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Archive 2015 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Mar73
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

My dream kit would be as follows:
1. 500 f4 L
2. 100-400 II L
3. 70-200 f2.8 II L
4. 11-24 L
5. 24-70 f2.8 L

I will likely not invest in those lens until much later in life if ever. I will have as good a compromise for those as I can justify for my hobby.

My current compromise kit is as follows:

1. Sigma 170-500 (will replace with 150-600 C)
2. Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX
3. Sigma 10-20 EX
4. Canon 50 STM
5. Canon 24 STM

I would love to hear what others have as there "compromise" to there dream lens.

Marty

Jul 31, 2015 at 08:27 PM

gatorine
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Canon 11-24 (dreaming)
Contax N 24-85 (own this, need to fix barrel if possible)
Contax 645 120F4 macro (owned once upon a time)
Canon 100-400 Mk II (own)
Canon 400 F4 DO II (+1.4x TC III) (still dreaming)
Since this is a dream can we substitute a 600 F5.6 IS DO w/ integrated teleconverter?

Lighter weight kit:
24-70 F4 IS
90 TS-E
135 F2
70-300 L IS
100-400 IS Mk II (own all these)

No talk of bodies allowed?
7D Mk II
1DX
5DRS
& 5DRS Converted to IR for me please

Jul 31, 2015 at 08:44 PM

kevindar
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

More on the landsccape side

1. 16-35 f4 IS
2. 24-70 f2.8 II
3. 100-400 L II
4. sigma 150 2.8 OS macro
5 400 2.8 II

Jul 31, 2015 at 09:53 PM

Morgo
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

1. Canon 600 f4 IS II - Want

2. Canon 200-400 F4 1.4x - Have

3. Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II - Have

4. Canon 24-70 2.8 II - want

5. Canon 16-35 f4 IS - Want, coming soon.

Would also like
Canon 100-400 II - as a lighter weight option
Sigma 120-300 F2.8 Sport - Be nice to have 200-300 at f2.8 option

Jul 31, 2015 at 11:23 PM

jeetsukumaran
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Current:

- EF 100mm f.8 Macro (USM, not L)
- Zeiss 21mm f/2.8
- EF 40mm f/2.8 STM
- EF 100-400mm f/4.3-5.6

Would be happy to add:
(a) more reach (and faster!): 600mm f/4, and
(b) fill out the middle range: replace the 40mm STM with a 24-70 f/2.8 II.

I

Jul 31, 2015 at 11:50 PM

Liquidstone
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Methodical wrote:
600II
600II
600II
400 5.6
70-200

I'd surmise that you'll use the two 600 IIs simultaneously side by side like binoculars for perhaps 3D imaging? And if cars have a fifth tire (spare), why not a third 600 II?

Aug 01, 2015 at 12:57 AM

Liquidstone
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Morgo wrote:
1. Canon 600 f4 IS II - Want

2. Canon 200-400 F4 1.4x - Have

3. Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II - Have

4. Canon 24-70 2.8 II - want

5. Canon 16-35 f4 IS - Want, coming soon.

A very near match to my choices. I'm feeling more confident on my ultimate kit now, as I see many nature shooters with similar perspective.

Aug 01, 2015 at 01:04 AM

Liquidstone
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

kylebarendrick wrote:
I shoot mostly landscape and at night, so here's my list

1) 16-35 f/4L IS (own it)
2) 24-70 f/4L IS (don't own it, currently using the 24-105 and don't want the weight of the 2.8)
3) 100-400 II (own it - more range than the 70-200)
4) Samyang 14 f/2.8 (own it for night shots)
5) Samyang 24 f/1.4 (own it also for night shots)

Covers lots of range and gives me some wide fast lenses for the nights.

That you want 4 UWA/WAs is an eye-opener for me. At one time, I had the Sigmonster, 500 f4 IS, 400 2.8 IS, 100-400 IS and the 400 5.6L. I just realized that we long shooters are not alone in wishing for specialty performance in a group of lenses with nearly similar AOV/length. It happens at the wide end too!

