Hi Scott, looking forward to the series mate sounds really good. Like and agree what your saying reference sweet spot, being wide open most of the the time! All true and most lenses have that, my 600 f4 has a sweet spot at f5.6 and 100-400 at f6.3 so all really good advice mate. All the best R 👍
Cheers Richard, its going to be a bit of a challenge. I don't think its evident when you gradually upgrade your kit the actual size of the leap as its so gradual! Dropping back down was a bit of a shock but I am getting used to it. Should be fun anyway! Thanks for watching mate👍
Great idea Scott most people start from the bottom as I did but like most hobbies when you get the bug you want that little bit better its true what you say 10% is the camera and the rest is you. Ive probably gone as far as I can with my equipment all within my budget. We are all after that wonder shot, and there is no reason to say you won't get it. Like most hobbies the more you put in the more you get out same with photography. So really looking forward to the rest of the series stay safe. 📷 👍
Thanks Graeme, I have seen a few videos recently where photographers seem to think kit over two grand is entry level. Well that's not how I see it. Dropping back to this Nikon does make you realise that those small steps you take every time you upgrade do add up to a substantial leap! I'm really going to have to up my game but to be honest I'm really looking forward to it👍 Thanks for your support and lets all try and stay safe mate👍
Thanks Roy, it was a challenge doing the series but definitely possible to get some great wildlife images. Just pick your subjects carefully and learn as much about them as possible to have the opportunity of getting them in the front of your camera when and where you want. If you upgrade later it will feel so much easier👍 Thanks for watching👍
Looking forward to this series Scott. I have been using a Panasonic bridge camera and have nearly saved up enough for something like a Canon 250d or maybe even a 90d if I can stretch, with a similar lens to your budget Tamron. I will enjoy learning with you. Already converted garden shed to a hide and there are feeders and perches everywhere in garden now lol. Have taken some reasonable shots but never quite sharp enough with the bridge cameras limitations - Small sensor and poor iso performance over 800. Thanks for doing this series.
Hi Martin, thanks for watching. Both of the cameras you mention would be a good choice. I also shoot with a Canon 80d and I have so far resisted the temptation to go completely to Sony simply because I started out with a Canon 10d many years ago and the series have never let me down. I understand the 90d continues that tradition. The Tamron is a fantastic lens for the price and you obviously wouldn't need an adaptor with the Canon which further improves performance. Its going to be a fun and interesting year!!👍
Great insight and tips as well Scott to wildlife photography. I agree you don’t need expensive gear and your shots are proof of that. Thanks for sharing the video mate 👍🙏
Thanks for watching Adrian. I have to say initially this was a massive shock to the system! You simply do not realise how much you come to rely on the small things a more modern or advanced camera gives you until they are taken away! I have gotten over the initial shock now and am looking forward to the challenge ahead😀👍
Great video. As a beginner I have watched numerous videos but have always been put off by the expensive equipment that is used. I own a Tamron 70-300 so I am looking forward to following the series and the tips you provide. Many thanks for being in touch with the reality of those who have not got vast wealth and providing encouragement to get out and give it a go.
Thanks for your kind words. I won't lie using entry level kit is going to make you (and me) work harder. You need to raise your game in other areas but for me this only pays dividends when you do decide to upgrade. It makes you a better photographer and your life just gets a little bit easier with every upgrade. Glad to have you on board!👍
Many thanks for your reply. At this stage I think it is about managing your expectations. For many of us it is nothing more than a hobby and it is good to have someone providing guidance and encouragement. Proving that you can find enjoyment without braking the bank.
Great idea for beginners by taking them step by step, I'v been shooting for 40 years now and still use a mid range kit of a Nikon D3 & Sigma 120-400 and a Nikon D1 (yes 2.73mp) for close stuff, stay safe Scott.
