f5 isn't too bad, agreed. I'm a bit old fashioned and don't really trust OS/IS/VR etc, I still try to stick to the old 1/focal length rule. I know several pros who still recommend this, and mandate the use of a tripod. I know what you're saying - since I'm in the same boat with macro!
heres a new species for me, its an olive back oriole. they are supposed to be fruit eaters but i guess during winter there isnt much fruit. this one was getting stuck into a bee hive way up a gum tree.
female
f5 isn't too bad, agreed. I'm a bit old fashioned and don't really trust OS/IS/VR etc, I still try to stick to the old 1/focal length rule. I know several pros who still recommend this, and mandate the use of a tripod. I know what you're saying - since I'm in the same boat with macro!
Dave
i think the thing is that i am too lazy to lug around a tripod, lol.
even with my macro gear which i get up to 7x magnification i use hand held and that doens have stabilisation
samples:
heres a new species for me, its an olive back oriole. they are supposed to be fruit eaters but i guess during winter there isnt much fruit. this one was getting stuck into a bee hive way up a gum tree.
female
OOOO nice! another species we dont have here sez in book its a ventriloquest! altho i noticed most bush birds have an element of that, guess it must be a survival tactic?
and yep seen birds eating stuff outside their listed diets, honeyeaters eating bugs ect. specially when flying ants of any kind are on the wing, then its ON! BIRD XMAS!! woohoo!
on a sad note, havent seen any robins of any kind for years
predators are a plenty on river murray round here, they love the jagged holey cliffs for breeding, at mannum get peregrines and kites ect. in the town, river murray is petty good birding generally in fact, dumps outside rural/outback towns are pretty good for raptors too!
gah! i havent seen any raptors around here, i guess its not open enough. I heard an owl a few weeks ago but it was bellow zero outside si i didnt pursue it
gunna have to go raptor hunting i think.
we have whip birds in the gully and i think they are my next target
I'm not aware of any macro lens offering 7x mag and IS/OS/VR. Only Nikon's macro lens (60mm from memory) offers VR. None of Canon's macro lenses do. And only Canon's MPE-65 has any real high mag - 1:1 - 5:1. Minolta had a 5x macro lens years ago, but I doubt you're using that. You could be using TCs, tubes, etc, but you'd lose IS/OS etc imho. I'm curious now.
Good shots of a horsefly as well.
Dave
Quote:
Originally Posted by ving
i think the thing is that i am too lazy to lug around a tripod, lol.
even with my macro gear which i get up to 7x magnification i use hand held and that doens have stabilisation
samples:
I've been there and done that, I'm not a high mag macro photographer, I prefer to actually see the insect/arachnid in its environment. Have you seen Brian Valentine's images? Google LordV.
did you see that pic in the news of the crow attacking/riding on the vultures back in spain in the news recently? i see ravens hounding wedgies regularly
imagine getting a shot like this!
I've been there and done that, I'm not a high mag macro photographer, I prefer to actually see the insect/arachnid in its environment. Have you seen Brian Valentine's images? Google LordV.
Dave
yeah, it was lordv who initially inspired me to do some macro.
no OS, thats correct and still hand held :p
I should have been a surgeon :p
I was lucky I had the 300mm on my D60 (Canon, not Nikon). I got 2 shots before it took off. I couldn't get very closer to it, but was happy with what I got, since it's a rare bird in suburbia by all accounts.
while on holidays I had a Willy Wagtail sheltering on the verandah from the rain
I went outside and talked too it. held at my hand and it jumped on my finger
walked around it followed me
went inside left the slider open it came into the house and followed me around jumped on the kitchen bench then I took it outside again followed me around for a bit more sqwarked the flew off
its not my shot dave! i just remembered seeing all over the news and in the papers just back a while, and googled it, wish it was mine!
David P. nice grey goshawk! reminds me of a brown falcon story, similar looking bird to, ..was walking thru an outersuburban park along the river, and heard a hell of a commotion, it was dozens of the common new holland honeyeaters, and they were all going nuts with alarm calls and a community/flock rally. as a brown falcon had just grabbed one of their family/mates, and they were trying to get it back and scare off the falcon with the racket and make the falcon drop the bird, i can only assume. i tell you, Meercats had nothing on this lot!!, as they were all acting not unlike a family of meercats, with the intense stretching and keening to see all atop the highermost branches, the level of concern intelligence and caring shocked me!
Thanks. I would have loved to have gotten closer, and the focus on the D60 is poor at the best of times, so it's a pity it wasn't on my 1 series body, but I didn't want to take the risk of changing bodies and losing the opportuntiy.
Yeah, honeyeaters, mynahs etc are very raucous birds, and very much community driven. One for all, all for one is their motto. They're very funny birds to watch.
while on holidays I had a Willy Wagtail sheltering on the verandah from the rain
I went outside and talked too it. held at my hand and it jumped on my finger
walked around it followed me
went inside left the slider open it came into the house and followed me around jumped on the kitchen bench then I took it outside again followed me around for a bit more sqwarked the flew off
birds are smart and some are not afraid of us
reminds me...
cheryl and i went for a drive down the south coast and stopped at a lookout. i saw this little object flying towards us up the cliff from the rocks below... it was a willy wagtail. seemed friendly enough so we offered it some meusli bar...
Fantastic photos David ... more amazing when you say you call them to come get their picture taken ... CLASSIC ... I suppose thats common in the bird watching fraternity though. I love birds and envy your situation. Anyway great photos once again .. it looks like you are definitely getting the best out of your gear.
reminds me...
cheryl and i went for a drive down the south coast and stopped at a lookout. i saw this little object flying towards us up the cliff from the rocks below... it was a willy wagtail. seemed friendly enough so we offered it some meusli bar...
Isn't that wonderful. Gave me a good smile this morning David, thanks.
sez in book its a ventriloquest! altho i noticed most bush birds have an element of that, guess it must be a survival tactic? 
Terrific pictures. 
