Photography tutorial: Wildlife - Equipment/Camera Settings

[AlexT1994]

I hate when the thumbnail is different from the video :/

[harshanack]

What kind of a Lens you are using in this video?

[harshanack]

What kind of a Lens you are using in this video?

[jmstew0319]

You lost me at JPEG.

[mrwtsfhc]

I viewed some of your galleries, and the picture of the fox with the snow on his nose is by far my favorite, excellent photos!!

[journeyquest1]

The best place i have found to find wildlife is Tijuana. I have been to Bryce Canyon and Glacer National Park and Yosemite and Sequoia and........Just wish i had had better photo equipment then.

[AlexT1994]

Did a fly fly past the mic or something at 1:04?

[Veldranian]

Oh awesome :) What do you think about my euipment?

[QQQQcon]

@Veldranian any equipment is good when you just start. Your setup is fine. Once you become more serious with your photography you can choose a camera that suits your needs better

[Veldranian]

Hey is this equipment I've got ok for a beginner I have a canon 20d with a 90-300mm lens. Like I said on my other post these videos are amazing. plea make more :)

[QQQQcon]

@Veldranian I just upload five new videos, three of which are photography tutorials. I will be uploading about 15 new photography tutorials in total before the end of june.

[Veldranian]

Amazing videos is it possible to make any more they really help :)

[pixelcomet]

dark video? video postproduction is the key :)

[pianoman6639]

Really enjoyed this,informative easy to understand and the presentation really works for me many thanks will put this onto my favs for future reference

Thanks again

[qChurchy139q]

why was the video so dark?

[QQQQcon]

@qChurchy139q I am not sure. It looked great on the video lcd.

[shadalala]

hey man u become skinny then before

[whabina]

thanks man i order it just now from amazon 500$ i think its graet deal just like you have been saying in your videos.

[TheROB007700]

The photos on the website are amazing just as good or even better than I see on the bbc! Are they all yours? oh and did you go to any training or did you just jump straite in?

[whabina]

hey man

i'm i've got the d7000 also and i have nikon 18-105 and 70-300 would you recomend me to buy tokina 12-24 for landscape would it serve me any better than the lenses that i have ?

thanks for yor videos

[QQQQcon]

@whabina Yes I would. It is far superior to the nikon 18-105 and gets a lot wider.

[00hmath00]

@QQQQcon hey

Great Video!!! Learned alot. I'm saving up for a canon 7D do you recommend?

[jmstew0319]

@00hmath00 Just forget that part about JPEG. Always shoot RAW.

[Willlikesludwig]

@whabina Go for the Nikkor one!

[pinoykillah18]

i just bought a d3100. im a beginner! i bought it coz it has video! lol. but my question is how much is your 70-300mm? im tired of my 18-55 lens.

[QQQQcon]

@pinoykillah18 if ou are talking about the lens in the video it is not a 70-300 it is a 70-200 and cost 1600 dollars. The nikon 70-300mm VR lens is what i would recommend for you.

[pinoykillah18]

@QQQQcon so if the 70-200mm cost 1600, then the 70-300mm? how much? 2000 plus ha? damm!

[QQQQcon]

@pinoykillah18 no it is around 400. focal length does not determine how expensive a lens is. There are several more factors like f/stop, glass quality, VR, ect. In this case the 70-200mm is a constant f/2.8 where as the 70-300mm is a variable f/4-f/5.6. The smaller the f/stop number the more light can pass through. I suggest you do some research on this before buying a lens.

[NBGZerO]

@QQQQcon I use the 70-300mm f/ 4.5-5.6 G ED VR all the time. Right now I'm kind of experimenting with an older 80 - 200mm 2.8 which would translate to a 120 - 300mm on my D90. constant f/2.8 is something I never want to miss now. The only problem is that its pretty bulky.

[TheSupasimon]

@QQQQcon yah it will a 600 f/4 will cost a shit load of money a 50 1/8 wont nearly cost as much but other than that yah

[Ishcoa]

Hello Conor,

I have a Nikon D7000 and I'm thinking of purchasing a 70-300. Would the 70-300 (105-450 for DX) and the D7000's 6FPS be sufficient for wildlife? I also have an old metal tripod and a Gorillapod.

[QQQQcon]

@Ishcoa yes, it should do a nice job.

[kulotzification]

helo!conor i am just a beginner...i got mah d300s..is it ok if i will use d 70-200m?thanks..

