Posted By: Jim Garvie
Nature Walk With The 200mm F2.8L - 03/21/10 03:19 PM
This time of year, I seldom get the time to just take a few hours of personal time to shoot the types of things I enjoy for pleasure instead of for profit. Yesterday, after several weeks of both work and rain, I took my Spring walk on the Shingle Creek Nature Trail accompanied by my 200mm F2.8L.
A few months ago, I traded my 70-200mm F4L for the 200 Prime. I liked the versatility of the zoom but I didn't like the fact that it was a bit soft at 200mm. So, trading in versatility for IQ seemed to be a good idea and I've used it sparingly since I purchased it but always with good results. Still, I didn't feel as if I'd given it the shakedown I owed it. Yesterday was in the low 80s here in Orlando and I started out with a potty break for Moxie. How does the Prime work for relatively close portraits? Here's an example.
While Moxie was doing her thing in the yard, we were being watched by the "Peanut Gallery" more than willing to share his/her opinions on the matter. I have no idea what type of bird this is but it stayed with us the entire time she was out.
That got me thinking about birds along the Nature Trail so off I went to see who was out at mid-afternoon. The recent heavy rains have flooded the wetlands surrounding the stream and given the birds ample food sources. At the start of the hike, I spotted a bunch of Ibis off in the swampy areas and stopped to photograph them.
Farther upstream, I spotted what I believe is a Tri-Colored Heron. She was close enough to get some shots of but far enough so I really couldn't get anything tight enough.
I gave her a wide berth since I knew I could circle back to her and continued on the trail. I spotted a Small Blue Heron in the water about 50 yard ahead of me but could only get a few shots before he took off.
With no birds to shoot, I turned to some wildflowers in the area: first, the Small Blue Flower followed by the Small Purple Flower.
I started back toward the car and heard -- and spotted -- some deer off to the side of the trail but they weren't close enough for any shots. I carefully walked back to where I had spotted the Tri and crept as close to her as I could get for one last shot.
And, crossing the bridge on the way to the car, I spotted a Limpkin in the Creek. This is only the second Limpkin I've ever seen so it was pretty cool.
Overall, it was a very satisfying couple of hours. I'm very pleased with both the IQ and the versatility of the 200 F2.8L. I know I should have used it with the 1.4X extender but for this shakedown, I wanted to test the lens itself. It's definitely not as flexible in terms of use as the zoom but it's IQ at 200 is very, very nice. As is it's speed. It should be the right tool for ring candids as well in large venues. Nice lens and a fun outing.
Jim
A few months ago, I traded my 70-200mm F4L for the 200 Prime. I liked the versatility of the zoom but I didn't like the fact that it was a bit soft at 200mm. So, trading in versatility for IQ seemed to be a good idea and I've used it sparingly since I purchased it but always with good results. Still, I didn't feel as if I'd given it the shakedown I owed it. Yesterday was in the low 80s here in Orlando and I started out with a potty break for Moxie. How does the Prime work for relatively close portraits? Here's an example.
While Moxie was doing her thing in the yard, we were being watched by the "Peanut Gallery" more than willing to share his/her opinions on the matter. I have no idea what type of bird this is but it stayed with us the entire time she was out.
That got me thinking about birds along the Nature Trail so off I went to see who was out at mid-afternoon. The recent heavy rains have flooded the wetlands surrounding the stream and given the birds ample food sources. At the start of the hike, I spotted a bunch of Ibis off in the swampy areas and stopped to photograph them.
Farther upstream, I spotted what I believe is a Tri-Colored Heron. She was close enough to get some shots of but far enough so I really couldn't get anything tight enough.
I gave her a wide berth since I knew I could circle back to her and continued on the trail. I spotted a Small Blue Heron in the water about 50 yard ahead of me but could only get a few shots before he took off.
With no birds to shoot, I turned to some wildflowers in the area: first, the Small Blue Flower followed by the Small Purple Flower.
I started back toward the car and heard -- and spotted -- some deer off to the side of the trail but they weren't close enough for any shots. I carefully walked back to where I had spotted the Tri and crept as close to her as I could get for one last shot.
And, crossing the bridge on the way to the car, I spotted a Limpkin in the Creek. This is only the second Limpkin I've ever seen so it was pretty cool.
Overall, it was a very satisfying couple of hours. I'm very pleased with both the IQ and the versatility of the 200 F2.8L. I know I should have used it with the 1.4X extender but for this shakedown, I wanted to test the lens itself. It's definitely not as flexible in terms of use as the zoom but it's IQ at 200 is very, very nice. As is it's speed. It should be the right tool for ring candids as well in large venues. Nice lens and a fun outing.
Jim
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