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| Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD On tripod on my terrace, but can be hand-held which is reason for choice. Got on sale at B&H Photo, NY, NY, shipped here through Aeropost Miami. Atenas, Costa Rica |
The following photos were made with the new lens the day it arrived. Birds were hiding! 🙂
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| An Anole showing his colors on my terrace – Shot at 400mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Red Ginger at other end of my garden at 600mm focal length Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Heliconia, shot at 600mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Air Plant on powerline cable on road below my house, shot at 600mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Tibouchina or Princess Flower zoomed in from behind at 600mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Torch Ginger down the hill in my yard, shot at 552mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
I went to Alajuela this morning by bus to pick up the package with my new lens meaning it is early afternoon when I tried it out with above shots and only one bird this time of day and he was in shadows. But this will really help me in a lot of places I go birding because it is the only lens available at 600mm that can be used hand-held. I first saw one in use at Danta Corcovado that another visitor was using on a Canon camera similar to mine. I then did research online and found that it really works hand-held and has the equivalent of Canon Image Stabilizer called VC. And the cost is less than a third of Canon or other big brand 600mm telephoto lenses! It sells most places for around a thousand dollars while the others are 3 to 6 thousand dollars! The guy at Danta Corcovado paid $1,100 for his. I got mine on a sale for $779, but shipping and import taxes used up the other $300! But still a good deal and we will see if it really helps me on my coming trip to Arenal Observatory. The potential problem I am concerned about is that with more focal length you need more light and it the forest much is in the shadows. So Arenal will be a test! If I really like it, I will get another camera body dedicated to it. That way I can easily switch back and forth with my faithful 300mm which has served me so well for so many years.