Aug 01, 2015 at 01:09 AM

Liquidstone
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Schlotkins wrote:
If the extender doesn't count, then 16-35 f4L (own)

At scenics, I shoot my 16-35 f4 IS on a tripod/gear head most of the time (for leveling of the horizon, precise framing and to be able to shoot long exposures). However, there are instances when I don't have my tripod with me, but I need to shoot hand held with a slowish Tv to smoothen the movement of water. It seems the IS of the 16-35 f4 is quite effective in this situation.

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/160884712/original.jpg

Shooting info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, July 30, 2015, Canon 5D MIII + EF 16-35 f/4 L IS, 16 mm, f/11, ISO 100, 1/6 sec, manual exposure in available light, hand held/IS engaged, AWB, uncropped full frame resized to 1575 x 1050 pixels.

Aug 01, 2015 at 01:34 AM

Charlie N
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

since this is make believe, 11-24, 24-70F4IS for the macro feature, 100-400, 500F4 (not sure I want anything bigger than this).

might as well throw in the 135L for the occasional nature portraits with family.

Aug 01, 2015 at 01:44 AM

ben egbert
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Here is the 11-24 wide open. I got to this scene and was setting up. The camera was on a tripod but in action mode, iso800 and f4. I quickly changed to ISO100 and f11, my normal landscape setting. But I processed this just to see how it would turn out.

Edit to use a larger version, the first is set for the Landscape forum.

I realized I could post a larger version here

Edited on Aug 01, 2015 at 08:31 AM · View previous versions

Aug 01, 2015 at 08:03 AM

ben egbert
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Liquidstone wrote:
At scenics, I shoot my 16-35 f4 IS on a tripod/gear head most of the time (for leveling of the horizon, precise framing and to be able to shoot long exposures). However, there are instances when I don't have my tripod with me, but I need to shoot hand held with a slowish Tv to smoothen the movement of water. It seems the IS of the 16-35 f4 is quite effective in this situation.

http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/image/160884712/original.jpg

Shooting info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, July 30, 2015, Canon 5D MIII + EF 16-35 f/4 L IS, 16 mm, f/11, ISO 100, 1/6...Show more →

Good to see your landscape work Romy. Tell me about your geared head. I use a ball head and it is a good RRS head but difficult to get level.

Aug 01, 2015 at 08:06 AM

Tom_W
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

It would be very difficult to choose a 5 lens "ultimate" setup for nature photography. I suppose, that would depend on what I intend to shoot.

At the long end, I'm impressed with my 100-400 II. I'm also impressed with the IQ of my 400/2.8 IS, but not with its weight. As a result, it is more of a "tripod-only" lens. It frequently gets pressed into service for moon shots and such, where I don't have to lug it too far to set up. I did use it last year to capture my first Eagle shots up in Cleveland last year, but the 500/4 II would be a much lighter alternative.

At shorter distances, I've always been happy with the 24-70 (and now, the Mk II version) and the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. I'm content with the 16-35/2.8 II, but I crave that 11-24 as an alternative. I'd also consider the newer 16-35/4 with its IS.

So, the list for me would be:

500/4 II
100-400 II
70-200/2.8 II
24-70 II
11-24

Aug 01, 2015 at 08:17 AM

Liquidstone
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

ben egbert wrote:
Good to see your landscape work Romy. Tell me about your geared head. I use a ball head and it is a good RRS head but difficult to get level.

I use my old Manfrotto 410 gear head - it has knobs that can be turned precisely along 3 axes, plus it has quick adjustment knobs to make fast but less precise changes. I can shoot the camera in landscape orientation, then quickly go to portrait orientation with a turn of the latter knobs.

http://www.manfrotto.com/410-junior-geared-head

Romy

Aug 01, 2015 at 08:33 AM

jcolwell
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

About geared heads...

I'm in the middle of a project to compare three geared heads: Sunwayfoto GH-Pro, Arca-Swiss C1 Cube, and Manfrotto 410. I've been using a 410 for over ten years. It's a reliable workhorse that never lets me down. I only considered getting a second geared-head solution because the 410 is a bit large and clunky for extensive travel and hiking. My first alternative was the GH-Pro. It's nice and small, and it works OK, but it has enough warts (e.g. inconsistent and overall very tight knobs), that I bought a Cube. The Cube is sublime. Resistance is futile.

