go to the fast f2.8 lenses and quality tele converters.

[Naylor77]

hi again BPK, thanks for your response & sorry Im late with the reply. Could you please advise about macro lenses & what would be the best ones, I have seen some by Fox but cant find any reviews about them. Thankyou for your help...

Sean.......

[BPK]

i dont know about the canon ones. but the tamron 90 and the new sigma 70 are great. also the sigma 105 is well liked. for great but cheap. the phoenix 100 f3.5 is a good one costing only $140. its a half stop slower than the f2.8 but is sharp.

[bob_r]

Sean,

You might consider the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro too. I've had mine for about a year and really like it. I prefer the longer focal length because it allows you to operate at a little more distance from your subjects. You might want to consider using closeup tubes also. You could actually use them with your 170-500mm, although it may be difficult to use because of the size.

Here's a review of it: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses ... /index.htm

Bob R

[Naylor77]

Hello BPK & Bob_r, Thanks for your replies that as helped immensely. I shall look for the ones you both recommended to me, thanks for the link Bob_r...

Thanks again & have a nice day..

Sean. I would like to take this oppertunity to thank everyone who has given me help & advice. This Is the best photography forum Ive been on & will continue to seek advice & will put some of my photographs on here soon...Cheers everyone.

[bob_r]

Sean,

I thought I'd post some macro pics taken with the Sigma 150mm macro lens. Here's a link to some pics that also include shots with Kenko closeup tubes as well as a Sigma 2X teleconverter. The pics are closeups of a dime. I didn't spend a lot of time taking them, but thought I'd throw something together in case you were interested.

http://www.pbase.com/bob_r/macro_test

Bob R

[Naylor77]

HI bob_r. Thanks for the macro pics, and yes I did find them helpful so thanks again. I have just got a close-up & macro lens set by Foxfoto, theres 4 In the set +1, +2, +4 & +10 all fit on the front of my 18-55mm lens which came with my Canon EOS 400D. Ive not had time to try them yet, Does anyone know anything about them or heard anything... Thanks again bob_r for the pics..

Have a nice weekend...

Sean.

[Walczak Photo]

Hey Naylor,
Sorry I'm late getting in on this one to, but to me it already sounds like you have what you need to get started. The two reoccuring themes in lens choice for wildlife and animals is longer and faster. My little Sony H1 has something like a 432 mm equivilant lens and even with that, I often find myself pushing on the digital zoom occasionally. 500-600mm would be ideal for me...I shoot mainly at zoo's and nature centers. In good bright light, what you have should be ideal (like a nice sunny day out at the zoo for example). If you're looking to shoot in less than ideal lighting situations you may find in time that you're going to need a faster lens as well. Let's face it...most critters tend to move around a bit. Even if you're using the most solid tripod on the planet, it's no guarentee that the critter's gonna stand still long enough for a crisp shot. Even in bright daylight, because of the long lens chances are you're loosing a couple of stops of light with those long focal lengths as well...low light equals longer shutter speeds and when you combine that with a subject that won't stop moving, together that equals bad/blurry pics. I'm guess that Sigma's only like an f/4.5 at best...you're going to have to make up for that loss of light with slower shutter speeds...it's something to keep in mind. The problem is that really long, really fast lens are also really expensive (I've priced a few in the $8000 range!).

The actual number of lenses that end up in a person's arsenal is really subjective based on the individual. There are people out there who prefer one good all-purpose zoom lens while there are other's that carry around an infinite number of prime lenses so they have "the right lens" at all times. Using myself as an example, I shoot mostly critters, but do the occasional landscape or macro shots (mainly flowers and a few bugs). When I go into DSLR, I -know- I'm going to need 1 really long lens (as fast as my checking account with allow), one medium all purpose lens and one good macro/wide angle lens. Being the artistically driven person that I am, I also may eventually invest in a specialty lens or two...something like a "Lens Baby" or something similar. Other then that though, since my main interest is critters/wildlife, the only thing I see myself wanting is just longer and faster...if I can shoot a pic of a cheetah at a full run from half a mile down the road around sunset/dusk and still have the pic come out bright -and- tack sharp....then I'll know I'm on to something! LOL!!!

The last thing I would consider is simply how you intend to shoot. I was watching a documentary on National Geographic Photographers a while back and the one thing that has really stuck in my mind was the guy taking a picture of a female African elephant...the heard Matron. In a nut shell, this thing was charging the guy and he said in his own words that the only thing he was thinking about while taking this shot was "when to run". After he clicked the shutter, he and his assistant took off like a bat outta hell as this elephant charged after them. He said while he was running he was wondering if the picture was in focus, was it exposed right, etc.. This is where it pays to have something like that $8000 Canon lens...you have to get the shot (lets face it, we're talkin National Geographic here!) and you don't have a lot of time to worry about focus, f/stops and shutter speeds. Now in my case, again I shoot mostly at zoo's and nature centers...if I don't get that great shot of say the lion's for example, I can always try again my next trip. No pressure, no big deal...and no real reason to blow $8000 on a camera lens either. See how it all works?

I would say for now, learn to work with what you have...and you have a good start there. Work on things like composition and understanding how what you have actually works (if you learn to work effectively with the cheap stuff, you'll apreciate the good stuff that much more when you get there!). Worry about getting more lenses when you've got more experience under your belt. Time and practice will eventually dictate what you'll actually need

Good Luck!
Jim

[Naylor77]

HI Jim, Thanks for the advice, I think I will get myself off to the zoo for a practice. I really appreciate your help...Thanks again.

Sean...Sorry for the late reply...

[jorosh20]

hi i want to know the wildlife photography i hope you teach me a little so that i have knowlegde about wildlife photography....

[photoshot]

Hello I see you have a sigma 1700-500mm, how do you like this lens? I have a canon rebel xt 350d, do you know if these lenses are compatible with the canon rebel xt 350d?
Any info would be greatly appreciated

[aprillove20]

I prefer Sigma 150mm f/2.8 macro.