|
Forums46
Topics539,484
Posts9,750,134
Members87,166
| |
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
 Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: sprigspanker]
#3642590
10/08/12 08:33 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496
LuckyDucker
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496 |
Yup, saw those before I even commented. All very nice, especially the park shots. Not saying it's not possible to only use one focal point. It's just that in hunting situations, I find it easier to leave them all on and try to use the center dot. Slow fat mallards are easy, but little blue darts a little more challenging. 
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Featherduster]
#3642601
10/08/12 08:38 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 780
Blue Moon
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 780 |
I'm curious what kind of cameras you use for all of your shots of waterfowl. I'm in the market for a camera and most of it will be used for waterfowl, both action and still pics but I would love to get more action pics than anything...ducks coming in, swimming, etc. I'm still doing research and learning what's important on a camera but I'm still a newbie when it comes to DSLR cameras. I've got a budget of about $1000. Just wondering what yall use. I've seen some pretty good lookin pics in this section and it may help me decide. This is a hobby that I plan on picking up and sticking with.
To put this in perspective, nearly all flight shots you see in DU are captured with at least 400mm glass and most are shot with 500mm, 600mm, or even 800mm fast, and very expensive glass that require heavy duty tripod support and gimbal heads for stability; just the tripod and gimbal head used for support cost well over your stated budget.
The good news is that Canon offers two pro quality 400mm lenses for budget shooters that you can hand-hold and still get cover quality images when you’re shooting with sufficient light. Sufficient light means you’re not going to capture flight action at first light or twilight but after you shoot your limit with your Benelli, you can start the real challenge and try for a memorable shot with your Canon once the sun is up enough.
Canon offers a 400 f/5.6L prime, meaning the lens has a fixed focal length at 400mm, and a 100-400L zoom that is more versatile because it covers a wider focal range but primes are always a tad sharper and have a tad faster autofocus (AF). Primes also weigh less and usually cost less for the same quality when compared to zooms.
Action shooters use zooms for the sake of convenience and for the sake of composition. Consider if you’re shooting your favorite waterdog retrieving a double banded greenhead, the 100-400L is the better choice because you can keep the dog in frame for a longer period of time which gives you a better chance of actually capturing a memorable shot during the retrieve. On the other hand smaller targets such as flying ducks will nearly always require every bit of 400mm reach to have any hope of filling your frame so the 400 f/5.6L prime is a better pure flight lens because it’s sharper at 400mm plus the AF is faster. The 400 f/5.6L does not have image stabilization (IS for Canon, same as VR for Nikon) so you have to shoot it with enough light so that your shutter will be fast enough to stop the action without showing camera shake, while the 100-400L has IS, again making it a tad more versatile but you still need good light for either lens to shine.
Currently you can pick up either of Canon’s legendary 400s preowned in the ballpark of your stated $1,000 budget. The 400 f/5.6L is normally $1,300 new and around $950 preowned. The Canon 100-400L is normally $1,700 new but currently on sale for around $1,500. Preowned you can pick one for about $1,200. Check out Canon Price Watch online for current new or refurbished pricing.
Keep in mind that unless you have unlimited funds buying camera gear is always a compromise; you need to consider all options and that’s very hard to do when you don’t know what you don’t know… For starters, always focus on the best glass you can afford because good glass is a lifetime investment. Personally I have pro glass purchased new over 20 years ago that sells preowned for nearly what it cost new, and in some cases, is worth more than what I paid for it. Bodies on the other hand depreciate rapidly. You can buy pro dSLR bodies for under $1,000 that cost over $5,000 new just a few years ago while pro Canon & Nikon glass rarely depreciates more than 25-30 percent off new pricing. Pro being the key word; cheap kit glass has very limited resell value because it nearly always leaves you wanting better performance. Cheap kit glass works fine for everyday walk around glass such as travel photography but usually falls short when it comes to action photography.
A few suggestions for the most affordable pre-owned, semi-pro dSLR Canon bodies that work well for chasing waterfowl shots are the 40D, 50D, or 7D. You can pick up a preowned 40D for $300, a 50D for $450 to $550, and a preowned 7D for around $900. All of these bodies were in the $1,500 to $1,800 range when new and have very good autofocus (AF) and shoot enough frames/second to help you get a quality BIF shot.
Bodies starting with the 40D have a self-cleaning dust removal system and I would not recommend getting a dSLR body without a self-cleaning dust removal system. Also you can go cheaper and start with an entry level Canon dSLR Rebel however they are mainly in plastic housings so be a tad more careful with them when you go afield. Plus they usually have slower autofocus and shoot fewer frames/second than the above preowned dSLR bodies I suggested.
