So I just signed up for a raptor shoot in Northern Virginia for this Saturday. This being my first one I do need some advice on lens/body combos. The birds will all be tethered to their handlers or on a perch (tethered). I'll be shooting both Owls (Northern Saw Whet Owl, Long Eared Owl, Great Horned Owl and White Faced Copes Owl) and Hawks/Falcons (Northern American Kestrel, Broad Winged Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk and a Gyrfalcon). Shooting distance will be no closer than 6 feet, but I'm pretty sure we'll have room to stand back 10 to 20 feet, maybe more. Flash is allowed (I have an SB-600) as are tripods.
My question concerns choice of lense/bodies. I've got a full frame Nikon D700 and a cropped sensor D300s. My lenses are:
Nikon 300 f4
Nikon 70-300 4.5 - 5.6 VRII
Tamron 24-75 2.8
Nikon 60mm 2.8 Micro
Nikon 18-200 3.5-5.6 VRII (DX)
plus a few short Nikon primes (35 2.0, 50 1.8) and a wide angle (Nikon 16-35 F4 VRII)
I've got a monopod as well as a tripod, and I can use either at the shoot.
I'm totally flummoxed over what combo would work best with what camera, however my best guess is to use my 300mm on the D700 with a tripod and either put my Tamron 24-75 on the D300 or my Nikon 60 on the D300, hand held, for closer work. What do you think?
Thanks!
Brian
PS I'm thinking flash will not be necessary. However, it will be a bright, cloudless day (according to weather.com) and if we are in the open (as opposed to a wooded shady area) I may need flash for fill. Will bring along to be on the safe side.






Reply With Quote


