Recommendations for a lens suitable for Birding
- Thread starter JH Foto
- Start date
Ruidoso Bill
Senior Member
Look around for a used Sigma 50-500mm, I picked up mine for $750 and have been happy with it on a tripod, very heavy and comes with a tripod lens mount.
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
If you want longer than 300mm (which you need for birding) then you need to pay. I went with the Sigma 150-500mm and am happy with it. IQ is very good, and more than acceptable if you can keep it at f/8-11, which means you'll need to be boosting ISO if you want to shoot birds in flight at 1/1000sec. I opted for that as it was still under a grand, but in hindsight I sort of wish I'd saved for the 50-500mm Sigma as it has slightly better IQ and is a lot more flexible walking around. There's a Tokina or Tamron about to be released that's something like 150-600mm. No idea on price point, but there's a thread on it somewhere here.
For birds you want 400mm+, and unless you want to go 300mm with a TC (in which case you'll pay a lot for the 300mm f/2.8) then these are likely your best bang for the buck alternatives.
For birds you want 400mm+, and unless you want to go 300mm with a TC (in which case you'll pay a lot for the 300mm f/2.8) then these are likely your best bang for the buck alternatives.
Depends on your budget,i was on a tight one when i bought my 120-400 sigma,it can produce decent images and i wouldnt put any one off but at the same time i wouldn't recommend it unless it was all you could get,at the moment most uk genuine sigma dealers have the 150-500 at about £750 with a cash back from sigma of £100 making it £650 and this is cash not a voucher of some kind.
I was waiting for the new Tamron but having second thoughts now and considering the sigma.
I was waiting for the new Tamron but having second thoughts now and considering the sigma.
Have you tried stalking
or a feeding station, there are many options the long lens being only one,as i say you can stalk and its surprising how close you can get,a feeding station brings them closer to you,in the summer a nice supply of water for them to bath and drink works wonders.When i where younger
well in the 35mm days most amateurs never had anything longer than 300mm it was just too costly and they didnt have the benefit of cropping,so while not easy a 300 will do it.Have an offer for you if your interested
Just dug my 135-400 out and it has fungus,now it may or may not effect the pictures to a noticeable amount ,apart from that its in mint condition,it wont focus on your camera but if you do some checking it is most likley chipped so your camera would probably recognize it for exposure but you would need manual focus.
If you want it you can have it for just the cost of post and packing,no idea of the cleaning cost but it may be worth you looking into it if you are really on a tight budget.
Let me know if you are interested
Just dug my 135-400 out and it has fungus,now it may or may not effect the pictures to a noticeable amount ,apart from that its in mint condition,it wont focus on your camera but if you do some checking it is most likley chipped so your camera would probably recognize it for exposure but you would need manual focus.
If you want it you can have it for just the cost of post and packing,no idea of the cleaning cost but it may be worth you looking into it if you are really on a tight budget.
Let me know if you are interested
I have now bought a Sigma 80-400mm OS Lens. Thanks for all your advice........
Looking forward to your results.
iamntxhunter
Senior Member
Well show us some of your pics, you know we are dying to see them.