What Length for Wildlife?

[eminart]

Not sure if this is the correct sub-forum, so feel free to move it, mods.

So, I don't have a "good" long lens yet. I've been shooting with an older Nikon 70-210mm that I picked up just so I'd have something. It does a decent job, but I'd like to upgrade as soon as possible.

Anyway, my question............... what is a good length lens for shooting wildlife? Obviously, I know it can vary a lot, but I'm just looking for an opinion on an everyday, go out and shoot whatever you see, type of lens. It seems like my 70-210 is too short to get good shots of most things. I can crop them afterwards and get a closer image, but the quality isn't there when I do that. I tried to shoot some waterfowl out on a refuge last week and they were just too far away to get a usable image. I know I could try to get closer, but it seems like the vast majority of the opportunities are a little out of reach of 210mm.

So, do most of you use something longer than 200mm? ARE there any good lenses longer than 200mm that don't cost 10K?

[Art Scott]

You may want to consider something like the Sigma 170-500 which with your D80 wouod be like using a 250-750mm lens......but i have gotten really great photos of larger wildlife.....deer and squirrels with my 70-210.....it is the tiny birds that cause me probs..........

[jonh68]

There is a wildlife forum that will better answer your question.

Since you have the 70-210, I would suggest getting the Nikon 300 AFS f4 prime with a 1.4 TC or the sigma 100-300 f4 HMS and a 1.4 TC. These two may be the best combo of IQ and value in regards to getting 420 mm reach.

The benefit of having one of these two is you have a reasonably fast lens without the TC when light gets low, and IQ doesn't suffer too much with the TC on them. These two are popular with wildlife shooters who want a relatively light lens, and great value. I would get either of these two over any of the Sigma 500mm zooms.

You can get the 70-300 VR and it will work great too, but does not work well with a TC. There is never enough reach for wildlife. Also, you can get the Nikon 80-400 VR. It has great IQ, but the AF suffers a bit.

[ziggy53]

A fair number of people use the Sigma "Bigma" 50-500mm, f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM as a general purpose wildlife lens. In good light and with appropriate post-processing it can produce decent results.

For more ideas about wildlife lenses:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=39768

[Jim K]

Harryb "the amiable mod of the Wildlife forum" shoots Nikon so he will probably have a comment. There is a sticky over there on lenses for wildlife shooting that you could check if you have an hour or so :D

Jim

[eminart]

Hey, Thanks for the replies everyone! I appreciate all the good info.

I actually started another thread on an alternative idea (I thought this thread was dead and gone) regarding an 80-200mm f2.8 + TC.

See repetitive thread here: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=121342