[chuchischaeftli]

that was a very nice video helpfull and very friendly thank you so much for this

[johnla25]

A very educational video, thank you very much !!

[jeffxz]

Hi Conor,

I am really new at photography, to be honest I don't have a DSLR right now, however I am buying Nikon D7000 with 55-300mm lens.

And I am always interested in landscape and wildlife photography.

I would like to ask you whether the camera and the lens suit for my purpose ? And what are the points I should look at when purchasing a camera or lens for landscape and wildlife photography ?

Thank you.

[QQQQcon]

@jeffxz thats is a good start. you might want to consider the nikon 70-300mm vr lens instead of the 55-300mm because it is just an overall better lens for wildlife.

[meganmariemakeup]

ive been interested in photography for quite a while and i want a camera that takes REALLY hd pictures. i like the really clear pictures. what nikon camera is the best for that?

[Mydecember1285]

@meganmariemakeup Those clear, colourful and bright photos that you saw are mostly post production edited nowadays. If you want to reach near that look, it depends on your lenses and your camera settings. Know your gears, your apertures, your ISOs, etc. Its not solely on camera brand/models alone.

[dwithsx]

what can you say about the D90?

is it good enough for that???

currently i am having a D90 so i would like to know more about D90 abilities... n the capabilities..

thnx!

[QQQQcon]

@dwithsx that would do a pretty good job, it isnt the fastest camera but it isnt bad for wildlife.

[dwithsx]

what is the best camera for wildlife photography?

nikon or canon???

[QQQQcon]

@dwithsx both are good, nikon is more on the speedy side with there top of the line camera like the d700 and d3s, but if you want a dx camera the best thing you can do is wait until the d400 comes out, the d300s is good but it is outdated and the d7000 is better than it, the canon 7d is good for wildlife too but once again it is a little outdated and cheaper cameras have better image quality now.

[jetaddiction]

all the water sound made me get up and go to the bathroom

[kabfisher]

He said it is very expensive, I had a $100 fuji 3x zoom and got some good shots of bear and other animals.

[SupaGreenCat]

@kabfisher - well yes and thats only gonna get you "good shots" but if your gonna earn money from it your going to have to get better than "good shots"

[MrAssen2009]

Hola a tod@s me gustaría saber como puedo traducir los videos del inglés al español? gracias.

[eflemingphoto]

@MrAssen2009 no sé si es posible. Ya buscaste un video en español? 

[MrAssen2009]

Hola a tod@s me gustaría saber como puedo traducir los videos del inglés al español? gracias

[zombiekiller50001]

love ur videos i would like to know where this park is of the birds of prey cause i go thruogh arizona every year to newmexico and i want to stop and take photos thank you these videos were very helpfull

[fartholic]

wenever i try to click birds in flight or from below i get dark images n the sharpness is also low.can u give me some tips in this regard.i have a fujifilm hs10 .

[QQQQcon]

@fartholic it could be your exposure is off. The sky is bright so if the camera is set to auto the camera will darken the sky and make the image under exposed. The low sharpness is probably because of camera blur

[fartholic]

wenever i try to click birds in flight or from below i get dark images n the sharpness is also low.can u give me some tips in this regard.i have a fujifilm hs10 .

[siliconsurf]

i'd rather shoot wild naked chicks...

[SpoASU]

Miten paskalle tuon jätkä haisee kun kärpäset pörrää koko ajan tuossa?

Muutenkin kyllä harvinaisen huono video.

[benryan1]

At 1:06 you say that the prime lens you use is a 70-200mm??? Doesn't a prime lens have a fixed focal length? What you have is a telephoto lens, is this correct? Great review.

[QQQQcon]

@benryan1 prime as in the main lens that i use for wildlife.

[macambiskut]

nice ripple sound. 

[QQQQcon]

@xShawn1991x yes it does, only some cameras from nikon can do that.

[quickshooter100]

Prime is fixed focal length . 70-200 is a zoom.

[Echofromsomewere1]

Is it a good idea to use a telephoto lens with a teleconverter mounted instead of a super telephoto lens?

[biscuitbub123]

@Echofromsomewere1 it wont be as sharp but I like using teleconverters because then you dont have to carry so much weight,

[RaltsWooper]

Great tutorial , i have a d3000 , i was wondering if i can have some tips, what do you suppose i should upgrade to after the d3000? and what exactly is that pack that makes ur fps go up?

