Do zoo birds count?

[jptsr1]

ive been getting my butt handed to me trying to get wild birds other than ducks and seagulls. 200mm just isn't getting the job done for me. i haven't given up but i thought i would drop by the zoo just to bolster my confidence a bit. try to ignore the netting.

J.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2078880089_568f15f9b7.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2273/2079920832_4067a01eb6.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2078832625_32892afd69.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2406/2078837529_46c9b146b6.jpg

[blonde]

the zoo is a great place for practice :) i actually got one of my very first bird pics in the zoo (which looks almost like the first image you posted) and that was one of the things that actually got me into bird photography.

[jptsr1]

the zoo is a great place for practice :) i actually got one of my very first bird pics in the zoo (which looks almost like the first image you posted) and that was one of the things that actually got me into bird photography.

its much easier when they are under a net and used to being photographed. my 1.4x TC was sitting at my door when i got back from the zoo but honestly i don't think it will make much difference. 25 days until Santa brings me some length. then those birds better watch out!

J.

[ajosteve]

some nice colorful birds here, good capture with the little lens...Ha, ha, I went from the 70-200mm to the 300mm, and now I want a 4 or 5, it never ends....What lens are you getting on Christmas? steve

[jptsr1]

What lens are you getting on Christmas? steve

the 400 5.6. i thought about the 300 but im almost there with the 70-200 and the 1.4x so i figured the 400 would be the better idea.

J.

[rocklyons]

Longer is better for capturing wild birds, but size and weight are also a factor. For those reasons I have found that my 100 - 400 IS is my most used all around lens. The 300 2.8 and the 500 4.5 get awfully heavy and require a tripod for clear pics.

[jptsr1]

Longer is better for capturing wild birds, but size and weight are also a factor. For those reasons I have found that my 100 - 400 IS is my most used all around lens. The 300 2.8 and the 500 4.5 get awfully heavy and require a tripod for clear pics.

i take a tripod with me everywhere i go so that's not an issue but i wasn't aware the 100-400 was significantly smaller/lighter than the 400. ill definitely look into the difference before i click purchase.

J.

[ajosteve]

It's all a toss up...the 400mm is fixed so you have to back up if something is close, and you will end up cutting the bird in the shot. The 100-400mm is great for those close shots and far away, but the canon 1.4x does not work on auto focus on this lens, so you might have to buy the kenko 1.5x. The 400mm would be heavy compared to the 100-400mm. The 100-400mm has the push pull adjustment for length, and alot of people don't like it. Maybe use these lenses before buying, you can rent them and try them out. In the end you will end up with one of each anyway....Ha, Ha...just depends on which one you would like to have first....steve

[jptsr1]

Longer is better for capturing wild birds, but size and weight are also a factor. For those reasons I have found that my 100 - 400 IS is my most used all around lens. The 300 2.8 and the 500 4.5 get awfully heavy and require a tripod for clear pics.

since reading your post I've been looking all over this board and others for opinions on the 100-400. to be honest it dosent look good. there seem to be way more "is my lens sharp" and "not satisfied with my lens" post about the 100-400 than the 400. have you used both? if so what were your experiences with the 400 vs the 100-400?

J.

[MikeI]

Any captive or relatively tame bird is a great subject for perfecting your skills. It gives you repeated opportunities to try different settings, focal points, etc.

As far as lenses, don't overlook the 300 F/4 IS, especially if you already have a 1.4 tcon. It will give you 420 at f/5.6 with IS. The price is almost the same.

[jorj7]

j.

I've got the 100-400LIS and 400 f5.6L. I greatly prefer the 400L to the 100-400 for
bird photography. It is lighter, faster focusing, and sharper. That's not to say I don't
like the 100-400, I prefer the 100-400 for motorsports. I've also had the 300 f4L
with 1.4x TC, it was nice, but not as fast AF focus or quite as sharp. By the way,
this is just my experience/preference, depending on your shooting style/needs there
can be other opinions. Also, the 500L is even better for stationary birds, and the
300 f2.8L is great with a 1.4x or 2x tc, but both are rather more expensive.

[jptsr1]

j.

I've got the 100-400LIS and 400 f5.6L. I greatly prefer the 400L to the 100-400 for
bird photography. It is lighter, faster focusing, and sharper. That's not to say I don't
like the 100-400, I prefer the 100-400 for motorsports. I've also had the 300 f4L
with 1.4x TC, it was nice, but not as fast AF focus or quite as sharp. By the way,
this is just my experience/preference, depending on your shooting style/needs there
can be other opinions. Also, the 500L is even better for stationary birds, and the
300 f2.8L is great with a 1.4x or 2x tc, but both are rather more expensive.

thanks, ill look into your suggestions. my limit is 1500 so a few of them are way out of my league. I'm pretty sure ill be going with the 400. I've already got a 70-200 with the 1.4 so I'm close to the 300 (i cant afford 2.8)

J.

[gymell]

I like the 300 f/4 for the zoo.

[jorj7]

J,

I'm also in the East Bay (Berkeley). If you want to meet and try the 100-400 and 400 f5.6L
maybe we can arrange it.

[jptsr1]

J,

I'm also in the East Bay (Berkeley). If you want to meet and try the 100-400 and 400 f5.6L
maybe we can arrange it.

