Shooting Surfing: 80-400VR?

[surfworx]

Greetings,
I thought I posted this, but it did'nt seem to work. Don't panic, its probably my error, but I digress...........

I'm soon to get my S2, they say August 9th, but that may well slip. I'm leaning towards the 80-400MMVR Nikon, as 80% of my shoots are surfing.

I've read alot that zooms are ordinary, at full focal, in terms of optics and quality. The 80-400 seems to be a cut above. Does anyone consider this a good lens for surfing?

Before you answer, thats the limit of my budget, about $1300US. Due to dirt probs and CCD's, and ease of use, I like the 80-400 and VR is a point and shoot bonus.

Am I going to get anything better for this money?

Derrick
www.surfworx.com.au

[mdemyan]

I have one. Tried it out last week in Canada on a fishing trip.
Shot from the boat on water. Check out the shots.

http://www.pbase.com/mdemyan/nikkor_af_vr_80400_45_56_d

[surfworx]

Mike,

I checked out an image at full size, the one with the speedboat and the two dudes fishing on it. I looked at the original size, and I'm amazed that you can even see their lines.
Thats a pretty good capture, I'm just concerned about auto focus speed.
Let me know when you do some more work that pushes the lens to its limits, like sports or anything relatively fast, or low light situations.

In response to AF problems and me using the camera for surfing, I'm leaning towards a 80-200/2.8 Nikon and a Sigma 50-500 for around the same price as the 80-400VR.
The way the date for my S2 is drifting, I might even be inline for a 80-200VR.

Thanks heaps!

Derrick

[Pedro D]

Hi,

After some days to search some lenses of this type, and that they offer a good gamma focal, good quality, and VR it counted very in my choice!,they decided to opt to this lens, they wait for it in the thursday, when will have some examples, I place here so that they can seen.

I go to more use this lens for the wild life, and some situations in landscapes and "portraits" at long range.
The weight..., I am in a certain accustomed way the 80-200/2,8, that he has excellent optical quality, but I weigh a ton!:D
I hate to walk with tripod...

I bought it for €1772,98 , with it offers of a filter Hoya Super HMC, 77mm, through Andorra(Europe).

[Sneakyracer]

Originally posted by surfworx
Mike,

I checked out an image at full size, the one with the speedboat and the two dudes fishing on it. I looked at the original size, and I'm amazed that you can even see their lines.
Thats a pretty good capture, I'm just concerned about auto focus speed.
Let me know when you do some more work that pushes the lens to its limits, like sports or anything relatively fast, or low light situations.

In response to AF problems and me using the camera for surfing, I'm leaning towards a 80-200/2.8 Nikon and a Sigma 50-500 for around the same price as the 80-400VR.
The way the date for my S2 is drifting, I might even be inline for a 80-200VR.

Thanks heaps!

Derrick

I just saw this thread.

I also shoot a lot of surfing photos w/ the S2 and use the nikon 300mm f4 af with and without a simga apo af 1.4x TC.

Its a killer lens optically and good even with the 1.4x. Just wish the focus was a touch faster but it isnt bad. The new 300 f4 AFS sould be an awesome lens. I would suggest getting that. A 80-200mm is just too short to be a main surfing photo lens.

Of course, a 400mm f2.8 AFS is the ideal surfing lens on a fuji s2. but $$$$$$$$$$

[surfworx]

Greetings,

I posted the original message 18 months ago. I ended up getting the Sigma 50-500/4-6.3 lens and have'nt looked back. I've found it excellent for many sports, and surprisingly many other applications.

Check out my website at www.surfworx.com.au I've a folio on there, all land shots taken with this lens - watershots with a small Canon and waterhousing.

My images have appeared in National surf mags, local newspapers, and I've been used by Rip Curl and I've also shot the professional football here in Australia. I think that's pretty good seeing I've only been shooting around 18 months.

Derrick

[Sneakyracer]

Originally posted by surfworx
Greetings,

I posted the original message 18 months ago. I ended up getting the Sigma 50-500/4-6.3 lens and have'nt looked back. I've found it excellent for many sports, and surprisingly many other applications.

Check out my website at www.surfworx.com.au I've a folio on there, all land shots taken with this lens - watershots with a small Canon and waterhousing.

My images have appeared in National surf mags, local newspapers, and I've been used by Rip Curl and I've also shot the professional football here in Australia. I think that's pretty good seeing I've only been shooting around 18 months.

Derrick

Yep, i noticed you have some water shots what rig were you using for those?

Dpes the 50-500 focus fast enough???

In Aus there seems to be high quality light! Which makes lens choice less of an issue since its hard to spot diferences and wide appertures aren required. but seems like the 300mm is sharper but of course the 50-500 is extremely much more versatile.

[surfworx]

The watershots were taken with a Canon A40 and waterhousing. Not an easy task operating the shutter when you want it to.

The 50-500 isn't super fast, and can be tricked sometimes in terms of focus - and it isn't the world's best built lens. I've no doubt the 300/4 is sharper - but the 75-750mm range of the Sigma lens is pretty handy.

Derrick

[Sneakyracer]

Originally posted by surfworx
The watershots were taken with a Canon A40 and waterhousing. Not an easy task operating the shutter when you want it to.

The 50-500 isn't super fast, and can be tricked sometimes in terms of focus - and it isn't the world's best built lens. I've no doubt the 300/4 is sharper - but the 75-750mm range of the Sigma lens is pretty handy.

Derrick

I just saw the sigma. turns out my uncle has it. Its really weird how the barrel just extends a humongous ammount when zoomed! :eek: begeezuz The lens is narrower than i though also, not calling it compact but certainly tiny for a 50-500 zoom.