[QQQQcon]

@RaltsWooper you would have to upgrade to a d300s to get the battery pack that increases your shutter speed, a good step up is the d90

[RaltsWooper]

@QQQQcon ah i see thank you for the info, now i can't seem to find a like average for a price but how much would you say just the body on the d300 would cost? and the lens you are using.

[QQQQcon]

@RaltsWooper 1000 - 1200 i think

[danthecat21]

I love to drag the time slider across..The clouds look so cool when you do it xD

[abble0009]

CAN I Still do a great video or shots using a kit lens like 18-105?? like covering events? or orientation at school? can i still make good photos? or videos??? i have a d90 though please answer thx

[QQQQcon]

@abble0009 yes

[stilscream]

You mention a wildlife refugee? I live in Tucson and am MOST interested in photographing birds of prey, so I am very interested in where you are talking about. I am just a beginner, so I just have a Panasonic DMC-FZ8 7.4MP camera and looking at buying a telephoto lens for it.

[j2cool2]

What is the speed of your 70-200mm i.e f/2.8 or f/4?

[abed83a]

Thanks. Nice video. Though people are complaining about under-exposed of the video, but in my Sony VGN it looks just right - probably an early morning time, with nice mountain in the background, river flowing by the side and a few noisy insects blurring the sound :) Its very natural.

[MrDragonsfire]

good video

[sherayarorakzai]

man i subbed to u and i went to ur website, stunning pictures!

[TotalNoize300]

dang man your photos on ur site of wildlife are amazing! i was really impressed:)

[Core404]

Good video man thumbs up

[marioskii]

Hey good vid, but i wanna know which lens were you using, and i couldnt understand what you said about it, because of the noise at 1:05. Could you tell me which lens is that?

[QQQQcon]

@marioskii nikon 70-200mm

[clubdriver]

Watching your photos at you homepage makes me think of a Professional Photographer immediately, funny because you tells in some of the vieos that you are not :)if thats the case,you are an extremely,brutally good amateur photographer. love your pictures!!

[mixmaxdix]

dude, you are unerexpose

[QQQQcon]

@mixmaxdix I know, it wants on purpose. It looked fine on the lcd, the video camera i use is really old.

[nikorows]

would u know by any chance whether the Nikon d40 has a continuous auto focus mode?

[biscuitbub123]

@nikorows yes it does

[MimPagga]

Good content, although your video is so dark and the sound so bad, pluss the frame of the shot so messy, that any trust in your photographic abilities remain a matter of hope ...

[QQQQcon]

@MimPagga look at my website and you can see my pictures, there is a link in the description. I dont try to place the video camera is a good place or set it up.

[FerrariJT]

awesome vid as always..... the intro made me have to pee though!

[pedalman]

You have nice kit there, yes a 600mm f4 would be nice but if you have patience and know your animals you can get close enough with a 300mm.

I find a tripod is ESSENTIAL a sharp image is not possible 99% of the time without one.

[bellci]

Great photography,but very expensive.Better pictures = better lenses = much more money.

I love Sigma lenses :D.I have a 70-300 f4-5.6 and a 50mm f2.8 macro.

70-300 it's quite ok for this type of shooting,but a larger apperture would be better.I hope to get a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 cause it's very cheap and it's a good lens (with a 2x extender and f4 it's perfect).

[AmateurPhotography]

Great photography!

[COZAM007]

i saw a canon lense which costs £11999.99. it was the Canon EF 800 5.6L IS USM .

[handsomelok]

@COZAM007 yes,.

[COZAM007]

Well don't you think that that is a bit to expensive?

[pedalman]

Have you seen the Sigma 500-800 F2.8 ???  £17000

[COZAM007]

No, thanks for telling me.

[pedalman]

Sorry i got that wrong its 300-500mm still £17000 though.

The front lens looks like its about 10in diameter.

[littentree6]

Thank you for posting, good tutorial I have learned a lot here.

I am new to this and a few months back I purchased a Tamron 70-300mm lens which was a mistake I should have opted for the Nikon much more expensive but I have learned it pays to buy the best one can afford.

[chucknorris175]

i've just started into photography and i looked on your website. your photos are amazing. I pray to god that I can be as good as you someday

[handsomelok]

@chucknorris175 you can be!!!! *if you work hard

[TheScottLamb]

Would my set up be good for wildlife shots?

Nikon D3000 with a with the Nikon AF-S  DX VR 55-200?

[HunterBigfootJR]

What kind of lens would you recomed for wildlife like for dear? I have a Nikon D40 and I really like the camera....

