Post your best bird shots!

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Originally Posted by bburns223

LeTiger, that's a beautiful bird. I believe they are found in Mexico? Maybe some cropping would be nice, but great colors in that one.

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Unfortunately, that already is about a 60% crop


I wanted to capture the essence of the log that they put the Acorns into, as that in its self is amazing (and the bird with Acorn in mouth makes it perfect)


The family of woodpeckers featured are some of the only in Oregon, and make Pacific University their home. They are also the only ones of their kind to use White Oak exclusively for their food storage *(usually they use different variates of Oak, but that far north, there is only white oak)

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Originally Posted by bburns223

Denise....How is your experience with the 100-400 vs the 300? Could you give me a bit of feedback? Much appreciated.


brendan

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Hi Brendan,

Without getting into the 300mm vs. 100-400mm debate on this thread, I'll just say I LOVE the 100-400! Not sure if it is because I was using the 1.4 extender so much with the 300mm or if it just I have improved some but my photos seem to be sharper, catching more detail. It also could be its not 20 degrees outside anymore and I'm not shaking! Another thing to remember is, I'm using the 7D now and not a T1i. I do wish I could get AF on the 100-400 with using the 1.4.

They may not be perfect yet but overall, I am much more please with my results!


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.37.26/IMG_5F00_2447.JPG[/img]

pair of mute swans; f/8, 1/2500, ISO 400 at 375 w/7D and 100-400


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...ewingsback.jpg

Great Swans, Bill.


Stopped by a local water fowl park, so these are captive birds.... I
know I lose points there. Here are a few from my trip.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.47/toco-toucan-small.jpg[/img]Canon 50D + 60mm 2.8 Macro @ 60mm f2.8 1/250" ISO-200


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.47/big-red-small.jpg[/img]Canon 50D + 70-200 f4 L @ 200mm f5 1/1600" ISO-200


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.47/mandarin-small.jpg[/img]Canon 50D + 70-200mm f4 L @ 200mm f4.5 1/2000" ISO-200


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.28.47/Crane-small.jpg[/img]Canon 50D + 70-200 f4 L @ 172mm f4.5 1/2000" ISO-250


I know... a lot of pics.... but I had fun today. Comments and critique are extremely welcome. Thanks all.


Cheers,


Dave.

Dave, I like the mandarin duck very much! 70-200mm/4.0 is a very good lens for the money.


Bill, nice pose! enjoying your 7D!

thanks Dave and JJ....Dave like the toucan shot, wouldlike tosee his perspective on the shot; great eyes. Also, IMO, no points lost for having a "captive" audience Dave, as long as you mention it.


JJ, re 7D; loving the AF and AIservo for birding and it has improved the 100-400 performance over the 40D. I've only had it for a week, so I'm still experimenting.

Denise...Don't use a 1.4x with your 100-400. On the 7D 400mm is already 640mm and with a 1.4 a lot of images will be soft, oof...I think the 100-400 was the best choice for you in the first place, when you bought the 300mm I thought you would use it bare (no TC), which is when the 300 actually has an advantage. The 7D with 100-400 is a great combination, IMO you could spoil it by keeping that 1.4x TC on there. Just my opinion.


Bill, Dave...


Those are fantastic. nuff said. especially that swan.


brendan

This a house finch (orange variant) taken in my backyard. A setup using a feeder and hide. Canon 40D, 300mm 2.8L + 1.4 TC. Just a comment on recent thread : If you look at MTF charts or any other comparison method the prime lenses are generally sharper than the zoom lenses and I would suspect adding the 1.4 TC would have more degrading effect on a zoom lens versus a prime lens. (probably why the 500mm f4 is considered by many to be the king of bird lenses) With good technique, however, excellent images can be produced with either lens. For birds on a perch and using a tripod I try to keep a shutter speed of 1/focal length. So with a 400mm lens on a 1.6 crop factor sensor that would be 1/640 sec. If you do that it will definitely help your images to be sharper. Of course to freeze birds in flight it requires much faster shutter speeds like 1/1600 to 1/3200. Push the ISO up to get the speed you need so that you get adequate enough exposure to minimize noise. Just my 2 centavos worth of advice.





[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/_5F00_MG_5F00_6153.jpg[/img]

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

This a house finch (orange variant) taken in my backyard. A setup using a feeder and hide. Canon 40D, 300mm 2.8L + 1.4 TC. Just a comment on recent thread : If you look at MTF charts or any other comparison method the prime lenses are generally sharper than the zoom lenses and I would suspect adding the 1.4 TC would have more degrading effect on a zoom lens versus a prime lens. (probably why the 500mm f4 is considered by many to be the king of bird lenses) With good technique, however, excellent images can be produced with either lens. For birds on a perch and using a tripod I try to keep a shutter speed of 1/focal length. So with a 400mm lens on a 1.6 crop factor sensor that would be 1/640 sec. If you do that it will definitely help your images to be sharper. Of course to freeze birds in flight it requires much faster shutter speeds like 1/1600 to 1/3200. Push the ISO up to get the speed you need so that you get adequate enough exposure to minimize noise. Just my 2 centavos worth of advice.

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Awesome photo, Joel!! Also, thanks for the info! [:)]

Denise

Amazing photo Joel. This is my favorite of all the photos you have posted.


About your technique; I wish it was that easy. No matter what I do I can't get results like yours. I'm not sure why....But really Denise, don't use your 100-400 with a TC. Recipe for soft pictures.


brendan