Nikon Archives - Page 8 of 9

Top 4 Lenses For Nature Photography

The Nikon AF-S 600mm in the wild with photographer Al Haley

In nature photography it’s not unusual to see someone drive up in a beater car that barely runs only to have the shooter pull out an $8,000 lens. It is not a hobby for the financially faint of heart.

Getting enough light at those magnifications means a big barrel, and a big barrel means a lot of expensive glass. For these lenses most photographers buy a dedicated body to use with them. The cost of the camera is almost inconsequential compared to the lens.These are my four picks for the best in nature photography.

Nikon AF-S 600mm f/4 (pictured above)

Quick and accurate auto-focus driven by high precision, ultra-quiet motors. You’ll need a quality tripod to hang this bad boy but it’s worth it sit at a comfortable quarter mile away to get your shots. The color and clarity can only be described as amazing.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM

With ultra-fast and rock steady focusing that almost jumps to the subject, you’ll see this lens on a lot of the sidelines of sporting events as well as nature photography.500mm with a 4.1 degree horizontal angle of view for full frame sensor models like the 5D MKII.
If you’re not into brand names, you can save some money looking at brands like Sigma, which run closer to half what the Canon and Nikon glass costs. There are concessions like weight and weather proofing you’re giving up, but you won’t have to trade your car for one, either.

Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO HSM Canon-ef

A little heavier than its more expensive cousins, but not that difficult to pack around and still delivers high quality images. You’re giving up weather sealing at the lower price point, so carry a bag cover with you at all times.

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

This zoom is heavy, but offers a long, flexible zoom range. You are giving up a fixed aperture on the zoom, but considering the price point, that’s an inconvenience I can live with.

How camera lenses are made

Have you ever wondered how camera lenses are made? Discovery Channel’s “How it’s Made” produced a segment a few years ago on the process of assembling a lens.

According to the video it takes 6 weeks to make an lens and optical glass can costs up to $1000 per kilogram, no wonder lenses are so expensive.
Enjoy.

Image credit: Photographs by Duncan Meeder

Equipment for Low Light Photography

Taking photos in low light takes some practise to perfect, we have put together a great guide to help you master the art of low light photograph. Tips for taking low lights shots, fixing underexposed photos and even a infographic on low light photography tips to bring it all together. We hope you enjoy.

Citrus shot with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi using a 50mm f/1.4 lens. 1/100, f/2.0, 50mm, ISO 1600.

Make the most of this list of recommended photography equipment for successful shooting under low lighting conditions.

Camera – The best DSLR cameras for low light photography posses a high maximum ISO, burst shooting capabilities, exposure compensation capabilities, RAW file format capabilities, and multi-point auto-focus. The Nikon D7000 is an excellent choice, as is the Canon 5D Mark II and the Pentax K-5. For more entry-level photography, choose a Sony Alpha A580 or a Canon Rebel T3i.

Lens – A lens is considered “fast”, or most capable in low-light photography, if it has a very low maximum aperture. Anything below f/2.8 is fantastic for photography in dim settings. Also, look for a lens that has image stabilization or vibration reduction capabilities. Many Canon fans swear by the 35mm f/1.4L or the 50mm f/1.4 prime lenses. The Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS is a great walking-around zoom lens with image stabilization capabilities. For Nikon enthusiasts, the equivalent prime lenses are the (expensive!) Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.4G and the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G. For a great walking-around zoom lens, choose the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G.

Tripod or Monopod – Choose a quality, sturdy tripod with a ball head and quick release to provide excellent support and flexibility for low light photography. Grab a monopod for functional stability while on the go. Personally, I am a big believer in Manfrotto products.

Remote Shutter Release – Use a remote shutter release with a tripod-mounted camera to eliminate any potential for camera shake while photographing.

External Flash – Speedlites are all the rage for providing off-camera flash that is flexible and portable. Canon’s lineup of Speedlite flashes offer a range of functionality and affordability. Nikon has their own lineup of speedlights as well.

Reflectors – Reflectors work great for capturing and directing even the smallest amount of ambient light. Choose a reflector that is silver on one side and gold on the other in order to provide cooler or warmer light quality. Lastolite has a great lineup of quality products at affordable prices.

Nikon's new batch of CoolPix P300, P500, L120

Tomorrow Nikon will be releasing a bunch of new CoolPix digital cameras.

Nikon CoolPix P300

Nikon has added a small but mighty camera to its popular P series with the P300. This is Nikon’s first compact camera to feature a 4.2x Zoom-Nikkor lens and has the widest aperture of any other CoolPix at f/1.8. The P300 has a 12.2 megapixels CMOS sensor and ISO up to 3200.

If you have become accustomed to the great image quality in low-light settings of the other Nikon P series then you should not be disappointed with the P300. The camera has the ability to go into full manual mode and features a EXPEED C2 processing engine which will ensure you pictures look as close to reality as it can get. It has become more and more common to include vibration reduction in pocket cameras and the P300 does not disappoint.

Filter effects have also been improved, including the additions of fisheye lens and cross screen, as well as Nikon’s new in-camera panorama generator. Completing the package the P300 has a full HD 1080p video mode. You should be able to pick up the Nikon CoolPix P300 in March 2011 for only $329.95.

We are hoping the P300 will come with a 1/1.7” sensor similar to the Canon Powershot S95, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and the recently announced Olympus XZ-1.

Just in case you were wondering here are some comparisons:

CoolPix P500

Some of the most popular cameras on Snapsort are the super zooms, the P500 is a worthy successor to the Nikon CoolPix P100. Featuring a 36x zoom which is the longest of any CoolPix cameras. Similar to the P300 it has a EXPEED C2 processor but this one is a dual processor. This should make it good in low light, Its also features a hybrid vibration reduction stabilization also gives it a better ability to avoid camera shake over other pocket cameras.

The P300 has a three inch LCD with a great night mode which should not wreck your night vision (much) when you take photos at night. Like the P300 it can record in full HD 1080p and has Nikon’s new panorama mode. The Nikon CoolPix P500 is expected to be released in March for only $399.95.

Read our comparison with Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Nikon CoolPix P500 vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

CoolPix L120

The L120 will not break your wallet at only $279.95. This camera has a 21x Wide-Angle Zoom lens and 14.1 megapixel resolution. With a hybrid image stabilization and able to shoot up to ISO 6400.

The CoolPix L120 is a entry-level point and shoot, that will replace the Nikon CoolPix L110 and should be available in late February.

A quick comparison:

Nikon CoolPix L120 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35