Favorite wildlife lens?

Good point, Bob. I think because I shoot really wild and easily spooked critters, most of the time in tight quarters of heavy woods, I best stay moble and shoot hand-held. I can do that with my 200mm f/2.8 (with the internal IS on) about as well as I used to do for regular shots with a 50mm. Pentax offers a pretty good 300mm f/4, but I don't think I could shoot that hand-held except in the brightest light. If they made a 300mm f/2.8, I might consider it.
I've also considered Sigma, because they do make a 300mm f2.8 for my camera, and as I said, my IS is in the camera body, but I still doubt I can get tack-sharp images with it hand-held. Maybe someone here has some experience with that.
I'll see what I can do once I get my monopod and test.
But anything over 300mm, I presume, can't be used without a tripod, and a tripod is just too bukly and requires too much movment to adjust for the type of shooting I do.
For now, getting closer with a 200mm seems my best option. Besides, for me, getting closer than the average guy is what I enjoy most.

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Originally Posted by Ron Kruger

Pentax offers a pretty good 300mm f/4, but I don't think I could shoot that hand-held except in the brightest light.

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You'd be surprised.

I hand-hold my 300mm f/4 with my 2x (that's a 600mm f/8) in heavy overcast quite frequently.

I started with film and preferred provia 100F. I shot a tokina 400f5.5ATX hand held down to 1/30th with great results..usually. Proper hand holding technique is the key to shooting any lens.

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/112.htm

Paul - I had that same Tokina 400mm f/5.6 many years back for my Canon A-1. Although I couldn't hand-hold it at 1/30s. You da man!

Thanks, Loupe and Paul. I might be wrong about longer lenses, but decent long lenses are expensive, and I'm on a freelancer's budget.
Pentax has a Professional Program and I've begun gathering documentation to apply (they sure make everything complicated and involved, including multiple letters from publishers), and part of what they offer to those who qualify is loans, or tests, of new equipment, so maybe in a few months (I've been waiting for a rebate for six months now) I can try their longer lenses without putting out a bundle up front.
In the meantime, I've received a Manfrotto monopod and will be testing that in the woods. I've used it a couple of times and am pleased with the results, but I still don't know if it will be versitle enough to carry everywhere.

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Originally Posted by Ron Kruger

...In the meantime, I've received a Manfrotto monopod and will be testing that in the woods. I've used it a couple of times and am pleased with the results, but I still don't know if it will be versitle enough to carry everywhere.

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Since you're new to using a monopod, I'll be curious to hear what you think in the coming months with it.

While I realize that a tripod is steadier (I own 3), I don't recall ever using one with my 300mm or 500mm (3 years and 8 months old respectively) - but I do use a monopod nearly every chance I get. In my parts with my kind of subjects, speed to capture trumps maximum stability almost every time.

My favourite lens and the one that is on my camera most of the time is my Sigma 50-500. It is very good for such a wide range zoom, but awfully heavy for a long day out. Of course it is never going to be as good as a prime lens but cost is a factor since I'm just a hobbyist shooter. For me it was a very good compromise as I am not much of a hunter and am still learning how to get closer to subjects so the reach is something I need.

I notice few of you use a tripod and I can understand the bulk and weight being a large factor but I am seldom without mine. I've got a good monopod with a Manfroto head but found carrying it wasn't much more convenient than carrying a tripod other than weight. I've been shopping around for a carbon fiber tripod though as my present one is heavy and carrying both it and the sigma makes for a real workout.

Ron, I noticed your remarks on the AF and have to agree. I've found on my Pentax that I almost exclusively use manual focus simply because the AF is too often selecting the wrong object even using center spot focus. My other peeve with the K20 is the notch adjustment on the diopter, the settings click into place just on either side of what would be ideal for my eyesight. I do wish they'd kept the smooth slider adjustment.

Hey Scott,
This may be a little off topic for this thread, but...
I don't like the notch adjustment, either, but I've also had trouble with the AF not settling on a moving object (even slight movement), and not allowing the shutter to release.
So far, I only have a kit lens and a DA* 200mm that I bought a month or so after getting the camera. At first, I was having trouble with the diopter adjustment with my kit lens, but I've determined the real problem is with that cheap lens. The focus ring is clunky and unreliable. The lens is made, I suppose, with the idea that users will never want to use it on MF. I figured this out after getting my 200. I can focus fine manually with it.
Now I have a delima, because the AF quit working at all a couple of months ago, rendering the kit lens useless. Pentax told me to send it in, but quite honestly I don't trust them to stand behind their warrenty, because they didn't stand behind their rebate, and I can't afford to be without this camera for long (I gave my Nikon film camera away when I found out what I could do with this K20D.)
So I'm still debating whether to send it in, get a good DA* short lens to replace the now useless kit lens and focus everything manually, or start saving for a Canon D50, and keep my K20D as a 200mm backup.
I've been extremely pleased with the image quality of my K20D, but I'm frustrated with the company.

