Dove on Trellis

Handheld.

ISO 100, f/4, 1/250 sec.

Thanks, Jack.  The IS helps.  I suspect that the new Nikon 300 f/4 VR with phase fresnel technology can beat this (and at much lighter weight), but it also costs a lot more.  This will remain my 300mm bird rig for the foreseeable future, since I can't afford the Nikon.

Beyond birding, I think that this could be a great lens to use from a city park bench or downtown, if I can find a place to sit--to support the lens and reduce the camera shake.

The next birds I catch with this might be wearing skirts down the street--or I might get pictures of old men with furrowed faces, etc.  I rather like the reach with IS or VR.  So. . . this might become my stationary street lens.  I am glad now that I never got rid of the old Canon T2i body when I had to sell my best Canon gear back in 2012--since Nikon has no comparable lens f/4 VR in this price range ($600-$750 on eBay).

As sharp as this is, I think I should have turned up ISO to 400 so as to get two stops faster on the shutter.  Then I think I could have seen just how sharp it can be.  I have to say, though, that I am pleased with the sharpness--and now I can take it out of the backyard and see what it can really do on the street.

--Lannie

Photo.net's own Bob Atkins says that this lens is even sharper stopped down to f/5.6--so my next project is to see what it does at f/5.6.

Since it has a minimal focal distance of less than five feet, it could be used in a pinch as a bug lens--but the shallow depth of field might be a problem for that application.  I'll give it a try.

I hate to talk so much about gear, but let's face reality: when we are talking about getting telephoto shots, we can talk gear or we can talk technique--but, no matter how good your technique is, for good telephoto shots, good (even great) gear is a necessity.

--Lannie

Excellent light and composure.