Trip to the Zoo

[sparkie1263]

Took a ride to the local zoo. Here are are a few images. Did not have a good day. It was a hard place to shoot. There were a lot of trees that left shadows. The cages were high so I had to shoot through them.
Frank

[DonSchap]

Took a ride to the local zoo. Here are are a few images. Did not have a good day. It was a hard place to shoot. There were a lot of trees that left shadows. The cages were high so I had to shoot through them.
Frank

The images are respectable, though, Frank. You did a nice job with them.

I was shooting the CZ 135mm f/1.8, today, on the A100. I have to say ... the order of magnitude of improvement this one lens has over most of the others is simply staggering. If you are not interested in doing anything else in the way of upgrading your camera body ... just get your hands on either CZ 85mm f/1.4 or the CZ 135 f/1.8 lens. Even if you just can go to New York and try it at the camera shop ... you really have to witness, at least once, what this kind of glass could do to your photography.

I recommend doing a simple side by side with the best lens you are currently shooting ... of the same object. Then, go WIDE open ... and shoot the same thing ... tightening up on your shutter speed and ISO, of course, to compensate.

Prepare yourself for the shock ... and have a chair handy.

The thing is ... these two lenses literally change the way you will shoot. Almost instantly, you sense the improvements the glass provides to your images ... and getting a good, clear shot isn't the hassle is was, before. Yes, there is always the price ... but after a couple of unbelievably improved shots of the "little ones" ... that quickly fades. You will fall in love with your DSLR all over again!

Sorry, just my pitch for using "good glass." It changes everything.

[sparkie1263]

What is the better choice here Don the glass or the A700. You had me sold on the A700 and now you throw a hunk of glass like that at me.
Frank

[dr4gon]

Looking good. Any lions or tigers?

I noticed the last one was shot at F/32? Why's that? The lens does poorly at that high of an aperture and if you shot at something like F/4 or somewhere in that range, the bars wouldn't be as obvious.

Cameras come and go, good glass stays. I wouldn't worry too much about getting a new camera just yet. (At least that's not what I'm focusing on). The A700 is over priced at the moment. Just isn't worth it IMO. And the A900... yeah, it's way overpriced.

[sparkie1263]

I had the right idea but I went the wrong way..LOL I raised the f stop to try to not see the bars. I have a few of the Tiger I will post but the fence kill the shot. If I only lowered the f stop it may have worked. There is always next time this is a small zoo and is only a half hour away.
Thanks Frank

[DonSchap]

The α700 does a number of really great options, but those will come in the future release, also. As "dr4gon' states, good glass is forever (kinda). Once you have established your "best" optics, then you are way ahead of the game and have a lot less work to do with post processing to improve your image.

Most images suffer from two aspects ... lack of light and lack of tight focus. As you know, you can always defocus or soften any part of an image with software. Acheiving a hard focus from an original soft focus is just so limited, it is rarely worth the effort. You need to get that quick, sharp, & hard focus right up front and the optic usually is key in doing that.

So, as has been usually stated here on DCRP .... good glass first, then buy the improved camera. That way you are relatively assured that your photography takes the proper steps to truly improve and you are not still fighting with light-starvation or sharp focus, even though you just dropped $1000-$3000 for a brand new body.

Once you have your best basic lenses (CZ 16-35mm f/2.8, CZ 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 G SSM, 50mm f/1.4, CZ 85mm f/1.4, CZ 135mm f/1.8){not necessarily in this order} ... THEN, get that new camera and enjoy!

Of course, once you have one or two of these beauties ... then you might want to consider the NEW camera, just to make the most of them.

Regardless, you will immediately realize the improvement when these lenses are mounted on the α100.

Just one other idea ... the TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO is a terrific lens ... and very cost effective. The trade-off is that is does not have "rocket-focus", but delivers a hell of an image. SO, this lens is also worth its weight on the α100, too.

[seanhoxx]

In support of the Tamron 70-200 2.8, I haven't got to use it alot yet, but so far.very good, it may not have "rocket focus" but I am shooting sports and it is keeping up, not outstanding on fast action and low light, but fine for me! as it gets later in the night adn when i start walking around getting out of the "good light" or should I say the less bad light lol. it hunts a bit and seems to have to "think" about it, but again look at what it does, and for what price your paying, I will post more pics soon from it

[dr4gon]

In support of the Tamron 70-200 2.8, I haven't got to use it alot yet, but so far.very good, it may not have "rocket focus" but I am shooting sports and it is keeping up, not outstanding on fast action and low light, but fine for me! as it gets later in the night adn when i start walking around getting out of the "good light" or should I say the less bad light lol. it hunts a bit and seems to have to "think" about it, but again look at what it does, and for what price your paying, I will post more pics soon from it

please do when you get a chance!

[seanhoxx]

will try tonight, have another game on thursday and then football on friday, might go to the JV football game on sat morning see how the 70-200 likes the daylight. been picking up extra duty shifts to help pay for this! and with my computer issues time has been tight last several days, and it only gets worse! after toting the 700 and that lens around for a few days I know I now NEED a mono / tripod! more money to spend LOL