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Originally Posted by scott-devon

...I notice few of you use a tripod and I can understand the bulk and weight being a large factor but I am seldom without mine. I've got a good monopod with a Manfroto head but found carrying it wasn't much more convenient than carrying a tripod other than weight. I've been shopping around for a carbon fiber tripod though as my present one is heavy and carrying both it and the sigma makes for a real workout...

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For me it's not the bulk and weight of carrying the tripod that is the issue (although I have a carbon fiber monopod which is extremely sturdy and light). Rather it is the set up time and the ability to shoot multiple targets in rapid succession.

With my monopod extended and attached to the 500mm, the whole thing balances, with a slight angle, on my right shoulder. If I see something worthwhile while walking, I can have it on the ground and shooting in about 2 seconds. When I was out with other birders shooting warblers, most were using Wimberley heads on tripods and I outshot them all. OK so they probably got some really sharp ones, but I know I got more varieties and more looks and more chances and more frames than anyone I was around - and I don't think my quality suffered enough to change tactics, yet :p

But I admit that if I shot other types of subjects, I would probably use the tripod more. And I still use the tripod occasionally for macros.

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Originally Posted by scott-devon

I notice few of you use a tripod and I can understand the bulk and weight being a large factor but I am seldom without mine. I've got a good monopod with a Manfroto head but found carrying it wasn't much more convenient than carrying a tripod other than weight. I've been shopping around for a carbon fiber tripod though as my present one is heavy and carrying both it and the sigma makes for a real workout.

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I almost always use a tripod for the big glass (600mm+), but rarely (if ever) for 300mm and below. 400mm and 500mm are "tweeners" IMO, and whether or not to use tripod depends on circumstances (and achievable speeds - to offset movement).

Interesting points there Loupey, perhaps I should try my monopod again. I have to admit though that I'm not real comfortable with trusting the camera on the pod or tripod while carrying since both use a quick release plate. It will lock but....I have too vivid an imagination to be comfortable with trusting it.

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Originally Posted by scott-devon

Interesting points there Loupey, perhaps I should try my monopod again. I have to admit though that I'm not real comfortable with trusting the camera on the pod or tripod while carrying since both use a quick release plate. It will lock but....I have too vivid an imagination to be comfortable with trusting it.

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Same here, I've actually had "near disasters" with my Canon monopod 100 by carrying it over my shoulder with camera/lens attached. It doesn't have a quick-release, but still can loosen unexpectedly :eek: – especially with heavier loads.

However, it works just fine for actual shooting, I do think a monopod greatly helps with easing weight and improving image sharpness without the bulkiness of a tripod.

Ron, sorry to hear about your problems with Pentax. I've had 2 Pentax digital slrs and two point and shoot pentax' and count myself lucky to have had no problems with them.

What I've found so far is with my camera and lens attached to the monopod, it is much easier to carrry, because when closed to mimimum length, it balances the whole thing at the handle, which is large and padded to keep my hand from slipping. So far, I attach the camera directly to the plate. It screws up tightly and securely, and I have no hesitation to carry it slung over my shoulder.
I have plans to buy a ball head, because I don't think I can swivel around and maintain a level field without moving the whole pod, and I can't afford that much movement. But I am going to try it this way for a while before buying any attachments. It's just that, except for the afternoon the monopod came, it has been overcast and rainy. I can get good shots under these conditions with my f/2.8, but I can't get exceptional shots.

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Originally Posted by scott-devon

Interesting points there Loupey, perhaps I should try my monopod again. I have to admit though that I'm not real comfortable with trusting the camera on the pod or tripod while carrying since both use a quick release plate. It will lock but....I have too vivid an imagination to be comfortable with trusting it.

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My smaller monopod has a mid-size ball head and I've never been worried about it not holding the 300mm lens/camera combo. I tend to brandish the entire setup like a staff or walking stick (which it becomes).

My bigger monopod, although I have a large ball head, I do not have much confidence in simply because the quick release plate and the head itself are made in a place not known for quality. So I never remove the strap from around my neck (it doesn't get in the way when carrying or shooting - I just can't use it as a walking stick like the other).

The hidden benefit is that when I come across a flying dragonfly or a flock of swallows, I can release the plate one-handed and kick the monopod away and keep shooting (happens a lot).