The 'base' 410 costs about $270 US (B&H). I've modified my 410 using a Hejnar RC4 adapter plate and RRS 60mm A-S lever clamp, and so my 'as-tested' 410 confiruration costs about $ 528 US. The GH-Pro retails for $500 US (eBay) and the C1 Cube is $1572 (B&H).

BTW, the 410 is one of the few 'popular' geared heads that has geared movement for all three angular axes (roll,pitch,yaw or level,elevation,azimuth or roll,tilt,swing). Most geared heads, including the GH-Pro and C1 Cube, have geared movements for elevation & level (tilt & roll), but not for azimuth, which is provided by a simple, locking "pano" rotating base.

My report on the comparison of these geared heads will probably be up in late August, on the General Gear forum.

Three geared heads: (L to R) Sunwayfoto GH-Pro, Arca-Swiss C1 Cube, and Manfrotto 410

Aug 01, 2015 at 08:56 AM

Tom_W
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

Looking forward to reading it, jcolwell. I have an older, non-geared Manfrotto that performs all 3 angles, but is very much a manual head. Loosen the knob, adjust the angle, tighten the knob. Simple but rugged. Also hard to hit the "nail on the head" with regard to leveling and such.

Aug 01, 2015 at 09:11 AM

RobertLynn
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

With a 5 lens kit- I could have an ultimate anything shoot.

Aug 01, 2015 at 11:53 AM

Liquidstone
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p.3 #18 · p.3 #18 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

jcolwell wrote:
It's nice and small, and it works OK, but it has enough warts (e.g. inconsistent and overall very tight knobs), that I bought a Cube. The Cube is sublime. Resistance is futile.

(Talking to myself)

Nope. That Cube is non-existent, don't google it for more rave reviews, your 410 is just fine. You definitely don't need another tripod head.

jcolwell wrote:
My report on the comparison of these geared heads will probably be up in late August, on the General Gear forum.

Jim, I'm looking forward to that comparison.

Aug 01, 2015 at 07:43 PM

kylebarendrick
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p.3 #19 · p.3 #19 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

I can see that. The only one I really consider somewhat redundant is the 24/1.4 which is primarily for the milky way. The rest all hit different ranges. I don't believe "zoom with your feet" really works for landscape. There is only one location where the foreground will have the size I want relative to the background. From that spot the focal length needs to fit the scene. With that in mind I like having the range from 14 to 400 covered. At this point I'd rather avoid the weight of the 11-24.

Liquidstone wrote:
That you want 4 UWA/WAs is an eye-opener for me. At one time, I had the Sigmonster, 500 f4 IS, 400 2.8 IS, 100-400 IS and the 400 5.6L. I just realized that we long shooters are not alone in wishing for specialty performance in a group of lenses with nearly similar AOV/length. It happens at the wide end too!

Aug 02, 2015 at 12:40 AM

brian500au
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p.3 #20 · p.3 #20 · Your ultimate 5-lens nature photography kit?

At the moment my interest is photographing larger mammals so I tend to travel with this list

1. 500 F4 IS (with the 1.4x glued to it)
2. 100 - 400 V1
3. 24 - 70 2.8 II
4 16 - 35 2.8 II

I like to save the weight and only travel with a 4 lens kit.

I am really contemplating whether to upgrade to the VII of the 100 - 400 or go all out and slip in a 200 - 400 IS for the 500 and swap out the 100 - 400 for the 70 - 200 VII. I do own the latter and I could use the versatility of the built in teleconverter of the 200 - 400 to cover the range of the 500.

I will eventually upgrade to the VII of the 100 - 400 but I am in no rush for the moment.

We are heading to Sir Lanka in December and I am currently kitting out my wife to travel with me.

Her kit will be

1. 150 - 600 Sigma S (matched to a 7DII)
2. 70 - 300 L IS (matched to a 6D)
3. 35L 1.4

Aug 02, 2015 at 08:24 AM

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