Team-BHP - The DSLR Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by M35 (Post 3613263)

How did you find D810 ?

Here you have loads of pictures from your dream gear D810+ Sigma 150-600 S. It's a chinese forum though. http://www.birdnet.cn/thread-867901-1-1.html

Will check out that link, thanks.

Early days regarding the D810 - I am undecided. Didn't get enough time to shoot. I had gone on a 5 day, 2800 km roadtrip, about 40% of that time was spent driving back and forth.

The AF was nice, buffer was better, but reach and FPS were limited. If reach is not a factor, then it is difficult to beat D810's image quality. My next long lens purchase would dictate whether I move to FX or stick with DX.

I have processed very few photos taken last week, but shared a few taken with the D810 here:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifti...ml#post3613459

Edit: had a look at that link, I am impressed! But the weight :-( The D810 and 80-400 AF-S were ok to handle, the Sigma will add 1.3 kgs more. Last week, I was shooting handheld from a canoe. Not sure a ~ 4 kg setup will be ok to manage. Will have to try it out and decide, I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilanjanray (Post 3613475)

The AF was nice, buffer was better, but reach and FPS were limited. If reach is not a factor, then it is difficult to beat D810's image quality. My next long lens purchase would dictate whether I move to FX or stick with DX.

I understand, especially when you are used to shooting wildlife with a DX body. I do feel even a 500mm reach isn’t adequate on a FX body for birding, always felt the need for that additional 100mm while birding.
On a Nikon D810, a 150-600 mm lens should be a good start. For birding, the DX-crop mode should suffice in most occasions with no visible IQ degradation IMHO, thanks to the high MP D810 sensor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilanjanray (Post 3613475)

Edit: had a look at that link, I am impressed! But the weight :-( The D810 and 80-400 AF-S were ok to handle, the Sigma will add 1.3 kgs more. Last week, I was shooting handheld from a canoe. Not sure a ~ 4 kg setup will be ok to manage. Will have to try it out and decide, I guess.

It does seem to be heavy and that is the feedback in the user reviews as well. But then most of them are mighty pleased with its performance.

In good light the Tamron 150-600 is a steal for the price. Have a look at the pictures taken with the Tammy. It seems to work very well with D7100.
http://www.juzaphoto.com/recensione....mron_150-600vc

Sigma 150-600 ”S” looks excellent as of now, in terms of IQ and performance at least from the reviews available.
More pictures from the Sigma “S”.
http://www.juzaphoto.com/recensione....sigma_150-600s

Quote:

Originally Posted by adimicra (Post 3614829)

Can someone suggest a cheap zoom lens for my Canon 600D?
I need it as I am going to Tadoba soon. But I dont have budget for additional lens now. So need something reasonable and cheap. Thanks!

Instead of buying rent it out. That way you get to check out the lens before you buy.

@Adimicra, to adapt a popular idiom, one can say " Buy in haste, repent at leisure" :-)

I suggest you rent the lens, try it out during this trip. This will give you sufficient time to evaluate the lens if it suits /meets your requirements. If it does, then you can save up & buy that lens.
If you find that this lens does not meet your requirements, then you are saved.

The few hundred you spend in hiring the lens will give you a lot of peace of mind down the line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3615061)

Ok, which one are you suggesting for renting?
I somehow dont like this idea of renting..

But please do suggest some good zoom lens in reasonable price range.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adimicra (Post 3615062)

Ok, which one are you suggesting for renting?
I somehow dont like this idea of renting..

But please do suggest some good zoom lens in reasonable price range.

Ren the one that you want to buy ! That is what Ampere is trying to tell you - Renting gives you the chance to use the lens without actually buying the lens. In my own experience, I have purchased a lens and then regretted it - had to sell it at a loss. No single lens can satisfy SLR owners. There are many reasons why you may not like a lens, hence rent the one that you intend to buy - use it, and if you liked it, then buy a new one from any retailer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adimicra (Post 3615062)

Ok, which one are you suggesting for renting?
I somehow dont like this idea of renting..

But please do suggest some good zoom lens in reasonable price range.

Regarding Zoom lens for Canon:

55-250 is not a range for birding. Its a mid range telephoto. For that range the best one in 70-200 F4 IS L. I know its expensive, but its worth saving for. 70-300 IS (non-L) is the most basic one you need. But agains its image quality does not stand in front of 70-200. The glass is just too good. But of course 70-200 wont give a range which a 70-300 can give. I did not want a lens for wild life, so I went with 70-200 F4 IS. Did not repent one bit. If you know for sure, you are looking for wild life alone, then the lens to buy is the 300mm prime. Primes are the best ones for wild life. (Again extremely expensive). Then there is also the 100-400 L. But if you are looking at the starting order, with a zoom, look for the 70-300 IS. Its not a constant aperture though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adimicra (Post 3615062)

Ok, which one are you suggesting for renting?
I somehow dont like this idea of renting..

But please do suggest some good zoom lens in reasonable price range.

Rent the old 100-400. Ideal for wildlife. I recommend a telezoom - instead of a prime - for wildlife if you are carrying only one lens. Gives you a lot of flexibility.

Like most comments, I too recommend renting the lens couple of times before buying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adimicra (Post 3615043)

How about this one? http://www.flipkart.com/tamron-sp-af...7-ddb3dce99ef8

This lens is quite good. I have used it for couple of days before buying Nikon 70-300 VR.

This lens is cheaper (27k as compared to 45k Canon), and works quite well. I will attach few photos taken with Nikon 70-300. Photo quality of Tamron is similar.

It is also quite good for portraits at 100 mm.

Cons:

1. Like most lenses in this price range, this is soft at widest aperture and at 300mmm. 100 - 270 mm and -1 / -2 fstop is its sweet spot.
2. VC / IR is not as good as Canon / Nikon. Will take some getting used to.
3. Be prepared to thoroughly test / calibrate your copy of lens and to send it to Tamron if particular copy has issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adimicra (Post 3615043)

If I can't get the money to buy this, then I will go for the Canon 55-250 lens for now.

Renting a lens might be better.

Samples from Nikon 70-300 VR.

300 mm wide open

195 mm f/5.6

185 mm wide open

165 mm wide open

Thanks for all your replies...

I am not a photography enthusiast. So, spending a fortune on lens is something I would like to avoid. So, for all normal people like me, will the 55-250 lens from Canon be good enough?

And if I have to invest/rent a better quality one, which ones among the following make better sense -

1> Canon 70-300 IS USM
2> Canon 70-200 F/4 IS USM L
3> Tamron 70-300 with VC

<1> and <2> cost around 45K while <3> costs 25K approx.