My Single Lens Story

Posted on March 8, 2024 by admin

Searching For More Millimeters

Nature and outdoor photographers will tell you that you can never have too long of a lens – the more millimeters, the better! I’m one of those photographers.

For me a single lens that has wide angle settings for inclusive scenes and can zoom out to capture distant subjects is preferable to carrying multiple lenses. The lens that attracted my attention was an 18mm to 300mm zoom. However I was only able to find one made for APS-C sensor cameras.

My main camera has a large full-frame sensor with a resolution of 9504 x 6336 pixels. Luckily it can accept APS-C lenses although the sensor resolution is reduced to 6240 x 4160 pixels.

Here’s a small gallery comparing the relative image sizes when using the APS-C lens and full-frame lens. While these samples are not subjects from the outdoors I hope that they illustrate the concept of mm reach.
This is my full frame Sony A7R IV camera. Its huge sensor captures 9504 x 6336 pixels.
Here’s my Sony 24-240mm full frame lens which captures the full 9504 x 6336 pixels.


When used on my Sony camera the Tamron 18-300mm lens captures 6240 x 4160 pixels.


Here’s a picture to compare the sizes of both Sony 24-240mm and Tamron 18-300mm lenses.

Below are side by side sample photos taken at various lens setting. The photos on the left were all taken with the Tamron APS-C lens. The photos on the right were taken with the Sony full frame lens.

Keep in mind that although the subject size is smaller on the right, there are more pixels available if you crop the image in post processing.

For me, the bonus in using the Tamron lens is the addition of reach up to 300mm which gives me the ability to capture more distant subjects from a single lens.
Tamron APS-C lens set at 24mm – 6240 x 4160 pixel
Sony full frame lens set at 24mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels
Tamron APS-C lens set at 35mm – 6240 x 4160 pixel
Sony full frame lens set at 35mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels
Tamron APS-C lens set at 50mm – 6240 x 4160 pixels
Sony full frame lens set at 50mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels
Tamron APS-C lens set at 100mm – 6240 x 4160 pixels
Sony full frame lens set at 100mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels
Tamron APS-C lens set at 200mm – 6240 x 4160 pixels
Sony full frame lens set at 200mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels
Tamron APS-C lens set at 240mm – 6240 x 4160 pixels
Sony full frame lens set at 240mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels
Tamron APS-C lens set at 300mm gives me additional reach compared to the Sony lens – 6240 x 4160 pixels
Sony full frame lens set at it maximum setting of 240mm – 9504 x 6336 pixels

I just returned from a recent trip with my full frame Sony camera and the Tamron lens. The two photos below were taken from a distance and the extra mm’s gave me a more detailed images of the two birds.

My back was grateful too since I was weighted down with only a single lens instead of two lenses that could offer me the same range.
This California Quail was photographed using the Tamron lens set a 300mm
This White Crowned Sparrow was photographed using the Tamron lens set a 300mm.

As a bonus I can use the new Tamron lens with my older and smaller APS-C size Sony A6000 camera.
BTW, the Sony A6000 has APS-C sensor with a resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels

Written by:

Arnie Lee

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Shooting Birds in Florida

Posted on February 25, 2024 by admin

Getting Close to the Action

Earlier this month I spent a few days in Florida shooting birds.

 

In particular I visited two places that I knew was home to many of our flying friends. One is Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands in Delray Beach. The second is the town of Flamingo in the Everglades National Park where a boat toured the brackish backwaters among the mangroves. I enjoyed my time at both of these locations.

 

Thankfully I was able to get close ups of the wildlife yet stay far enough away from the birds by using a long telephoto lens.

 

cc-by-ndlicense logo  This work by Arnie Lee is licensed under a Attribution-No Derivatives (CC BY-ND 4.0)

 
To find information about the Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands:click here.

 
To book a two hour backwater boat tour in the Everglades from Flamingo Adventures click here.

 

 
 

Written by: Arnie Lee
 
 

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Nikon Zf Mirrorless

Posted on January 15, 2024 by admin

Nikon at CeS<br />

A Bright Orange Camera

 

If you read my previous post, you’ll know that I recently returned from attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Since the 1980’s Ive been attending CES which showcases many of the newest gadgets and products that are destined to be delivered to the marketplace.

At the Nikon booth a bright orange colored camera caught my attention. This was the Nikon Zf which was introduced last November (2023).

The Nikon Zf is a 24mp full frame mirrorless camera that shares some of the looks of older classic SLRs – the familiar pyramid viewfinder, a circular shutter dial, an independent ISO dial.

I was told that it’s able to capture 11fps stills and handle 4K video at 30fps. The autofocus tracking can recognize nine types of subjects. The image stabilization is linked to the AF point. The rear screen is fully articulated. The camera also features several dedicated black and white modes.

For the fashionable photographer the Zf is available in six different colors.

The price is about $2250 with 40mm f/2 lens.

After speaking to the Nikon rep who explained the camera’s features, he walked me over to their in-booth photo studio for a demonstration.

I registered my name and email address and found myself in line to have my picture taken. Here the photographer was using the Zf camera surrounded by a set of lightboxes.

After sitting for a series of six photos I walked over to the nearby monitor where the artist assistant showed me the resulting pictures.

Whatever the artist did, the portraits turned out better than my real life visage.

Later in the day, the images from the photoshoot arrived in my email box.

Here are a couple of the portraits taken with the Nikon Zf.

 

 

My thanks go to the people from Nikon for a new set of portraits and for showing me another one of their newest capable cameras.

 

 

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