Making Due with a Lens that was Cheap in 1995

[Steve Eisenberg]

These were taken with my 75-300mm f4-5.6. It sometimes won't focus, and when it does it squeeeeeeks LOUDLY!


Canon XTi, 300mm, Aperture Priority f5.6, 1/1000-1/1600, ISO 1600


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.20/IMG_5F00_5535.JPG


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.20/IMG_5F00_5558.JPG


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.20/IMG_5F00_5611.JPG


/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.20/IMG_5F00_5615.JPG

[Jon Ruyle]

Nice, Steve. I especially like the last. Did you prefocus and wait, or just hope the lens would focus when it needed to?


How cropped are these? I would have cropped more, but I might have been wrong to do so... I like the way there is a sense of context here.


I sometimes shoot hummingbirds (take pictures of them, that is) and get my best pics, not when I'm really quick on the draw and using a really fast lens, but when they just stay *still* for a little while (which they sometimes do). You can see a few of them at


http://picasaweb.google.com/jonruyle/Hummingbirds#


I used more expensive equipment, so I guess I've proved that more expensive equipment doesn't always lead to better results :)


I find that I never have enough light, because I want a really high shutter speed to freeze the wings, and I want low iso to because I'll probably want to crop. I also want to stop down to get the whole thing in focus (dof is tiny with closeups...), but I usually can't have all of that. So I get noisy blurry pics :)


Did you try getting very close to them? That is one aspect that, for me, was actually easier than expected. At first I put a 2x converter on my 70-200, but found I didn't need the reach. So I ditched the 2x converter in favor of extension tubes... they don't seem to mind if I'm really close by.


Once again- nice work.


Jon.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Jon,


Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm reallywanting the 400mm f5.6, but will have to wait a while for that.


I used AI Servo, with my butt planted on the ground, elbows on my knees, and 8-15 away. I should have used Partial Metering (especially for the third one), but forgot and used Center Weighted . I do prefer to have the context, so I crop big, which also minimizes how much noise shows up. In this case 2200x2200 to 2600x2600. And I'm into square crops at the moment (no particular reason).


I sat for about60 minutes, and the hummingbirds showed up for about 2 minutes every 5-10 minutes.


Nice photos BTW. I really like the red-head!

[TheRoff]

Nice photos. Certainly nothing wrong with that old lens. Nice and sharp.


Larry

[40Doodle]

I like that last photo the best. I like the depth it presents with the blurred plant matter in the foreground and focus on the bird behind that portion of the image.


Rick

[Steve Eisenberg]

Thanks Larry. It's slow and noisy, but I'm happy to have it! As long as I don't have sky in the background, the chromatic aberration isn't too bad either.


Thanks Rick. I like it when it can look like we're peeking in on the animals.

[Dann Thombs]

I like the last one for color and composition.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Thanks Dann.

[Colin]

I like the first one because it looks like the beak is missing [:)]

[Colin]

I like the first one because it looks like the beak is missing [:)]

[LoneSierra]

Very nice! What cheap lens from 1995 are you talking about anyway?


I like these shots, because you never really "see" humming birds. Heck, who knew they had feet!??! I thought they just never stopped flying! (haha okay j/k but still) You really don't know how beautiful they are untill you can actually look at them and take in their colors and features.

[mpphoto12]

I agree i do not hve the best eqipment either this just gave me inspiration. Thanks

[Steve Eisenberg]

Thanks. I'd like to see lotsmore photos taken with kit lenses too. People could get frustrated, and think good pictures are only possible with something they can't afford. I absolutely, positively cannot afford "L" lenses. But I work really hard on the craft of picture taking, and hope my business picks up in the meantime.

[Jon Ruyle]

Good points, mmphoto12 and Steve.


It is absolutely not true that you *need* expensive equipment to take good pictures. I was in Zhutien (Taiwan) last summer, and by the train station out there they have a little museum dedicated to works of a famous local photographer (I forget his name). I walked around the museum in awe of his work (all black and white and about 50 years old) until my wife and kids got tired of waiting for me and made me go.


Before leaving, I looked at a small exhibit that displayed the equipment he used. Nothing but a tripod, a 35mm camera (film, of course) and a slow 50mm prime lens.


Don't misunderstand me: I love expensive camera stuff :) And some pictures and certain effects are best achieved (or can only be achieved) with costly gear. But great pictures are possible with very modest equipment.

[mpphoto12]

yup i agree i have an outdated tamron 70-300 f/4 - 5.6 and a kit lens with a rebel xt i am frustrated easily with it of course but i make due with what i have plus i have another 75 years to get all the gear i want so no stress lol

[Benjamin]

That sucks it doesn't focus sometime... But you made great pictures! My lens does focus properly always but I haven't made anything like this... Good job here!

[Steve Eisenberg]

Thanks!

[HiFiGuy1]

Steve and Jon,


Great pictures! I love hummingbirds, and it gives me something to look forward to this Spring, since I just got a camera. I am excited about the prospect offinding and photographing some soon. I am encouraged by the thought that I may not need more than my lowly 28-135 that I have now!

[Steve Eisenberg]

Thanks HiFiGuy!