groob wrote:
Glad to hear that people have found this focal length to allow for better working distances. I’ve been really curious how that would play out. One of my first thoughts upon hearing about this lens was that it would allow photographers to get the shots they want while remaining far enough away that animals remain comfortable. Eight hundred millimeters is an awful lot of focal length, but it shouldn’t be a hindrance once the photographer learns how far away they need to be from the subject.
This was my motivation for buying the 800 f6.3. After shooting the 400mm f4.5 with a 2x converter for about 6 weeks, I quickly realized that I was choosing to make different types of photos with my lens. Where I live, winter really restricts one's ability to be quiet, mobil, and invisible. Short of digging a snow blind and waiting for something to trot or fly by, most photographic opportunities are derived by driving back county roads. While I abhor this strategy, boredom with the "swan pond" I usually shoot for months, this is one of the few ways I can make a different type of picture. Sadly, most of the wildlife I see is skittish and pretty far off. With the 800PF, I can remain in my vehicle or drive beyond the view of my subject, walk back and squeeze a few fleeting moments.
I have posted multiple coyote shots in the last 30 days and none of these would have been possible without the long reach of the 800PF. However, one must not see this as a panacea. I have to fight heat distortion and the impact of atmospheric moisture. What's more, high ISO shooting makes for very noisy images that can only be corrected so much without becoming smeary. I am not embarking on a print project of my stark winter images and am realizing the "real" limits of my current technique. Like any tool, it takes time to really learn how and when to use a specific piece of gear.
cheers,
bruce
Mar 10, 2023 at 07:07 AM
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