Full frame photography?

[wizzo]

Just being curious here. Do any members have any experience of using full frame DSLR's for shooting wildlife? If so, have you been pleased with the results and the possible lack of reach, assuming that you haven't forked out for massive lenses? - Wizzo

[BillyPilgrim]

I would doubt if there are many who use full frame.

The 1d series is popular which has a 1.3 crop. I have a 2nd-hand Canon 1d mk II n which I use with 500mm and 300mm lenses.

The crop factor doesn't worry me with either lens. After all, isn't the 1.6 crop image 'magnified', ie. the same quality as a 1.3 crop image which has been cropped on a pc?

[Blackbrook Eye]

I have been using a full frame Canon 1Ds for a few weeks and cannot fault the handling or build quality, yes it’s a bit on the heavy side but I like the solid feel that this gives.
To overcome the magnification difference it was my intention to use converters with my lenses, thinking that this would compensate, no it doesn’t. With the 1.4 converter fitted to the Canon 100-400L the vignetting is extremely pronounced at 400mm, to the point where it is necessary to crop the image to an unacceptable degree, and with the 300mm f4L, although not so pronounced, a still serious degree of vignetting is obvious when using a X 2 converter. Personally I have reached the conclusion that the 1Ds has no significant advantage over the 40d for long lens work and the 40d has far superior noise suppression at high ISO.
As I have not been using the 1Ds for long enough to make a proper evaluation, these preliminary thoughts are all I am able to offer, so please don’t take this as Gospel.

Keith

[Jonsfotos]

Originally Posted by wizzo

Just being curious here. Do any members have any experience of using full frame DSLR's for shooting wildlife? If so, have you been pleased with the results and the possible lack of reach, assuming that you haven't forked out for massive lenses? - Wizzo

.

I have been using Nikon D200`s and more recently a D700 with a 300mmAFS 2.8 + 1.7 Converter.The full frame D700 gives superb images at Hi ISO`s and although the combined reach is 510mm, i have been very pleased with the results.To get more reach on days with better light i would swap over to the D200.In the main though,I try as hard as i can to get as close as possible to my subjects to make up for the lack of reach and i know there will be many occasions where i can`t but i am prepared to live with that .

Jon

[DrNickBurton]

I use a D300 and a D700. They both have their uses.

I wouldn't try any bird photography using the D700, as the lack of crop factor is a big disadvantage. If birds are your main subject, I would stick with a crop sensor! For larger animals though (deer, seals), it's not so much of an issue.

For photography at sunrise / sunset (after all, the best time to shoot), the high ISO performance of the D700 really is useful.

Also, in the gloomy British climate, it seems to me that being able to get good quality shots in the 1600-3200 range allows me to take pictures on days that I would have not bothered with before. This is probably the main reason I bought the D700 - like most people, I generally only have time for photography at weekends, which means I don't really get to pick the weather I shoot in.

[wizzo]

Thanks Nick, Jon and Keith.

I keep telling myself that two bodies may be the answer. It would mean comprimising on lens quality I guess. If I could be convinced that I could get excellent, publishable landscapes from a DX camera with a top notch lens, I would be inclined to go for the D300s and Nikon 17-35 f2.8 and stick with a Sigma 150-500mm for wildlife.

I was wondering. If taking a shot of a bird with a full frame camera, then cropping, would I get the same quality image, as a shot from a DX camera that has been cropped at source, Hope this makes sense. It seemed to, in my head, but reading it back......? Wizzo

[delros1]

having both the Nikon D 300 and the Nikon D700,if i can get close to the subject,then the D700,will all ways be better,the prints from a full frame ,are
truly amazing.

[wizzo]

Thanks del. may I ask what lenses you use for your widlife photoraphy? Wizzo