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Now, I've been tremendously slack at going out and taking some photos that can be posted on here for a bit of feedback - just been mega-busy with work and miscellaneous homelife. However, this weekend it was good to get to a minimeet and mingle with the usual suspects on Saturday. Then today (Sunday), we thought it'd be nice to get out of the house for a while so we went to Featherdale Wildlife Park. It's basically like going to the zoo except it's much closer for me (15 minute drive, if that), you get much better access to the animals, but there aren't as many cool man-eating inmates. They had lots of birds though.

Had a couple of new bits of gear that I wanted to try out. The Nikkor AF-D 80-200/2.8 came courtesy of forum member Shutterbug. Today I also went and bought a monopod just for fun (had a couple of shopping centre vouchers, so I essentially got a Manfrotto 676B for $20). I want to use the 80-200 primarily for sports, and it'll get its chance at the footy soon, but I spent most of the afternoon trying to get decent bird shots. Oh, it also shoots a decent portrait.. Got a couple of workable examples at yesterday's minimeet, and no doubt I'll keep experimenting.

Now back to the birds and animals. The lighting was a bit challenging. Was late afternoon, and had to deal with areas of very bright light, and some deep shadows. Also have to work on my technique when using the telephoto.. The f/2.8 helps to keep the shutter speed fast, but I'm still getting a lot of blurry shots from camera shake. Here's a couple of the better ones, starting with a sleepy Tassie devil...







There's absolutely no comparison between this lens and my previous telephoto monster, the 70-300G. Of course, I paid 8 times more for this new lens, so it better be good! The focus speed is unreal, the build quality is superb, and the images are sharp as a tack (assuming of course that I've handheld correctly, and that I've managed to focus on the right thing).

All images above run through a light unsharp mask, small amount of curves tweaking & resizing in PSCS2.

Des,
If you see it soft or harder to handle (camera shake) under the lowlight then eBay it and off to the 70-200VR

You're friend of Tassie Devil? It last two hours and I only can handle maximum 5 mins.

The 80-200 (all version) is quite a nice glass, it's tack sharp at any angle, you've to spend time to experiment and master it. It takes time and you'll get it!

You're right Birdy - very sharp lens, now I just have to get used to how to shoot with it... and practice, practice, practice

Amazingly, I don't think it's as heavy as I was expecting.. it balances really nicely in the left hand. Although I might have different ideas after dragging it around our bushwalk this weekend

Nice lens

shutterbug wrote:Nice lens

No, not really!!!!! not nicer than your 70-200VR

hahahahhaa

No, definitely not as nice as the 70-200VR. However, I'd like to thank Vincent for discovering the joys of the 70-200VR, and letting those who are less fortunate have the chance of owning the 80-200

losfp wrote:No, definitely not as nice as the 70-200VR. However, I'd like to thank Vincent for discovering the joys of the 70-200VR, and letting those who are less fortunate have the chance of owning the 80-200

You'll do the same thing when time comes.

losfp wrote:No, definitely not as nice as the 70-200VR. However, I'd like to thank Vincent for discovering the joys of the 70-200VR, and letting those who are less fortunate have the chance of owning the 80-200

My pleasure Hope your other half is happy about your purchase Just take some great portriat of her

shutterbug wrote:My pleasure Hope your other half is happy about your purchase Just take some great portriat of her

Well Vincent, I made the tactically astute move of telling her that I was going to buy the lens on Wednesday night, while I was in Brisbane for work. That way, I couldn't come to any IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL HARM.

That said, it was still pretty frosty on the weekend.. But it will get better. She said "you've only got one more lens to buy, right?", with that dangerous glint in the eye, promising further pain if the answer was the wrong one. I think she was pleasantly surprised when I said "no, actually this is all I need for the honeymoon".

Tokina 12-24, Nikkor 80-200, Nikkor 50/1.8 - Honestly, I think that is all the bases pretty much covered. Anything past that is simply a want, not a need.

Theoretically