Post your best bird shots!

[conropl]

Joel:

First, I would like to thank you for always including you camera, lens, and settings data when you post.

I was noticing you still switch a lot between your 1D X and 1D IV. If you use the 1D X you typically use a 1.4X (forced to f/5.6) and the ISO is bumped a stop to a one and a half stops presumably to make up for the loss of light with the one stop loss with the 1.4X. With the 1D IV you get the reach without the tel extender so you do not loose the aperture value, but you still stop down to f/5.6 typically. So I was wondering:

• What drives you to pick up one camera over another? Since you use the same aperture value, is it the ambient light values that drive your decision (better ISO performance on the 1D X)?
• Is the IQ actually better with the 1D IV w/o the Tele Extender compared to the 1D X w/ Tel Extender
• Why don't you use f/4 with your 1D IV? Is it strictly DOF... but the DOF calculator does not show a huge difference between f/4 (1D IV @500mm) and f/5.6 (1D X @ 720mm... no 700mm in the DOF Calculator and I was to lazy to do the math myself) at 10 ft stand off.

I hope you do not mind the sill questions. But I was curious why you use one over the other.

Disclaimer: The numbers I reference above are just from recent post... so I may have over simplified your thought processes - If I did, then I am sorry.

Pat

[Joel Eade]

Joel:

First, I would like to thank you for always including you camera, lens, and settings data when you post..................


I hope you do not mind the sill questions. But I was curious why you use one over the other.

Disclaimer: The numbers I reference above are just from recent post... so I may have over simplified your thought processes - If I did, then I am sorry.

Pat

No problem Pat. I include the EXIF because I myself find it helpful when others do the same.

I have been switching back and forth a lot lately mostly because of different sized birds....with the MKIV I can get more pixels on the subject which is helpful for small birds. (finches, sparrows, wrens etc) When the bigger species come in, however, I cannot always get the bird framed correctly with the MKIV without quickly moving back a few feet which doesn't work too well usually....I did pull it off with my last Pileated WP shot because the bird was calling as it came in so I had time to slide back enough. Since I never really know what is going to show up I end up having the "wrong" camera quite often (i.e. I am just goofing around most of the time)

With both cameras my main goal is to get as much shutter speed as possible because this gives me the best chance of a sharp image. (as you know birds rarely sit still) In addition, my 500mm is sharper when stopped down slightly and also I want the entire bird in focus if possible so I don't shoot much at f/4. As for ISO, I use whatever is needed to give me shutter speed. My back yard is mostly shaded so I usually have to go to at least 1600 and frequently will add fill flash too. If I get a light overcast day with diffused, relatively bright light sometimes I can go lower. I mainly want to avoid underexposure of the subject regardless of BG.

The distance in my set up seems to be just about right for 700mm on the 1DX but with the MKIV 700mm can be too much with the larger birds so I shoot with the bare lens and stop down a little for DOF and sharpness. Using the 1.4 TC II on either camera doesn't degrade the image significantly if I have good light.

I just switch cameras in anticipation of what birds may show up which is not too predictable! I have never calculated a DOF....I just shoot and see what works.

There are some differences in the cameras....with 1DX I seem to always need to be adding + EC and not so much with the MKIV, not sure why. I think I like the 1DX images overall a little better and I have thought of selling the MKIV but it's depreciated so much I will probably just keep it.

[conropl]

...with the MKIV I can get more pixels on the subject which is helpful for small birds.

Thanks Joel.

I understand driving the shutter speed up as much as possible, that is why I though the 1D X would give you more room to do that with better ISO performance.

I do not get the more pixels comment. Although there is a little, it seems small. That is, if the FF equivalent for your 500mm on the 1D IV is 650mm with 16 MP. As opposed to your 700mm (500mm w/ a 1.4X) on the 1D X and 18 MP. It doesn't seem to be that much different.

It is not like you are capable taking a bad picture with either camera... so my comments are more academic than anything.

Pat

[Joel Eade]

Thanks Joel.

I understand driving the shutter speed up as much as possible, that is why I though the 1D X would give you more room to do that with better ISO performance.

I do not get the more pixels comment. Although there is a little, it seems small. That is, if the FF equivalent for your 500mm on the 1D IV is 650mm with 16 MP. As opposed to your 700mm (500mm w/ a 1.4X) on the 1D X and 18 MP. It doesn't seem to be that much different.

Pat

I think you're correct. That's why I said I am fooling around to some degree and not usually choosing one over the other based on much scientific analysis. In my experience there is no doubt the 1DX handles high ISO better than the MKIV.