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Getting caught up here. A few from a visit with Mike (aka Busted Knuckes) that I liked
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a29c9dd6_h.jpg537A8685 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...653f7a26_h.jpg537A8687 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Thanks for viewing...Brant
My niece came out to visit and she is also into photography. So, I took her down to Parker River NWR. We saw gulls dropping mussels to crack them open (yet to be processed). But, on the way out, we saw a Short Eared Owl with the late afternoon sun behind it. I ended up with a few dozen shots I really like. Here is a sample:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bba53bf7_h.jpg537A1595 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bd98240b_h.jpg537A1659 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fd95f28e_h.jpg537A1670 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...af18a910_h.jpg537A1704 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...188256df_h.jpg537A1774 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Thanks for viewing...Brant
Wow great series Brant! SEOs are so fun to photograph and I'd love to do that with the R5.
Questions:
- I assume you're loving the 200-800. Focal length is probably ideal for this sort of fun. Any performance comments? You're obviously getting a high keep rate with it.
- How on earth did you get the Tern perfectly exposed with that black background? I checked your exif on Flickr and it shows zero exposure compensation. Did you just go full manual?
Thanks for sharing those.
Thanks Jonathan! I had never really picked up on the fact that Shortys are such photogenic birds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer
I am loving it. But I do really wish Canon had done just a bit more and charged twice the price. It is a great lens and the real key to me is that it natively does what no other lens out there can do. I do want to note that I have come away very impressed with the RF 100-500 w and without the 1.4tc. The issue with adding the TC is that you cannot zoom out all the way, the extender only fits into the lens at ~300 mm. So, with 1.4x TC, it essentially becomes a 420-700 mm lens, which is very useful, but I got it on loan to test out and often zoomed back into the TC. Plus, one of my primary uses for this lens will be in the kayak, and I do not want to be messing about with a TC while in a kayak.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer
So, that aside, it is a very good lens. With enough light, the AF is good to very good. As you start dropping in light, even dense clouds, the AF takes a hit. In a side by side test, my 500 II was 100% hit rate...the 200-800 was ~68%. That day was a bit dim (toward end of day), so I do want to mention there have been several times with good light where the hit rate was near 100%.
So very usable for casual shooting, but you do need to be aware of the limitation with light.
I like the size and weight. It handles very nicely. I wish you could remove the foot, but ok. The zoom ring is a bit stiff with a long throw, but I am learning to make it work.
All that said, in terms of IQ out around 800mm and beyond, only my 500 II w/1.4TC is better. The zoom range is great. It takes a 1.4xTC pretty well. The lens is sharpest at less than 700 mm, it is just at the shorter focal lengths, other lenses are also very good, but the 200-800 is right there with them in terms of IQ.
As for the extended reach, what I am finding is reaching out great distances you are still limited by other factors such as heat haze, etc. But getting more focal length for small birds at <15m and large birds at <100 m, it really does add something that I didn't have before.
Thanks...I would say that is a combination of two things: 1) With white birds in sun, yes, I usually do switch to full manual and I try to dial it in so the white is properly exposed. A bit of a lesson after years of blowing out the chest of Common Loons. I do sometimes use manual with auto ISO and spot metering, but looking at the images before and after, they are all the same, so I think I was full manual; and 2) I spent a good amount of time with that one in LR. Some blacks may have been crushed in making of that image. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer
Jason, sorry the late response. Most if not all the shots where walking along a path (sun set shot) 50 yards from the jeep. The rest where from inside the jeep standing through the open soft top. Or maybe a few feet from the jeep, if is a low angle shot.
If you like birds you MUST come to Orlando in late January through late February - all the migratory birds are here in density along w/ the locals. We have several parks that anyone of them would be a world class birding site and there are 4 that are about 45 minutes from one to the next.
Kayaker has been coming down for several years and we tried the west coast of FL vs. east coast. WAY more birds on the east coast, but with some patience and luck we got several keepers (his tern shots and the ones I posted where from that trip).
I would be double pleased if you wanted to chase around next year with us (I assume Kayaker is coming) or on your own. As mentioned, I have a soft top jeep (gladiator) kick up the back seats, drop the top and looks all the world like a National Geographic vehicle. :).
Hope to see you in FL soon.
I’ll be there [emoji6]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's great feedback on the 200-800. I guess design tradeoffs always come into play. For example, with regards to low cost, low weight, and high IQ --- you can have only two of those, but never all three :). But at least the fun factor is there in spades. Thanks again for the detailed hands-on review!
I've only been down the once, and only to a few select locations, and too late to catch most of the migratory birds, but yeah, more variety on the east coast like Mike says. Spoonbills, egrets, cormorants, various herons, pelicans and gators on the east. On the west, add in terns, and far more osprey, but lose the spoonbills, and most of the egrets, herons. Didn't see any gators on the west either.
There was a spot going from St. Pete's beach down to Fort De Soto that there seemed to be an osprey on every second post, so if you're after Osprey, that would seem a better location. It was also easier to get closer to the Pelicans at St. Pete's dolphin boat rental area. For anything else, go east coast.
