zoom question

[silure130]

Hi
I'm looking at getting a 55-200mm zoom lens for my d3100. How far would the maximum distance I need to be from the subject in order for me to get a decent shot.
Thanks

 

[Alastair]

Anything from infinity back to the minimum focussing distance of the lens (it's in the spec's)..

It really depends whether your subject is a mouse, an elephant or a mountain

(maybe you need to be a bit more specific with the question)

 

[silure130]

hi
not seen an elephant in lincs so it will after to be birds in the garden

I'm trying to get a rough idea on how close I need to be in order to get a decent shot using the 55-200 vr lens. Its just sparrows, doves etc on my bird table for now.
ta

 

[gad-westy]

Closer than you'd think. Try this link:

http://www.giangrandi.ch/optics/lenses/focalcalc.html

I just did a quick estimate with a 150mm bird filling a 24mm sensor. That suggests you'd need to be about 1.5m away. I think the calculation accounts for crop factor but not 100%. You obviously don't have to fully fill the sensor with every shot but either way I think you'll have to bribe the birds to get pretty close to you.

 

[JSER]

You are asking how long a piece of string is.

This was taken at 120mm from 10'

This was taken by my teenage son with his D3100 and Nikkor 28-300 zoom