Philadelphia Zoo

<p>Hi All,</p>

<p>I'm going to the Philly zoo next week, and I'll be shooting for fun. I have a 7D, and the lens that lives on my camera is the 24-105 f/4L. I'm guessing that'll be far too short for most shots, so I was planning to take my 70-200 f/2.8L IS MkI and the 2x TC MkII in addition. My primary question is, should I just leave the TC attached to the 70-200, which is my inclination, since with the 2 lenses I'll have an effective rage of 24-400 with a small gap between 105 and 140?</p>

<p>I haven't been to a zoo in years, so I'm not sure what kind of reach I'll need. I'm not in a position to rent a lens, since this is for fun and while it might be fun to shoot with a 500mm or 600mm, the expense isn't worth it to me when I can achieve nearly the same effect with a crop. I understand the TC will degrade my IQ a bit, but with careful shooting, I think that can be avoided. I'm planning to bring a monopod just in case.</p>

<p>Also, I'm assuming there isn't much need for something wider than 24mm, so I'd leave my 10-20 f/3.5 at home. Good plan? I'd probably have room for a 30mm prime and a flash if needed for people shots (I can guess that flash is frowned upon in animal areas).</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>One of the major advantages of zoos is that the animals, if visible at all, are usually only a moderate distance away. I find that in St. Louis I usually don't take the 24-105 off my 5D. Take the 70-200 for closeups of noses on your 7D.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks, JDM. I did some searching before posting my question, and saw a fair number of suggestions for 400-600mm lenses at zoos. I'll leave the 10-20 home and bring the other gear; that shouldn't be a problem...I'll carry the TC but only attach it if I need it.</p>

<p>I'm planning to get there when the zoo opens, so if the animals are active, that will be the time for it (assuming they aren't nocturnal).</p>

<p>Hi Jay, The earlier the better, in the life of most zoo animals it's midday naps. Just a thought, zoos are one of those places where it's hard to find grouchy people, I often shoot as many people shots as I do the animals. Typically the zoo can be both challenging and fun at the same time. Thousands of snap shots are taken at zoos daily, tons of those are very good. Great nature shots, well not so much, with available light and backgrounds it can be a challenge. Go with the attitude you're going to have fun, and do just that, have fun, good luck...</p>

 

<p>Thanks, Vaughan. I realize that the zoo isn't a substitute for animals in the wild, but at this time, it's the best I can do. If I can use a flash, that should help with lighting in some of the outdoor areas.</p>

<p>it may be late for me to be posting a suggestion here but i will just the same.<br>

Most images (80%) can be successfully captured with the 70-200mm. As suggested most animals are presented close to public viewing (for obvious reasons) so I think that lens will allow you to capture some fantastic shots. Even a little cropping wont hurt the end result. I suggest you leave the 24-105 at home. the TC may prove advantageous in some instances and the f/stop of the 70-200 can certainly accommodate for the f/3.8 maximum aperture when combined, but i would suggest you take it with you and simply try both options rather than leave it on permanently. I've used both a 70-200 mm f/2.8 and a 400mm f/2.8 at the zoo with success, however the 400mm can be cumbersome so it only serves a specific need which often results after having already gone to the zoo and knowing exactly the type of image you want to capture. Btw, I would suggest against using flash as this doesnt necessarily help your images technically (in these scenes) and can make animals annoyed which means you may not get the composition youre after</p>

<p>The 70-200 turned out to be spot on. There were a couple of shots where the extender would have helped, but it wasn't a big deal. Here are a couple of the better shots.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6078013802_bd7db20a74.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /><br />Tiger</p>

<p><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6078012824_fcc59fa226.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Leopard cub</p>

<p><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6077471419_764cd54436.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Orangutan mom and baby</p>

<p><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6077468485_3092592da1.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Gorilla</p>

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