Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD

LOL

So is 600mm + 2xTC (+optional crop sensor) about the right length to shoot a Skunk safely?

I would have to say that if you can see the skunk with your own eye... through the lens or without... You are definitely way too close
Pretty sure that a skunk that is moseying around and literally sniffing your person is way beyond too close

Yeah, the problem with my backyard is that it's like a freeway for the wild animals of urban Los Angeles. I don't own a dog, but my flanking neighbors do. So my backyard is the prime choice for critters to cross and to get to the avocado and date tree behind my yard. None of these critters, skunk, possum, squirrel or raccoon are phased by the presence of humans. These critters also attact coyotes. And that coyote pack ate both my cats a few years back. For me, I forgot that I was sitting on their "freeway" at their 4am commute hour. When I get my future 5d4x with 50mm f1.2 v2 attached, I will be ready with an iso300,000 and 1/1000 set up. Then I can show you guys a flea bag skunk next to me during the next lunar ellipse.

Snake, I am glad I was not the only one with issues on the blood moon. I think mine were self induced though. I have some great shots of the moon with my 70-200 and the moon has been hidden as of late due to clouds and just being out of phase. So I had not practice with the Tamzooka and moon shots. And I made it even more complicated due to shooting withe doubler AND with the Tamzooka on a crop.
I should have hedged my bet and just shot my Tammy direct with my 6D. The ISO handling on it and your camera body are almost identical. You could have easily taken the ISO up a few more stops. I get clean images in the 25k even 51k range on certain images.
The tripod was definitely a big issue. I did the same and took it down to ground level as well and it made for some UNCOMFORTABLE work. But I will be better prepared next time. I will be planning on 6D-Tamzooka only, then add the doubler and then eventually move back to crop and see if I can be ready for April.
Your shots are a heck of a lot better than mine, so take pride in being able to get something.

I tried some shots of the 'Super moon' recently, but if I am honest, they weren't any better (possibly not as good even) as the ones I got previously, with my 70-200mm f2.8II with a 1.4TC. A lot of that was no doubt my ineptitude, a little bit of it was that fact I live in a city with the extra light spill in the sky and a bit of it was the sheer focal length of the lens causing me problems with my tripod and shake. I was using a delay timer and a remote trigger too. I think I might have more success with a decent ball head, as chasing the moon with a 3 way head wasn't terribly easy.

I think it is more of getting to know the way the lens works. I agree with you that at this point my 70-200 shots were better than I achieved with the Tamzooka. But like any tool, you need to learn how to use it. I think after time, my shots with the Tammy will be better because there is no need to crop with the Tammy on a crop.
At least I hope that is the case because I have seen what the lens can do from this thread. I just need to learn how to control the shake at the extreme end of 1920 on a crop with a doubler.

Geordie Amanda wrote in post #17204912
I tried some shots of the 'Super moon' recently, but if I am honest, they weren't any better (possibly not as good even) as the ones I got previously, with my 70-200mm f2.8II with a 1.4TC. A lot of that was no doubt my ineptitude, a little bit of it was that fact I live in a city with the extra light spill in the sky and a bit of it was the sheer focal length of the lens causing me problems with my tripod and shake. I was using a delay timer and a remote trigger too. I think I might have more success with a decent ball head, as chasing the moon with a 3 way head wasn't terribly easy.

sirquack wrote in post #17204959
I think it is more of getting to know the way the lens works. I agree with you that at this point my 70-200 shots were better than I achieved with the Tamzooka. But like any tool, you need to learn how to use it. I think after time, my shots with the Tammy will be better because there is no need to crop with the Tammy on a crop.
At least I hope that is the case because I have seen what the lens can do from this thread. I just need to learn how to control the shake at the extreme end of 1920 on a crop with a doubler.

I'm definitely still coming to grips with this lens. At the moment, I prefer my 70-200mm + 1.4TC and a heavier crop in PP. Hopefully if the rain holds off I will get to play with it tomorrow at a local water park and some small fast boats. I could do with some light though

Whenever I take pictures of the moon I turn on my VC, viewfinder .5x, mirror locked, time delay or remote shutter release and focus manually. I love using my 1.4x and 2.0x stacked together or not and of course on a sturdy tripod.

Good catch with the Heron BTW Peter.

I agree there is a learning curve with this lens, even if you have been shooting @400mm for while.

For me after using the 300+1.4x for quite a few years, it is partly the extra length, slightly more weight and size and the difference in VC/IS characteristics.

It is much tougher on the 7D than the 6D also I find.

When I was shooting the blood moon, just for more comfort, I lowered the legs of the tripod and sat on a short stool. Much nicer than standing. I turned off the VC, turned on Live View and focused using 5X or 10X. The image shook as I manually focused, but it was workable. Also used an external shutter release.

I missed the Lunar eclipse as I was working when it happened, but I did get a nice shot of the moon last month, taken handheld from a ship at sea!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/pf2E​17

Lester Wareham wrote in post #17205021
Good catch with the Heron BTW Peter.

I agree there is a learning curve with this lens, even if you have been shooting @400mm for while.

For me after using the 300+1.4x for quite a few years, it is partly the extra length, slightly more weight and size and the difference in VC/IS characteristics.

It is much tougher on the 7D than the 6D also I find.

Thanks Lester and I agree there is a learning curve with this lens like me coming from 300mm + tc's. And in time I know I will get used to it and I am hoping that when I am ready to buy the 7D2 it will be much easier compare to 7D, For now while I learn how and get to used to this lens I have the 7D and 1Dmk2 to pair with.

For the first time I tried to shoot the moon tonight