I don't think I have ever seen one so still to pick out all the colors and variations of texture and layers of the feathers. What kind of lens do you use to get that kind of clarity and focus?

You were taking pictures and not hunting? Dad, you gotta cling to your guns.

Sally, you sound bitter about your dad not clinging to his guns.

I'm extremely bitter. I better go find religion.

Linda - Canon makes a variable zoom lens, 70 - 300 mm. I personally am not a fan of zoom lenses, but due to finite resources I must obtain lenses that will give me as much opportunity for photographing as possible. It would be nice to have a straight 300 mm or 400 mm lens for shooting close-ups of animals and birds, but they are so expensive.

What I like about the Canon 70-300mm IS lens is that the IS stands for image stabilizer, and it works well. When zooming in a lot, shakes become a problem, ruining your shot, unless using a tripod. The Canon IS lenses have a feature that minimizes "shake" when you press the shutter button halfway down.

Sally - I will be hunting next week, with gun not camera. Hunting with a camera is just as exciting as hunting with a gun, except it doesn't put meat in the freezer.

Thanks for the info, Steve. I'll check and see if Nikon has something like that. I can't afford those pricey lenses for the little I do with the equipment. I would love to capture some nature shots though. Some raptor landed in a tree in the back of the lot yesterday. I couldn't find the binoculars; I didn't have a camera to zoom in. I knew if I went out there it would fly away. The bluish tinge on the back of the wings and the light tan on the face made me think it might have been a peregrine falcon but I can't be sure. FRUSTRATING! Good luck on your hunt next week.

Sally & Joe, you guys are too wrapped up in manufactured distractions to focus on the issue at hand, which is the turkeys.

Steve,

My kingdom for a zoom lens RIGHT NOW! I have a flock of (hope this is right on the identification!) Western Tanagers in my back yard. Flying all around, zipping here and there, driving me nuts because my camera can't capture them. Too far away and no zoom. ARRGGHHH!