Posted by Beth Warren on January 6, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Hi,
My name is Beth, I'm new here. I'm a new amateur photographer, I got my first DSLR last XMAS, a Pentax K10D. I currently have the 18-55 kit lens, and a Pentax DA 50-200 lens. I'm going to Costa Rica this spring, and wanted to get a better zoom lens, for rain forest/wildlife photos...but am not sure first of all, what lens to get - I've never been there and am not sure how the lighting is, or if a F4 or 5.6 lens would be ok, or if only a 2.8 would get decent shots. I really wanted a 400 or 500 mm lens...I'm thinking of buying either the Sigma 135-400 or 170-500 lens, but wondering if the aperture would be ok. I also need to buy a flash, and would appreciate any advice, re lens, flash or anything else that would help me to take great photos during this trip.
Thanks,
Beth
Posted by Bruce Palla on January 6, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Beth, welcome to NPN. I can't help w/Costa Rica, but if you are going to be getting that big of glass, I will suggest a decent tripod as a necessity! A sturdy monopod at the very least is needed. Hand holding those lenses will more than likely leave you disappointed with image quality. However, your left triceps and forearm will be killers! Have fun and I'm sure there will be more and better answers here soon.
Posted by Kent Staubus on January 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Taking photos in a rain forest is a pretty extreme environment. For starteres, it tends to be dark. You might consider buying a used Sigma or Tamron 80-200mm f2.8 type lens. That should be almost affordable. While 200mm is usually not long enough for wildlife, in the tight quarters of a jungle it probably would be. The f2.8 speed might be more important than the length. You might also consider buying a Canon 500D to fit the lens so you can take photos of all the interesting bugs and other little critters.
I agree with Kent on the 80-200 rather than lugging something bigger. It's much more portable and easy to handhold. I'd add a tripod as Bruce suggests. But I'd also add a strobe and a Better Beamer attachment for more reach. I don't know anything about the K10D's low light performance, but I suspect it's at least good enough for quality ISO 400 shooting, and probably ISO 800. In combination with f/2.8 capabilities, a flash and Better Beamer, and a tripod, I bet it will make up a very nice and portable jungle outfit. You might look into one of the noise reduction programs for the ultimate polish of your images too, while you're at it.
And finally, I'd practise with your new outfit before leaving. Head out morning and evening near home when the light is a little lower than you would normally shoot. You don't want to spend your vacation reading manuals, and I bet manual reading in a dark rain forest is even harder than shooting in the low light!
Have a ball on your trip! You're asking the right questions, which is a pretty good sign things will go well during the big event.
Posted by Mike DiVita on January 9, 2009 at 1:16 AM
Beth, I just got back from two weeks in Costa Rica so I'll give a quick rundown on what I encountered. My main lense for birds and mammals was a 200-400mm. I sometimes added a 1.4x converter. Even at 400mm many small birds still come out small in the frame. Most of my shooting was from boats and on trails with no blinds so there was no chance to get real close to most birds. Photos of monkeys that are well up into the trees also benefit from a longer lense as does other skittish wildlife. For most shots I used a flash and Better Beamer. One huge mistake I made was leaving my macro lense home. After not using it in Peru, I left the macro home to make room for the 200-400mm. With all of the plants, flowers, frogs, and insects that I saw, I really wanted my macro lense!
Also on the plus side, I had no issues with a 35lb backpack full of camera equipment even on the small domestic flights. My backpack was my carry on bag. For the domestic flights, it was weighed with me for total body weight. The 35lb backpack is well over the 25lb limit for regular luggage.
Just curious, where are you going in Costa Rica? If you go to Monteverde or Arenal, it was very wet and windy. A sturdy tripod and raingear is suggested.
Mike
Posted by Ray Anderson on January 10, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Hi Beth,
Costa Rica and Better beamer.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/better_beamer.shtml.
Also http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/rainforest.shtml
'Ave a good one.
Ray
Discussion
5 repliesMy name is Beth, I'm new here. I'm a new amateur photographer, I got my first DSLR last XMAS, a Pentax K10D. I currently have the 18-55 kit lens, and a Pentax DA 50-200 lens. I'm going to Costa Rica this spring, and wanted to get a better zoom lens, for rain forest/wildlife photos...but am not sure first of all, what lens to get - I've never been there and am not sure how the lighting is, or if a F4 or 5.6 lens would be ok, or if only a 2.8 would get decent shots. I really wanted a 400 or 500 mm lens...I'm thinking of buying either the Sigma 135-400 or 170-500 lens, but wondering if the aperture would be ok. I also need to buy a flash, and would appreciate any advice, re lens, flash or anything else that would help me to take great photos during this trip.
Thanks,
Beth
Kent in SD
And finally, I'd practise with your new outfit before leaving. Head out morning and evening near home when the light is a little lower than you would normally shoot. You don't want to spend your vacation reading manuals, and I bet manual reading in a dark rain forest is even harder than shooting in the low light!
Have a ball on your trip! You're asking the right questions, which is a pretty good sign things will go well during the big event.
Also on the plus side, I had no issues with a 35lb backpack full of camera equipment even on the small domestic flights. My backpack was my carry on bag. For the domestic flights, it was weighed with me for total body weight. The 35lb backpack is well over the 25lb limit for regular luggage.
Just curious, where are you going in Costa Rica? If you go to Monteverde or Arenal, it was very wet and windy. A sturdy tripod and raingear is suggested.
Mike
Costa Rica and Better beamer.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/better_beamer.shtml.
Also http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/rainforest.shtml
'Ave a good one.
Ray