Thanks for watching Tel. Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully it will encourage a few more people to give it a go. It does seem to be biased towards wildlife shots only being possible with the most expensive kit, which as you know is absolute rubbish. Cheers Scott👍
Bit late to the party but well done, I have a budget level canon with a kit 75 to 300 lens and struggle with bird photography so looking forward to watching and learning 😊
Thanks Philip. It's always going to be more challenging with entry level kit but I find it really does make you a better photographer in the long run. I will hopefully be shooting with a fifty year old manual lens on a future video so that should be a challenge😮 Thanks for watching👍
Hi Clive, thanks for watching. I think its going to be an interesting series and a challenge for me as well. You do tend to get spoilt with the latest kit but its definitely very possible to get good results with entry level kit, you just have to up your game in other areas👍 Thanks for the sub🙏👍
Thanks for watching. Yes the camera kit you have is excellent for capturing wildlife. The difficult bit is always locating and tracking it. This only comes with time out in the field and it sounds you like me have no problem with that, as you say enjoying the journey is all part of the fun! Thanks for watching👍
Thanks Simon, don't know about you but I've got so many projects going on at the minute!! It's certainly a shock going back to 300mm!! The buzzard project is as of today on hold as my site is now under water! Just managed to get through the water to retrieve my trail camera. Thanks for watching mate👍
Just discovered you, have subscribed and 'Bell'. enjoyed this vid. i think its needed for me personally as I enjoy wildlife photography but with very little success, looking forward to see how this series progresses with interest. thanks
Thanks for watching, hopefully there should be lots of tips to help you improve your wildlife photography with entry level kit as I progress throughout the year. I also try and give tips for those making a start in most of my wildlife videos. Last weeks video on Fieldfares is a good one for those just starting out. As always if you want to ask any specific questions just leave me a comment and I'll try and help. All the best! Scott👍
Hi Scott, I use Sony A mount cameras and mainly have Minolta lens. I love these lenses, I like the contrast and bokeh that can be achieved using these and best of all there is a vast range of them available at some very cheap prices...🙂👍🏼👍🏼
Hi, thanks for watching. They produced some great lenses, sometimes you can really hit on a gem! All ways best to keep hold of them when you find them👍
I am so excited to watch your series. Wildlife is a passion of mine as well and I couldn't agree more that we are not limited by our kits. Good advice and I look forward to more.
Thanks Jason, we do get too hung up on kit. It does take more effort with entry level kit as I am finding after going back to it for this series. However, I think it makes you a much better photographer in the end. Thanks for watching mate👍
Looking forward to seeing the results, wish this series was around when I started! Slightly overbudget but starting with a 300mm f4 was the best decision I made in the beginning, the frustration of not having enough reach was totally outweighed both by shallow depth of field and the fact I was forced to learn the correct stalking techniques and put the prep in!
Hello Joshua, thanks for watching. I'm hoping that this will encourage more people to get involved with wildlife photography. Sure it's great when you can upgrade but like you I know I improved in so many areas because I had to by starting with entry level kit. If that's the Canon or Nikon 300mm f4 you are using I've had both and both are fantastic lenses👍
Thanks for watching. You will notice a difference going from a bridge camera to that setup. You'll certainly be grabbing a lot more light which will open up those dawn and dusk shoots a lot more.👍
Good video Scott. Took me back to when I started wildlife photography back in 2015 with a similar low end Nikon body and lens to the ones you have gone for. Will be interesting to see how you get on with them. I always shoot manual with auto ISO since I moved to a body that had auto ISO in 2016. I prefer to tell the camera what aperture and shutter speed I want and then just keep an eye on the ISO. That works for me.
Cheers Paul. I will also be interested to see how I get on! To be honest when you gradually upgrade over time you don't realise the small upgrades that you come to rely on! I have to say it was a bit of a shock going back to this setup but I'm hoping it will also do me some good and hopefully the large group of people out there who are never going to be able to afford even the kit I use will learn that actually you don't need pro kit to be a very good wildlife photographer. As I say in the video Paul if it works for you then use it and it obviously does work for you mate!👍
Absolutely love this idea Scott and can’t wait to see how it develops. You have given me an idea. Somewhere I have an old 500mm lens that I brought on EBay for £15 some years ago when I wanted to think about wildlife photography. It has no electronics so everything manual. I think it will fit my 7Dii or 5D IV so I am going to give it a go and try and get some images....lol. If I end up vlogging it I will deffo credit you for the idea and link to your channel if that’s ok? Unlike your series it will just be a one off for fun. Cheers Keith
Thanks Keith, I really got the idea because I know the equipment I started with and it was nothing like I have now but still got good images. I have seen a lot of videos recently saying you have to have full frame and expensive lenses which is rubbish. I've been watching Mike Lanes stuff recently and he shoots Olympus micro four thirds I think. Worth a watch if you haven't seen any yet I always come away with a few subtle tips😉 From someone with twice as much experience as me. A word of warning mate, if you give it a go and like me you've gradually improved your gear over the years with subtle improvements you hardly noticed the drop back is significant!! It's a hell of a challenge. Thanks for watching mate👍
Scott Tilley Photography yes I do watch Mike and like you do some away with some good stuff. You know me I am always one for a challenge and if it doesn’t work that will become evident. Mine will be a one off but you are much braver committing to a series 😂
I have a D3200 and a 55-300mm Nikkor lens. I get incredible images with my setup. So absolutely you can almost go professional with such a cheap camera. I always say, you can get the same image, than the professional, with your 300$ setup, it'll just take more time and definitely more effort and a bit of luck might help.
