Nature Photography Equipment


Pursuit of the perfect nature photography equipment is an ongoing mission. Photographers seem to be gadget lovers instinctively any way. Add the passion of finding the perfect lens for the perfect image and you have a lethal (and expensive) combination.

I have gone through a few lenses and other equipment. Below are my experiences with each. Hopefully this list will help you decide whether to move forward or reconsider that next purchase.  My thoughts on all of the equipment listed below are only my humble opinions.  Everyone needs to decide for themselves what works best for them.

Before the list begins, remember that the equipment you use isn’t necessarily the determining factor of a good shot. The person behind the equipment has a lot to do with the final outcome.

First I will start with what I have owned in the past and why I decided not to keep it.  Then I will discuss what's in my bag now.

 

Lenses I have owned

Nikon 18-55mm DS
 This lens came with my Nikon D50 camera. It is specifically designed for digital cameras.  Although it is a “kit lens” it takes very nice pictures. Images are pretty sharp and the lens is a good carry-around, family function lens.  Construction of the lens is not the best by Nikon standards. The camera mount is plastic as is the rest of the lens.

I sold this lens when I purchased the Nikon 18-200. Knowing what I know now I probably would have kept it. I don’t take a lot of wide angle shots. This lens is very adequate for the wide shots that I do take.

Conclusion – This lens is compact, light, and very adequate for family photos and occasional wider angle nature shots.

 

Tamron 70-300 telephoto zoom with 1:2 macro
This lens was my first "extra lens" purchase. I purchased it because I wanted to get the long telephoto shots. I was an uneducated buyer at the time and all I was looking at was the 300mm focal length. The price was also very doable at $200.00.

Actually this lens is pretty descent for the money. I was able to get some very good images in good light with a tripod. The macro feature is a nice addition for spontaneous macro needs. It is 1:2 which means the image in the view finder is 1/2 actual size.  True macro lenses are 1:1 (actual size) or closer.

The negatives about this lens include bad purple fringe on edges of some items in the picture. It is also not a real fast lens and is hard to get sharp images in low light without a tripod.  However, this was a descent, inexpensive lens for a beginning photographer.  It will produce some very nice shots in the right conditions (bright light, tripod).

 

Nikon 80-400mm VR
This was the first lens I bought that cost way more than my camera. I couldn’t wait to get this lens. What appealed to me was the long focal length and the flexible 80-400mm zoom.

While I captured some nice images with this lens I was not experienced enough to use it and became frustrated with it. The things I liked about this lens included the focal length. You could cover a lot of ground with 80-400mm. The VR (vibration reduction) is great for hand-held shots even at the longer focal lengths. It is a very well constructed lens.

The things I didn’t like about this lens included the weight. It is pretty heavy to carry around. The lens is also very slow focusing which was extremely frustrating. Focusing was better in bright light but this lens has the older motor-driven focusing mechanism which is slow. Also, at f4.5-6.3 the shutter speeds are not blazing.

Conclusion – This is a relatively inexpensive way to get a 400mm length lens. As long as you are aware of its limitations its OK. Use a tripod for the longer shots, especially in lower light.  I don't have any regrets about parting with it.  I like my current longer lenses much better.

 

Nikon 18-200mm VR
This was another lens that I thought would change my life. With a focal length covering 18-200mm plus VR what else would I need? I read about others raving over this lens. People were paying $200 more than what the lens should sell for because they didn’t want to be on a waiting list. I was one of them.  

This lens does cover all of the most used focal lengths. It is great for trips, family photos and just an all around lens. The cost isn’t too awfully bad considering this may be replacing a couple lenses. It isn’t too heavy to carry around. Images are pretty sharp.

However, I found that it didn’t suit my needs for nature photography. This is a very good lens but there were some things I couldn’t live with. My version of this lens had lens creep. The barrel would extend on its own when it was pointed down. This was particularly annoying while walking with the lens or trying to take a shot on a tripod with the lens pointing down. Shutter speeds were descent but not the best. The lens creep was the main reason I sold this lens.

If you need a good all around lens for basic shots this is a good choice.  If you are looking for a professional grade lens than this might not be the one for you.  Once again, I don't miss it.

 

Nikon 28-70mm f2.8
This was my first leap in to a professional grade lens. I wanted fast shutter speed with a reasonably wide focal length. I wasn’t disappointed. This lens is awesome and delivered all of the above. I bought a used one on Ebay and it was great. This lens took amazing shots. It is very sharp and fast.

As nice as the lens is  and as good as the shots were I didn’t have it long. I couldn’t justify having such an expensive lens in my bag that I didn’t use very often.  My wide angle needs are somewhat limited.  I also wanted something just a little bit wider. This is a heavy lens and the extra weight in my bag and the limited use of this great lens forced me to sell it.

If you need a studio lens or portrait lens with a constant 2.8 aperture you can't go wrong with this one.  If you want to keep the weight in the bag down and don't use wider angles very much you may want to think twice.

