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| Bird PhotographyNikon DSLRs and Lenses for bird photography | Rate Topic |
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 29th, 2018 10:36 | 1st Post |
| A serious challenge for even a highly skilled photographer. Birds are fast, erratic, often very small and most fly! Long top quality lenses with limited depth of field will a lot of the time not fill the frame. Many of the latest Nikon DSLR have very high def sensors so advantge to enlarge final image. First class high ISO performance also aids fast shutter speeds and sharp pictures of moving subjects in often poor light. Nikon Cameras like D500 and D850 fit the bill and their ability to track and lock focus quickly is vital to good results.Low noise at high ISO also great help. Yesterday with another photographer friend we were at a first class workshop on bird photography at Blashford Lakes Reserve in Hampshire. Lots to learn and the rain held off so we had a some time in the hides to take a few pictures, this Greenfinch kindly posed for me. Nikon D850 with 80-400mm AF-S lens with x1.4: 370mm. 2000 ISO 1/500 sec f9. Attachment: Greenfinch0663.jpg (Downloaded 255 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Sun Apr 29th, 2018 13:44 | 2nd Post |
| Beautiful shot Graham. Perfect composition and sharpness.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue May 1st, 2018 06:14 | 3rd Post |
| You need to look at this! This is the whole image as shot with the D850 and first image is the blow up that produced a high quality A3+ print. The 80-400mm lens was not zoomed up to the full 400mm as I had to react very quickly when the Greenfinch landed for only a few seconds on an interesting dead tree. Attachment: Greenfinch all 663.jpg (Downloaded 242 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 3rd, 2018 10:25 | 4th Post |
| This is test today with garden birds D850 with the big Nikon 500mm AF-S F4 lens similar large blow up as above pix: Tracking focus AF-S Single point (bird running) ISO 1000 1/1600 sec f6.3 hand held. Hope to be meeting Eric for birding day at Frampton Marsh on trhe Wash in 10 days time. Will be in Suffolk for next week doing more bird photography. So getting my eye in today with our garden birds. Attachment: Starling_DSC0729.jpg (Downloaded 241 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 3rd, 2018 12:12 | 5th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:This is test today with garden birds D850 with the big Nikon 500mm AF-S F4 lens similar large blow up as above pix: Tracking focus AF-S Single point (bird running) ISO 1000 1/1600 sec f6.3 hand held. What's Tracking Focus? I'm only on page 200 of the the D500 manual so you don't have to practise too hard. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 3rd, 2018 12:28 | 6th Post |
| I've been reading Steve Perry's book on Nikon focusing system and his recommendations for camera settings. He doesn't use AF-S but sets it to AF-C all the time and uses the back AF-ON button for AF. With this method of focusing he simply takes his thumb off the back button once focus is acquired to effectively give AF-S. I was planning on changing the habits of a lifetime and configuring the camera in his manner next week. You can guarantee I will be in a b@ggers muddle !!
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 3rd, 2018 12:59 | 7th Post |
| Sorry my error I meant AF-C contious but single focus point. Would have been better to use 5 or 9 focus points for moving bird but had no time to change as bird had been feeding in static position then turned and ran. IE no time to change settings to multi focus points. For action button No 15 on back of D500 & D500 "Focus" is good and 2nd button No 14 "Sub-selector" can be set to the multi focus points of your choice.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 3rd, 2018 17:11 | 8th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Sorry my error I meant AF-C contious but single focus point. Would have been better to use 5 or 9 focus points for moving bird but had no time to change as bird had been feeding in static position then turned and ran. IE no time to change settings to multi focus points. Problem with using 14 for another 'dynamic' function when 15 is set to focus, is that you have to take your thumb off the AF-ON button ...so you lose focus tracking. I've set Fn1 to give 25 multipoint AND lock on....to make it easier....I think!! It's a shame all these button assignments don't click on and off...some do, but others you have to use a spare digit to hold it on. This means 3 of your right hand digits are not gripping the camera!
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 5th, 2018 09:40 | 9th Post |
| I've got the D500 set for single point on the back button, I use this 90% of the time and the multi secelctor (nipple) set too group focus for birds in flight.
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| Posted by Iain: Sat May 5th, 2018 09:43 | 10th Post |
| One from this week D500 + sigma 150-600 Attachment: D50_4939.gif (Downloaded 235 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Sun May 6th, 2018 03:28 | 11th Post |
Iain wrote:One from this week D500 + sigma 150-600 Lovely shot Iain. Very good light...what was ISO?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sun May 6th, 2018 04:02 | 12th Post |
Eric wrote:Iain wrote: It was 2000 Iso as the light wasn't as good as it looks. It was taken from the car with the Owl a bit back in the woods and it was cropped a bit.