Totally agree Johan and you will reap the benefits when you do decide to upgrade. I think you can see the difference in photographers when they have a very hard subject to try and get images of. The photographer who started at the bottom knows all the skills and tricks that the photographer who just went out and bought a 600mm f4 has no idea of. Thanks for watching👍
Hello from West Virginia, USA! Canon shooter, here, 6D (refurb.) and T6. Being (cheap) frugal, I've considered the Tamron 150-600 G2, as well as the Sigma (S) counterpart and the 60-600mm for my backyard use. Maybe an occasional lakeside, or forest, outing. I can afford the Canon 100-400mm mk ii, but I'd rather not. I'm not shooting for Nat. Geo.! I've also considered moving to a Sony 6000 series or possibly the A7III. Any thoughts? Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Hello Chris, thanks for watching! First part of you question. I now use the Tamron 150-600 G2 and am very happy with it. I considered the Sigma Sport but its about twice the weight, and the other thing that swung it for me is that the Tamron is still at F5.6 at 400mm where as the Sigma isn''t. I have had the Canon 100-400 Mkii and its an amazing lens. I always felt a bit cheated when I had it because most reviews I saw put it at actually 370mm rather than the 400mm you paid for. As to the second bit of your question its a bit of a dilemma I'm having now! I have a Sony A6400 which I love for wildlife apart from the battery life! I switched to this from a Sony A7ii mainly because I wanted to lighten my kit. If you can get used to the handling (its an issue most people bring up as its such a small camera on a big lens) Then I love mine. I also rated the Sony A7ii and I know the A7iii is also rated very highly so if you like a bigger body to the camera that could be the way to go. My dilemma is that I also use a Canon 80d with my Tamron 150-600 G2 but I am toying with the idea of consolidating my kit which would mean getting rid of the 80d and perhaps getting another Sony body. The problem is then I can feel myself moving away from the Tamron and adaptor and towards the Sony 200-600!! Decisions Decisions!!!!😀👍
i went from my d500 to d5200 to d5100. image quality going down, noisy coming up, autofocus slowing down to 'wtf' level BIF becoming not enjoyable anymore, low-light autofocus turning into manual focus, fps 4? buffer,, a bit over 4? viewfinder size decreasing buttons going missing functions as well. it makes the whole experience kinda not worth it to me. d7200 was solid for example. but going too cheap is limiting. it surely makes one photograph better, but so would carrying water from a well make one stronger and healthier compared to using running water in the house. at the end of the day, one just wants to shower, not deal w the rest.
Martin, I am not advocating going backwards in any way. But if you watch RUclips photographers these days you get the impression that unless you have top end kit you might as well not bother. And from my point of view (and this is only my opinion) When you first start out on entry level kit it makes you work harder, you have to find ways around and improve in other areas to make up that difference. Then when you step up your kit the whole process becomes easier and makes you a much better photographer. It is extremely challenging for me to move back from a Sony A6400/Canon 80d to a the Nikon as it is like stepping up from a Canon 10D to a 90D all those little steps I have taken over the years add up to some major improvements. I would also argue that when you come to photograph a really tricky species those things you picked up early on can sometimes make the difference between getting the shot or not, no matter how expensive the camera your shooting with. It is also dependent on the type of wildlife photography you want to do. Some photographers are happy to hire a hide where the animal is virtually certain to turn up to allow them to take there image and go home. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For me to find an animal, work out its behaviour, get into a position to take a shot, then get the shot makes the image extremely special as apposed to the same shot the other six people took in the hide. Anyway I hope you can see my point as I can see yours👍
Hello Shane, I generally use manual in difficult lighting conditions. For birds in flight I use aperture priority and have the wheel on my Sony A6400 set to exposure compensation to allow me to quickly over expose for instance if I am shooting a dark bird on a light background.👍
@@scotttilleyphotography Thanks for the reply i have the D500 with 300 2.8 vr ii with tele convertors. In aperture priority can you change shutter speed when photographing king fishers diving.
