Post your best bird shots!

[ddt0725]

Gimp (free software, can't get photoshop yet b/c I have a 17-55 and 70-200 on order):

Wait a minute, this is what you just posted in a thread earlier today...

"I personally don't like the 17-55 very much due to quality issues. I'm sorry but I shouldn't pay $1000 for a lens that is made of plastic and has dust issues. "

So you went and ordered one??? With that and a few threads you have going on seeking advice on what lens to get ...you have me thoroughly confused! Did I miss something? [*-)]

Denise

[neuroanatomist]

Gimp (free software, can't get photoshop yet b/c I have a 17-55 and 70-200 on order):

Wait a minute, this is what you just posted in a thread earlier today...

"I personally don't like the 17-55 very much due to quality issues. I'm sorry but I shouldn't pay $1000 for a lens that is made of plastic and has dust issues. "

So you went and ordered one??? With that and a few threads you have going on seeking advice on what lens to get ...you have me thoroughly confused! Did I miss something? [img]/emoticons/emotion-42.gif[/img]

Denise

+1. Hey Brendan, what's the deal here? [*-)]


Ps. Which 70-200mm did you decide on?

[Brendan7]

Yes, I know. No, Denise, you didn't miss anything and the "[*-)]s" are welldeserved.


I think that maybe if so many other people are recommending it (Neuro -- you also own the 24-105 and seeing that you still use the 17-55 more) I decided I can't hurt anything by giving it a try. Maybe I've been wrong all along.


I chose the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM.

[neuroanatomist]

Enjoy your new lenses, Brendan!


RE the 17-55mm 'dust issue', it seems clear that some people have experienced that. It might be a bad copy/bad luck issue. Mine is completely clean inside despite a lot of use outdoors and inside (and with pets, a toddler, and little time or inclination for cleaning, it's used in some pretty dusty environments). I do keep a B+W MRC UV filter on the lens (all my lenses, in fact) - that might be something for you to consider. Even weather-sealed L-lenses (except the superteles) require a filter to complete the 'sealing'.


Actually, Denise and I bothhave theEF 24-105mm f/4<span style="color: red;"]LIS - we both bought it after we bought the 17-55mm. Speaking for myself, I do find the 24-105mm focal range very useful, along with the weather-sealing. It's just that I often find the 17-55mm range and f/2.8 more useful. If you're only going to have one general purpose zoom, for a crop body the 17-55mm is a better choice, IMO. There's probably an element of seasonal timing there, too - late fall and winter are pretty dark in the northeast (and in the upper midwest and PA as well), meaning a lot of time indoors and wide apertures even outdoors. In my case, I'm also planning on a FF body in the foreseeable future - and my lenses shorter than 85mm were both EF-S mounts (although on FF, I might not be happy with the barrel distortion of the 24-105mm - that one will probably get sold in favor of a 24-70mm f/2.8L IS when/if Canon gets around to releasing one of those).


The EF70-200mm f/2.8<span style="color: red;"]L IS II is truly a great lens - good choice there, too!


--John

[Joel Eade]

Portrait of a Northern Cardinal from my backyard setup. I put some food on the ground and placed the rock just behind it....easily coaxed this fella to perch just where I wanted him. (Shot with 1D MKIII, 300mm 2.8 + 2.0 TC)[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/Cardinal.jpg[/img]

[Sheiky]

Yes, I know. No, Denise, you didn't miss anything and the "[img]/emoticons/emotion-42.gif[/img]s" are welldeserved.

Hmm I think I'm seeing what you are doing here...misleading all the competition around here and sneaky buying the best lens yourself and own us all!!![:P]



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Portrait of a Northern Cardinal from my backyard setup. I put some food on the ground and placed the rock just behind it....easily coaxed this fella to perch just where I wanted him. (Shot with 1D MKIII, 300mm 2.8 + 2.0 TC)

Wow, good shot! That's truly a beautiful colored bird, haven't seen anything like that flying around the house ever. Cool!


Jan


Ps: The 5D2 really sucks, heavily overpraised, overpriced and oversized: images are really soft, you can see the big pixels and honestly keep your mind and don't buy it! You will regret it!![6][]
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[Joel Eade]

Blue Jay portrait with dogwood flower. 1D MKIII + 300mm 2.8 + 1.4TC. Taken using a tripod and a camo hide close to my backyard feeder.[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.32.28/343V8799.jpg[/img]

[Pieter]

Hi Joel,


I sincerly love the bird, it is amazingly sharp, but the background could be better imo. Can you perhaps make some photographs of your setup? Your backyard-bird pictures are all amazing...

[Joel Eade]

Thanks Pieter,


I really couldn't get the flower to look just right, It was originally way too bright, I think maybe it's just too large. It sort of draws the viewer's eye away from the bird. Thanks for looking.


I will try to post a picture of my set up soon, it's simple: An Ameristep Outhouse blind and some bird feeders with various dead branches placed aroundand a bird bath close by.


Joel


PS&gt; Imade a 5' X 5' PVC pipe frame and affixed the bottom of the blind to it so I can easily move the blind without having to use stakes. I did this so I can move around easily to try to keep the proper sun angle whenever possible and to be able to move the blindso we can mow and also so the grass won't die under it.