The other week, I braved the giant school groups and strollers to take some shots with the new Nikon 18-300mm 3.5-5.6G ED VR lens on my Nikon D7000 at the new Heart of Africa exhibit at the Columbus Zoo. Having grown up in Columbus, the zoo was always close by. I occasionally went when I was younger, but only once in a while with family or for field trips. I never really appreciated all the amazing exhibits the Columbus Zoo has to offer until more recently.
A couple weeks ago, the zoo opened their Heart of Africa exhibit, which includes giraffe feedings, cheetahs, and camel rides. After seeing Betty White and Jack Hanna open the exhibit, I knew it was a big deal so I figured I’d bring my camera gear and see what it was all about. On my way over, I told myself I’d only stay for an hour just to take a few pictures so I could go home and edit my pictures before I went to work that evening. I ended up staying over 3 hours just exploring, taking pictures, and seeing some other exhibits. The Nikon 18-300mm lens performed flawlessly and I was amazed by the detail I was able to get with a standard all-in-one lens. Its compact size allowed me to take it everywhere, get quick shots, and avoid getting bumped by the hundreds of other visitors in the exhibit.
Probably my favorite part of the new exhibit is the camel ride section. Out of all the 5-year-olds in line, I was probably more excited than all of them combined. Riding a camel has been on my bucket list and I never thought I’d be able to do something like that here in Columbus. Because the lens is lightweight and compact, I was able to take it on the camel and take pictures. Having my camera made the experience even better and I’m glad I didn’t take my larger lens with me.
Having the 300mm capability, I was able to capture some of the animals’ personalities from far away that I wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t have my camera with me. Usually I’m just walking around and don’t take time to notice the details but with this lens, I took time to appreciate the animals. If you’re looking for a good all-in-one lens for everyday camera use, this is the lens for you!
