Golden Eagles

RubyX4

RubyX4

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Andy
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Hi - Falconry friends of my dad own Golden and Berkut eagles and they've got an outing to help clear an open area of vermin. I've asked to take some shots.

I have a D5000 with 18-55 and 55-200 DX VR lenses. I wouldn't mind hiring something bigger for the distance shots or do you think these lenses will suffice. I was thinking either a 70-300 or do I need to go bigger? Happy to use the 18-55 for some "portrait" shots of the eagles, but the distance ones of them in action might be too stretched.

Hints/help appreciated

Thanks in advance
 
Think of something with faster Auto-focus like a 70-200.
 
Thanks mate, was also looking at the 300 f2.8 to hire for a long weekend, will check out the 70-200 though. Is the AF THAT much faster? The downside of the 80-400 is that it won't AF on my D5000. :(
 
Yes it is the 300mm f2.8 will be even faster and sharper. Might want to think about the 70-200 much lighter!
 
At my local falcondry centre I use 500mm F4, 300mm F2.8 for close shots will use the 70-200mm F2.8

Friend uses the later two.

I would take both 300 & 70-200 if you can.

Any room for one more;)
 
salacalvet said:
At my local falcondry centre I use 500mm F4, 300mm F2.8 for close shots will use the 70-200mm F2.8

Friend uses the later two.

I would take both 300 & 70-200 if you can.

Any room for one more;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip - I can only afford to hire either 300mm f2.8 OR 70-200 f2.8. Need to check the weather before I go as don't fancy getting rented lenses and my D5000 soaked. Might have to go the lighter route as we'll be mobile and the shots will be handheld.

It's the first time I've met these guys so I'm not sure about taking anyone else along. Sorry. Maybe another time.

There will be between 15 and a dozen eagles so if you're not used to being round them and their habits it can be a bit nerve wracking. I (luckily) grew up with falcons, eagles and hawks in the house/garden so i'm quite used to having eyes in the back of my head.

I'll post up some of the results for C&C. Anyone recommend a weather cover for a mobile setup?
 
Andy I was only kidding on coming:)

I get enough practice with various hawks and eagles down here. Hoping for some more with the Gyr Falcon on Wednesday:) He only gets out in the winter so time is running out:(

The 300mm will be the better all rounder, fast enough to get the distance shots and be able to crop if they are a little far away. Not to much zoom to be able to get close details.

I currently mainly use the 500mm for falcons and 300mm for eagles.

On rain cover I use disposable ones and seam to keep everything dry when I have to take shots in the wet. Which is fairly rare...only once in the past year and all was good.But if your renting then I would get a more expensive one, just to be sure.
 
Gyr? I'm so jealous. It's superb watching lanners and sakers at Lures, even a big female peregrine, but never seen a Gyr flown. static on a perch just isn't the same. Thanks for the tips on the 300 btw. lenses for hire, here I come... Managed to get hold of a lightweight watrproof cover from ebay. Only a tenner so will see how I get on.
 
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