What Lenses to Shoot Grizzly Bears With?

I reckon Alex Bernasconi’s gallery of grizzlies to be the best available for viewing on the internet. I’m sure using two Nikon D200 bodies and a couple of Nikkor lenses and other equipment helped a lot with the image capture, but these photos show the undeniable fact that it was his photographic skill and intimate knowledge of these creatures’ habits that were the most important ingredients in successfully shooting these gorgeous images.

To view a larger version of these samples, click here; the related forum discussion is here. Alex shot these at the Katmai Peninsula in Alaska. Alex also discusses the issues involved and care that needs to be taken when approaching the bears, and how Timothy Treadwell, the “grizzly man” took things a bit too far before meeting his untimely death there. Explanation of bear behavior and “close calls” for individual pictures can be read here

You can also view the entire gallery here.

Alex talks a bit more about how he approached the bears, and the shooting conditions he had to deal with here and here, and explains in detail what else to watch out for when photographing grizzlies (part 1 | part 2)

This is the full list of equipment used by Alex:

1. Nikon D200 camera (2 units)
2. Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 AF-S VR - this lens was made for wildlife photography, and Alex used it to maximum effect
3. Nikkor 70-200mm VR lens
4. Nikkor 28-70mm lens
5. Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 DX
6. Gitzo tripod with Sidekick

Check Availability, Price and Reviews

Nikkor 12-24mm

	Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens Price: Too low to display
	Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens + Deluxe Accessory Kit w/5 Year Extended Warranty Price: $999.95
	Sea & Sea Zoom Gear for AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor ED 12-24mm F4G Auto Focus Lens #31107 Price:
	Port Extension for Nikkor 12-24mm in Housing for N, 18463, Underwater Lens Ports & Accessories for Price:
	Adorama 52mm Wide Angle Digital Lens Hood - Petal Shaped Price: $12.89
	Tokina Zoom Super Wide Angle AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124AF Pro DX Lens + UV Filter + Lens Cleaning Kit for Nikon Digital Cameras Price: $599.99

nikon 200-400mm vr

	Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Price: $5,899.95
	LensCoat Lens Cover for the Nikon 200 - 400mm f/4G VR Zoom Lens - Realtree Advantage Max4 (m4) Price: $104.99
	LensCoat Lens Cover for the Nikon 200 - 400mm f/4G VR Zoom Lens - Forest Green Woodland Camo Price: $94.99
	LensCoat for the Nikon 200-400mm VR (Digital Camo) Price: $104.95
	LensCoat Lens Cover for the Nikon 200 - 400mm f/4G VR Zoom Lens - Realtree Hardwoods Snow (hws) Price: $104.99
	Nikon Filter Case for 200-400mm VR Zoom Nikkor Lens Price: $18.50
	Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus VR Zoom Nikkor Lens + Accessory Kit w/5 Year Extended Warranty Price: $1,729.99

nikon 28-70mm

	Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens Price: $1,699.00
	Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG IF Aspherical Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras Price: $289.95
	Sigma 28-70mm & 70-300mm DG Lens Set + UV Filter + Bag + Cleaning Cloth for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Price: $399.99
	Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8D AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Price: $959.00
	Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Aspherical Large Aperture Standard Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras Price: $397.99
	Sigma Micro-Fiber Lens Cleaning Cloth Keychain Price: $3.95
	Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Price: $2,049.00
	Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras Price: $429.00
	Sigma 70mm F/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Price: $399.00
	Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Aspherical Large Aperture Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras Price: $129.00

nikon 70-200mm vr

	Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens plus Accessory Bundle Price: $239.95
	Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens + Hoya 52mm UV Haze Protector Glass Filter + CapKeeper Lens Cap Strap + 6-Piece Cleaning Kit - for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras including Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200 & D300 Price: $229.95
	Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX and 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor Lenses + Two (2) 52mm Hoya UV Filters + Cleaning Kit for D300, D40, D40x, D200 & D80 Digital SLR Cameras Price: $379.95
	Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom-Nikkor Lens + Hoya UV Haze Filter - Accessory Kit for Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D80, D200 & D300 Digital SLR Cameras (Lens Refurbished by Nikon USA) Price:
	Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens + Hoya 72mm UV Haze Protector Glass Filter + CapKeeper Lens Cap Strap + 6-Piece Cleaning Kit - for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras including Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200 & D300 Price: $689.95
	LensCoat for the Nikon 70-200mm VR (Digital Camo) Price: $89.95
	Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera + Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens + Nikon MB-D200 Battery Grip Price: $1,819.95
	Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC HSM & 70-300mm F/4-5.6 DL-M Motorized DG Lens for Nikon Digital SLR (including D60 and D40) Price: $209.95
	Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Price: $2,295.00
	Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G II AF-S DX Zoom Lens + Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G DX VR + (2) Hoya UV Haze Filters + Accessory Kit - for Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D200 & D300 Digital SLR Cameras (Lenses Refurbished by Nikon USA) Price:

Tags: Nikkor 12-24mm, nikon 200-400mm vr, nikon 28-70mm, nikon 70-200mm vr