Farne Islands Lens Choice (3 Viewers)

[woollyback]

Folks,

Any views or comments would be greatly accepeted here...

I am going to the Farnes last week of may and have the following lenses available to split between me and my 14yr old daughter.

300 f4 & 1.4TC if required

100-400 - which my daughter will no doubt lay claim to

Question is, as I have never been to the farnes will a 300/420 severely restrict the shots I can get?. My other option is to rent a sig 120-300 which would give me 150-420ish at a reasonable price for added flexibility.

Any ideas would be great.

Cheers

Rob

 

[steve.hinchliffe]

the 300 f4 would be plenty big enough but i found my 70/300 to be more versatile due to the close proximity of some of the birds,either way there will be plenty opportunities
to get some great shots.hope this helps
cheers steve

 

[woollyback]

Steve,

thanks for taking the time to reply - good to know 300 will be long enough and as you point out flexibility is probably better.

Cheers

Rob

 

[David Smith]

will a 300/420 severely restrict the shots I can get?.

The short answer is yes!
Lots of the birds are so close that the 100mm will be useful. However the 300 with TC will also be useful for the Puffin flight shots and many others.
Between the 2 of you you should have it covered and a dad/daughter fight should be good to watch:eek!:
Just a word of caution-we went last June/July?? and were very fortunate to be the 1st boat that had landed for several weeks (due to conditions)-I really wish you a good trip and I'm sure it will be but be prepared for problems.

 

[Astrokev]

I agree with David. Most species will be so close you may be reaching for the wide-angle. The Puffins, however, with the odd exception, tend to stay further away from the permitted zone. Flight shots may need a longer lens - the 300 with TC should be good enough for reasonable shots.

For what it's worth, I've been twice and had no problems with landings.

One other word of advice - take PLENTY of cards. I think you'll find you need them.

Have a great trip.
Good luck.

 

[Chris Upson]

You should get some great shots with a 300 +tc ,the Puffins can be very close,i have been 15x and last year was the first time we could not land on Staple.Have a great trip

 

[a.dancy]

I have never been but If I went I would definitely take a wide angle lens.

 

[woollyback]

Thanks folks for the views and advice - much appreciated

Rob

 

[Ragna]

I went 2 years ago and its a fantastic place for photography,i used a 70-200 and a 400 so the 2 lenses you have should be ideal if you dont mind swapping.The trip to go on is the double one eg it leaves about 10am and drops you at Staple island for about 2-21/2 hours and then takes you to Inner farne in the afternoon. the other trips only take you to one island and then bring you back these get rather busy so if i was you id phone and make a booking you dont pay itll you actually turn up.So if they dont sail or you dont go youve lost nothing.Take some bread to feed the Eiders in the Harbour Hope you have good weather and a great time. Graham

 

[miketoll]

Make sure you wear a hat as the turns on the island attack everybody. A trick we were shown in Iceland was to hold a stick above your head and they attack that instead though hard to hold and take photographs at the same time. My wife held mine above my head while I shot. If you are the only one doing you will feel a fool but every one on Iceland did around the turn colonies which was in August with chicks around.

 

[seggs]

Rob you should have no problems with your Lens, no need to rent another,Flight shots of Puffins your 300mm should cope no bother with and the birds often sit close to the paths on the 2 Islands you land on with the all day trip.
Mind having said that ive never visited the Farnes this early in the year, i tend to go in the last week or two of June when the birds are feeding chicks.
Hope you have a good trip:t:

ps...Don,t waste too many shots on the boat, save some for the landings

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Be sure to book with Billy Shiels all dayer to get the most time on the islands

 

[RJL2005]

I went to Skomer a few years ago with only a 30d and 400mm 5.6 and wished for shorter glass for the Puffins. Can you persuade your daughter the 300/1.4x combo is the best, then you get the zoom back lol!

 

[woollyback]

Rob you should have no problems with your Lens, no need to rent another,
ps...Don,t waste too many shots on the boat, save some for the landings

Seggs - nice one - thank you

Be sure to book with Billy Shiels all dayer to get the most time on the islands

Thank you - that's the plan to do both islands

Can you persuade your daughter the 300/1.4x combo is the best, then you get the zoom back lol!

I might be able to but Nelson will probably get his eye back first:-C:-C. If we swap I'm sure it will be instigated by my daughter.

Thanks again for the comments folks.

Cheers

Rob

 

[David Smith]

ps...Don,t waste too many shots on the boat, save some for the landings

I would second that-I went mad on the crossing trying to photograph everything......but you really do see everything better & closer either on or close to the island.

Make sure you wear a hat as the turns on the island attack everybody. .

We both wore hats and although the birds didn't actually try and peck us they got close enough for us to be glad of the hats:eek!:


I might be able to but Nelson will probably get his eye back first. If we swap I'm sure it will be instigated by my daughter.
There's only one way to find out.......FIGHT!!!!

 

[woollyback]

David,

I should only try with the fights I might have a chance of winning, so I will give that one a miss!!!.
Cheers

Rob

 

[Nikon Kid]

What the cost of the boat trips, and what are toilet facility like are there any ?
What the situation on lens camera and sea water spray etc

 

[martin kitching]

You can find info about boat trips to the Farne Islands here but here's a quick summary;

Staple Island, sailings at 10am, 11am - £12/adult, £8/child
Inner Farne, sailings at 1pm, 2pm - £12/adult, £8/child
All-day (both islands), sailing at 10am - £25/adult, £15/child

In addition, there is a landing fee, payable to the National Trust, of £5.60/adult, £2.80/child. This is per island so, unless you are National Trust members, you pay twice if you do the all-day trip.

cheers
martin

 

[Nikon Kid]

Thanks for that Martin,
What have others done about sea spray sea-salt mist, regarding camera equipment etc, during the trip and after.

 

[David Smith]

Thanks for that Martin,
What have others done about sea spray sea-salt mist, regarding camera equipment etc, during the trip and after.

Spray can be a problem-even on a calm day. Dependant on your lense you need to put it under your coat or in a bag, otherwise it will get wet. That goes for you as well (not in a bag but take a light weight coat or similar.

As for you previous question re' toilets-the big island had a visitor centre and WC-I dont think the small isalnd does.