For chasing high quality waterfowl shots on a budget, seriously consider starting with preowned gear. Start with either the Canon 100-400L or 400 f/5.6L and build your kit as funds become available. Feel free to call or send an email for specifics. I rarely log in so I never see private messages.     
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Blue Moon]
#3642643
10/08/12 08:54 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496
LuckyDucker
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496 |
Great shots, BlueMoon. And great info. 
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: LuckyDucker]
#3642749
10/08/12 09:50 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,124
WhiskeyandMe
Extreme Tracker
|
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,124 |
I knew if this was to be up for any time... Blue Moon would chime in!  Great pic's as always!! I have a D60 and a D5100 shooting a 55-200 (but hope to upgrade one day) They do what I want...and I don't know squat about photography, just point and shoot! D5100    D60     
Looking for a Deer, Dove, Duck, Crow, Goose, Hog, or Turkey Hunt? Check us out! www.kentoutdoors.com
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: WhiskeyandMe]
#3642792
10/08/12 10:08 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,412
Judd
#1 Creedmoor Fan
|
|
#1 Creedmoor Fan
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,412 |
I bet Garrett just stroked out  Nice pictures guys.
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Judd]
#3642881
10/08/12 10:41 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 88
CurlyBillTucker
Outdoorsman
|
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 88 |
Great photos in this thread. Very Nice Blue Moon. I bought a Rebel with a 300mm lens about 9-10 years ago. Birds in flight I only attempt in bright sunlight. Stationary objects it does well for my purpose. I am no professional and mainly take reference photos for possible drawings or paintings. Park duck  Roadrunners at Big Bend pose for you  A couple from Anahuac taken a few minutes apart  
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Judd]
#3643082
10/08/12 11:44 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659
Hopedale
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659 |
I bet Garrett just stroked out Nice pictures guys.
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Hopedale]
#3643198
10/09/12 12:20 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,618
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,618 |
Nice pics, but Geryl is the waterfowl photo king.
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Guy]
#3643595
10/09/12 01:55 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 606
sprigspanker
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 606 |
Nice pics, but Geryl is the waterfowl photo king. He's better than me........ for now.
  "My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am."
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: sprigspanker]
#3643757
10/09/12 02:34 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,450
Aggieduck
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,450 |
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Aggieduck]
#3643778
10/09/12 02:39 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,594
Featherduster
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,594 |
BlueMoon thanks for posting all the info. and the pics are amazing!
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Aggieduck]
#3643847
10/09/12 02:53 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 523
Tvilbig
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 523 |
I've got a question for your camera gurus. I've got a cannon rebel the original 300D. I've had it forever and used it to take some decent photos with the 18-55 lens and the 75-300 lens. But it doesn't take shots nearly as good as some of the ones posted here. Is it a good enough base body to spend money buying new lenses or should I scrap it and get a new body before I start spending money on lenses.  It just doesn't have the same clarity some of you guys are getting and I also need to get the sensor cleaned to get rid of those spots.
Last edited by Tvilbig; 10/09/12 02:56 AM.
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Tvilbig]
#3643882
10/09/12 03:01 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,450
Aggieduck
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,450 |
I'm not even close to a pro but A good cleaning is needed and I believe the 300d is a 6.3 megapixel camera you could stand to get a body that has double that. Like mentioned above a used body can be had for a reasonable price. A 5100 has 16 megapixels.
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: Aggieduck]
#3643895
10/09/12 03:03 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 58
KLThreeSeven
Outdoorsman
|
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 58 |
Those pictures are incredible!
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: garrett]
#3644083
10/09/12 04:24 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278 |
I have been using a Panasonic "point and shoot" but plan on getting a Canon T4i before too long. In my best Garrett impersonation "I'm sure you'll get your money's worth"   haha...well played Judy Foosh, your pictures look good for a point and shoot. DOnt take that compliment the wrong way, I'm not asking you to post 5895 pictures to prove it So, you don't want me to post my dove and teal pics from this season? your limit has been set to 4 pictures Per post? Deal!
|
|
|
|
Re: For you guys that take pics.
[Re: GravyWheels]
#3645105
10/09/12 05:18 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,658
nogeese
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,658 |
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|
![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/2OczBAE.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://filedn.com/lueWmb5Q4dR5HbLjYC8Moxp/smallersig.gif)