 

What's in my bag now

First and foremost is my camera.  I use a Nikon D80 and like it a lot. This is on the lower end of Nikon’s lineup of digital cameras but provides everything I need.  It is compact and light weight.  I have no gripes at all about the pictures it takes.

I upgraded to the D80 from the D50.  I used teh D50 for about a year.  I still have it as a spare camera and my wife uses it sometimes.  It is a very capable camera which produces VERY nice images.

The main reasons I went to a D80 was the 10 megapixel capability and the wider range of ISO over the D50.  There are a few other features on the D80 (like the depth of field preview) which are very nice to have.

I have made a conscious decision not to upgrade to a D300 or other professional grade camera.  I spend my money on the lenses and other equipment. 

 

Nikon 18-70mm AF-S
When I sold the 28-70mm I picked up a used 18-70mm. This is a great lens for the money. Construction is good, it’s light, and the focal length is just right for what I need in a wide angle zoom. Images are not as sharp as what I got with the 28-70mm but are acceptable for what I use the lens for.

 

Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR AF-S
After I sold the 80-400mm I purchased the 70-200mm new and have never looked back. I love this lens! With a constant f2.8 aperture it is fast and sharp. The VR allows for hand-held shots when necessary. It is built like a tank, heavy and a quality lens all around. It uses the AF-S focusing mechanism which is definitely the way to go. I won’t go back to the old style after using AF-S.

AF-S is much smoother and faster than the focusing mechanism on lenses such as the 80-400 VR.

I have also found that extension tubes on this lens allows is to focus much closer.  I have been able to get some great macro shots with this lens and the Kenko Extension tube kit.

 

Nikon 300mm f4 AF-S
The 70-200 doesn’t have quite the reach I want for birds and other wildlife. I agonized over which lens to fill this void. I almost pulled the trigger on a 200-400mm, but just couldn’t justify the $5000.00 expense. I have absolutely no regrets. The 300mm f4 has been outstanding for considerably less money.  I paid $900.00 for a used one.

The same day I got the lens I took it to a local park just to try it out. I was able to get some fantastic pictures of an osprey catching fish in a small lake.  I was even able to get clear shots while hand-holding the lens with a 1.7 teleconverter on it. This lens is sharp, it has AF-S, and isn’t very heavy for a longer lens. This lens mounted on a good tripod delivers some of my best shots.

 

Tamron 180mm f3.5 Macro
This was one of my smarter early purchases. I liked the macro feature on the 70-300mm Tamron lens I had but it wasn’t a 1:1 macro. I had read some good reviews about the Tamron 180mm macro lens. I bought one used and it has performed wonderfully! It doesn’t have the build quality of the Nikkor lenses but the images are very sharp. It uses the older motor-driven focusing which is slow, but for macro work I normally use manual focus. This macro lens is an exceptional value.

 

Nikon 500mm f4 AF-S I
So I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a used 500mm monster lens.  Wow!  What a lens!

This lens is great for birds.  The detail is amazing.  It focuses quickly and is dead on.  I just couldn't resist getting yet a longer lens.  This lens is quite an investment even when you purchase a used one.  But what I am finding is that quality lenses don't depreciate very much.  You can usually get your money back (or close to it) if you decide to sell them.

This is a heavy lens and must be used on a heavy tripod.  You will also want to get a Wimberley gimbal head or a Wimberley Sidekick.  I already had a good ballhead so I just attached a Sidekick to it.  Its a great combination to use on long lenses and even my other lenses.

I'm having a lot of fun with this combination.


Nikon 1.7E Teleconverter
I bought this teleconverter new to get extra reach with 70-200mm lens. This makes the 70-200mm a 120-340mm with a reduction of 1.5 stops. This TC only works with AF-S auto-focusing. I can also use it with my 300mm and 500mm lenses. I get very nice results on all of them.

 

Gitzo 3530s Carbon Fiber Tripod
If you are serious about your photography don’t get a cheap tripod! Even though many cameras and lenses have vibration reduction or image stabilization a tripod is the best way to get your best images. I wanted a light yet sturdy tripod. The Gitzo 3530s is one of the best you can get to meet those needs. They are expensive but I have no regrets at all about this purchase.

I tried a inexpensive Manfrotto 3001BPRO and it was OK, but the Gitzo is so much better.

 

Markins M20 ballhead
I used to use a Manfrotto 3265 Grip Action ballhead.  It was fine for light cameras and light lenses but if you try to use it with longer lenses you will be disappointed.  The camera and lens would move after I had them in the position I wanted, especially in any position besides horizontal. 

I upgraded to the Markins M20 ballhead.  The difference is like night and day.  With this ballhead the camera and lens do not move at all after they are set in position.  This ballhead in combination with the Gotz 3530 tripod is an excellent combination!

 

Wimberley Sidekick
As mentioned above, I use this with my 500mm Nikon lens and also my other longer lenses.  This device attaches to a ballhead and allows you to perfectly balance the lens.  You can then move the lens up, down, and around without having to lock it down for every shot.  I love it!

If you take pictures of birds and use longer lenses this is a great investment.


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