Camera Corner (What Kind of Camera Do You Use, Vol.2)

It would certainly be handy Frank. The 100-400L is not a huge lens and it is not at all heavy. Only problems I can think of would be the loss of the autofocus (at least the AF doesn't work on the 40D or the 5D -- it does work with the 1D series), and the higher aperture. With a 1.4 teleconverter you would be working at f/8. But you would be able to get up to 560mm, which is plenty of reach.

dellrose uses the 100-400L and look at the fabulous shots she takes.

You're so right Margaret. In fact, I had meant to mention that.

Here is a pic taken a few minutes ago with the 100-400mm with a 1.4 TC @385mm

And here is one taken at max: 560mm

Not bad at all. IMO

Looks good to me!

Yep... that's what I want too!
I have the T1i and I really want the 100-400 lens!
I am hoping I can save enough by the summer for one!

Great shots Dave! Looks better than good to me!

I use a Pentax K10D with a 28mm-300mm lens. I have just ordered the Sigma 50-500 lens. I see that Pelletory has that lens. I hope it won't be too hard to figure out and handle. I may have too much shade to use it from the house, but I'm hoping it will do great at the dam for eagles.

Rose

Meant to say that even the pictures Dave takes of his cameras are excellent! Awesome equipment for somebody that knows how to use them. Always beautiful pictures!

This message was edited Jan 9, 2010 8:21 AM

I've put that 100-400 mm lens on my wish list too.

Congratulations Rose. Hope you enjoy that new lens.

I need a 7D to go with mine...but I don't think it is gonna happen!

Rose I've handled the 50-500 and without IS it may be tough for handheld shots. Do you plan to use a tripod?

From the sounds of it, I'm going to have to use a tripod. By the way, I saw your set up, and all I can say is "Wow!" You and 2ndCousinDave take photography to a whole new level. It must be nice to have that kind of equipment and KNOW how to use it! I would never learn it all!

Rose

Rose I will assume you are talking to me, if not, my bad. I don't have quite the equipment line up as Dave but I do the best with what I have. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I continue to try and get better, which comes with getting to the field and practice, practice and practice. I prefer getting out and capturing the birds in their native habitat as most as I can; try to get out at least once on the weekend. I was on leave for 2 weeks over the holiday and was not able to get out once; talk about cabin fever and with the new lens but I made up for it this past weekend though.

You get you a decent tripod and you should be ok but you may be able to hand hold it as long as you keep the shutter speeds up to at least 1000 per second. I don't know the weight of the Sigma but I know it ain't light. Where do you plan to photograph birds (i.e. backyard, refuges etc.)?

Take care and if you have any ?s just ask.

Al

Hi Guys,The Sigma is 4 pounds.

Do you hand hold it Pelle?

An update !

My current photo equipment includes: Cameras: Nikon D300, Nikon D200 and Nikon D70. Lenses: Nikon 105mm f/2.8 micro, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR (Vibration Reduction), Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3, Nikon 500mm f/4. Teleconverters: Nikon 1.4x, Nikon 1.7x.

Additional comments:

I have been using the Sigma 50-500mm for 4 1/2 years. It is my carry around lens when I am out walking. I probably have taken 50,000 photos with it and it's showing its wear. I have never used it on a tripod, strictly handheld, and I have found that the extra weight actually helps to steady the camera. I use what is called a "lens cradle" to take the weight of the lens off of the camera, while carrying.

I also have a Nikon 18-70mm and a 70-300mm lens. The 70-300mm is never used and gathering dust. Right now, I keep the 18-70mm lens on the Nikon D70, the Sigma 50-500mm on the Nikon D200 and the Nikon 500mm on the Nikon D300. I grab whichever one fits the situation.

Hi Dave, Only for flight shots.

Methodical,

I plan on trying it out at the dam when it comes in. Hoping for a bright, sunny day with 0 people there so I can use the tripod. The observation deck is only about 4' x 6' so there's not a lot of room! Maybe if I sweet talk the maintenance guy, he'll let me out on the dam again. That was a really neat experience, but I only had a point and shoot then.

I currently just got the new Nikon D90, that is fun because it has clear shot and a quick access video capability.They make these harnesses for camera's though that I think would such a good idea, it takes the weight off your neck and spreads it to your shoulders. I'm actually entered into a contest : http://www.mybinocularharness.com/Contest.html to win a set.

I was considering the Nikon P90 but am not sure about the cost and availability of the type battery it takes.

