I am due to go on a trip and won't be able to take much gear but still want a bit of reach for birds (no space for the 200-400) so have been playing with a 70-300VR on the D300. While walking the dog today we came across a more co-operative than usual fantail in nice diffused sunlight.
ISO 800 1/500 f8 70-300 @170mm
Comments and advice appreciated as always
Nice exposure with good detail in the darker areas. The sharpness on the bird looks good, but oddly the vegetation almost looks oversharpened. Perhaps just the appearance of that particular plant.
I have used that same camera/lens combination, and if you keep away from 300mm and stop down a bit, the images are quite good. I am not sure I could pick out an image with that combo at 200mm and f/8 or so, from the D300 with the 70-200 at same f/stop. Sure is a lot lighter!!
Maybe just the tiniest bit more canvas at top, where the tail does appear just a bit crowded.
Cool little guy, and like the upturned tail. His perch looks good to me, and I like the colour in the BG too. Another vote for a bit more room URC. Enjoy your trip Tony, and bring back plenty keepers.
The 70-300 VR is a very good lens considering the price and I totally agree with Randy, if you keep your focal lenght in the 70-200 range and stop down the lens a bit the lens can produce very satisfactory results. Too bad that is a slow lens and not great for action but you can be very happy with this image. I like the composition but agree, onece more time, with Randy about adding a touch of room at the top. More DOF would be great but the most important areas are very sharp and that is what counts :-)
Based on the quality of your shot, the 70-300 appears to be a very useful bird lens.
I recently sold my 200-400 to finance the purchase of a 600. I would have liked to have kept my old lens, but I could not warrant owning two expensive lenses. Perhaps I should consider a 70-300 as a lightweight backup?
Hi Tony - if you are using the 70-300 - but general advice seems to be stay at 70-200 - why wouldn;t you consider the faster 70-200VR??? With a 1.7X converter - this combo produces excellent results - IMHO.
Agree a little more room at the top - like the pose.
[QUOTE=Lance Peters;274257]Hi Tony - if you are using the 70-300 - but general advice seems to be stay at 70-200 - why wouldn;t you consider the faster 70-200VR??? With a 1.7X converter - this combo produces excellent results - IMHO.
/QUOTE]
I agree Lance. It's purely a weight issue with the 70-300 being a fraction of the weight of the 70-200+1.7x combo. Still haven't quite decided what I'll take - as always it's trying to decide which compromise to accept.
I have both the 70-200 and 70-300, and although I use the 70-200 the most, if I was travelling, I would take the 70-300. The weight difference would allow you to tuck in some other lens to go wide as well.
Fantail
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