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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Questions

Photography Question 
JEEVAN  		 

Best Speed Film for Shooting Wildlife?


What is the best ASA or ISO film for shooting wildlife in cloudy lowlight atmosphere and in dense forests?


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10/29/2004 9:24:43 PM

 
Gregory LaGrange
BetterPhoto Member Since: 11/11/2003
gregorylagrange.org 		  As low as you can shoot with the light level, lens, and how much motion you can deal with. If you can get a picture with 400, that's the best. But if it's so dark that 400 gets you a too slow of a shutter speed and everything's blurry, bring along some 800.
You can make 800 your cut-off, because 1600 isn't going to be all that great for any wildlife.


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10/29/2004 10:14:10 PM

 
Bob Cammarata
BetterPhoto Member Since: 7/17/2003 		 
 
  Doe Eyes
Doe Eyes
Nikkor 180 mm ED, 1/15 second, Provia 100 (pushed to 200)
© Bob Cammarata
Nikon FM2 Manual E... 		 
 
It can also be related to timing ... and the quarry you are seeking. I've used 100 ASA (pushed to 200) on wildlife around dawn, but I had to wait until they were almost motionless before taking the shot. Typical shutter speeds will range from 1/15 to 1/60 - not ideal, but workable with a tripod (and cooperative subjects). See enclosed example.
Generally, though, I would agree that 400 or 800 ASA would be more practical to shoot wildlife in low light ... especially when shooting hand-held.


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10/30/2004 3:19:12 PM

 
Tom Kwan   It depends on what kind of wildlife you are shooting. I used 1/1000 sec (aperture priority) to shoot fighting cranes in the air with ISO 800 in a hazy morning. Only with such high speed their action and the falling feathers in the mid air can be frozen. But when shooting birds in the forest, ISO 400 is enough.


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10/31/2004 6:42:29 AM

 
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