@@shanefeetham2920 Hi Shane, in aperture priority you shutter speed will change up or down as you change the aperture so as you open the aperture up wider you shutter speed will automatically go up. To be honest this is probably one of the situations where I would go in full manual mode because you need a very high shutter speed to freeze the bird in the dive. I would say over 1/1000 of a second. I would work back from this by changing the aperture and ISO to make sure I got the specific shutter speed I wanted. I think unlike a normal flight shot where light is often not an issue a diving kingfisher is likely to be in a more shaded area and you would struggle with getting a sufficient shutter speed to freeze the action so you are going to need to up ISO and shoot wide open to get it. Hope that makes sense!
I could not do wildlife but I have great respectfor wildlife photographers
Thanks for watching Kyler. I have set myself a real task with this one but always enjoy a challenge!
Hi Scott, looking forward to the series mate sounds really good. Like and agree what your saying reference sweet spot, being wide open most of the the time! All true and most lenses have that, my 600 f4 has a sweet spot at f5.6 and 100-400 at f6.3 so all really good advice mate. All the best R 👍
Cheers Richard, its going to be a bit of a challenge. I don't think its evident when you gradually upgrade your kit the actual size of the leap as its so gradual! Dropping back down was a bit of a shock but I am getting used to it. Should be fun anyway! Thanks for watching mate👍
Great idea Scott most people start from the bottom as I did but like most hobbies when you get the bug you want that little bit better its true what you say 10% is the camera and the rest is you. Ive probably gone as far as I can with my equipment all within my budget. We are all after that wonder shot, and there is no reason to say you won't get it. Like most hobbies the more you put in the more you get out same with photography. So really looking forward to the rest of the series stay safe. 📷 👍
Thanks Graeme, I have seen a few videos recently where photographers seem to think kit over two grand is entry level. Well that's not how I see it. Dropping back to this Nikon does make you realise that those small steps you take every time you upgrade do add up to a substantial leap! I'm really going to have to up my game but to be honest I'm really looking forward to it👍 Thanks for your support and lets all try and stay safe mate👍
O wow...this series is one i am gonna follow. I have a Nikon d5300 and the same Tamron lens... Thanks Scott for doing this👍
Thanks Roy, it was a challenge doing the series but definitely possible to get some great wildlife images. Just pick your subjects carefully and learn as much about them as possible to have the opportunity of getting them in the front of your camera when and where you want. If you upgrade later it will feel so much easier👍 Thanks for watching👍
Looking forward to this series Scott. I have been using a Panasonic bridge camera and have nearly saved up enough for something like a Canon 250d or maybe even a 90d if I can stretch, with a similar lens to your budget Tamron. I will enjoy learning with you. Already converted garden shed to a hide and there are feeders and perches everywhere in garden now lol. Have taken some reasonable shots but never quite sharp enough with the bridge cameras limitations - Small sensor and poor iso performance over 800. Thanks for doing this series.
Hi Martin, thanks for watching. Both of the cameras you mention would be a good choice. I also shoot with a Canon 80d and I have so far resisted the temptation to go completely to Sony simply because I started out with a Canon 10d many years ago and the series have never let me down. I understand the 90d continues that tradition. The Tamron is a fantastic lens for the price and you obviously wouldn't need an adaptor with the Canon which further improves performance. Its going to be a fun and interesting year!!👍
Martin Moseley Sane with my canon sx50 powershot, good camera to a certain ISO
Great insight and tips as well Scott to wildlife photography. I agree you don’t need expensive gear and your shots are proof of that. Thanks for sharing the video mate 👍🙏
Thanks for watching Adrian. I have to say initially this was a massive shock to the system! You simply do not realise how much you come to rely on the small things a more modern or advanced camera gives you until they are taken away! I have gotten over the initial shock now and am looking forward to the challenge ahead😀👍
Great video. As a beginner I have watched numerous videos but have always been put off by the expensive equipment that is used. I own a Tamron 70-300 so I am looking forward to following the series and the tips you provide. Many thanks for being in touch with the reality of those who have not got vast wealth and providing encouragement to get out and give it a go.