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| Posted by Eric: Sun May 6th, 2018 11:08 | 13th Post |
Iain wrote:Eric wrote: 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Squarerigger: Wed May 9th, 2018 08:35 | 14th Post |
| This is one of the main reasons I enjoy this forum. For a very nominal fee, I get to study and enjoy these great photographs and how they were taken. Thanks for sharing!
____________________ -------------------------------------------- Gary |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 9th, 2018 10:26 | 15th Post |
Squarerigger wrote:This is one of the main reasons I enjoy this forum. For a very nominal fee, I get to study and enjoy these great photographs and how they were taken. Apart from being sharp and nicely exposed, Iain's photo scores on composition and framing. Many birders consider the bird should ideally be no more than 1/3 of the image frame, supposedly to clearly show the bird in its habitat. That may be post rationalisation by the many birders who haven't got mega long lenses or are unable to get close to the birds. But whatever the reason it works for me.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed May 9th, 2018 10:30 | 16th Post |
Thanks Eric, I'll take that as a complement. 
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| Posted by Eric: Wed May 9th, 2018 10:36 | 17th Post |
Iain wrote:Thanks Eric, I'll take that as a complement. Absolutely!
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri May 11th, 2018 13:11 | 18th Post |
| Tern warning off two Black headed gulls. Same equipment as the owl shot. Attachment: web.jpg (Downloaded 313 times)
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| Posted by Squarerigger: Fri May 11th, 2018 13:35 | 19th Post |
| Nicely done Iain. Beautiful example of capturing the moment when danger is present.
____________________ -------------------------------------------- Gary |
| Posted by Eric: Tue May 15th, 2018 13:10 | 20th Post |
| Not sure if the best caption is the Three Musketeers, or the Three Stooges, or simply "Stop talking and look behind you!" But when 3 old forum members meet up for a days bird photography there's invariably going to be a lot more talk talk, than click click. No references to any similarities to the "Last of the Summer Wine" PLEASE.  Graham will be along with some mega shots of birds later.  Attachment: 3 musketeers2.jpg (Downloaded 205 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Tue May 15th, 2018 13:20 | 21st Post |
| How about "last of the summer wine".
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| Posted by jk: Tue May 15th, 2018 15:01 | 22nd Post |
| Eric traveling lite or is Jan the Assistant doing all the carrying? Glad to see that the forum provides opportunities for get togethers as well as virtual chatting.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Tue May 15th, 2018 16:57 | 23rd Post |
jk wrote:Eric traveling lite or is Jan the Assistant doing all the carrying? She wasnt there, Jonathan. Out with a friend for the day....suspect the prospect of male bonding was too much for her.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Squarerigger: Wed May 16th, 2018 14:16 | 24th Post |
| From the expression on your faces, it looks like one or all of you broke wind and the birds are not taking flight, they are dropping out of the sky for that fianal landing. :cheers Looking forward to the shots from Graham.
____________________ -------------------------------------------- Gary |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 16th, 2018 14:45 | 25th Post |
Squarerigger wrote:From the expression on your faces, it looks like one or all of you broke wind and the birds are not taking flight, they are dropping out of the sky for that fianal landing. :cheers Yes, we were a little taken by surprise...chattering as usual. Thats what happens when all the photographers are in front of the camera. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed May 16th, 2018 15:18 | 26th Post |
| The Gulls flew away when they saw us having so much fun! Nikon D850 with 80-400 AF-S Lens plus x1.4 Attachment: Gulls0938.jpg (Downloaded 97 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed May 16th, 2018 15:19 | 27th Post |
| But the Avocets were having even more fun! Attachment: Avocets1000.jpg (Downloaded 97 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed May 16th, 2018 15:35 | 28th Post |
| The Common Tern kept an eye on us too. This was using the 25 focus points with D850 and lens as above at full 400mm plus x1.4 this is about 1/3 image blown up and I took 5 frames as it hovered and all were as sharp. Attachment: Common Tern 0956.jpg (Downloaded 99 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed May 16th, 2018 17:32 | 29th Post |
| Sadly after Eric and Robert left 54 Avocets arrived this is some of them. Same camera and lens and 25 point focus with AFC. All pictures above in this series at 1000 ISO and 1/2500 sec. In afternoon some mist came in and this is a blow up from about 1/4 of the shot. Attachment: Avocets 0986.jpg (Downloaded 96 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 16th, 2018 18:16 | 30th Post |
| Yes, we saw the Avocets down the river and shooed them up towards you. It was a challenging day given the subject distance and lighting. Here's the ringed plover having a stand-off with the two little ringed plovers Attachment: 52F9CC73-61EA-4CF7-A4A2-36319063B67F.jpeg (Downloaded 98 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 16th, 2018 18:17 | 31st Post |
| A very elusive Sedge Warbler... Attachment: 2DA9234A-2370-462C-A926-CFED95627BEF.jpeg (Downloaded 98 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 16th, 2018 18:22 | 32nd Post |
| ...and a Brent goose Attachment: ED6A5825-7A85-4A9C-8EAA-202ED0AF0904.jpeg (Downloaded 96 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Wed May 16th, 2018 18:25 | 33rd Post |