What a generous offer! Thank you very much. Being from NY I am always surprised at how friendly and accommodating people are out here. I'm right up the hill from you in Rockridge. where do you go to shoot birds? so far I've been to the point reyes bird sanctuary, the marsh at the foot of the San Mateo bridge, lake Merritt and the zoo.

J.

[::John::]

I have the 100-400 and, recently, tried the 400 prime.

I found the 400 was faster to focus and a lot lighter. The only downside I found to it was I couldn't move back fast enough to get some shots (large bird advancing - with the 100-400 I could have just pulled back on the zoom).

As far as sharpness, I was very happy with both.

I, too, use caged birds for practise - there is a large aviary near here and I go visit to check out new gear. lol - I have been often enough that I now have a 50% 'frequent visitor' discount card.

[jorj7]

What a generous offer! Thank you very much. Being from NY I am always surprised at how friendly and accommodating people are out here. I'm right up the hill from you in Rockridge. where do you go to shoot birds? so far I've been to the point reyes bird sanctuary, the marsh at the foot of the San Mateo bridge, lake Merritt and the zoo.

J.

I usually shot at the Berkeley Aquatic Park and Albany Mudflats (Shoreline Park).
If the weather is ok on Saturday, I was planning to go out for a couple
of hours. I could meet then. Just have to work out the scheduling with the
wife (and kids).

I've put some shots on my website taken at the different location:
http://birds.jorj7.com

[jptsr1]

I usually shot at the Berkeley Aquatic Park and Albany Mudflats (Shoreline Park).
If the weather is ok on Saturday, I was planning to go out for a couple
of hours. I could meet then. Just have to work out the scheduling with the
wife (and kids).

I've put some shots on my website taken at the different location:
http://birds.jorj7.com

wow! are all those birds in the bay area? i swear I've seen maybe 5 different kinds of birds tops (outside of ducks) so either i am in the wrong spots or they hear me coming and split. very nice pictures.

J.

[Bignerd]

What a generous offer! Thank you very much. Being from NY I am always surprised at how friendly and accommodating people are out here. I'm right up the hill from you in Rockridge. where do you go to shoot birds? so far I've been to the point reyes bird sanctuary, the marsh at the foot of the San Mateo bridge, lake Merritt and the zoo.

J.


J, in the activities thread there is a series of posts from Bay area members. We have been very active organizing outings with a few other bay area members. Take a look at the site

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=356428

and see if you want to risk joining an outing or two to see how things work for us.

[avwh]

J-
I live 5 minutes from Rockridge; have done 3 outings with Larry so far (using 300 f/4 IS w/ 1.4x extender on two of them), and got at least half the same birds you did when I went to the Oakland zoo to originally try out my 70-200. (My favorite is that East African crowned crane.)

Check out my gallery (in my signature below) for most of the bird shots - scattered over Bay Area Birds, Oakland, and Sacramento Natl Wildlife Refuge (Elkhorn/Moss Beach was with a P&S, before I had my DSLR and long lens).

[jptsr1]

I usually shot at the Berkeley Aquatic Park and Albany Mudflats (Shoreline Park).
If the weather is ok on Saturday, I was planning to go out for a couple
of hours. I could meet then. Just have to work out the scheduling with the
wife (and kids).

I've put some shots on my website taken at the different location:
http://birds.jorj7.com

just noticed while re-reading this you said you would be at the park tomorrow. are you still going? I've already had a chance to use the 400 and the 100-400 but i wouldn't mind an opportunity to pick your brain about shooting birds.

J.

[jptsr1]

J, in the activities thread there is a series of posts from Bay area members. We have been very active organizing outings with a few other bay area members. Take a look at the site

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=356428

and see if you want to risk joining an outing or two to see how things work for us.

looks like the last post was a month ago? im gonna post something to introduce myself to the folks. id love to tag along on an outing.

J.

[jptsr1]

J-
I live 5 minutes from Rockridge; have done 3 outings with Larry so far (using 300 f/4 IS w/ 1.4x extender on two of them), and got at least half the same birds you did when I went to the Oakland zoo to originally try out my 70-200. (My favorite is that East African crowned crane.)

Check out my gallery (in my signature below) for most of the bird shots - scattered over Bay Area Birds, Oakland, and Sacramento Natl Wildlife Refuge (Elkhorn/Moss Beach was with a P&S, before I had my DSLR and long lens).

the bird shots are great but some of those shots of Africa........MY GOD!!! simply wonderful. my wife has been begging me to go for ever im not much of a traveler though.

J.

[jorj7]

just noticed while re-reading this you said you would be at the park tomorrow. are you still going? I've already had a chance to use the 400 and the 100-400 but i wouldn't mind an opportunity to pick your brain about shooting birds.

J.


I'll be out Saturday between 2 and 4pm. PM/email me if you want to meet out there.
I can bring an EF300 f2.8LIS or EF500 f4.5L if you want to try something a little up
scale :).
I also have a FD500 f4.5L if you want to try manual focus (but more affordable).

[avwh]

the bird shots are great but some of those shots of Africa........MY GOD!!! simply wonderful. my wife has been begging me to go for ever im not much of a traveler though.

J.

Thanks, J. Those Africa shots were all taken with the G7; that trip gave me the "photo bug" again, and I just got my 40D and DSLR lenses in my signature below in the last 2 months or so.