What would you do?

[tinwhistle]

This is just a "fun" question! A little background. I use the Sigma system, SD14 DSL with mostly just two lenses; an very nice (expensive) 18mmX200mm OS zoom and an old (cheap) 70mmX300mm that is semi macro at the 300 end. I love macro but also love wild life. I live in rural Wisconsin, USA so the opportunities for both are literally just out my back door. I have $400.00 to spend. Do I spend the 400+ on a dedicated 70mm 1:1 Macro or do I save up (for who knows how long) and buy a good 300mm with a 2X extender? What would you do?....Chris

[inkista]

Save up for the 120-400 OS. 150-500 OS ("Bigmos") or 50-500 ("Bigma"). But that's just me.

[LeeR]

The question is this, "how much time do you want to spend hiding in blinds waiting for a shot of some wild beast?" That is the nature of wildlife photographer.
On the other hand, the 70mm Macro is a sweetheart of a lens and the small things you will be shooting don't run near as fast!

[tinwhistle]

Like I said, it is a "fun" question. I had already made up my mind to buy the Macro lens, but thought it would b e fun to see the thought process of other photographers! Thanks guys...Chris

[sk66]

Originally Posted by LeeR

The question is this, "how much time do you want to spend hiding in blinds waiting for a shot of some wild beast?" That is the nature of wildlife photographer.
On the other hand, the 70mm Macro is a sweetheart of a lens and the small things you will be shooting don't run near as fast!

I do almost all of my wildlife/bird photography "stalking"...very little time sitting still.

I do love my 50-500 (but not as much as my faster 500mm or my 300-800mm). I also love my macro, but I prefer a longer macro...mine's a 150mm f/2.8...gives a longer working distance.

[J. r. Weems]

Money is better being spent on good glass before the latest new body on the market. Not that a new body was the question. I would go for the longer glass. I have a Nikon 80/400, and have used it with a 1.4 Kenko extender-- still not long enough. I am unable to get around like I did when I hunted with a gun, but when I do, the skills learned in those years serve me well. There is a LOT of luck to what we do, but being ready is a plus. I also use a 1000MM Mirror reflex lens but the DOF isn't all that much and focus has to be RIGHT ON. In your part of the country a longer glass would be required in my book. JMHO of course.
Here is a feeding OSPREY that caught me by surprise. Bad time of the day, backlit, and I just was not ready. I now keep the 400 on my D700, with remote cord attached, and a quick plate on the tripod with Gimble Head installed. Maybe next summer I will have better luck.

[tinwhistle]

Actually I like the Osprey picture and the fact that it's a grab shot makes it even better. One of my best friends is a wildlife photographer: owns many hundreds of acres left to nature. He knows every inch and has blinds set all over the place. He captures stunning wildlife images but spends litreally hours and hours in a blind. He is, however, a bachelor and has no one to share his time with, and that is a consideration I face. My time is not always my own. Which is why I've decided to go for the macro lens. I own 16 acres of woods/marsh with a few hundred acres of state owned ,public access, across the road. With the macro I can spend what free time I have actually taking pictures rather than laying in a blind for hours on end. Anyway, that is my thought process...Chris