What lens do you shoot fish with?

mpoletti · Apr 8, 2009

Ok, Gary and Junior have both taught me about an external flash. Now I am starting to serious consider upgrading my "fish taking glass" I just have a hard time dropping $1800 on a lens.

What are the non professionals using?

Right now I gat some decent shots using my nikon 105mm 2.8, but The joculator and black tang are not the easiest to catch.

Thanks

Jonreefer · Apr 8, 2009

I use my Canon 24-70L and my Sigma 150mm Macro...I rarely use flash

gparr · Apr 8, 2009

Sigma EX 24-70 for most fish shots. 135L for some, though, as you've discovered, it's more difficult to frame and focus fish with longer lenses.
Gary

Sigma EX 24-70 f/2.8

Canon 135L

Poseidon · Apr 9, 2009

I also use a 24-70 2.8L for fish shots. Great lens! I think Nikon finally released a 24-70 2.8 as well, but it is pretty high I think.

ataylo13 · Apr 9, 2009

Gary I am constantly amazed with the shots you get!

gparr · Apr 9, 2009

ataylo13 said:
Gary I am constantly amazed with the shots you get!

Thanks for the kind words.
Gary

mpoletti · Apr 9, 2009

ataylo13 said:
Gary I am constantly amazed with the shots you get!

Me too, I think it may be cheaper to fly Gary out than to go buy a new lens and get frustrated when they look nothing like his

gparr · Apr 9, 2009

LOL! Thanks, Mark. If you're buying, I'm on a plane to Sacramento tomorrow, gear in tow.
Gary

mpoletti · Apr 9, 2009

Hmmmm....I will keep that in mind for an upcoming project.

mcliffy2 · Apr 9, 2009

ataylo13 said:
Gary I am constantly amazed with the shots you get!

Ditto. Gary, any thoughts of compiling your shots into a coffee table book? Maybe even just doing a book via blurb? I'd buy it...

SaraB · Apr 9, 2009

gparr said:
LOL! Thanks, Mark. If you're buying, I'm on a plane to Sacramento tomorrow, gear in tow.
Gary

I need to come along also to help carry the camera gear ... and go shopping in Mark's tank

gparr · Apr 9, 2009

You'd make a great sherpa.

Gary

SaraB · Apr 9, 2009

:haha:

mpoletti · Apr 9, 2009

SaraB said:
I need to come along also to help carry the camera gear ... and go shopping in Mark's tank

This is starting to get interesting

gparr · Apr 9, 2009

She'll change her mind the first time she picks up the bag full of gear.
Gary

SaraB · Apr 9, 2009

gparr said:
She'll change her mind the first time she picks up the bag full of gear.
Gary

I doubt that :nerd:

mpoletti · Apr 9, 2009

I had a free hour or so in between me plumbing in a UV to my QT tank so I headed down to the local ritz just to "try on" some new lenses and flashes.

I am very lucky that the nikon prime lenses were on back order because it made it really easy to shop and ask a bunch of questions and not worry about having to buy. I played around with the 50mm f/1.8 and the 14mm f/2.8 and the 28mm f/2.8.
They were out of a couple I really wanted to try and did not have any sigma's in some of the lenses I wanted to try.

I also played around with the Nikon 800 flash and 100 quantaray and saw the huge difference.

I guess I will need to break down an get some new toys really soon

Thanks

Jonreefer · Apr 9, 2009

Sigma 50 1.4 is a great lens..When I had mine it was TACK sharp at 1.4 and the bokeh is SOOOOOO creamy..build was excellent. I sold it basically because I am a gadget freak and I bought it the week it came out and I dont even like prime lenses..LOL So i sold it off.

FateX8 · Apr 9, 2009

is a fast lens really necessary when taking pics under mh?
next lens im looking at is the 50mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.8

Jonreefer · Apr 9, 2009

FateX8 said:
is a fast lens really necessary when taking pics under mh?
next lens im looking at is the 50mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.8

Just cause its a MH lamp doesnt mean it will give you ALOT of shutter speed. Framing, the color of the subject and other things come into play as well.