Photography Q&A
QI photograph the birds on my feeders, and set up a couple of perches for particular species like Great Spotted Woodpecker. Is there an optimum size lens for this relatively short- range work (it’s never more than 40m)? H Warren, Newport
AThe benefit of working on a garden set-up is that you can work the environment to your advantage to get some amazing images. With time and effort, you should be able to gain the trust of regular birds that are visiting your feeders and hopefully be able to sit fairly close. At a 40-metre range, a 500mm or 600mm would be the minimum to ensure the birds are large enough in the frame. However, If you can get to a point where you are around 10 metres away from the feeders a lens, ideally a zoom, with a maximum reach of 400mm would be an excellent choice, especially for small birds like Blue Tits. The other advantage of a longer lens is that your depth of field will be narrow allowing you to blur the background out and make the bird really stand out in your image.
QCan you recommend a good monopod for use with a DSLR and zoom lens set-up? R Allen, Wareham
AThere are a vast array of monopods out there, and without knowing the exact weight of what camera set-up you’re going to be putting onto it, it’s hard to recommend an exact model. It’s important to make sure the one you get has a maximum weight that is at least equal to the combined weight of your camera and lens otherwise it’s likely to flex, which will make it hard to keep steady. A carbon fibre monopod is also a must as they not only offer a much lighter alternative to aluminium equivalents but are also far more sturdy. I’d also recommend looking at getting a gimbal style head for your monopod. This will allow you to move more freely and is especially helpful with flying birds.