Calling Wildlife photographers. Question on range.

Johnny Thunder

Johnny Thunder

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Could you guys please tell how close to your target you try to get when shooting, say, a Blue Tit for example?
For this example could you give me distances for 300, 400 and 500mm please?


Thanks guys.
 
For a full frame shot with a 300mm (with no 1.4x extender), about 6 foot - 8 foot with 1.4x attached..

Over to others with the remaining focal lengths. Above was based on using a 1.6x crop sensor camera (Canon 40D)
 
Well my 600mm only focuses to 19 foot, but my 200-400 6 foot. Getting within 6 foot of your subject is another matter though lol (unless you have a hide and/or bird seed to hand of course). Basically I try to get close enough that the subject is a good size in frame, but to give you an exact measurement...hmmm no idea to be honest!
 
So am I right in assuming that the fantastic pictures we see on this forum have very little cropping done?

Thanks for your replies guys.
 
For a frame filling shot I would need about 10ft with the Siggy on 500mm, I generally shoot at around 12-15 in my garden which gives me a bit of cropping space.
 
Johnny Thunder said:
So am I right in assuming that the fantastic pictures we see on this forum have very little cropping done?

Thanks for your replies guys.
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There will always be times when images are cropped. I do sometimes if the subject is too skittish to get cose enough, although prefer to have the image as close to full frame as I can get.
 
So an extra 100mm will realistically gain an extra 5-10 foot. Is that correct?
If that is the case then fieldcraft is probably the more important factor, ie a good hide and a well established feeding station?

Do you guys have any shots of your hides with the target perches in view showing distances?


Thank you.
 
I went to a lecture by one of the top bird photographers not long ago. He stressed the importance of understanding the behaviour of your subject, using hides (even shooting from a car can help as birds apparently haven't connected cars with people yet); noting that birds can count to two, so if three of you go to a hide and two then leave it the birds don't know there is anyone still there; and using fast autofocus, so he shoots with the widest aperture lenses because they focus faster, though he doesn't shoot wide open.
 
Basically as close as possible Johnny. anything further away than 30-40ft on my 400mm for a small bird is pushing it and requires a heavy crop. for bigger subjects you can afford to be further away.
 
PaulCowan said:
(even shooting from a car can help as birds apparently haven't connected cars with people yet)
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That's very true. The cottage we stay in on the south shore of Loch Sunart is 'heron central'. The road runs right along the waters edge and in the space of a mile or two you can stop pretty much anywhere and be spoilt for choice. Providing you leave the engine running they will stay put as they're used to the cars. As soon as you turn off the engine - the slightest noise sends them off.
 
Ask Phil, he knows, 200 is ample...................:)
 
Good thread Johnny Thunder the answers here I think will shock a few,it is not all down to big expensive glass, knowing your quarry can be every bit more important than focal length of a lens + converter good field craft plays its part.


John
 
LovesRaptors said:
Good thread Johnny Thunder the answers here I think will shock a few,it is not all down to big expensive glass, knowing your quarry can be every bit more important than focal length of a lens + converter good field craft plays its part.


John
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John, you can know your quarry intimately,sometimes you cannot get near enough.Hence why a lot of people use long lenses.
 
Do you all use these portable hides, or do you have permanent hides set up near to your feeding stations?


Thank you.
 
Johnny Thunder said:
Do you all use these portable hides, or do you have permanent hides set up near to your feeding stations?


Thank you.
Click to expand...

Both, I have a large four wall pop up hide next to a feeding station, plenty of room and comfy enough. I also have a single seat pop up one in the car for when I go wandering.
 
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