D50 + 300mm f4 & D300 + 105mm f2.8 for a trip to Sungei Buloh?

[kol1te]

Hi bros, have to admit i greedy! I want to do both macro and birding at the same trip. I have a D50, so i thought to make use of it to save me time from changing lens every now and then. So will the formula works out or switch around or just stick to the D300 with lens swapping?

D50 + 300mm f4 & D300 + 105mm f2.8

In bag:
35mm f.18 and SB900

Thanks!

 

[gundamseed84]

you need to consider bringing a monopod or tripod. So would changing body on tripod be faster than changing lenses? Also 35mm might not be necessary.

 

[coolthought]

Hi bros, have to admit i greedy! I want to do both macro and birding at the same trip. I have a D50, so i thought to make use of it to save me time from changing lens every now and then. So will the formula works out or switch around or just stick to the D300 with lens swapping?

D50 + 300mm f4 & D300 + 105mm f2.8

In bag:
35mm f.18 and SB900

Thanks!

from this combo. It looks like the priority is macro.
I am not sure if it is good to try doing both in the same trip.
However, for birding, 300mm reach, it is likely still not enough.

 

[kol1te]

you need to consider bringing a monopod or tripod. So would changing body on tripod be faster than changing lenses? Also 35mm might not be necessary.

Dropping 35mm from the list - reduce weight. Oh yes, definitely will bring along a tripod! Thanks!

 

[Cowseye]

Switched the 35mm with a 1.4x teleconverter?
The thing is, birding is a waiting game while macro is more on the go. Along the walkpath that you shoot macro, you can hardly get a clear shot of birds through the vegetations. While you are camping for birds in hide, not much insects are around for macro too. I wouldn't suggest you to do both in the same day.

 

[kol1te]

from this combo. It looks like the priority is macro.
I am not sure if it is good to try doing both in the same trip.
However, for birding, 300mm reach, it is likely still not enough.

Thanks for your reply!
Guess I should use a single body - D300. Do lens switching with body on tripod. Agreed that 300mm will probably not be enough reach (450mm with x1.5 for a DX body). I was deciding between a 1.4TC and 2.0TC...not sure which to get.

 

[gundamseed84]

Well I guess 1 more TC won't be too heavy, but for me I use 1.4x because IQ is still quite good. 2x usually the IQ will degrade significantly. If you want to do both on same day then maybe you need a plan on timing and route. Birding is good in early morning when the birds are having breakfast (lol) and maybe towards late morning you can switch to macro. Personal experience is that big birds are commonly found at the open 'mud plains' so you can visit those places first. Later then walk into the small path inside the vegetation for macro and hopefully got chance to come across some small birds like woodpeckers.

 

[kol1te]

Switched the 35mm with a 1.4x teleconverter?
The thing is, birding is a waiting game while macro is more on the go. Along the walkpath that you shoot macro, you can hardly get a clear shot of birds through the vegetations. While you are camping for birds in hide, not much insects are around for macro too. I wouldn't suggest you to do both in the same day.

Oops, i meant 300mm + 1.4 TC to extend the reach (about 630mm on a 1.5 factor body). Thanks!

Well I guess 1 more TC won't be too heavy, but for me I use 1.4x because IQ is still quite good. 2x usually the IQ will degrade significantly. If you want to do both on same day then maybe you need a plan on timing and route. Birding is good in early morning when the birds are having breakfast (lol) and maybe towards late morning you can switch to macro. Personal experience is that big birds are commonly found at the open 'mud plains' so you can visit those places first. Later then walk into the small path inside the vegetation for macro and hopefully got chance to come across some small birds like woodpeckers.

Cool, 1.4x will be my next purchase! The plan does sounds good! Thanks!