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Question

Need advice on using Dslr for bird photography

by Nov 17, 2014 9:12AM PST

Sir,

I am new to photography and also a new Dslr user..I have a Nikon D 3200 Slr camera with Nikor 55-300mm Af vr lens.

Once i went to a bird sanctuary to take some snaps.But i felt upset because i was unable to get a good view of the birds. The birds due to some reason have moved too far to the other end of the lake. The lake covers an area of 390 hectares.I can't even take a single pic as the birds were too far.I returned empty handed. In this case what type of lens i must use?Up to what distance can i use my lens(Nikor 55-300mm ).?

I can't buy any lens further as i am not well to do.Can i use teleconverters with my lens?Some say nikon tc wont work for my lens but how about 3rd party tc?Is there any AF tc for my slr?

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Answer
Should be the same as film.
by Forum moderator Nov 17, 2014 9:28AM PST
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Answer
Bird Shots
by Forum moderator Nov 17, 2014 11:06PM PST

The next tool you need is a sturdy tripod.
You can not hand hold a camera steady enough to get a good clear bird photo at a distance.

Sue Tranter was one of the top Bird Photographers in England.
She died in 2013 and her website is no longer available.
Some of her photos can be seen here:
http://www.surfbirds.com/gallery/search2.php?species=Common%20Redshank
All of her photos are water-marked SUE TRANTER.

She always used a tripod.

...

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Nice shots but couldn't help but notice
by Steven Haninger Nov 18, 2014 12:14AM PST

the very short depth of field in most of them. This would indicate a much shorter distance than the long range shots desired. You'd be right about the tripod and it should probably be weighted. But shooting across long areas of water creates the additional problem of rising moisture and the atmospheric disturbance which causes aberrations that no tripod can master. This person is going to need to get closer and that's no easy trick as birds have eyesight many times better than humans and will react accordingly if any threat is felt. Some sort of a bird blind and a lot of patience would be better. I'd recommend learning and testing in some wetland area that has some sort of duck blind type structure designed for viewing. It will have narrow slits for windows which minimize a birds ability to spot a human. We have a few of these around my area and birders seem to love them. A tripod or sandbag type stabilizer will help as long as someone with heavy feet doesn't decide to join you.

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image stabilization
by snapshot2 Forum moderator Nov 18, 2014 12:02PM PST
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