[QQQQcon]

nikon 70-300mm

[HunterBigfootJR]

Sigma. Or nikon. THey are almost like the same

[QQQQcon]

nikon, I have never liked the quality of sigma but that is up to you.

[HunterBigfootJR]

I have heard about both there qualities... lol

[lorikzzz]

He used Nikon and Sigma lenses you've just heard about them

[handsomelok]

@HunterBigfootJR

if you have the money , go for Nikon

if you don't , go for Sigma!

[jenn198310]

do u think Canon Rebel T1i 15.1MP DSLR With 18-55mm IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II USM Lens Kit Package is good

[QQQQcon]

yes

[warningrandom]

Do you think that a 13 yr old should have a DSLR?

[QQQQcon]

I dont see why not, I would get a thirteen year old a real expensive dslr but a nikon d40 would be fine.

[warningrandom]

Cool because im thirteen and im going to get the D3000 For X-mas oh and You Have some Very good work on you site!

[surfmaster92]

From the pictures i looked at on your flicker your a pro man, those pictures are so clear and pristine im extremely jealous.

[phbphotography]

What do you thinkl of the Sigma 150-500mm lens for wildlife photography

[QQQQcon]

I have never used it, so I dont know about its performance. My experiance with sigma was not good though. I got a sigma 100-300mm f/4 once and it was terrible.

[kamikazeFIN]

Do you think 26-520 mm wide angle lens could be okay for a secondary lens in wildlife photography?

[QQQQcon]

Is this an interchangeable lens or a fixed lens on a compact camera because I have never heard of an slr lens with that kind of range.

[kamikazeFIN]

It's a fixed lens on a compact. I'd use it as a secondary camera when I go out shooting wildlife and i'd like to hear your opinion

[QQQQcon]

that is plenty of zoom.

[kamikazeFIN]

I'll take that as a yes :p

[QQQQcon]

yes

[904SF]

nikon has a 600 mm lens :P

[nosmk4]

you rull man...you helped me a lot...i want to buy a DSLr but i don't know which.I don't have a big budget i am thinking between d60 and d3000....Which would you recommend from these two?

[QQQQcon]

nikon d3000

[georgedoesballet]

Hey, just a question. I noticed how you said your 70-200mm is a prime lens. I thought a prime lens was a lens with a fixed focal length? Or is it something to do with Nikon lenses, like canon's L lenses?

I hope to get a nikon next year because I am sick of canons AF and how it handles low light. I am going to need it for action photography with my dancing.

Your videos are really helpful thanks dude!! :D

[QQQQcon]

When I say prime lens I mean the lens I use most when it comes to wildlife photography.

[georgedoesballet]

oh your 'prime' lens oh ok, thank you!

[josh2side]

thanks helpful tutorial =)

[mixmaxdix]

it only shoots 8fps in 12 bit mode...

If you set it to 14 bit and raw can you shoot 8fps?

just curious...i use canon

[cameraman40]

wud a canon 50D be good for wildlife? i know u shoot nikon but your opinion wud be nice...

[QQQQcon]

yes that is a good camera for wildlife.

[cameraman40]

ok thanks. i'll always be a fan of ur vids:)

[QQQQcon]

I mean can shoot over 5 fps and has very fast processing and a fast auto focus system. The nikon d5000 is a great camera though and would be fine for alot of wildlife photography.

[suratizin]

oh... ok and what do you mean by fast camera

[suratizin]

can d5000 play in Wildlife?

[QQQQcon]

Its not ideal but it would work fine.

[roger767]

nikon announced a new d300 and 70-200 today.

[QQQQcon]

I noticed.

[Shmithers]

At 1:03 you said it was a prime. I know what you were meaning by "prime lens", as in the lens you use the most. I was just joking around :P

[QQQQcon]

Now I see what you mean.

[beverchakus1]

prime lens means that is doesn't zoom. i.e. 400mm as apposed to 200 - 400mm.

[QQQQcon]

I know that, I said it is the prime lens that I use, as in the main lens I use for wildlife.

[Shmithers]

Lol I think it always looks funny when people carry their long lenses like that. I'd suggest turning the camera around (so the flash shoe is toward your body) so it doesn't stick out like a...

Oh and btw It's not a prime lens. :P I have the same setup, (d300+mb-d10+70-200 2.8) quite nice it is indeed!

Nice video overall! I shoot raw because I shoot events so no time for changing WB, contrast and sat)

:D

[QQQQcon]

I never said it was a prime lens. I said most pro wildlife photographers use prime lenses.