Thanks for your kind words. I won't lie using entry level kit is going to make you (and me) work harder. You need to raise your game in other areas but for me this only pays dividends when you do decide to upgrade. It makes you a better photographer and your life just gets a little bit easier with every upgrade. Glad to have you on board!👍
Many thanks for your reply. At this stage I think it is about managing your expectations. For many of us it is nothing more than a hobby and it is good to have someone providing guidance and encouragement. Proving that you can find enjoyment without braking the bank.
Great idea for beginners by taking them step by step, I'v been shooting for 40 years now and still use a mid range kit of a Nikon D3 & Sigma 120-400 and a Nikon D1 (yes 2.73mp) for close stuff, stay safe Scott.
Thanks for watching Tel. Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully it will encourage a few more people to give it a go. It does seem to be biased towards wildlife shots only being possible with the most expensive kit, which as you know is absolute rubbish. Cheers Scott👍
Hi just found you channel. Just getting in to wildlife got a canon 760D and 70-300 so I am looking forward to were this go’s . 🦅🦅👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for watching Steve, hopefully you will also be able to pick some tips up from my other videos as well. Great to have you on board👍
Bit late to the party but well done, I have a budget level canon with a kit 75 to 300 lens and struggle with bird photography so looking forward to watching and learning 😊
Thanks Philip. It's always going to be more challenging with entry level kit but I find it really does make you a better photographer in the long run. I will hopefully be shooting with a fifty year old manual lens on a future video so that should be a challenge😮 Thanks for watching👍
Hi Scot I watched this video on the recommendation off Keith from KGs photography and I think I'm going to enjoy this series so I've subscribed
Hi Clive, thanks for watching. I think its going to be an interesting series and a challenge for me as well. You do tend to get spoilt with the latest kit but its definitely very possible to get good results with entry level kit, you just have to up your game in other areas👍 Thanks for the sub🙏👍
Started out last year using a Canon 850d and a sigma150-600mm, difficulty for me is finding fox dens, badger sets. but i'm enjoying the journey.
Thanks for watching. Yes the camera kit you have is excellent for capturing wildlife. The difficult bit is always locating and tracking it. This only comes with time out in the field and it sounds you like me have no problem with that, as you say enjoying the journey is all part of the fun! Thanks for watching👍
Nice one Scott, good luck with the new series. Look forward to seeing what new species you capture 👍🏼📷
Thanks Simon, don't know about you but I've got so many projects going on at the minute!! It's certainly a shock going back to 300mm!! The buzzard project is as of today on hold as my site is now under water! Just managed to get through the water to retrieve my trail camera. Thanks for watching mate👍
Just discovered you, have subscribed and 'Bell'. enjoyed this vid. i think its needed for me personally as I enjoy wildlife photography but with very little success, looking forward to see how this series progresses with interest. thanks
Thanks for watching, hopefully there should be lots of tips to help you improve your wildlife photography with entry level kit as I progress throughout the year. I also try and give tips for those making a start in most of my wildlife videos. Last weeks video on Fieldfares is a good one for those just starting out. As always if you want to ask any specific questions just leave me a comment and I'll try and help. All the best! Scott👍
Hi Scott,
I use Sony A mount cameras and mainly have Minolta lens.
I love these lenses, I like the contrast and bokeh that can be achieved using these and best of all there is a vast range of them available at some very cheap prices...🙂👍🏼👍🏼
Hi, thanks for watching. They produced some great lenses, sometimes you can really hit on a gem! All ways best to keep hold of them when you find them👍
I am so excited to watch your series. Wildlife is a passion of mine as well and I couldn't agree more that we are not limited by our kits. Good advice and I look forward to more.
Thanks Jason, we do get too hung up on kit. It does take more effort with entry level kit as I am finding after going back to it for this series. However, I think it makes you a much better photographer in the end. Thanks for watching mate👍
Looking forward to seeing the results, wish this series was around when I started! Slightly overbudget but starting with a 300mm f4 was the best decision I made in the beginning, the frustration of not having enough reach was totally outweighed both by shallow depth of field and the fact I was forced to learn the correct stalking techniques and put the prep in!
