Good lens for zoo

What is a good focal length for the zoo? It will be the first time I'm taking a child there, so I'm not sure if I should take 17-50 or something like a 70-300.

Frodge wrote in post #16945892
What is a good focal length for the zoo? It will be the first time I'm taking a child there, so I'm not sure if I should take 17-50 or something like a 70-300.

My opinion would be something to take the subjects out of the 'zoo' environment, i.e. something with a narrow field of view - otherwise you'll struggle to get shots where they look anything other than standard captive animals in a zoo!

Long lens, your 300, also allows you to blur out the background more-so than anything else - while it sounds artsy, you don't want to have somebody's legs on the other side of the enclosure visible in-frame.

Depends on the zoo and how far the moats are from the fence, I'd take the 70-300....u can do nice portraits of the kids and get close ups of the big cats with one lens

I must add that I want to get shots of my daughter as well....if I wasn't doing thy and just going for the animals, the 70-300 would be a no brainer.

Frodge wrote in post #16945930
I must add that I want to get shots of my daughter as well....if I wasn't doing thy and just going for the animals, the 70-300 would be a no brainer.

The 70mm end of the Tamron should do the trick. Only problem is MFD - what is it again, 1.5m?

If you're providing context to the portraits, then the max aperture shouldn't be such a concern.

At my local zoos, I need at least a 300mm lens. The longer, the better. I don't understand why you can't take photos of your daughter with the 70-300mm? If you want a shorter focal length, take the 70-300mm and put the little 40mm 2.8 in your pocket. Problem solved.

nightcat wrote in post #16945935
At my local zoos, I need at least a 300mm lens. The longer, the better. I don't understand why you can't take photos of your daughter with the 70-300mm? If you want a shorter focal length, take the 70-300mm and put the little 40mm 2.8 in your pocket. Problem solved.

+1 from me, although he's on crop so might benefit more from the wider max aperture of 1.8 on his 50.

When going to the zoo with the family, I either take my 7D/35-350L combo, or a dedicated zoom lens and a separate point & shoot for family shots. That way you have the zoom range for the animals, but also something for your family.

If you find yourself in this position often, it might be worth investing in one of the newer 18-250 or 16-300 superzooms, as that would eliminate the problem for you.

I've always used my 70-300vc only. Simply because most big animals are being held at some distance. Smaller, like birds are small enought to shoot at 70mm without any problem.

It's all about what you want to capture. If you want to capture pictures of your daughter in a zoo, that means wide focal lengths and not destroying the background. If you want pictures of animals that don't look like they're in a zoo, you want telephoto lens to destroy the background/environment​.

I think the 17-50 is a no brainer here if what you want is to take pictures of your daughter at the zoo.

A little dependant on the age of your daughter:
If you want to take pictures of your daughter in the zoo take the 17-50.
If you want to take pictures of the animals go without your daughter or give her a camera of her own.

Take the T3i with the 17-50 and the 60D with the 70-300...

Then put all the rest of your gear in a backpack and lug that around too...



In all seriousness 70-300 on a crop will be hard to get personal shots with your daughter in a crowd... I use a 55-250 and still find it to be tough at times... It would still be my choice though...

I went with 7D + 70-200 last time. Our zoo is isn't huge but got plenty of photos with my daughters running around just fine. Just depends on the style you're looking to shoot like others have said.

I took my grandson and had the 24-105 on my crop. You will need the wide end for photos of your daughter, but there were times when I wished I had a longer reach. Take both lenses.
If the zoo is modern, with natural habitats, then you are going to need a long lens for the animals. Your 17-50 won't be long enough, but the 70-300 will not be wide enough.

nightcat wrote in post #16945935
At my local zoos, I need at least a 300mm lens. The longer, the better. I don't understand why you can't take photos of your daughter with the 70-300mm? If you want a shorter focal length, take the 70-300mm and put the little 40mm 2.8 in your pocket. Problem solved.

400mm f/5.6 on monopod + G2 (or better equivalent) over the shoulder for wider shots. if I'm w/sherpa, the messenger bag probably has a 1.4 TC, & the 70-200 f/4 IS. long is good, but...

does anyone else find zoos depressing? I find myself sympathizing with the prisoners and wondering who left the jailers in charge. then again, ymmv. obviously.