Cougar to far away... AARRRGGHH

Ok, so I was out driving around with a friend, and I looked out in this field and there was a cat standing broadside about 400 yds away. It never left, never ran, it actually laid down in the grass, after about 10 min. of standing there.

My lens would not reach, the pictures I did take are terrible. All you can tell is that it is a cat. At 400 yds. what lens would I need to be able to bring that cat in and make a great photo?

400 yards is an awful long distance to take a wildlife picture. I have a 100-400 zoom and I don't think I could take that picture with that lens. So, I'm thinking 500 or up, maybe even with a teleconverter, but also certainly on a tripod or at the very least a monopod.

Agreed it is a long ways away. I was using a 300 mm. And it just would not even begin t bring it in. I was thinking a 400 mm with a 2x converter maybe? I am not sure...

Oh, and it was a sunny afternoon, the kitty was in the sun as well. Would have made a great shot. I am thinking it had a kill right there in the brush close by.

1200mm and probably at 2x TC to get a decent shot from that far away, I'd imagine. That's a terribly long way to try and take a picture with any lens (short of the Hubble, maybe)

At 400 yards, I have a hard time seeing a BARN, let alone a cat!

dave

snyderman wrote in post #13509008
At 400 yards, I have a hard time seeing a BARN, let alone a cat!

dave

Well I am a hunter as well as a photographer, so seeing wildlife at long range is kind of ingrained in me. I can spot elk on a hillside a mile or more away without binoculars, easily.

I am wondering if I purchased an adapter for my 60X spotting scope if that would maybe help. Would be cheaper than the thousands for a 800 - 1200 mm lens.

I would have been able to get within 50 yds. of the cat but the little gravel road the went out that direction was posted by the Bureau of Reclamation as No Trespassing.... not sure how that works but did not want to chance getting arrested for a cat photo.

Huntbear wrote in post #13509305
I am wondering if I purchased an adapter for my 60X spotting scope if that would maybe help. Would be cheaper than the thousands for a 800 - 1200 mm lens.

That might be the ticket. Search digiscoping on this forum. Some folks have done some dynamite work with that.

Huntbear wrote in post #13508660
At 400 yds. what lens would I need to be able to bring that cat in and make a great photo?

A great photo? At 400 yards?
There is no lens that would give you a great photo at that range. At such a far range, you are dealing with a lot more than telephoto capabilities of the lens (or telescope).
You have a lot of stuff in the air between your sensor and the subject. Dust. Water vapor. Heat diffusion. No matter how great the optics or magnification abilities of the lens, telescope, or spotting scope you use, any images you take at that range will fall far, far short of "great".

Here is a well-written article of the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of long range wildlife photography with long telephoto lenses:
http://franzfoto.wordp​ress.com …-is-great-lens-sometimes/

Well first of all 400 yds is nearly impossible to shoot and get a useful shot, it's just too far. 2nd the cat felt safe enough from you If he smelled or saw you to lay down, you were no real threat. Even the very best photographer / hunter knows that you would have to close the gap to a few hundred feet at best. Dust, moisture, temp would all have a negative effect on any image. Remember that long glass magnifies everything good and bad. Most importantly of all is safety. Getting that close to a large cat is foolish. They are not like other animals. Even bears are somewhat predictble. Cats are not. Cats stock and kill from the rear. They are incredibly fast, and rarely attack in bright light. But for every "rule" there are exceptions. Best to leave them alone unless you are in a well protected vehicle. In Santa Cruz, CA we have lots of them and they have sightings in suburban and urban areas - more and more often.

Heat haze can become a problem after 10 meters, let alone 400 (1m ~ 1 yd), with a 500mm on a hot day.

Thanks for all the help I appreciate it.

LBaldwin, I have been up close and personal with Cougars in the woods, I know all about them. It would not bother me to stalk within a hundred feet or so. Besides, I am never in the woods without a sidearm. For both the 4 legged and 2 legged predators that walk around. I will work on maybe finding access and doing some calling from a blind. Get the kitty up close.

Luckily, most large cats see you well before you see them. I also have direct experience with Mountain Lions here in the Bay Area. Their habitat is shrinking while the number of cats grow. They have no natural predators in this area, other than man. While actual attacks are rare here, close encounters are common as are sightings in and around homes. Just a few years ago we had a large male >150 lbs sit in some ladies tree, in Palo Alto. The cops had to shoot to kill and used a 5.56 and shot through both lungs. The cat jumped from the tree and ran 200+ yds and died under a bush at another home. Of course 5.56 is not the right round for a kill like that, and the cop that did it learned quickly that the rifle is not always the right answer. She had zero hunting experience. All I would say is that to be careful and aware of your surroundings and always leave yourself an out that does not involve killing the animal if possible. I used to teach that a 300 mm lens gets you a 6' bear at about 75 ft. A 600mm lens gets you 150 ft for a 6' tall bear. Of course there are varibles involved but the better the distance the better the chance of escape if needed.

Thanks for the heads up... and always, Safety is most important.... And a 5.56 is a great cat gun if you head shoot them. Otherwise a shotgun works so much better at close range.

I shoot long range high power rifle sometimes (1000 yds) and mirage is an issue even in cool weather.
I agree that 400 yds is too far for a picture.
Stalking up is the only option.
Good luck and be safe.