Zoo visit tomorrow

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stu.h

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Stu
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Hi
First Zoo visit tomorrow with my toddler, looking forward to it!
I have a D850 and 2 lens. A f/1.8 50mm and a f/4 24-120.
Which would be the best lens to take, or both? I’m assuming both, zoom for the further away animals and the prime for the closer more intimate subjects.
Going to do a bit of reading today on tips for taking zoo shots, not really used the camera in anger since upgrading from my D3300 so hopefully I can get some great ones tomorrow!
At least I take ALL my photos in manual mode now :D
 
You can take both as 50mm is small, but think the 24-120 will be good for everything.
 
Just the zoom maybe as 50mm may not be enough to get some of the animals big enough in the frame. All you'll lack by leaving the prime at home is the ability to have most of the scene out of the depth of field and I'm pretty sure you wont want all the faff on of changing lenses.

As for taking all of your pictures in manual mode... WHY?

I think you should give some serious thought to using one of the semi auto modes such as aperture priority. Not that I'm any great example of excellent technique but I use aperture priority until the light drops to a point at which my shutter speed is too low and then I switch to manual mode. IMVHO manual mode should only be used if you've made a conscious decision to use it due to some special requirement of the scene and/or subject and shouldn't necessarily be your default choice if only for the reason that you have the faff on of changing everything and having to remember to do so.
 
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I use manual mode because a lot of my shots are outside of my son at the moment.
I need to swap the exposure triangle around a lot due to the sun coming out and going in constantly, him sitting still so I can get good DOF and also to him running which I need a high shutter speed to get a focused shot.
I’ve been doing it for quite a while now and am getting much more used to changing the 3 to get as good a shot as possible (within my currently very limited capabilities anyway!).

Thanks for the responses thus far (y)
 
I use manual mode all the time, I've tried other modes but almost always switch back. In darker areas of a Zoo, like the reptile houses or the bird aviaries I would prefer not to rely on auto modes where the camera often decides to ramp up ISO when it's not necessary. These areas are a good reason to pack the 50mm too, I mean why not? it's tiny

We're planning a trip to the Zoo sometime during the summer, it's been 6 years since we last visited. The girls are that bit older now I think they might appreciate it more, in fact it is them who wants to go ... not just me for photos ... honest! :D
 
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Which zoo? TBH unless you can get in the enclosure with them I think you'll find 50mm far too short. I used the 150-600mm on my D850 and even then I still wish I had more reach for some enclosures :eek:
 
snerkler said:
Which zoo? TBH unless you can get in the enclosure with them I think you'll find 50mm far too short. I used the 150-600mm on my D850 and even then I still wish I had more reach for some enclosures :eek:
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Last time we went the longest I had was 150mm FF, with the D800 I had plenty of room to crop. I said earlier bring the 50mm too, not just that! It'll be handy for indoor/darker sections like the reptile enclosures
 
Going to Dudley zoo... Yeah will probably end up taking both lenses....
 
Cagey75 said:
Last time we went the longest I had was 150mm FF, with the D800 I had plenty of room to crop. I said earlier bring the 50mm too, not just that! It'll be handy for indoor/darker sections like the reptile enclosures
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Yep, I guess it depends on the zoo and what you want to shoot. The shortest I've ever used was the 70-200mm but that was when I went on an experience day and got better access. For Chester Zoo and YWP 70-300mm on a DX body would be the minimum now for me (unless you just want to take insects and reptiles), but I take the 100-400mm (200-800mm eq) these days. Port Lympne, Paradise Wildlife Park again I'd be wanting the longer reach, whereas Edinburgh and Peak Wildlife I'd probably get away with a 70-200mm or 70-300mm eq lens. I've never been to Dudley though so don't know what it's like (y)
 
I've never been to Dudley zoo, so I don't know the lay out. But if you are shooting through glass or wire THIS may help.
 
