Bald Eagles

[boxmom]

How long was the lenses that you took the photo with?

I was using a 150-500mm zoom, mostly at 500mm on a monopod. The state park has a nice observation deck atop the "Starved Rock" where I was shooting from. The eagles were sitting in the trees on an island in the middle of the river.

 

[Boxerworld]

Great photos and experience!
You need to get a Nikon V1/V2 with the adaptor to get more reach

appicon I recently got a new camera (Sony A57) and am just starting to learn more about photography - it's so much fun

Congratulations! I would love to buy some of the new Sony DSLR but the cost with the lenses would be too high.

 

[boxmom]

You need to get a Nikon V1/V2 with the adaptor to get more reach

I did not know there was an adapter (to use regular lenses?). Didn't really know much about it at all. I just looked up the V1 and those cameras have some pretty cool features. If I am following correctly, my 500mm lens would effectively shoot at 1350mm because of the sensor? And, I'm guessing about half, if not more, the weight of my d300. Very interesting...do you use this, Olly?

 

[Boxerworld]

Yes, your 150-500 would become a 450-1350 (and still a F5-6.3 because it is an adaptor, not a converter so you aren't losing any "stops"). In the UK the V1 is becoming cheap compared to what it used to cost but then it was seriously overpriced.
I do not own it but I did consider getting it. It is light, has a good autofocus, can get many frames per second, has video and its sensor is great with its magnification. The image quality could be better, especially at high iso but you can find online some very nice photos taken with that camera. Another minor downside is I believe you only get a single autofocus, not a continuous one.

To be on the safe side, try the V1 with your lens because it looks there are some troubles with the V1 not recognizing some Sigma lenses. http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3120336

 

[boxmom]

Ohhhhh! That is good to be aware of. I would definitely want the Sigma to work. Thank you so much for the great info and idea. I will have to find a camera store who stocks it and give it a try. Seems like all the camera stores are disappearing.

 

[Boxerworld]

You are welcome.
I think physical camera stores, even the big chains, are disappearing everywhere...

If the V1 works with your lens, I believe you would get much better photos of birds as you would not need to crop them considering the reach.