Well, after flying pigs and tumbling asteroids, I though a few photos of our feathered friends (somewhat closer to home) was in order, so here they are!
The longer lens certainly increases the opportunity for better bird in flight photos, although I now have to learn how to process them. I’ve been struggling with birds against a featureless cloudy sky, a blue sky, ruffled water, still water, water with mangrove reflections, etc. and it has been quite interesting experimenting with CS3 and exploring what works…and what doesn’t.
thanks for sharing denis. I am thinking of getting a sigma 120-400 f5.6 myself.
love the raptors, they look really good. just a question tho, the honey eater (?) looks really noisy on my screen, did you shoot it too dark and have to brighten it or is your camera just really noisy at iso400?
thanks for sharing denis. I am thinking of getting a sigma 120-400 f5.6 myself.
love the raptors, they look really good. just a question tho, the honey eater (?) looks really noisy on my screen, did you shoot it too dark and have to brighten it or is your camera just really noisy at iso400?
Hi Dave
The 40D provides for x3 user custom settings so you can (after pre-setting them) choose one at the click of a dial rather than have to navigate through several menus to make various individual settings. I was using my standard C2 setting (1/1600 sec, F7.1, 400ASA for birds in flight) when the honeyeater zipped by and landed on the barbed wire fence, a little more in the shade. I quickly swung around and squeezed of a couple of shots and then he was gone, so didn’t get a chance to set the correct exposure.
C2 is set for white egrets against a bright sky, so I suspect the honeyeater was some 2 or 3 stops under exposed? I’ll probably have a go at re-processing this fella, as I’m certain I can do a better job as the post is more or less as cropped straight from the camera.
In terms of a zoom lens, I ummed and aaaahhd for several weeks between the Canon 100-400mm zoom and 400m prime before finally selecting the 400mm. Various user tests revealed that whilst both were very sharp, the prime had the edge over the zoom although the zoom does have IS whereas the prime doesn’t.
If you are looking for a pure birding lens, then I’d consider a prime rather than zoom as the critters are always too far away, no matter what lens you have. I also like the relatively compact design of the prime compared to the zoom. After a few hours in the field the weight begins to become noticeable.
Also, I have missed several shots when attempting to shoot at 100 ASA in an effort to improve image quality, so I now stick at 400 ASA to favour the faster shutter speeds, accepting more noise in the image. Waders and static birds are great for allowing time to think about settings and get the best IQ but when the critters are flying, all hell lets loose as I try to follow them.
Thanks Jakob and Mike – we have lots of fun when we are outdoors bird watching. The long periods of inactivity between the short flurries of intense fluster are quite relaxing and soothing for the soul.
Thanks for all the nice comments, I appreciate them. I hope you enjoyed looking at our feathered friends as much as we enjoyed a wonderful morning being entertained by their aerobatic antics!
A large part of the success, apart from just being there, is the deployment of modern technology; the fast auto focus on the 400mm F5.6 and the ease of handling of the camera on our new Jobu Design Gimbal head all contributed significantly to the grabbing of these photos, although they also introduced their own fair share of limitations!
Several times the AF was “fooled” through locking onto higher contrast background features such as ripples in the water and foliage behind the birds, giving me some lovely, sharply focused background stuff that I didn’t really want, with a very blurry bird in the foreground.
Whilst the gimbal head makes it so much easier to handle the camera/lens combo, I’m still coming to grips with being tethered to the tripod head, whilst trying to avoid clumsily tripping over the legs when panning furiously!
The 400 5.6L (and any L lens for that matter) AF is incredible. I'm continuously amazed by their speed and accuracy...
I'd love to find a place that harbors the array of bird life you've been capturing, theres a few places near me where I often capture ducks, egrets, and the occasional sea eagle (at extreme high altitude)... But the Raptor is really something else!
Ahhh, Grasshopper; when the Pupil is ready, the birds will appear.
First, you need to cleanse your mind of the lustful thoughts of 600mm F4 L glass, only then will the Way become clear and the birds appear.
After stilling your mind Grasshopper, you need to meditate on the nature of birds to become one with them, guiding them into your field of view.
When you have solved the mystery of the sound of one wing flapping, then you will have attained Nirvana and the birds will flock around you. At this stage, you will have transcended the material need to take bird in flight photos and discovered your Buddha nature. Then, you will soar with the birds, being at one with them.
No disappointment here and these latest shots live up to the high standard
you have set for yourself and which we have learnt to anticipate. Absolutely
beautiful and keep snapping.
Dennis my apologies for missing this thread, don't know how that happened.
These are great shots my friend, well done once again.
Love the image scale and love the shot of the wing tip skimming the water, just beautiful !
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis
In terms of a zoom lens, I ummed and aaaahhd for several weeks between the Canon 100-400mm zoom and 400m prime before finally selecting the 400mm. Various user tests revealed that whilst both were very sharp, the prime had the edge over the zoom although the zoom does have IS whereas the prime doesn’t.
If you are looking for a pure birding lens, then I’d consider a prime rather than zoom as the critters are always too far away, no matter what lens you have. I also like the relatively compact design of the prime compared to the zoom. After a few hours in the field the weight begins to become noticeable.
Cheers
Dennis
I agree, the Canon 100-400mm L is one of the lenses I'm not too fond of and prefer a prime over this anytime.
You've made the right choice there Dennis.
