Post your best bird shots!

[neuroanatomist]

If you are using a variable aperture lens, does the lens open to the widest aperture that the lens offers or the widest aperture at the current actively used focal length, letsuse the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L as the example.


In other words, if I'm at 400mm with that lens, will itopen to f/4.5 for AF or f/5.6?

It will use the widest available aperture at that focal length (e.g. f/5.6 at any zoom setting of 260mm or longer). It's a physical thing - at 400mm, the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens cannot open to f/4.5 because the optical elements are not large enough in diameter. That's also the reason the 100-400mm is ~$1500, while the forthcoming 200-400mm f/4 will be in the high thousands - the extra glass needed to open that wide at the long end.

[Richard Lane]

Thanks John (Neuro), that

[Andy Stringer]

What better way to celebrate 1500 posts of bird pictures than to post a picture of 1500 birds?



5D Mark II, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM @ 17mm, f/8, 1/1600s, ISO 100

[Bill W]

Joel....nice shots, in particular the Tohwee....I haven't had the good fortune...yet.


Hey Bob....getting the hang of the 500...nice captures. You better be ready for your HBs.


Here is today's capture...a Northern Saw-whet owl....I stood on a pond for over 3 hours trying to get as many open eye shots as possible. The ice will be gone this wkend and if s/he stays on the same roost, it will end the photo op. You need to be out on the ice for a clear shot.


7D, 500 on a tripod w/cable release; ISO 1000, f4, 1/400th


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Thanks for looking


Bill

[Kayaker72]

Andy, did you count them? [:P] Nice picture. [Y]


Bill. Talk about patience. But it paid off.Great shot! And you might not want to be standing on too many "frozen" ponds from here on out. That ice has to be getting a little thin!

[bob williams]

Bill, great shot of the owl, patience really paid off on this one, but dont stay on the ice too long, Spring is upon us[:|]. As far as the 500---I havent had much time with it, still trying to get the yard right for the summer----lots of trimming, planting etc. I have taken Joel's lead and set up some perches and extra bird feeders in one area of my yard that benefits from the warm light of the setting sun, but haven't had a lot of time to shoot. However, this afternoon is calling me, so maybe I'll park myself behind the camera in a little while, when the sun gets lower. Other than it's size, there isn't much to get used to with the 500, just point it in the right direction and it seems to take great shots almost every time----Now I have to do my job, which is another story.





Again, Nice owl shot


Bob

[Andy Stringer]

Bill, that's a beautiful picture. I know what it's like spending hours on ice to get pictures, so you have my admiration for your patience. Your results were well worth the effort. Keep posting, because it helps to keep me focussed on saving for a 500mm lens.

[JJphoto]

wow-an- owl, Bill!, very very nice!

[rlriii13]

Bill! Get off the ice! You

[neuroanatomist]

Ran across this red-bellied woodpecker just after sunrise this morning...



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EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 400mm, 1/500 s, f/5.6, ISO 2000