Wildlife (Deer) Lens sugestions

[dennykyser]

I want to get some nice deer pictures so gonna have to use something besides my 50mm :D. What would you sugest, I am guessing the largest i would print is 11X14, more likely 8X10's. I would use a tripod but am wondering if my 70-200 f/4L will be long enough and fast enough. Your sugestions are greatly appreciated.

[robertwgross]

It is impossible to get into a discussion of a wildlife lens unless you state the distance for shooting. For example, are you going to be in a deer blind, or are you walking through the woods? If you had deer coming for bait, and you were inside the blind, then you could get by with a shorter lens, but if you are out looking for them, you'll likely need a much longer lens for longer distance.

Further, some people are perfectly satisfied to use a shorter lens that they can hand hold, and then they crop the center out where the deer image is.

Others will use a longer lens on a tripod, and they use the entire image.

It depends. I use a Sigma 170-500mm zoom as my wildlife lens.

---Bob Gross---

[dennykyser]

Bob, I hope to be within a hundred yards or so. Hopefully catch them coming out into the fields evenings.

[G3]

Denny,
At 100 yards, you are going to need a long lens if you want to come anywhere close to filling the frame with a deer, or even getting a large enough image to really see detail. I also use the 170-500 Sigma for wildlife. It works very well...more like a 300-800 on a Drebel or 10D. Couple that with a 1.4 teleconverter and now you've got something you can work with as long as your subject isn't real flighty....it's a little slow using the 1.4, but it works well within it's limitations.