Wolfe Island

[Anonymous]

I spent the day on Wolfe Island yesterday and saw at least 40 rough-legged hawks, 3 short-eared owls, a barred owl, 3 snowies, 6 horned larks, a few red-tailed hawks, a fox, many deer and a few kestrals. Most of the action was on the north end of the 5th line.
Barred owl
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p48495939.html
Horned Lark
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p48495946.html
Rough-legged hawk
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p48495944.html
Rough-legged hawk-dark morph-terrible lighting tho
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p48495945.html
Short-eared owl
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p48495940.html
Snowy-almost dark when I took this one
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p48495948.html

[Joe]

Great Shots.

Joe

[Anonymous]

Beauty shots mate - using a 300 or 400 for those??

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the replies. I am using a Canon 40d with a Sigma 50-500mm lens.

[Anonymous]

That's a whole lotta lense!  :shock:

In your opinion, do you think that a 3 or 400 would be able to bring you into range without having to trek too close to the birds so as not to disturb them?

Attila

[Joe]

I'm looking for a new lens without breaking the bank.  Done lots of research.  Do you like the Sigma?
What are the best options in the $800-$1000 range?  I'd like the 80-400, but don't want to spend that much... yet.

Joe

[Anonymous]

Joe,

There is plenty of information about lenses and things over here - http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=8

Remember, you can also check out several lenses of the used variety and don't have to pay primo moola for them.  One of my favourite photography sites is Fencecheck - http://www.fencecheck.com/forums - it has a military aviation focus but there is plenty of discussion of equipment and other photography options.

Cheers, Attila

[RobMcKay]

Joe,
It sounds like you are shooting with a Nikon.
I have tested and owned both the Bigma & 80-400mm.  The Nikon 80-400mm is very slow focusing and known as a soft lens (not sharp). The Sigma, aka the Bigma is also on the soft side especially out past 400mm and at 500mm your aperture will be 6.3 so you will need good light. Wide open at f/6.3 it is soft, but it will get a bit sharper if you stop it down to f/8 and beyond but at these f stops you will not get good results on dull days.
If I was in your shoes, and I have been there, buy a used Nikkor 300mm AFS f/4. It is tack/razor sharp and much faster focusing than the above lenses. I think used you can buy one for $800 ish, new they are around $1300. Add a 1.4 Kenko teleconverter and you will be shooting a tack sharp 420mm at f/5.6 and will never look back.
Hope this helps,
Rob
Both of these shots are with the Nikkor 300mm f/4 & 1.4 tele-converter.