help on bird photography

[bob.phillips]

Just joined the 'club' and I am seeking some help with scopes. I'm sure that this is a really dumb question, but I'm a beginner so bear with me please.

I have a Nikon D80 camera and would like to get into more serious bird photography. So I need a scope - but is it a field scope or a spotting scope ( what is the difference??? ) to go with my camera. Presumably I need something to connect the camera to the scope and anything else???
I could spend up to £1000, but do I need to spend that much? I don't want to buy something cheap with a view to upgrading soon. I'd rather spend the money now on something that will last. As I have a Nikon camera, should I get a Nikon scope?

Lots of questions from a newcomer so any advice will be much appreciated.

Regards,

Bob Phillips

[matt_xyz]

I can't really answer your questions directly Bob, but are you sure you want to attach a scope to your D80? Digiscoping is good for getting reasonable shots from a long distance away but is not always easy and requires the bird to be reasonably still for a while. For high quality images you'd be much better off with a telephoto lens, ideally at least 400mm. This would also allow in-flight images etc. Admittedly you would have to be a fair bit nearer than you would with a scope.

Just a thought, and you may have already decided that digiscoping is the way to go. I don't think there are too many WAB members who do digiscoping, but John is our resident expert. If he sees this thread he may be able to provide some more info.

Matt

[bob.phillips]

Matt _xzy,

Thanks for your input. I bought a Nikon VR 70 - 300 lens, which is really good, but it does not get the magnification to give me a good picture without digital zoom and subsequent loss of quality. Maybe a larger optical zoom is the answer as you suggest, but I'm not sure!!!

Regards,

Bob Phillips

[thes3raph1m]

your best bet is to get closer to the animal in question... get a 100-400mm lens (i think sigma do one for the d80) and just get closer! thats half the point isnt it... to get out and about...

failing that, try something closer to 500mm... thats a lot of optical zoom... your just not going to have a particularly wide range of view... so get a goodaim!

[Hamearis]

Bob
I would suggest the Sigma 50-500mm zoom.
Sigma have just announced it's replacement, a 150-500mm zoom with OS (optical stabilisation) which promises to be a superb lens, but may make the 50-500mm good value as retailers try to clear old stock?
Avoid the 170-500mm which is not in the same league.
For me the real joy and challenge of wildlife photography is getting close to the subject by stalking, hides, baiting etc.
Have fun.o
HTH
Hamearis

[rlchew]

Hi Bob

I use the Nikon D80 also and prior to that the Nikon D70.

At the time I bought the Nikon D70, I also bought the Nikon FSA-L1 to attach it to my Nikon ED III 82mm telescope .... there is a kind of Nikon theme going on here .

I have had several people contact me via my website enquiring as to the success of this set up and in every instance I have recommended that they do not go down this route.

I have taken some reasonable photos with the set up but you need good light, a steady hand and a stable tripod. The failure rate for me has been very high.

I rarely use the FSA-L1 attachment now and nearly all my wildlife photography is with my Sigma 80-400mm and Sigma 500mm lenses.

I hope this helps inform your decision.

Richard

[bob.phillips]

Thanks for all your advice. It seems that maybe I should persevere more with my camera set up, use my Nikon 70-300 lens ( maybe with my 2X converter ), get closer to the subject, and maybe consider the Sigma 50-500 lens as another option.

Regards,

Bob