piper Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 It's always exciting get a new lens, even if it is a second hand 1. I am very very lucky and have some amazing friends. 2 who were rehoming this lens and let it go at an amazing price and another who purchased it for me :) Picked it up this morning and headed to Adelaide Zoo as it seemed to be the best way to test a new zoom. Not the best day for pictures but I am happy with what I got. Animals seemed to decide it was a good day to have backs to people or sleep in the shadows. I really wanted to see the gibbon baby again but the boardwalk was closed for maintenance On the upside I FINALLY managed to get the red pandas and didn't even need the extra length as there was 1 right at the front today. Our poor remaining Flamingo - they can't import birds anymore so can't get any companions for him and his old mate Greater passed away earlier this year. They have put the mirror in the enclosure to try and help. Kluet the Orang was doing his usual hide under a blanket trick but did peek out for a little bit - I had no idea I caught him mid yawn :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Darned wire! I got to say though, I much prefer seeing the pride at Monarto. I know people want the "big" animals at Adelaide but I would rather they were all at Monarto with the space to roam. I know this guy can;t go there due to health though. 1 of the girls The lemur were enjoying the heat lamp this morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Token giraffe shot The meerkat pics were all taken right out at 450 - 500mm and have eitherr not been cropped or only a small amount. Loving the sharpness of this lens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 I normally walk pretty much straight past these guys (Brazilian Tapir), but this got my attention and I had to stop and watch: It turns out tapir are like great big dogs and LOVE a scratch. I guess their hide is thick so they use leaf rakes to give them a scratch. They were trying to get them to lay down so 1 could get an injection but they wouldn't do it. I watched for probably 10 minutes and they never tried to move away - leaning in, head tilts, quivering legs :) 1 even had drool coming out of the mouth! Here is a close up of the drool dripping. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 (edited) And enjoying a final cuddle with the handler :) This is the face that was pulled when they keepers left Edited June 8, 2014 by piper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Podengo Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Lovely shots!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Congratulations on the new lens Some super shots and look like a nice sharp copy :) I nearly stopped looking though after you said you normally walk past the tapirs Tapirs are awesome! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Well I know that now. Normally they are just laying down at the back of their enclosure. Was so funny watching them today. I took some video on my phone that I should upload showing them enjoying their scratches :) It was really nice to watch from a handling point of view. Whatever they needed to give her was not urgent so they ended up decided to just wait and try later when they wouldn't lay down rather than try and force something. Yes it is a good sharp copy. The benefit of getting it off of someone I know is I knew what it was like :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 My zoo photo buddy has the Sigma 150-500mm... paired with her Canon 70D, it takes sublime photos... I actually considered the Sigma 50-500mmm when I was looking for a long lens, but ended up going with my Canon 100-400mm just because the Sigma/Tamron equivalents were rated marginally softer at the far end of the zoom range than the Canon. The Canon was also 600g lighter to carry about... *grin* Sometimes I think I should have gone for the Sigma 50-500mmm just for the sheer range it has... can get the closer shots if the animals are near the front of the exhibits, which I can have difficulty with using the 100-400mm. I need a minimum focusing distance of 6 feet with the 100-400mm which means that I can be trying to line up a shot of an animal close to the glass, and some other zoo visitor will inevitably decide to jump into the space (or push their child into it to bang on the glass and scare the animal away) and ruin my shot... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 great shots, lucky you with new long long lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Oh, and I totally forgot to say that you have taken the most gorgeous photos with your new lens piper... I wish I'd taken them! T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Fantastic shots Piper, so clear and sharp. I adore Kluet, what a stunner he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 Congrats on your new toy and great photos! The poor flamingo. I didn't know they weren't allowed to bring in a companion for him after his mate died. I love the pics of the tapirs. I always ignore them too as they never seem to be doing anything but it's awesome knowing they like their handlers and getting a good scratch, even if it is with a rake. :laugh: After bird flu imports of birds were stopped I believe there is talk of them being able to do so again in the future but for now it is a no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozstar Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Stunning photos Piper Can not pick a favourite as they are all so crisp and sharp. totally in awe :D Leanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 How wonderful, piper! I loove tapir ..that is such a different series of them :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 How wonderful, piper! I loove tapir ..that is such a different series of them :) I should upload the video to youtube to share :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted June 11, 2014 Share Posted June 11, 2014 How wonderful, piper! I loove tapir ..that is such a different series of them :) I should upload the video to youtube to share :) yes, you should ! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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