Squarerigger wrote:From the expression on your faces, it looks like one or all of you broke wind and the birds are not taking flight, they are dropping out of the sky for that fianal landing. :cheers Well I look as though I am stifling a yawn... I don't recall that but perhaps I might be excused... I left Lancaster at 10pm Sunday night, drove to a waterfall in Derbyshire, arrived about 2am, spent an hour there photographing stars and the waterfall by torch and flash, continued down to Boston, has breakfast at 6am, arriving at Frampton in time to catch 40 winks before Eric arrived just before 9:30 am. We had a lovely time at Frampton together, Eric, Graham and myself, together with birdwatchers Mike and Tom. Afterwards I followed Eric home, we had a very enjoyable evening discussing photography. On Tuesday morning I set off for home, but it was such a nice day I decided to make something of it, so I set course for Ness Gardens, where I took almost 400 photographs of flowers, admittedly most were 5 shot bracketed due to the bright sunlight. I then visited an old friend from school days, who lives nearby the Gardens, just over the Welsh border. I arrived back home at three O'clock this morning. I had seriously considered coming home from Wales via the Derwent Valley where a Lancaster Bomber was due to make a flypast to commemorate 100 years of the RAF and 75 years since the 617 Squadron's raid on the German Dams. It was scheduled for noon today but I checked out the weather and heavy cloud was forecast so I (rightly) assumed it would be cancelled. Graham kindly let me try his 80-400 + TC1.4, a lens I haven't used before, I also used my 70-300VR 4.5-5.6. I am surprised how many of the photo's I took were (to me) acceptable. Not perfect because except when I used Grahams lens I was maxed out at 300mm on FX, with 12.5Mp, while Eric had the luxury equivalent of 630mm with his combo on the D500.From my 220 shots I have picked 20, these are the least worst... All taken with the D3 with Aperture priority, ISO 400, mostly with the Nikkor 70-300 VR 4.5-5.6. Most of the images are at close to 100% crop, ie camera pixel to screen pixel.  Eric trying to open the gate, turned out there were three ways to unlatch it, none particular obvious...  Graham trying to see a particularly rare/unusual tiny bird which was really beyond reach.  The brown bird to the left of the Avocets.  Two Ringed Plover and another small Plover, the rings are opposite colours, can't remember names   A pair of Avoset's.  A minor scuffle!  What you looking at???  Another scuffle...  Another smaller bird, again can't remember the name. I could do with an SD card slot so I could maybe remember stuff...  Last but not least, these two.  Just have a bunch of bracketed flower photo's to wade through now, then when I am in the mood, finish my night time waterfall/startrails photo, which looks like it might have some merit...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 16th, 2018 18:33 | 34th Post |
| This was my first outing with the D500+300mmf4 and 1.4tc. I made some exposure and setting errors throughout the morning due to my unfamiliarity and clumsiness with back button focusing. I've since returned to the armchair reread the manual sections on controls and reconfigured some to hopefully thwart me less next time. But given I am only on shot 330 with the camera, it's early days! The 300mm lens and tc are very light and well balanced on the D500. The only issue I encountered was the distance we were from the subjects. On some of the shots a single focus frame only just covered the subject they were that distant! There is no substitute for close proximity and filling the frame.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 16th, 2018 18:45 | 35th Post |
| Good selection of the days efforts there. We all suffered to varying degrees with subject distance irrespective of equipment differences. Only the geese were close enough and big enough to fill the frame. We really needed 1000mm for most of those birds.....and someone to carry the lens!  PS...remind me to take a hacksaw next time we go there. I will soon have that gate open! Notice I stepped over the small fence to see if I could unlock it from the other side....while Mike and Graham waited.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu May 17th, 2018 02:17 | 36th Post |
| A friend of mine uses the 300 f4 with a 1.7tc and has great results with it.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 17th, 2018 03:39 | 37th Post |
| And good fun was had by all. No major winners from me as Eric said very long lenses needed! Glad you got home OK Robert, great to meet you and Eric after all those years on the forum. More of the poor Little Ringed Plovers having a hard time by Little Plover who is larger! Also a very long reach and 150% bl;ow up from an image not much larger than the focus spot on D850. Attachment: Little Ringed Plovers 0915.jpg (Downloaded 95 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Thu May 17th, 2018 03:54 | 38th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:And good fun was had by all. No major winners from me as Eric siad very long lenses needed! Glad you got home OK Robert, great to meet you and Eric after all those years on the forum. Yes indeed Graham, it was really good to meet you and look forward to June in Eskdale.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 17th, 2018 04:05 | 39th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:And good fun was had by all. No major winners from me as Eric said very long lenses needed! Glad you got home OK Robert, great to meet you and Eric after all those years on the forum. I think next time you venture up this way, Graham, we will take you to Lakenheath Fen. Mike went yesterday and has some cracking full frame shots of Hobbys in flight with his 70-300mm, along with Kingfishers and some rare pippets....despite the dull windy day and slow shutter speeds! It's another haunt with which, I am sure, Tom will be familiar. One of Mikes shots he sent me........
