Lens limitations

[Species]

Hi,

I recently travelled to Costa Rica & took with me a digital SLR camera & a 500mm lens. For the most part it served me well, but when it came to birds it really wasnt up to the job. I just couldnt get close enough. Some of the monkeys also posed a problem - especially the howlers way up in the trees.

I do realise that ideally an 800mm F4 lens would be the answer, but there's no way I can afford this.

I was wondering if perhaps a better solution might be to use a scope? I do realise that they are fixed apertures, but at least they will get me the distance?

Can anyone give me some guidence on this, as I am going to Borneo early next year & dont want to end up in the same boat.

My budget is about £400.

Best regards & thanks

[mike from ebbw]

Hi Species and welcome to the Birdforum.What camera model and lens was it?Was it a prime lens or a zoom?To be honest you will get nowhere near 800mm with £400.If your lens is a good prime lens the Kenko 1.4x pro teleconverter could be an option.

[RAH]

Another option (dare I suggest it to a DSLR user?!?) would be to also bring along a super-zoom camera (e.g. Canon S5; Olympus SP-560; etc, etc) with a teleconverter like the Olympus TCON-17. On a Canon S5, this gives you the equivalent of a 732mm lens, and some of the new 15x and 18x super-zooms would get you out over 800mm. I'm NOT saying that this setup is nearly as good as a DSLR with any kind of a lens, but neither is digiscoping.

[Sout Fork]

Hi,

I recently travelled to Costa Rica & took with me a digital SLR camera & a 500mm lens. For the most part it served me well, but when it came to birds it really wasnt up to the job. I just couldnt get close enough. Some of the monkeys also posed a problem - especially the howlers way up in the trees.

SF:
I think you are at about the practical limits for a conventional telephoto - about 15x.

I do realise that ideally an 800mm F4 lens would be the answer, but there's no way I can afford this.

SF:
Even if you could afford it an F4 800mm prime lens would require objective lens of about 200mm and weigh about 20 pounds or more just for the bare lens. Hardly practical for a tourest to take along on a vacation.

I was wondering if perhaps a better solution might be to use a scope? I do realise that they are fixed apertures, but at least they will get me the distance?

SF:
Overall I think this would be the best choice. It would give you about 30x and would be well suited to field use - this system would give you some degree of weather sealing and is fairly robust which would be important in a place like Borneo. It's main disadvantage would be it's only about an f/11 so many shots in deep understory may not be possible and you would need a tripod.

Can anyone give me some guidence on this, as I am going to Borneo early next year & dont want to end up in the same boat.

My budget is about £400.

I can think of nothing at this price that would work for you.

Best regards & thanks

Taken with a Pentax spotter+DSLR at 38x at about 300 feet.

[Species]

Hi, thanks for the replies. To answer a couple of questions, my lens was a Sigma 170-500mm APO lens on a Sony A100. I've now sold this & have a Canon 30D.

SF - the thumbnail you posted is exactly what I am looking to take - can I ask if it was the Pentax 80 or 65 (or another?). Also, what F stop did you use?

I put on another post about 2 scopes I am considering - the Bushnell Elite & Celestron Ultima 100ED - any one have any ideas on how they would stack up against the Pentax?

[Species]

I also meant to ask. There's a lot of talk about the quality not being up to lens standards, but as guys know, there are lenses & there are lenses! Would a scope produce photos as good as say a £100 cheapy 300mm lens?

[Tannin]

Species, yes, for sure .... if you are talking about (as examples) a Swarovski, a Zeis, or a Leica scope, that is - and you won't get one of those for anything like £100.

[Keith Reeder]

And of course you lose metering and AF...