Focal length requirements at the Zoo?

Is 200mm enough?

I have a crop body.

Depends on how close you can get but it should be plenty. I used a 55-250mm when I went to the SD zoo and it was fine for me.

I think it depends a lot on the zoo and how the exhibits are laid out. The trend seems to be to build exhibits that present animals in a more natural habitat & let people view them from more of a distance (much nicer for the animals I think). Having said that, and taking the bronx zoo as an example... There are exhibits where I am comfortable with a 70-200 and others where I like something in the 200-400 range.

Depend of the Zoo
200mm will do (on a crop body) most of the times but I've had situations where is simply not enough and had to crop in PS
For example some monkeys and lions in the Miami ZOO are kind of far away do get a tight shot
But you should be fine with 200mm coveing

Nick12345 wrote in post #11473778
Is 200mm enough?

I have a crop body.

What lenses do you have? Any compatible with a 1.4X or 2X TC? My experiences at zoo shooting is that you can never have enough reach! You end up with better IQ by cropping with your viewfinder than you can get in PP for close-ups.

The other option is to just climb the fence. Those tigers are tame. They get really playful with a flash, so make sure you take one with you! No kidding!

"Don't try this at home"
"Professional driver on closed course"
"Your actual mileage may vary"
"No warranty expressed or implied"

There is a place for nearly any normal to tele FL at the zoo. I usually take either 100L or 85 1.8 plus 400 f5.6. I imagine a 70-200, 70-300 or 100-400 would be ideal single lens choices, though it depends on the zoo and what your favorite animals are.

400mm + 1.4x extender (ff, mostly uncropped)
Taken through wire fence hence the horrible bokeh.

I often take just the 200 f/2.8L to the Memphis zoo and have never been disappointed with the results. I can get more variety with the 100-400, but the 200L always produces some nice keepers and makes many of the bars and fences disappear.

Here are a few shots taken with the 200L.

Indoor exhibits, I use 135L. Out door, 70-200. Usually the long end. Now, for the hard to reach lions resting underneath a tree some 50 feet away, a 500m is perfect. I have used my 500L in the zoo at one time.

I've often felt that a 70-200mm type lens with or without a 1.4TC is a good combo for zoo photography. In general I think that zoos do favour zooms over primes mostly because subject size and distance can change so often that the versatility helps out when doing this kind of photography. Support that with a long prime for some more distant shots or portraits and a wide aperture prime for indoors areas and you'd have a solid base for zoo photography.

I use a Sigma 100-300mm f/4 and a Canon 85mm 1.8 lens.

TooManyShots = Very nice photos there!

Good shots from all! Plus, you didn't end up being lunch for any animals!

jspruit wrote in post #11474594
TooManyShots = Very nice photos there!

Thanks. Correction, the Bee Eater was taken with a 70-200L F4 no IS at 200mm. Here is a shot using 135L at F2.5

Nick12345 wrote in post #11473778
Is 200mm enough?

I have a crop body.

yes, - better at 250mm, 300mm and 400mm !

200mm at the zoos around my area isn't enough for most exhibits. My first choice is 400mm. Second choice is a 300mm. The 1.4 extender is a useful item to bring along as well.