Post your best bird shots!

[JJphoto]

I shoot IS off when using a tripod with stationary birds. Just the motor kicking on and off you can loose a little sharpness.

HD, now you really got me confused again. before I bought this 500mm, I had been thinking to get a 600mm non-IS version since IS is not for moving objects and I can't handhold 500mm anyways. especially I have seen some good pictures took with this non-IS 600mm. then people told me that IS is very important for long lens even on a tripod, Bryan's review supports that we should leave the IS on when shooting with a tripod, Nate had a similar statment and he tune the IS off when shooting BIF. for me, personally I always don't care about IS that much even handhold the lens, birds are rarely be "stationary" even perching on the trees, my shutter speeds are almost always faster then 1/800, maybe 75% are faster then 1/1250. so anyway, which way should we go? I remember somebody in this forum had called the Canon but didn't get a very clear answer. I guess it depends, I need to do more test to find out which way is better for me.


thanks for bring this out!

[HDNitehawk]

I have heard it both ways leave it on and turn it off when using the tripod, only thing I see that canon says in the manual is that it saves battery power to turn it off.


This is Bryan's Comment you were mentioned:

1. With a super telephoto lens, image stabilization is even important with tripod use as wind and other destabilizing sources can add movement/vibration to your setup. Fortunately, the IS version on this lens is tripod-sensing. The Canon EF 500mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens knows that a tripod is being used when vibrations go below a certain level. Keep IS turned on when mounting the 500 L on a tripod to take advantage of this secondary IS mode - reducing mirror slap, shutter and tripod vibrations.

Myself, I have seen times, where the tripod and head was locked down with no vibrations and the stabilizer would kick on. When it does this the image seems to float while it is stabilizing. I have a very stable tripod and head, but if I had one less stable I would probably be more inclined to leave the IS on.


Good luck and have fun with your new lens.

[Steve U]

The harder I try at getting a good birdshot, the harder it gets. The rainy weather here has encouraged the wildlife to come out and bask in the rare sunshine.


A juvenile kookaburra, what do you think?


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Thanks for viewing.


Steve

[ddt0725]

Nice shot Steve and glad to hear you are enjoying some sunshine! I remember singing the Kookaburra song in school as a kid & never knew what one looked like! Now I know & now I know I'm going to have that song stuck in my head for the rest of the day! [:P]

I haven't seen any birds around here in about a month! This is all I have as of late ...







They are always a good standby when there's nothing else available!

Denise

[Steve U]

Nice shot Steve and glad to hear you are enjoying some sunshine! I remember singing the Kookaburra song in school as a kid & never knew what one looked like! Now I know & now I know I'm going to have that song stuck in my head for the rest of the day! [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]




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Denise
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"Merry merry king of the bush is heee." I even sound tone deaf when I type.


Nice in flight shots. You're good, Denise.

[JJphoto]

A juvenile kookaburra, what do you think?

I think it's very good! Steve, what a lovey juvenile Kookaburra that can't be find here in California. I like the DOF you planned, very sharp, i like the pose of the bird too.


maybe there is a little overexposed on the whites IMO and you may want to leave more space on the right side because bird is facing right. usually we want direct front lighting for bird shots, but it's not available all the time. you may want some fill light in this lighting condition IMO.

[Steve U]

maybe there is a little overexposed on the whites IMO and you may want to leave more space on the right side because bird is facing right. usually we want direct front lighting for bird shots, but it's not available all the time. you may want some fill light in this lighting condition IMO.
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Thanks JJ, that is the feedback I need to try and lift my pics to the next level. I could have worked on some fill light and the way he was facing didn't occur to me.


More to work on, I appreciate your comments.

[Steve U]

It is hard to avoid eye contact with a baby owl. Heh heh they are cute.


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This is a Tawny Frogmouth, apparantly.


Thanks for viewing,


Steve

[Kayaker72]

As always, great pictures everyone. Here are some Blue Jays from my back yard.


All pictures are Canon 7D, 100-400L, 400mm, 1/160, f/5.6, ISO 400 (cropped from original)


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Thanks for viewing. C&amp;C's welcome.