Sebastian inlet and Merritt Island are great spots for Osprey. Sebastian inlet sets really well with an outgoing tide (low tide) schedules for an hour or two after sunset. The fish get swept up on a sand bar on S.E. side of the inlet (southern side of the Atlantic side). Low sun angle, diving Osprey, Pelicans and Terns.Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidEccleston
With Mike in Florida at the Celery Fields Audobon center.
A couple more of the painted bunting I liked:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e61c8208_h.jpg537A0618-Enhanced-NR by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d94b048_h.jpg537A0631-Enhanced-NR by kayaker72, on Flickr
A couple from a nature walk today. I was trying out my idea of an "ultralight" combo: the EF-S 55-250 STM on an RP.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4adfae8d_h.jpg
Duck pair by dfwatsoneuro, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a7cc0b2a_o.jpgDucks in a row by dfwatsoneuro, on Flickr
Beautiful birds. Technically sort-of-OK.
A few from Celery Field Audobon Center in Sarasota Florida.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0b959012_h.jpg537A0408 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8eee7dd0_h.jpg537A0055 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...db07a640_h.jpg537A9991 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Thanks for viewing...Brant
A few more I liked from the snow we had last week:https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f5e58986_h.jpg0M3A3303 by kayaker72, on Flickrhttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a96fabe4_h.jpg0M3A3392 by kayaker72, on Flickr
An afternoon a week ago, I checked my feeder at sunset and there was zero activity, which is really odd. Something in the tree to the left of my feeder caught my eye.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...462227c6_h.jpg20250108-0M3A7307 by kayaker72, on Flickr
A close encounter with a Cooper's Hawk that was surveying my feeder. After a few hundred images, it flew:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aec2ef9a_h.jpg0M3A7575 by kayaker72, on Flickr
A bird I had not seen before about a month ago. It is finally getting comfortable enough that I can get a few photos
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7e206dfe_h.jpg537A7406 by kayaker72, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bc66bf45_h.jpg537A7364 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Great photos everyone! Congrats on the Sapsucker Brant...hopefully he poses for you more!
So I got a new toy for Christmas and the one day it was nice enough to shoot things, I had my dog (who barks at everything) in the passenger seat. This Red Tail sat confused along the side of the road while they had a brief conversation. I left after a coupe photos as to not disturb its hunting.
https://www.alderimages.com/img/s/v-10/p668626492-5.jpg
Couple of shots from inside the Osher Rainforest exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.
"Golden-crowned manakin"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5a36defe_b.jpg
EOS R8, RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @ 240mm, 1/250 s, f/6.3, ISO 2000
"Red-crested turaco"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7f8dbd6c_b.jpg
EOS R8, RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM @ 168mm, 1/250 s, f/6.3, ISO 6400
For a 10x zoom, I'm quite pleased with the quality of the RF 24-240mm lens.
I have to agree! I didn't even know about this lens. It seems like it would be a really good all-purpose lens for travel when you don't want to schlep around lots of gear.Quote:
Originally Posted by neuroanatomist
I missed this...Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayson
What's the new toy? 200-800?
Yeah, the 200-800. I finally got to sit by the lake today and give it a good run watching my eagle pair. Much better than my older 2x and the 100-400 I've been using. Only problem is the super warm temps last week thawed the whole lake and they fish just a bit too far away.
Caught a cardinal at the feeder today. Had a slight breeze through his feathers.
https://www.alderimages.com/img/s/v-...07459712-5.jpg
hey guys, i've returned. here's an osprey with breakfast
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7a34a0c2_b.jpgIMG_8961 by Baka Watcher, on Flickr
Great hair. Err...I mean head feathers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayson
Welcome back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zach
Nice pic!
Green-winged teal pair
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4e38c9fd_b.jpgIMG_0071 by BAKA, on Flickr
After a failed dive, this osprey flew right past me
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a5ee2d2e_k.jpg0M3A2300 by kayaker72, on Flickr
This is actually from the same sequence as the image above. But, I've received some comments on it from friends and thought I'd share here as well.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2e21b4eb_k.jpg0M3A2307 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Swasey Park is ~20 min from our house, a nice walk along the water and also near restaurants and shops. So, from the third recent walk along the park.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6677bf56_k.jpg0M3A3532 by kayaker72, on Flickr
I have only seen Indigo Buntings at my feeder a few times, always in May. They are always fleeting encounters. So I am happy to have got reasonable light on this one a few days ago:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0910e6f6_h.jpg0M3A4180 by kayaker72, on Flickr
The behavior would indicate that they are migrating, but looking at some migration maps, it seems a small population lives in New England throughout the summer. Most seem to summer in the Arkansas-TN-KS area, or so it seems.
It would be great if they stuck around longer.
A few weeks ago our photo club had a great field trip to a nature preserve in metro Detroit. Here are a couple of shots I liked:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...37d03d5b_b.jpg
cranes land by dfwatsoneuro, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2e2d5b79_b.jpg
heron and egret by dfwatsoneuro, on Flickr
With the IBIS in my R5, the old EF 400mm f/5.6 has a decent keeper rate.
Nice.
Always like Sandhill Cranes.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I still have never seen one in person. Always see people posting about them in the area, but never where I happen to be. :-). Great catch!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kayaker72