Hello Joshua, thanks for watching. I'm hoping that this will encourage more people to get involved with wildlife photography. Sure it's great when you can upgrade but like you I know I improved in so many areas because I had to by starting with entry level kit. If that's the Canon or Nikon 300mm f4 you are using I've had both and both are fantastic lenses👍
Hello Scott , I'm currently shooting with a Sony bridge camera ( DSC-H400 ) , saving up for the canon 5d mk ii and the canon EF 300mm f/4 IS :)
Thanks for watching. You will notice a difference going from a bridge camera to that setup. You'll certainly be grabbing a lot more light which will open up those dawn and dusk shoots a lot more.👍
Hi Scott ,think I'm going to enjoy this series
Hope you enjoy it!
Good video Scott. Took me back to when I started wildlife photography back in 2015 with a similar low end Nikon body and lens to the ones you have gone for. Will be interesting to see how you get on with them. I always shoot manual with auto ISO since I moved to a body that had auto ISO in 2016. I prefer to tell the camera what aperture and shutter speed I want and then just keep an eye on the ISO. That works for me.
Cheers Paul. I will also be interested to see how I get on! To be honest when you gradually upgrade over time you don't realise the small upgrades that you come to rely on! I have to say it was a bit of a shock going back to this setup but I'm hoping it will also do me some good and hopefully the large group of people out there who are never going to be able to afford even the kit I use will learn that actually you don't need pro kit to be a very good wildlife photographer. As I say in the video Paul if it works for you then use it and it obviously does work for you mate!👍
Very nice indeed great video and footage thanks for sharing cheers take care
Thankyou for watching and your comments👍
I bought that same lens for 70 quid, thought it was a bargain! It's actually not a bad lens to start with
Totally agree and you will find that if you start with that when you do upgrade everything else will seem much easier.👍
Absolutely love this idea Scott and can’t wait to see how it develops. You have given me an idea. Somewhere I have an old 500mm lens that I brought on EBay for £15 some years ago when I wanted to think about wildlife photography. It has no electronics so everything manual. I think it will fit my 7Dii or 5D IV so I am going to give it a go and try and get some images....lol. If I end up vlogging it I will deffo credit you for the idea and link to your channel if that’s ok? Unlike your series it will just be a one off for fun. Cheers Keith
Thanks Keith, I really got the idea because I know the equipment I started with and it was nothing like I have now but still got good images. I have seen a lot of videos recently saying you have to have full frame and expensive lenses which is rubbish. I've been watching Mike Lanes stuff recently and he shoots Olympus micro four thirds I think. Worth a watch if you haven't seen any yet I always come away with a few subtle tips😉 From someone with twice as much experience as me. A word of warning mate, if you give it a go and like me you've gradually improved your gear over the years with subtle improvements you hardly noticed the drop back is significant!! It's a hell of a challenge. Thanks for watching mate👍
Scott Tilley Photography yes I do watch Mike and like you do some away with some good stuff. You know me I am always one for a challenge and if it doesn’t work that will become evident. Mine will be a one off but you are much braver committing to a series 😂
I have a D3200 and a 55-300mm Nikkor lens. I get incredible images with my setup. So absolutely you can almost go professional with such a cheap camera. I always say, you can get the same image, than the professional, with your 300$ setup, it'll just take more time and definitely more effort and a bit of luck might help.
Totally agree Johan and you will reap the benefits when you do decide to upgrade. I think you can see the difference in photographers when they have a very hard subject to try and get images of. The photographer who started at the bottom knows all the skills and tricks that the photographer who just went out and bought a 600mm f4 has no idea of. Thanks for watching👍
Looking forward to the rest of the series Scott. By the way if I didn’t loved the new website.
Thanks Karen, it should be fun! I'm already having to re-learn a lot of the stuff I already know!!🤔👍
Nice video, Like n.17 and Happy New Year from Italy :)
Happy New Year to you too Peri from cold dark England!👍
Hello from West Virginia, USA! Canon shooter, here, 6D (refurb.) and T6. Being (cheap) frugal, I've considered the Tamron 150-600 G2, as well as the Sigma (S) counterpart and the 60-600mm for my backyard use. Maybe an occasional lakeside, or forest, outing. I can afford the Canon 100-400mm mk ii, but I'd rather not. I'm not shooting for Nat. Geo.! I've also considered moving to a Sony 6000 series or possibly the A7III. Any thoughts?
