Oh Crap.

[NikonNewbie]

I just posted my question in the introduction forum and it was such a long post too...with a picture included...
what I wanted to know is...would a 80mm make a dent in a pic of a fox taken from 25-30 feet away...I have the oppertunity to purchase one for 40 (used) and would like some imput.
Thanks

 

[o hey tyler]

It depends, what camera are you using? On a full frame body, the lens will be true to it's focal length. However when you put it on a cropped frame body, the focal length will still stay the same, however it will be magnified and your FoV will drop. It will be effectively a 120mm lens on a DX camera.

Personally, I'd never buy a lens for a DSLR for 40 dollars used. That's just me. Unless I was like Ron Evers, and did a lot of shooting with older manual lenses.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You could always edit/select all/copy....edit/paste it right here.

 

[NikonNewbie]

Ill copy and paste the other message here..cuz Im an Idiot :meh:
Here ya go, have at it...lol
Hello People...
I'm Angela, and I'm glad I found this site...did some browsing and saw some pretty interesting things.
Everyone seems friendly and extremely knowledgable!
So...I've been taking what I was told were "great pics" with a point and shoot camera, so my husband got me a used a Nikon D40 for my birthday for a starter and to see if I actually stick with it.
I'd invite everyone to critique my pics...but they are on another photo hosting site and I'm not to sure if it's kosher to do that stuff here.
I have a ? right away for everyone and anyone who could take the time to help me avoid making a mistake.
My camera has a 18-55mm lens, I'm doing well with it in regards to taking Children's portraits, but I really enjoy taking wildlife photos as well.
The other day I came across a fox ravaging a duck he dug up in front of me...but I couldnt get to close to him because he started baring his teeth at me, so naturally I backed away like a sissy
The guy next to me had the absolute biggest lens I've ever seen in my life...I'm sure he was photographing the fox's plaque on it's teeth or he could he see through the fox with that contraption (it probably cost more then my car).
Anyway...so I'm fed up with my 55 lens. I will have to save for EVER to get a better lens since I'm a SAHM, but I found a 35-80mm on CL for 40 bucks and am debating if it's worth it for getting even an inch closer to wildlife without the addition of 3 rabies shots to my abdomen.
I was about 25 or 30 feet away from the fox. I'll add the pic for you...

Would a 80 make this any closer or is it a waste of 40 bucks?
Thanks so much.

 

[NikonNewbie]

and here is when he started to get p-O'd at everyone whistling at him and me moving closer like a asshat...not a great shot...but if you saw his face on the other 50 pics I took you would know why I backed away!

 

[oldmacman]

Not worth it imo. I have a 300 mm lens I use for wildlife and often find it is too short even with a 1.4x teleconverter (making it seem like a 420mm lens). The other consideration for a wildlife lens is how sharp it will be. At 80mm you will likely be cropping to get at your subject and without sharpness, your efforts will be fruitless. Just my opinion.

 

[kundalini]

**hangs head in shame**

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You'll probably want to get an inexpensive 55mm-250mm lens. Canon has that for $200, I dunno about Nikon. To me, getting a 35-85mm, overlapping your existing lens and not giving you much more reach than you had is a waste of $40.

 

[Overread35]

**hangs head in shame**

I'll join you - never gotten that close to a fox except at the wildlife centre!


You might find this thread of help here: Juza Nature Photography Forum • View topic - Working distances for bird photography

it gives an idea of the rough kind of image a certain focal length will give of varying sized subjects and the distances you'll have to be from them.


When it comes to wildlife photos however the general rule is:

1) Wildlife photography starts at 300mm
ab) bird wildlife photography starts at 400mm

2) More is always better

3) You'll always be wanting more

4) Field craft, field craft fieldcraft - is the biggest key component to getting the shots. Otherwise your trusting on luck and luck is a fickle thing.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Fieldcraft?

 

[NikonNewbie]

Ok... I am going to go ahead look up that site...I would love to show you the pics of a Dragonfly ...A very "patient" and happy Dragonfly who was nice enough to keep coming back to the same spot and letting me almost touch him with my lens..lol..but I'm afraid you would make fun of me!
Also...where the fox was...I also from the same distance took a few of pics of a Blue Heron with a Large Blue fish in his mouth...he was on shore holding it...but with all the damn reeds...I had to basically go on walk about through the bush to get near enough with that tiny lens and then he took off. If I blow it up enough you can see him...makes me so damn mad.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Show you pics! Just be prepared to hear what people have to say, and have an open mind for learnin'.

 

[NikonNewbie]

actually I'm just gonna do a big no-no I'm sure of it...but I have a trial smugmug account and was wondering if you would like to have a gander at it, it's all done with this 55mm lens...Im just getting super brave.
www.angelawolsetphotography.smugmug.com
Please keep in mind...I'm no pro..dont claim to be...but I love taking pics

 

[Overread35]

Fieldcraft?

Exactly! :mrgreen:

Show you pics! Just be prepared to hear what people have to say, and have an open mind for learnin'.

+1
You might also find reading this: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...e-your-posts-get-critiques-your-work-c-c.html

gives you some idea for how to put a little structure to posts to get the best possible feedback. Simply put the more you tell us the viewer the better we can help

Ok... I am going to go ahead look up that site...I would love to show you the pics of a Dragonfly ...A very "patient" and happy Dragonfly who was nice enough to keep coming back to the same spot and letting me almost touch him with my lens..lol..but I'm afraid you would make fun of me!

Haha nope not at all - and the behaviour you mention is quite common with dragonflies - they are territorial predators (of the insect world) and will often perch on a high vantage point to view the surrounding area. If you get up really early in the day you can even find them (and many other insects) in a cool state where they are very sluggish and often won't move at all - until they get heat from the sun to move around.

 

[NikonNewbie]

Show you pics! Just be prepared to hear what people have to say, and have an open mind for learnin'.

NO worries...I had a photographer from Austia give it to me...it wasn't so bad...I love to learn... and since my a.d.d. prevents me from reading and comprehending what I'm reading in a book...people advice is the best way for me to learn...I'll take any and all critisim necessary to learn.
I've got tough skin.