p.4 #4 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
I've never been a great nature photographer, so I made it my New Year's resolution to get out and shoot more birds, etc (Read: Kick my lazy butt out of bed early in the AM). The shots below were all cropped well over 50% and a couple were shot in near darkness using flash and a Better Beamer. All taken with the A1 II, GM 300mm f2.8 with x2.0 converter on a tripod with gimble.
p.4 #10 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
My first day out with the new 400-800mm lens that I received yesterday and fortunately, a pair of peregrine falcons put up a great show, including some mating rituals, take off and in-flight performance, etc. but I need to work on my taxes... Darn 😜! So, here are 2 simple images, the 3rd one is a crop of the 2nd image.
The verdict is simple; the lens is a keeper, it is sharp, the AF is excellent, and similar to the 200-600, the zoom throw is short and smooth to operate. Find the target at 400mm, zoom in to 800mm easily. Since it doesn't extend, the weight doesn't shift. While handy when handheld but it is also very convenient while on a tripod with a gimbal head.
Thank you very much for sharing your images in this thread. Please also include some gear info with your images. At the minimum, your camera and lens. That info can be helpful for folks that are trying to figure out which gear to get, for example. Every little info helps.
p.4 #13 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
This location is currently the best spot for bird photography in SoCal. Without traffic or weekend traffic like today, it is about an hour from where I live. But it is crowded with folks and the shooting space is tight. During the week, you have more room to maneuver around to get the shots but it takes double the time for me to go there.
I spent over 3 hours there yesterday. Hey, I have a new lens and I will be going for more this morning... 😜
p.4 #15 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
AGeoJO wrote:
This location is currently the best spot for bird photography in SoCal. Without traffic or weekend traffic like today, it is about an hour from where I live. But it is crowded with folks and the shooting space is tight. During the week, you have more room to maneuver around to get the shots but it takes double the time for me to go there.
I spent over 3 hours there yesterday. Hey, I have a new lens and I will be going for more this morning... 😜
Joshua, are you using the OSS on the lens at higher shutter speeds at 800mm? Let's say 1/2000 and faster.
p.4 #16 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
mogul wrote:
Would it be faster for you to go down to Torrey Pines? Coronado also had a pair nesting on the bridge.
That is more than double the distance for me... 😞
aae991 wrote:
Joshua, are you using the OSS on the lens at higher shutter speeds at 800mm? Let's say 1/2000 and faster.
Hi Stuart, I have the OSS on all the time, whether shooting handheld, on monopod or on tripod with gimbal head. And that goes for all the lenses I have regardless of the shutter speed. And always on Mode 2, designed more for panning.
The falcons got the late start and no matting ritual today, at least, while I was there the entire morning but they still put up quite a show. Now, that I have figured out what the lens can do, I will wait until next weekend to go back.
p.4 #17 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
AGeoJO wrote:
That is more than double the distance for me... 😞
Hi Stuart, I have the OSS on all the time, whether shooting handheld, on monopod or on tripod with gimbal head. And that goes for all the lenses I have regardless of the shutter speed. And always on Mode 2, designed more for panning.
The falcons got the late start and no matting ritual today, at least, while I was there the entire morning but they still put up quite a show. Now, that I have figured out what the lens can do, I will wait until next weekend to go back....Show more →
Thanks! I’ll try Mode 2 next time and leave OSS on. Looking forward to more of your images with this lens.
p.4 #18 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
AGeoJO wrote:
This location is currently the best spot for bird photography in SoCal. Without traffic or weekend traffic like today, it is about an hour from where I live. But it is crowded with folks and the shooting space is tight. During the week, you have more room to maneuver around to get the shots but it takes double the time for me to go there.
I spent over 3 hours there yesterday. Hey, I have a new lens and I will be going for more this morning... 😜
Beautiful shot Joshua, I would love to have access to a spot like that to see a Peregrine. The ones we have here are usually perched on the corners of building
p.4 #19 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
MIRANDA1 wrote:
Beautiful shot Joshua, I would love to have access to a spot like that to see a Peregrine. The ones we have here are usually perched on the corners of building
Thank you, Jose! But I have seen plenty of wonderful American Kestrel from you that I envied. I would like to photograph that bird.
True, the peregrine falcons at this location are something else and they put up excellent shows for quite sometime. The resident male that fathered several generations disappeared. The female didn't warm up to a younger male that came after him. Then that younger male disappeared again. Finally, the current male seems to fit the bill. They mated yesterday already. It is very soap operaish 😂 here.
p.4 #20 · Nature and Wildlife image thread - a Sequel
We had two overcast mornings in a row at the peregrine falcons site. The sun did break through later on both days but then the light got a little bit harsher. To get sharp images for the flight shots, a shutter speed of 1/2000 sec is basically and at f/8, the ISO was high. They still look fine but they look better after a denoising process. And that I cannot do on my iPad.
This is from today when it was perching and I had the chance to use the custom hold button that I setup for perched birds, to lower the shutter speed, and at the same time, lowering the ISO setting and only 5 fps instead of 30 frames of virtually similar images 😜. This one was edited strictly using LR on my iPad without denoising.
