Osprey brings home the bacon

[jonh68]

These are some osprey shots I have taken of 2 different pairs of ospreys at the local state park. I don't have a great lens for this kind of photography, but some them are not too bad. These birds are a joy to watch.:clap

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/157001289-M.jpg

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/157001333-M.jpg

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/157001434-M.jpg

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/157004733-M.jpg

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/157004885-M.jpg

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/160314752-M.jpg

http://jonh68.smugmug.com/photos/160314758-M.jpg

[Harryb]

Good set John, you caught the action very nicely.:thumb Were you using your 18-200?

[jonh68]

On most of them I was. The last two were with my old 70-300. I am torn between getting a Bigma or getting the 70-200 2.8 and using a tele for this type of shot. I am leaning towards the Bigma.

[Dick on Aruba]

Nice series!

I heared and saw a lot of good things from the Bigma.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

[jonh68]

I have heard great things too about the Bigma. I have to crop too much and the pic looses some detail. I want to be able to zoom in fill the frame and not have to crop as much. Still, it's good practice for when I do get a proper lens for these kind of shots.

[Ric Grupe]

Hmmm...that bacon looks a little fishy to me!:barb

Good captures, John. I think I prefer the second shot the most.:thumb

It would help my old eyes if there was a space between the pics. All that sky kind of runs together.:D

On the lens...I thought I needed a zoom for composition and locating my subject....NOT so! A prime is the only way to go IMO. You get used to it quickly and the shots are better.

[bigpix]

I have heard great things too about the Bigma. I have to crop too much and the pic looses some detail. I want to be able to zoom in fill the frame and not have to crop as much. Still, it's good practice for when I do get a proper lens for these kind of shots.

Good series..... I shoot with the Bigma and love it. To hand hold the beast takes some practise, but I only do this in bright sunlight, other times I tend to use a mono..... for the money it is good value

EDIT: look here.... carefull Bigma pixs: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=63788

[Harryb]

On most of them I was. The last two were with my old 70-300. I am torn between getting a Bigma or getting the 70-200 2.8 and using a tele for this type of shot. I am leaning towards the Bigma.

It depends on what you're going to use the lens for. For general all-around shooting you can't beat the 70-200 2.8 and it works well with the 1.4 and 1.7 TCs. The Bigma is a better choice for birding.

However I would go with the 80-400 is you want a zoom basically because its a lot lighter and easier to shoot handheld than the Bigma. An even better choice, IMHO, for birding is the 300mm F/4. It will focus faster and has better IQ than the Bigma or the 80-400. It works great with the 1.4 and 1.7 TCs. Here's a review (http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_300_4/index.htm) of the 300mm

[riddim_maker]

Hmmm...that bacon looks a little fishy to me!:barb

Good captures, John. I think I prefer the second shot the most.:thumb

It would help my old eyes if there was a space between the pics. All that sky kind of runs together.:D

On the lens...I thought I needed a zoom for composition and locating my subject....NOT so! A prime is the only way to go IMO. You get used to it quickly and the shots are better.
:agree
Although, I'll vote for #1 :thumb

[gfxartist]

Great series! While #2 is my fave, I love the way he looks as he's coming in for a landing in the last shot. Great captures! :D

[raptorcaptor]

Good osprey bifs! :thumb

[jonh68]

Thanks for the comments everyone and also the lens advice. Choices, choices. It's one of those things I have to weight my priorities. It's a major purchase for me so I have to go with bang for the buck.

[RandySmugMug]

I have heard great things too about the Bigma. I have to crop too much and the pic looses some detail. I want to be able to zoom in fill the frame and not have to crop as much. Still, it's good practice for when I do get a proper lens for these kind of shots.


c/o a 300/4 instead of the bigma and add a 1.4 tc

[Awais Yaqub]

Great photos loved all of them very good

[di-queso]

c/o a 300/4 instead of the bigma and add a 1.4 tc



I'll second that!!!! It's exaclty what I am saving for.....
Here is one of my osprey. I am lucky enough to have them fishing in my back yard. Yet have not been able to catch them with the "BACON"


Nikon D100, D70S, Sigma 18-200, 70-300af-g, 500mm mirror, Old school 50mm 1.8