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Hello Chris, thanks for watching! First part of you question. I now use the Tamron 150-600 G2 and am very happy with it. I considered the Sigma Sport but its about twice the weight, and the other thing that swung it for me is that the Tamron is still at F5.6 at 400mm where as the Sigma isn''t. I have had the Canon 100-400 Mkii and its an amazing lens. I always felt a bit cheated when I had it because most reviews I saw put it at actually 370mm rather than the 400mm you paid for. As to the second bit of your question its a bit of a dilemma I'm having now! I have a Sony A6400 which I love for wildlife apart from the battery life! I switched to this from a Sony A7ii mainly because I wanted to lighten my kit. If you can get used to the handling (its an issue most people bring up as its such a small camera on a big lens) Then I love mine. I also rated the Sony A7ii and I know the A7iii is also rated very highly so if you like a bigger body to the camera that could be the way to go. My dilemma is that I also use a Canon 80d with my Tamron 150-600 G2 but I am toying with the idea of consolidating my kit which would mean getting rid of the 80d and perhaps getting another Sony body. The problem is then I can feel myself moving away from the Tamron and adaptor and towards the Sony 200-600!! Decisions Decisions!!!!😀👍
i went from my d500 to d5200 to d5100. image quality going down, noisy coming up, autofocus slowing down to 'wtf' level BIF becoming not enjoyable anymore, low-light autofocus turning into manual focus, fps 4? buffer,, a bit over 4? viewfinder size decreasing buttons going missing functions as well. it makes the whole experience kinda not worth it to me. d7200 was solid for example. but going too cheap is limiting. it surely makes one photograph better, but so would carrying water from a well make one stronger and healthier compared to using running water in the house. at the end of the day, one just wants to shower, not deal w the rest.
Martin, I am not advocating going backwards in any way. But if you watch RUclips photographers these days you get the impression that unless you have top end kit you might as well not bother. And from my point of view (and this is only my opinion) When you first start out on entry level kit it makes you work harder, you have to find ways around and improve in other areas to make up that difference. Then when you step up your kit the whole process becomes easier and makes you a much better photographer. It is extremely challenging for me to move back from a Sony A6400/Canon 80d to a the Nikon as it is like stepping up from a Canon 10D to a 90D all those little steps I have taken over the years add up to some major improvements. I would also argue that when you come to photograph a really tricky species those things you picked up early on can sometimes make the difference between getting the shot or not, no matter how expensive the camera your shooting with. It is also dependent on the type of wildlife photography you want to do. Some photographers are happy to hire a hide where the animal is virtually certain to turn up to allow them to take there image and go home. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For me to find an animal, work out its behaviour, get into a position to take a shot, then get the shot makes the image extremely special as apposed to the same shot the other six people took in the hide. Anyway I hope you can see my point as I can see yours👍
Nice,,
Thanks, I'm glad you found it useful👍
Hi Scott
Do you use Aperture priority for Birds in flight or is that when you use manual focus.
Cheers
Shane
Hello Shane, I generally use manual in difficult lighting conditions. For birds in flight I use aperture priority and have the wheel on my Sony A6400 set to exposure compensation to allow me to quickly over expose for instance if I am shooting a dark bird on a light background.👍
@@scotttilleyphotography
Thanks for the reply i have the D500 with 300 2.8 vr ii with tele convertors.
In aperture priority can you change shutter speed when photographing king fishers diving.
@@shanefeetham2920 Hi Shane, in aperture priority you shutter speed will change up or down as you change the aperture so as you open the aperture up wider you shutter speed will automatically go up. To be honest this is probably one of the situations where I would go in full manual mode because you need a very high shutter speed to freeze the bird in the dive. I would say over 1/1000 of a second. I would work back from this by changing the aperture and ISO to make sure I got the specific shutter speed I wanted. I think unlike a normal flight shot where light is often not an issue a diving kingfisher is likely to be in a more shaded area and you would struggle with getting a sufficient shutter speed to freeze the action so you are going to need to up ISO and shoot wide open to get it. Hope that makes sense!
@@scotttilleyphotography
Thanks again for your help and reply’s.
Hi Scott ,think I'm going to enjoy this series
Hello Stuart, thanks for watching. It should be good fun and hopefully some useful tips and information along the way. 👍