Well the excitement continues. I purchased a 400mm 5.6 prime lens. It is 30+ years old and is manual focus and aperture, but is supposed to be a good performer. I'm hopeful to get some better pictures in the field with it. It should arrive on Tuesday. Too bad we won't have sun by then.

Congratulations Marna!

Brian, Hope you enjoy the new camera!

Brian, I just looked up that camera harness because I've been thinking about one and my husband found the same harness on EBAY for 99 cents, plus $9.95 shipping. I just ordered one and there's just 5 of them left. The seller has a 100% customer rating which is what we always check out. Hope you win yours!

while we're on the subject of Accessories, does anyone have a pattern for lens cases? Can't be too hard, maybe I can just make it up.

I googled some for you:
http://www.ehow.com/video_4429034_making-pattern-from-measurements-camera.html
http://linques.typepad.com/files/the-jackie-camera-case-tutorial.pdf
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/camera_lens_bag
And I am pretty sure that there are YouTube tutorials on how to sew them too.

Thanks Juney. I had seen a few after googling, but was wondering if anyone had tried them. I saw one that used an old scuba wet suit~

Oh....that harness looks neat. The neck strap they included with this Canon is not going to do. It is thin and that camera has some weight to it. I have my canon strap from my 35mm Rebel on the Fuji. It is a nice wide one...the Fuji strap was not a good one either.

Need a couple of good camera bags too......

Marna looks like you need to do some updating here!

hee. why? do you know someone who got a new camera?

ha ha ha......didn't someone get a new lens??????

ooo, yah. someone did.

OK Mrs. Ed, here I am!!!!!

I use a Canon Powershot SD950 IS

Anyone know anything about this camera???

I bought a strap to replace the one that came with the camera. It's from OP/TECH USA and the part you sling over your shoulder is 8mm neoprene and it really makes the camera seem about half the weight it did previously. I love it.

Since I last contributed to this thread, I splurged and got me a Sigma 150-500 Bigmos zoom lens. Am having a grand time with it.

Hack

Rose1656 how did it go?

I'm bumping this thread back to the top. It was on page 3. My daughter is in the market for a camera and I'm sending her a link to this thread so she can see what kind of photos to expect from the different cameras.

Janet

I'm so sorry. I haven't been paying att'n to the forum, been planning my spring garden purchases! My lens is on backorder. Can't even find one on the net, so I guess I'll just have to be patient. There aren't many eagles to see this winter, anyway. The river hasn't really frozen much, so they aren't at the dam like they have been other years. But, when I get it I'll let you know. Probably post more on the awful picture thread than on the daily pics!

Numbers are down here too, Rose. Over at starved rock they were saying it was partially because of a lack of gizzard shad, their favorite food. I guess the asian carp are eating them all!

http://www.sj-r.com/carousel/x231966090/Carp-Competition-Could-Asian-Carp-be-competing-for-food-with-Eagles

When I signed up for a year-long photo-a-day blog 353 days ago, I had to borrow my neighbor's Canon PowerShot A720 IS and promptly fell in love with it. The factory-refurbished version I got off eBay arrived in April, and I just downloaded image # 29,080 off the memory card (that came with it!). When it finally expires, though, I'll probably try to find a Nikon of some sort. I've spent a lot of time hanging out at the Oriental Bird Club's online database--goal, to photo-document every species & subspecies in Asia & Australia--and I see 'Nikon CoolPix' over and over on the sharpest, cleanest pics. I'm terrible with technology and barely know anything about my camera, but what I have learned I'm getting pretty good at using! I got shutter speed figured out; next up is probably aperture priority.

I have a Nikon Coolpix and I love it in every way save one - it's slow, slow, slow to finish picture-taking. Throw in an old battery and it's downright frustrating. I read about that before I purchased it in 2002 and didn't quite understand the impact it would have. They may have fixed that though.

katie58, thanks a ton for the heads-up! That's the kind of thing I'll *need* to know before I switch cameras. My PowerShot runs on rechargeable batteries, and I tend to laugh at the little chart on the back of battery packages, the one that says use rechargeables if you take more than 80 photos a month. Yesterday's sunrise, kestrels, starlings, mallards, and macro work put 313 images into my archive. Not unusual for me, which is how I'm racking up the five-digit image count so fast! Included below is a life-list bird, my 2nd sighting & photo op just a month or so after the 1st. This one was alongside Polaris Rd (aka Pioneer Mtns Scenic Byway) in SW Montana near Crystal Park.