Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · UKNP

Roe deer

Discussion

10 replies
Posted by Dawn Monrose on April 13, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Roe deer
Capreolus capreolus

Hi all!

Slowly getting closer to these beautiful creatures. One from this morning on my local nature reserve.

Nikon D300s, Sigma 500mm f4.5 lens
Tripod

1/160sec @ f8 200ISO
-0.3 exp comp

C and C most welcome,

Thanks for looking! :wavey:
Posted by Neil Burton on April 13, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Nice one Dawn. This is the time to get them, beofre the hunting season opens. :toast:
Posted by Dawn Monrose on April 13, 2013 at 3:57 PM
Thanks Neil, I hope they won't be shooting them on the reserve!

Just wondered if anyone else is using the Sigma 500mm f4.5? I'm struggling with it a bit, I have to admit. Close up I can't fault it, tack sharp and fast autofocus, but anything further away it loses a lot of definition. The difference with my old Nikon 500mm f4 P is noticeable. Anyone got any tips? :confused:

Thanks all, :toast:
Posted by Neil Burton on April 13, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Funny you should mention the Sigma 500 4.5 as I was looking through some old shot with one. Belting at 5m even though the AF was a bit hit and miss. Not so good in dull or low contrast situations and completely OOF over 30M or so. Did not work well with TCs even on a 1D body, needed taped pins. I ended up selling and getting the Canon 500 4.5, sooooooooooooooooo much better. Now the 500 f4 is another league entirely. So it is not just you Dawn.
Posted by Dawn Monrose on April 13, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Phew! Thanks Neil, I was beginning to think it was me!

I just don't think I can afford the Nikon 500mm f4, so blooming expensive and never comes up secondhand. :rolleyes:

I was thinking of trying the Nikon 300mm 2.8 plus x2 converter, as an alternative plus a little extra reach, I've seen a lot of great shots with this combo online, but I'm nervous of the x2 converter!

I'm disappointed with the Sigma 500mm, the other Sigma lens I have - the 180 macro is bang on and always reliable.

Live and learn I suppose, but the vast amounts of money involved are keeping me awake at night!

Thanks again, much appreciated. :wavey:
Posted by keith mitchell on April 14, 2013 at 3:29 AM
Dawn I have just sold my 500ml f4 (up to date I have not missed it) and use my 300 2.8 with a 1.4 tc which I like a lot a 2 x is the next on my list .
Looks like the Deer spotted you nice alert shot.
Keith. :smile:
Posted by Nick Mckeown on April 14, 2013 at 7:22 AM
Great pose and early morning light here Dawn.

I bought a second hand Nikon 500mm f4 AFS last year which is the first of the AF models and is at least 15 years old. Keep looking on Mifsuds or Ffordes web sites and one may turn up.

Nick.
:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :smile: :wavey:
Posted by Alan Bryant on April 14, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Lovely alert pose and morning light

Here's a good site for new/used stuff http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/
Posted by John Robinson on April 14, 2013 at 10:25 AM

Dawn
I still use the old Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3 non OS. Plenty good enough with a decent tripod which all my work is anyway.Loads posted on here with it. Plenty on E bay for about £500.The 150-500 was not so good I am told.
Superceded by the the OS model which I have no idea about.
JR
Posted by Mike Smith on April 14, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Very nice

You could squeeze a bit more detail out of the image by using a contrast reduction layer
Posted by David Taylor on April 19, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Like JR I use a Sigma 'Bigma'. Normally I use it hand held with monopod, but sometimes on a tripod if I'm shooting the moon for example when I use the camera's 2second timer. Very nice image of the deer.


:toast: :toast: :toast: :jump: