what lens do you use for birds and eagles

what lens do you use for birds and eagles?

My 80-400VR most of the time.

what is a 80-400 Vr

luckywish1 wrote: what is a 80-400 Vr

It is a zoom telephoto. It has a long focal length so you can get closer to the subject. It also brings objects together in a form of compression, and makes them larger (the nature of the distorion of that Focal Length).

When doing birding the rule of thumb is, the most focal length as possible. Most hardcore birders use super-telephotos like the nikkor/canon 500mm f/5 or 600mm. In the canon camp they have an 800mm lens.

These carry a premium price anywhere between $6000-$25,000. The price you pay for birding.

It is one of Nikons long budget lenses. The focal length is fro 80mms to 400mms with vibration reduction for hand held shots. The cost for a good used one is around $900-1100 as opposed to the 200-400 which is in the $7000 range. Here is a link to the 80-400VR www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207360-GR...NIKKOR_80_400mm.html but you can get some other lenses like the 70-300VR or the 18-200VR for much less to start with. Also you can go to www.keh.com/ and search for the others used. With the 70-300 whatever you do, do not get the non-VR model it is junk for that focal length.

Joves wrote: It is one of Nikons long budget lenses. The focal length is fro 80mms to 400mms with vibration reduction for hand held shots. The cost for a good used one is around $900-1100 as opposed to the 200-400 which is in the $7000 range. Here is a link to the 80-400VR www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207360-GR...NIKKOR_80_400mm.html but you can get some other lenses like the 70-300VR or the 18-200VR for much less to start with.

I've heard a lot of good things about the 80-400. The 200-400 is an awesome lens, but I agree 7 grand is kind of insane.

I use a 70-300 IS and get close.



I also use a wider angle as I mentioned in another post. On a tripod, pre-focused on a feeder and a remote radio-controlled shutter release (for Canon a Zap-Shot).

Scotty wrote:

luckywish1 wrote: what is a 80-400 Vr

It is a zoom telephoto. It has a long focal length so you can get closer to the subject. It also brings objects together in a form of compression, and makes them larger (the nature of the distorion of that Focal Length).

When doing birding the rule of thumb is, the most focal length as possible. Most hardcore birders use super-telephotos like the nikkor/canon 500mm f/5 or 600mm. In the canon camp they have an 800mm lens.

These carry a premium price anywhere between $6000-$25,000. The price you pay for birding.

I would recommend at the minimum a lens with a focal length of 300mm at least.(either zoom or prime) Even better would be the Canon 100-400 lens, and at that you will want more length eventually.

One word of caution .... avoid the Canon 75-300mm zoom lens, this lens will be a waste of your money. Better option in this range is the 70-300mm with image stabilization.

bhowdy wrote:

Scotty wrote:

luckywish1 wrote: what is a 80-400 Vr

It is a zoom telephoto. It has a long focal length so you can get closer to the subject. It also brings objects together in a form of compression, and makes them larger (the nature of the distorion of that Focal Length).

When doing birding the rule of thumb is, the most focal length as possible. Most hardcore birders use super-telephotos like the nikkor/canon 500mm f/5 or 600mm. In the canon camp they have an 800mm lens.

These carry a premium price anywhere between $6000-$25,000. The price you pay for birding.

I would recommend at the minimum a lens with a focal length of 300mm at least.(either zoom or prime) Even better would be the Canon 100-400 lens, and at that you will want more length eventually.

One word of caution .... avoid the Canon 75-300mm zoom lens, this lens will be a waste of your money. Better option in this range is the 70-300mm with image stabilization.

Agree the the IS version is so much better. The eagle above was taken with the "cheaper" 70-300 while my IS was in the shop. The IS runs about $500 I think.