p.35 #1 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
A short visit to the famous hot spring-addicted Japanese macaques provided a good chance to try out the 100-400 and A9 after firmware updates (yes a long time ago but I for one reason or another haven't been getting out much ) with larger creatures in relatively wide-open spaces. I didn't really get this combo for birds but that's all I've really had for the last couple of years since I got it. It was too early (December) for the classic deep snow shots and conditions were not great, but everything worked as well as I hoped and I was able to work out a few things that are obvious in retrospect such as that best focus and tracking modes depends on depth of field and the newer Sony guide to this is actually pretty good for mammals https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/support/ilc/autofocus/ilce9/en/tracking.html
Okay, it is pretty much an established fact that the A9 and 100-400 is a wonderful combination, but it was nice to do it myself shooting the kind of thing I like to shoot, and the hit rate was even better than expected once I shook off my wildlife-shooting rust (and there was an awful lot of that).
And no, I didn't go all the way to Nagano to play with my camera settings - much though that is exactly the kind of thing I would do were I rich and able to retire. My wife bullied me into taking a week off work and visiting Japan after she fell in love with the place in 2018 - and I am very glad she did.
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 303.0 mm f/5.6 1/1250 ISO 3200
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 135.0 mm f/5.6 1/1600 ISO 2500
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 324.0 mm f/5.6 1/1000 ISO 4000
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 194.0 mm f/5.6 1/1600
ISO 6400
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 200.0 mm f/5.6 1/1600 ISO 2500
The steam was an issue as it blew around in big clouds, but as long as you timed the shots so there was some contrast, the hit rate remained high.
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 400.0 mm f/5.6 1/1250 ISO 3200
It is no zoo and you can get some very nice behaviour and action shots if you focus away from the pool - spectacular after heavy snow - but do know that there can be a bit of a "shooting fish in a barrel", zoo-ish feel with the portraits as the monkeys are so habituated now. Here's the other side of the portrait shot above (although later, when the crowds were starting to arrive).
p.35 #4 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 1:29 PM.
Looking at a Great Egret in breeding plumage.
Cropped, tripod mounted100-400mm GM set to 400mm and A7rIII, silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6 1/500 second.
Exposure corrected +0.59 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.35 #5 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
PaulMaewpa2 wrote:
A short visit to the famous hot spring-addicted Japanese macaques provided a good chance to try out the 100-400 and A9 after firmware updates (yes a long time ago but I for one reason or another haven't been getting out much ) with larger creatures in relatively wide-open spaces. I didn't really get this combo for birds but that's all I've really had for the last couple of years since I got it. It was too early (December) for the classic deep snow shots and conditions were not great, but everything worked as well as I hoped and I was able to work out a few things that are obvious in retrospect such as that best focus and tracking modes depends on depth of field and the newer Sony guide to this is actually pretty good for mammals https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/support/ilc/autofocus/ilce9/en/tracking.html
Okay, it is pretty much an established fact that the A9 and 100-400 is a wonderful combination, but it was nice to do it myself shooting the kind of thing I like to shoot, and the hit rate was even better than expected once I shook off my wildlife-shooting rust (and there was an awful lot of that).
And no, I didn't go all the way to Nagano to play with my camera settings - much though that is exactly the kind of thing I would do were I rich and able to retire. My wife bullied me into taking a week off work and visiting Japan after she fell in love with the place in 2018 - and I am very glad she did.
Sony ILCE-9 FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS 400.0 mm f/5.6 1/1250 ISO 3200
It is no zoo and you can get some very nice behaviour and action shots if you focus away from the pool - spectacular after heavy snow - but do know that there can be a bit of a "shooting fish in a barrel", zoo-ish feel with the portraits as the monkeys are so habituated now. Here's the other side of the portrait shot above (although later, when the crowds were starting to arrive).
Nice shots of the Macaques. I inherited one (a big male) after his owner was murdered. With his 2 inch canines, he was pretty intimidating. I ended up donating this ornery snow monkey to a wild animal park where he passed away at almost 50 years old.
p.35 #6 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Rich,
Fyi, that is a nice photo but it is not a great egret. It is a blue heron, identified by its two colored bill. It’s a juvenile and that’s the reason it’s still white. It will change color once it matures into adulthood. If you have any other photo of the same bird, the legs will be green. Again nice photo!
p.35 #7 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Nice shots of the Macaques. I inherited one (a big male) after his owner was murdered. With his 2 inch canines, he was pretty intimidating. I ended up donating this ornery snow monkey to a wild animal park where he passed away at almost 50 years old.
Quite a story @Mogul Love it. Male macaques surely can't be good pet choices. Almost a white elephant style gift there.
p.35 #10 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 0743 AM.
Looking at a Tricolored Heron.
Cropped; tripod mounted100-400mm GM set to 400mm and A7rIII.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/200 second.
Exposure corrected +0.49 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.35 #12 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:24 AM.
Looking at 3 Nestling Great Egrets; one with its wings stretched, one to the left with eye visible, and the third to the right facing forward.
Cropped; tripod mounted 100-400mm GM set to 400mm and A7rIII, silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/500 second.
Exposure corrected +0.98 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.35 #14 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 8:12 AM.
Looking at a Cattle Egret in Breeding Plumage.
Cropped from left and right, tripod mounted 100-400mm GM set to 288mm and A7rIII, silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/125 second.
Exposure corrected +0.10 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.35 #17 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:15 AM.
Looking at a Great Egret in breeding plumage standing on a log.
Cropped, tripod mounted 100-400mm GM set to 297mm and A7rIII, silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6 1/250 second.
Exposure corrected +0.29 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
p.35 #20 · Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM Image Thread
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 10:01 AM.
Looking at a Great Blue Heron in Breeding Plumage.
Full Frame (no crop), tripod mounted 100-400mm f4-f5.6 GM set to 400mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/400 second.
Exposure corrected -1.08 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
) with larger creatures in relatively wide-open spaces. I didn't really get this combo for birds but that's all I've really had for the last couple of years since I got it. It was too early (December) for the classic deep snow shots and conditions were not great, but everything worked as well as I hoped and I was able to work out a few things that are obvious in retrospect such as that best focus and tracking modes depends on depth of field and the newer Sony guide to this is actually pretty good for mammals 
My wife bullied me into taking a week off work and visiting Japan after she fell in love with the place in 2018 - and I am very glad she did.
