aquabluedreams.com Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 Just back from Yellowstone and we had a great time. Other trips now on the docket; Alaska, Tetons, etc… This trip was about trying to see and yes photograph, bear and wolf cubs. In Yellowstone you “have” to keep 100yrds from all the predators. I use the Sony 200-600mm and Sony A7RIII. We had some closer encounters with bears but wolves were typically well over 100yrds away. See attached photos: the first being at 600mm, one 100% crop and one at 200% crop. All heavily processed. 90% of the time the 200-600mm works great for me. But…..what are options to get more reach? 1. 600mm f4 lens with teleconverter. Sorry $13000 is not possible 2. Sony a6700 + 200-600mm for additional crop 3. Sell everything Sony and go with OM-1 System. Based on going with the $6000 150-400 lens. After ebaying all the Sony Stuff still need $5k 4. Digiscope, with DSLR attachment. Wide range of cost depending on scope chosen. Your thoughts, options I have missed? Products Used FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSLenses Alpha 7R III (Alpha7RIII)Cameras 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmcox Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 What about renting a 600/4 and TC before your next big trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquabluedreams.com Posted June 5 Author Share Posted June 5 Its and option, but it bugs me to possibly spends thousands of dollars over 2-3 trips.....Couple more with the 200-600mm Products Used FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSLenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aIpha-cbr Posted June 5 Share Posted June 5 Recently, I went through some of the same focal length envy recently myself. I have a 100-400mm GM which is an awesome lens, but sometimes I want some extra reach. I don't have a 70-200mm so if I moved to a 200-600mm I'd lose the 100mm-200mm range which I don't want to do. Instead, I settled on the 2X teleconverter. It gives me a 200-800mm which I can quickly convert back to 100-400 by taking off the teleconverter. There's always a tradeoff and the maximum aperture is reduced with the teleconverter, but because I don't need the extra reach all that often, it's an easy tradeoff for me to make. IMO, switching to an MFT system for extra reach is a bit of an illusion. The smaller sensor's "crop factor" makes it appear that you get extra focal length, but it's really just the proportion of the frame vis a vis the subject that changes. Personally, I prefer a high-resolution, full-frame sensor that I have the option to crop to something like an MFT size if necessary. Cameras like the A7R V and A7CR are incredibly versatile in this regard. Products Used FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSSLenses 2.0X TeleconverterLenses Alpha 7R V (Alpha7RV)Cameras Alpha 7CR (Alpha7CR)Cameras Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquabluedreams.com Posted June 6 Author Share Posted June 6 M4/3 trade off is the increased noise and as you mention less flexibility to crop photos. As I am going through the Yellowstone photos to "fill the frame" with the wolf, coyote, bear, etc...I am having to do 200% crops and heavily processing the photos. Many are fine for our family youtube show, lol, but to me the processing is obvious and they look "fake". Maybe I will win the lottery and I can get the 600mm lens and a sherpa to pack it around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmcox Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 On 6/5/2024 at 10:32 AM, aquabluedreams.com said: Its and option, but it bugs me to possibly spends thousands of dollars over 2-3 trips.....Couple more with the 200-600mm Of course, it is always a cost benefit analysis. If you can make enough additional revenue with the longer lenses to cover the cost of rental or purchase then it is a no brainer. It is similar for me with the 600/4. I'd love to have one in the closet, but there just aren't enough times per year when it would really come in handy over the 400/2.8 and it definitely wouldn't allow me to book assignments I'm not already getting with the gear I have. Products Used FE 600mm F4 GMLenses FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSSLenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquabluedreams.com Posted June 19 Author Share Posted June 19 FYI, in the end I have decided to sell my A7 III and purchase the A7RV and take advantage of the ability to crop to fill the frame. I will probably buy the 1.4 tele to use with the 200-600 even though some feel the autofocus is less than perfect. On those rare occasions I can alway go "old school" and manually focus, lol. Products Used Alpha 7 III (Alpha7III)Cameras Alpha 7R V (Alpha7RV)Cameras FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSLenses 1.4X TeleconverterLenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teridash Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 You will love Alaska!!! Just returned from there. I was in Yellowstone last year with my A1 and 200-600 lens and for the most part that combo worked. Other than a few eagles nothing was too far away from me. In Alaska I only took my A1 with the 300mm lens and 2x teleconverter as I had to pack light to be on bush planes. I would've loved a 400mm but that is so out of my budget LOL Envious you got the wolves! I was always too late for them. Products Used FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSLenses Alpha 1 (Alpha1)Cameras FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSSLenses 2.0X TeleconverterLenses 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquabluedreams.com Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 I will get to test new gear on some hikes in the coming weeks and our road trip to the Tetons in late September to capture the Elk rut. Been busy selling gear on eBay, lol and now will go out with...A7RV, Sony 200-600, Sony 1.4 teleconverter, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS, Sigma 24-70 DG DN Art II, Sony 12-24mm f/4 and 7Artisans 9mm. In the end buying the two Sigma lenses was just a little more than buying just one of the Sony equivalents. Yes, I miss out on being able to add a teleconverter to the Sigma 70-200. Sort of shocking to see it all listed here, really hobby out of control, lol. Products Used Alpha 7R V (Alpha7RV)Cameras FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSSLenses 1.4X TeleconverterLenses FE 12-24mm F4 GLenses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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