Posted by Ben Gardner on November 5, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Planning to head up to Donna Nook for a spot of seal photography the weekend of 21/22/23 November.
I have never been before so any advice would be a great help. If anyone has an ideas of B&B's or camping close by then please let me know.
I have checked out the tide times and read a bit on http://www.wildsight.co.uk/articles/donna-nook.html but any other useful info would be good.
Planning to use my Nikon D70s with 80-200 lens and if i really have too a 1.7x TC (but noticed it really softens images hence would prefer not to).
Thanks
Ben
Posted by Andy Astbury on November 5, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Ben - for my money 200mm is a bit short. You are going to need to get very close for some nice shots, and to be honest this would be a bit stressful on the seals to put it mildly.
You are much better off with 500/600mm or bigger, though 400mm seems to get some nice images on a 1.5crop body.
400mm plus 1.4tc would be my minimum recommendation.
Please be careful, keep your distance and don't stress the seals - and don't get between a mother and pup.
Ben, check the tides, a good pair of Wellingtons and as Andy said, give the seals distance. Don't touch anything that might look like a bomb & be careful of low flying aircraft!
This link may(?) also help http://www.lincsuk.com/donnanookseals.htm
Steve
Posted by Ben Gardner on November 5, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Just noticed there is an NPN meet at Donna Nook in December. Shame I can't come up then as I am stupidly competing in a Helly Hansen Adventure race.
If you think the 200mm is not enough, even with crop factor of digital sensor then I guess I will have to resort to using the 1.7x teleconverter or maybe I should just rent out a nikon 200-400 VR for the weekend, although the Mrs's might notice the big dent in my credit card doing that
Discussion
3 repliesI have never been before so any advice would be a great help. If anyone has an ideas of B&B's or camping close by then please let me know.
I have checked out the tide times and read a bit on http://www.wildsight.co.uk/articles/donna-nook.html but any other useful info would be good.
Planning to use my Nikon D70s with 80-200 lens and if i really have too a 1.7x TC (but noticed it really softens images hence would prefer not to).
Thanks
Ben
You are much better off with 500/600mm or bigger, though 400mm seems to get some nice images on a 1.5crop body.
400mm plus 1.4tc would be my minimum recommendation.
Please be careful, keep your distance and don't stress the seals - and don't get between a mother and pup.
Stay low to the ground and approach slowly.
Cover everything and use AF all the time.
This link may(?) also help http://www.lincsuk.com/donnanookseals.htm
Steve
If you think the 200mm is not enough, even with crop factor of digital sensor then I guess I will have to resort to using the 1.7x teleconverter or maybe I should just rent out a nikon 200-400 VR for the weekend, although the Mrs's might notice the big dent in my credit card doing that