snerkler said:
Yep, I guess it depends on the zoo and what you want to shoot. The shortest I've ever used was the 70-200mm but that was when I went on an experience day and got better access. For Chester Zoo and YWP 70-300mm on a DX body would be the minimum now for me (unless you just want to take insects and reptiles), but I take the 100-400mm (200-800mm eq) these days. Port Lympne, Paradise Wildlife Park again I'd be wanting the longer reach, whereas Edinburgh and Peak Wildlife I'd probably get away with a 70-200mm or 70-300mm eq lens. I've never been to Dudley though so don't know what it's like (y)
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It's Dublin Zoo we go to, not the biggest, but it's not that small either. I just wait for the animals to come up close, if they don't they can naff off :D only the friendlier ones are getting in my pictures :D This time I'll have at least 250mm on APSC and tbh, if I can't get good shots with that it'll be an album full of lizards :D
 
Cobra said:
I've never been to Dudley zoo, so I don't know the lay out. But if you are shooting through glass or wire THIS may help.
Click to expand...

I think Dublin zoo has done away with most of the mesh fence enclosures, there might be still a few. Most of them are glass now or open plan surrounded by water, [like the Gorrila sanctuary] and short fencing.
 
Cagey75 said:
It's Dublin Zoo we go to, not the biggest, but it's not that small either. I just wait for the animals to come up close, if they don't they can naff off :D only the friendlier ones are getting in my pictures :D This time I'll have at least 250mm on APSC and tbh, if I can't get good shots with that it'll be an album full of lizards :D
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Lol :lol:
 
snerkler said:
Which zoo? TBH unless you can get in the enclosure with them I think you'll find 50mm far too short. I used the 150-600mm on my D850 and even then I still wish I had more reach for some enclosures :eek:
Click to expand...

why not shoot in dx mode you still have 20mp
 
holty said:
why not shoot in dx mode you still have 20mp
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Well you could, but I tend to crop in post instead. But depending on the park, enclosure and where the animals are you're still having to crop heavily. Of course if depends on what type of shot you want, but I always try to frame so that it doesn't look obvious they're in an enclosure where possible.
 
snerkler said:
Well you could, but I tend to crop in post instead. But depending on the park, enclosure and where the animals are you're still having to crop heavily. Of course if depends on what type of shot you want, but I always try to frame so that it doesn't look obvious they're in an enclosure where possible.
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Same, I'll crop out any signs of fencing or 'enclosure' and try to make the animals look as free as possible. A longer lens will help a lot here. This was from last time we visited, as I say the 150mm was the longest I had and this was a massive crop, it was fine for FB sharing but not much more I guess. The fencing in the backdrop is still clear, a 300mm would have blown that out perhaps and I'd have gotten better details
Lead the way! by K G, on Flickr

I also think over time Flickr compressed the hell out of older images stored on there as I don't remember this one looking so terrible :/ but it looks like I still hadn't a clue about WB at the time either so maybe it's just a case that I have improved a lot since
 
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So, in the end I took both lenses, but only ended up using the 24-120 F4.
Managed to get some great shots, really pleased. The high MP allowed me to crop quite well in LR, and I can tell my photography is getting better from where I was 12 months ago with my D3300 (still a huge way to go, mind!).

Created a Flickr account, and this is my first BB upload!

Thanks for all your help thus far, this is a pic straight out the camera with no editing done (apart from crop) (y)


48125965862_1070ad7111_h.jpg
 
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stu.h said:
So, in the end I took both lenses, but only ended up using the 24-120 F4.
Managed to get some great shots, really pleased. The high MP allowed me to crop quite well in LR, and I can tell my photography is getting better from where I was 12 months ago with my D3300 (still a huge way to go, mind!).

Created a Flickr account, and this is my first BB upload!

Thanks for all your help thus far, this is a pic straight out the camera with no editing done (apart from crop) (y)


48125965862_1070ad7111_h.jpg
Click to expand...
Cracking effort. I'm surprised you managed to get so close (even with cropping) with a 120mm, just goes to show (y)
 
stu.h said:
So, in the end I took both lenses, but only ended up using the 24-120 F4.
Managed to get some great shots, really pleased. The high MP allowed me to crop quite well in LR, and I can tell my photography is getting better from where I was 12 months ago with my D3300 (still a huge way to go, mind!).

Created a Flickr account, and this is my first BB upload!

Thanks for all your help thus far, this is a pic straight out the camera with no editing done (apart from crop) (y)


48125965862_1070ad7111_h.jpg
Click to expand...

I'd be well happy with that, nice.
 
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