A decision was made, and a large purchase was ordered. I had been scoping out wildlife lenses for a bit by this point. Checking pricing, comparing what I wanted to what I actually could afford. I wanted more range from my 75-300. And since I was finding I liked taking wildlife photography I wanted to keep exploring that. I knew a really good lens would cost me an arm and a leg, so I was really looking at the low end first. I found the Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD. Not the G2 version that went for even more money. So I added it to an Amazon wishlist and started keeping an eye on the going prices for used ones. Checking only, probably 5-10 times a day. Once I’ve done all my research and I feel confident that I will be making a purchase, it’s just a matter of time until I pull the trigger. Usually because of finances and trying to figure out a way to afford something with very little expendable income.
But after enough waiting one appeared on the Amazon listing that had a good description from a credible seller in a price point I was okay justifying. $719.99 later…
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If you do a search for “Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD”
You’ll probably find a picture so you know what it looks like. I’m not taking the risk by using someone else’s photo here.
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This thing is a beast. Both in physical size and the zoom capabilities. It was a significant upgrade to me and I was extremely pleased. For a time. Spoiler alert, I upgraded to another lens in the near future. While great, as it turns out the sharpness really goes down after you go past 300mm. But that’s for another time, to a beginner this was a fantastic starter lens that gave me a lot of good experiences.
So although it arrived on a weekday and I typically have a routine of fixing dinner after work and watching some streaming content, I instead went outside to try out the new lens. Just outside the apartment, I figured just for a little while. The geese were out in the grass as they usually are during the spring and summer.
Side note, real quick I just noticed these pictures were under the same folder dated 4/25 but actually they are from a few days before I got the new lens. I just went out and took pictures of the goslings.
Canon 5D Mark II w/75-300mm @300 - 1/250 Sec - F5.6 - ISO 800
Now it’s almost a week later and I’ve got a bigger lens and went back out to see the geese.
Canon 5D Mark II w/ Tamron 150-600mm @600mm - 1/500 Sec - F9 - ISO 1600
Canon 5D Mark II w/ Tamron 150-600mm @150 - 1/160 Sec - F5 - ISO 320
I believe there were 6 fully grown geese in total. Pairs of 2 but only one pair had goslings. This particular goose causing trouble with the loudest and picking fights with the others. This one did not have any goslings.
Canon 5D Mark II w/ Tamron 150-600mm @600 - 1/500 Sec - F9 - ISO 3200
I love this shot. That goose tongue is an amazing detail I never would have noticed if I hadn’t been able to capture this moment.
I eventually moved to the backside of the apartment complex and into the woods that were there. Not before having my one caution come true. As I walked around one of my neighbors stopped me to comment on how crazy big the lens was and how expensive it must have been. For this exact reason I usually avoid shooting around my apartment. Even though there is usually a good amount of birds I try to go elsewhere. I know it only takes one person to think I’m trying to peer into people’s windows and there would be trouble. Plus I’d rather not have anyone know exactly where I live with my crazy big and expensive lens.
But as the rest of this evening unfolds, I will say I was given pretty damn good reason to be out there. As I went further into the woods between apartment buildings I did manage to get a picture of a robin, and I think the backside of an Eastern Towhee
Canon 5D Mark II w/ Tamron 150-600mm @600 - 1/320 Sec - F7.1 - ISO 3200
Canon 5D Mark II w/ Tamron 150-600mm @600 - 1/100 Sec - F6.3 - ISO 3200
It was after I was sitting out in the woods watching the birds flit around from branch to branch that I noticed this guy walking along.
Canon 5D Mark II w/ Tamron 150-600mm @600 - 1/40 Sex - F6.3 - ISO 3200
At first I didn’t think anything about it. I’ve definitely seen cats around this apartment complex, like every other one I’ve ever lived in. Unfortunate for the birds. But after sitting and watching, taking some pictures for a bit, he ducked into that dark area behind him. Which turned out to be a storm drain pipe. And it dawned on me that this cat currently had signs with his picture up all over the complex that he was missing. The owners did. I don’t think the cat put them up himself.
Now he wasn’t coming anywhere near me, after he ducked into the pipe I never actually saw him again. But I’m happy to say this story worked out in the end, almost right after I took this picture it started to rain a bit, drizzle mostly. But I expect that kept the cat inside the pipe where it was mostly dry. I don’t think it actually connected to a working drain anymore, as it was dry on the inside as well.
But I contacted the owners, told them exactly where I had seen him and that I was watching it for as long as I could to see if he came out. I put out treats and called for a while but no luck. Eventually that night I heard that the owners had been able to get him back and he was out there in the same place.
So as I mentioned, in a way if I hadn’t of received my lens on that particular day and decided to go outside that night. The cat would likely have been missing for a longer period of time.