How many UK Butterflies members own a Sigma 150mm?
- Pete Eeles
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Malcolm,
Great list but for me you missed off two important Nikon lenses, the 300mm f/2.8 VR and the 300mm f/4 AFS. The latter is arguably the finest butterfly lens on the market. I still miss mine but I had to sell to get the 300 2.8VR lens, though a friend of mine bought a 300/2.8 VR but kept the 300 f/4 as well just for butties.
John
Great list but for me you missed off two important Nikon lenses, the 300mm f/2.8 VR and the 300mm f/4 AFS. The latter is arguably the finest butterfly lens on the market. I still miss mine but I had to sell to get the 300 2.8VR lens, though a friend of mine bought a 300/2.8 VR but kept the 300 f/4 as well just for butties.
John
John Gardner ARPS
http://www.wildscenes.com
http://www.wildscenes.com
- Trev Sawyer
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The glowing reports of the Sigma 150mm lens on this site have led to me becoming the newest convert. Whether I actually get to use it in anger this year depends on whether there are any butterflies left after the monsoon season ends. Perhaps I should be on the lookout for a bloke in a boat who is collecting 2 of every species
Trev
Trev
- Pete Eeles
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Hmmm. If we go down that route then we need to look beyond dedicated macro lenses, and you'd need to include all the telephoto lenses too, such as the Canon 100-400mm L IS lens.wildscenes wrote:Malcolm,
Great list but for me you missed off two important Nikon lenses, the 300mm f/2.8 VR and the 300mm f/4 AFS. The latter is arguably the finest butterfly lens on the market. I still miss mine but I had to sell to get the 300 2.8VR lens, though a friend of mine bought a 300/2.8 VR but kept the 300 f/4 as well just for butties.
John
Cheers,
- Pete
- Malcolm Farrow
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Since the purpose of the poll would be to see what are the most popular lenses for butterfly photography I'm happy to include any serious suggestions in the poll. Can I suggest that if anyone would like a lens included, that's not listed at the moment, just add to this thread over the nest couple of days or so.
In the meantime, assuming the sun appears, I hope to take some pictures over the weekend!!!
Best wishes
Malcolm
In the meantime, assuming the sun appears, I hope to take some pictures over the weekend!!!
Best wishes
Malcolm
- Gwenhwyfar
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Hi Martin
I was thinking of getting a canon 100-400 IS myself to use as a general wildlife lens. I've heard that the auto focus will still work if you attach a 1.4 converter, have you tried this
Also what is your opinion of the lens for using to photograph say eagles and whales!! and do you turn off the IS if you use a tripod. Don't tell me i'll never have to use a tripod, as I only weigh seven stone
I was thinking of getting a canon 100-400 IS myself to use as a general wildlife lens. I've heard that the auto focus will still work if you attach a 1.4 converter, have you tried this
Also what is your opinion of the lens for using to photograph say eagles and whales!! and do you turn off the IS if you use a tripod. Don't tell me i'll never have to use a tripod, as I only weigh seven stone
Gwenhwyfar wrote:Hi Martin
I was thinking of getting a canon 100-400 IS myself to use as a general wildlife lens. I've heard that the auto focus will still work if you attach a 1.4 converter, have you tried this
Sorry Gwen, don't have a X1.4
Gwenhwyfar wrote:Also what is your opinion of the lens for using to photograph say eagles and whales!!
It's an awesome lens for any subject matter...
Yes, IS off on a tripod.Gwenhwyfar wrote:and do you turn off the IS if you use a tripod. Don't tell me i'll never have to use a tripod, as I only weigh seven stone
It also has a second mode on the IS for following moving objects such as birds in flight.
This is a top lens...I will never, NEVER, sell it!
HTH...Martin.
- Pete Eeles
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I also have this lens, and it's amazing! I've used the lens with extension tubes and it still autofocuses OK.
For general wildlife photography, it's the bees knees. For butterflies and other insects, without a converter or extension tubes, the subject won't fill the frame (unless you're dealing with a large butterfly, such as a Swallowtail) if the critter is small, since there's a minimum focusing distance of 1.6m. Nick Sampford's Swallowtail photos on the UK Butterflies website are taken with this lens.
Whenever I've used it, I've used it handheld, and the pictures are pretty sharp. Here's one for Xmas ...
Cheers,
- Pete
For general wildlife photography, it's the bees knees. For butterflies and other insects, without a converter or extension tubes, the subject won't fill the frame (unless you're dealing with a large butterfly, such as a Swallowtail) if the critter is small, since there's a minimum focusing distance of 1.6m. Nick Sampford's Swallowtail photos on the UK Butterflies website are taken with this lens.
Whenever I've used it, I've used it handheld, and the pictures are pretty sharp. Here's one for Xmas ...
Cheers,
- Pete
- Gwenhwyfar
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- Pete Eeles
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- Gwenhwyfar
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Ok, I think I have been persuaded, but there is also two other option, but I am leaning more towards this lens.
Other options are
Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM - Looks a great lens, but also the
Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 EX DG HSM is tempting, as it has a zoom like the Canon. If I use converters I can get out to 420mm at F/4 with a 1.4x and out to 600mm at F/5.6 with a x2.
Other options are
Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM - Looks a great lens, but also the
Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 EX DG HSM is tempting, as it has a zoom like the Canon. If I use converters I can get out to 420mm at F/4 with a 1.4x and out to 600mm at F/5.6 with a x2.
Hi Gwen........
In fact the 100-400 won't autofocus as is with a 1.4 converter. To get autofocus you have to tape over two of the contacts between the camera and the lens.
I have the 100-400, but only use it for bird photography. I never fancied taping contacts in case I ended up damaging the lens.
Robin
In fact the 100-400 won't autofocus as is with a 1.4 converter. To get autofocus you have to tape over two of the contacts between the camera and the lens.
I have the 100-400, but only use it for bird photography. I never fancied taping contacts in case I ended up damaging the lens.
Robin
Hi,
This outfit are selling these lenses on special offer at the moment - follow this link
http://www.hidigital.co.uk/index.asp?fu ... lAod61S2OQ
they are £840
Good luck!
This outfit are selling these lenses on special offer at the moment - follow this link
http://www.hidigital.co.uk/index.asp?fu ... lAod61S2OQ
they are £840
Good luck!
- Gwenhwyfar
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- Rogerdodge
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Gwenhwyfar
Don't dismisss the Sigma 50-500.
It is a fantastic lens.
You will have a chance to play with one in a couple of months!
I tried the taping of the pins trick - but the tape was not 'adhesive' enough, and lifted.
It didn't cause any damage, and actually worked whilst the tape stuck!
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0078YS
HTH
Roger
Don't dismisss the Sigma 50-500.
It is a fantastic lens.
You will have a chance to play with one in a couple of months!
I tried the taping of the pins trick - but the tape was not 'adhesive' enough, and lifted.
It didn't cause any damage, and actually worked whilst the tape stuck!
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0078YS
HTH
Roger
- Gwenhwyfar
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A Minolta 75-300mm D lens on my Sony A100 with a Canon 500D close up lens is quite good for most butterflies. My August brimstone and September speckled wood competition entries were both shot with this combo. I have since managed to get a bargain Sigma 105 Macro but I think the former set up will still be my preferred choice for butterflies. Although the Sigma has the edge on resolution, the extra shooting distance of the zoom lens gives a higher success rate.