I took my new lens out for a 'test drive' today looking for animals and other opportunities that would require a long lens. There weren't many...but this doe and her fawn were most cooperative. They posed in the road while I took many shots using the wrong setting (trashed) but then she posed further back in the woods on the side of the road, on a bluff, where we could capture her through an open window -- giving the lens a good test. Processed with a bit of work in Topaz Textures to make the woods a little less dark and straggly looking.
What a beauty! A great capture with the new lens! I see this closeup with so much detail and I want to buy a longer/ better lens to be able to get a shot like this! Oh no hold on I am trying for lighter weight! Lol! Can I have both ? Probably not! Fav for this lovely lady!
@joansmor LOL! I notice that they tend to come out a lot more when I don't have my camera than when I do! While frogs are harder to spot these days, deer seem to be getting braver around humans -- hopefully they'll disappear into hiding before hunting season starts!
@pistache Not bad, actually. I wouldn't want to carry it on a long hike, but it is definitely useable handheld. Much steadier, of course with tripod -- and monopod or beanbag on the car would make it easier as well. But with animals, I find that I need to be places where I wouldn't have time to set up with tripod or even monopod.
@pusspup I use Topaz Textures a fair amount -- sometimes just for something simple like their vignette or blur, which I prefer to other plug-ins. I use it with Lightroom more than PS, but I'm guessing it works with both.
@pamknowler Yep -- definitely a huge tradeoff with weight, but it does really make a difference. When I make the move to mirrorless, this lens will have to go as it's WAY too heavy at that point. But, if I rented it for the trip, it would end up costing more than buying it. And I'm possibly going to sell it once the trip is over unless I have a specific other trip in mind -- and then it is WAY cheaper than renting!
she is a beauty .... wow you are thinking of moving to mirrorless? I would love losing the size and weight just don't know about the cost and relearning a new camera.
@lesip You've nailed the issue I'm dealing with too. I really like my current system, but imagine within another few years, the weight will make it really stressful for hiking, traveling, etc. The cost to replicate my current system, though, is prohibitive, even selling all my Nikon gear. And the learning curve...ugh. So I'm hoping that Nikon comes out with a good mirrorless and I can slowly move to lighter weight lenses. It's a hard choice at the moment!
@taffy Hi Taffy, the first work out I did with the sigma was at a sailing regatta. I was out on a moving boat, taking photos of moving boats. None of the boats were crystal clear, and the bokeh looked like someone had got a paintbrush and made swirls in the background. Nobody ordered any sailing photos that year. I have since swapped to the Canon 100-400, and find it so crystal clear that it doesn't matter that it only goes to 400 rather than the 600mm. I took the 100-400mm to Africa, and was very pleased with the results.
@888rachel This is very helpful. Thanks. I think it's going to work out, but your analysis tells me I should try it in some more challenging circumstances.
@taffy I was just looking for the person who took a Tamron 150-600mm to Africa, and it was Osia Strasner / panthora. She had amazing photos. But I don't think she is still active on 365.