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Thu May 17th, 2018 04:11 | 40th Post |
Eric wrote:Good selection of the days efforts there. I have been scheming how to get closer to the birds, I definitely lack 'field craft'... There are 'bait boats' which apparently are used by fishermen to deposit bait for attracting fish, small battery driven boats from about a foot long up to three or four feet long, silent and manoeuvrable they use water jet propulsion consisting of an internal pump which sucks water up then ejects it from the rear of the boat propelling the boat forwards. Steering is achieved by having two jets, one at each side. Propellors tend to get entangled with weed. Mounting a camera on board with wi-fi live view might allow me to get quite close to the birds? Don't expect the RSPB would approve but here on the shores of the estuary I don't think anyone would bother. Sounds like a fun project. I had been planning a small trolling boat for exploring the estuary and photography, but the tides here are powerful and fast running, I have been advised I need at least a reliable ten horsepower outboard to stay safe, even on a small boat. That would be noisy and expensive.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 17th, 2018 05:33 | 41st Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: ....or Big Un with oars.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 17th, 2018 05:45 | 42nd Post |
| I will get a cab ride set up for you on one of the steam locos if you lioke? Plenty of chance then for some dramatic action pix and if you get some good ones we can use them on the cover of the new GWP DVD on the railway.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 17th, 2018 05:57 | 43rd Post |
| There is no doubt that fieldcraft and even more so, local knowledge and access rights, are required to get you close enough. Beyond that, we have to rely on longer lenses...as far as funds allow. I have yet to take a wildlife photo that didn't need cropping. That means I haven't got a long enough lens in my a**enal. It also means to my mind that a zoom lens is not what's required, as I would invariable use it on max length anyway. Sadly at the moment, the sensible options have to be zooms....and with them unnecessary weight. I for one am eagerly waiting for news of whether Nikon will extend the PF lens range beyond 300mm. A 500 or 600mm f4 would be very interesting...even if its lighter weight wasn't as amazing as the 300mm.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Thu May 17th, 2018 06:57 | 44th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:I will get a cab ride set up for you on one of the steam locos if you lioke? Plenty of chance then for some dramatic action pix and if you get some good ones we can use them on the cover of the new GWP DVD on the railway. That would be amazing, thanks for the thought. Please will you remind me of the dates, June was a close as I remember! LOL PM if you like.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Robert: Thu May 17th, 2018 07:04 | 45th Post |
Eric wrote:...or Big Un with oars. They call Michael "Big Un" at work, they even made number plates for him with "Big Un on a mission" in small letters at the bottom. Think it would need to be a skiff to keep up with the tide... It's very fast here, a lot of estuary to fill (and empty) through a smallish channel in a short time. Have no wish to end up on the Isle of Man!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Squarerigger: Thu May 17th, 2018 09:36 | 46th Post |
| You gentlemen are too modest! I would be very pleased with any of those shots. I am surprised no one appears to have a tripod employed. I am not sure I could hand hold my camera and lens for any length of time and capture such clear shots. It looks like you all had a grand time and Robert, I am surprised you were able to make it through the day's outing without taking a nap after traveling over night. Enjoyed the photographs and the information on equipment used. I appreciate being able to benefit from someone else's experience with the hope of increasing my own abilities. So, who will be the first among you to spring for a 1000mm lens?
____________________ -------------------------------------------- Gary |
| Posted by Iain: Thu May 17th, 2018 10:22 | 47th Post |
| One today not cropped just brought close with penuts. Attachment: web1.jpg (Downloaded 66 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Thu May 17th, 2018 11:17 | 48th Post |
| I am having difficulties getting a buyer for my father's house and I can undersftand why buying and selling homes is one of the most stressful events in ones life. Ranting and raving at yet another time waster I looked out on the back lawn. There was a magpie astride a pile of feathers. I opened the door to get a closer look and the magpie flew off. Went to retrieve the starling carcass and discovered it was still breathing....just. Back to the house to get a box to cradle it in the vain hope it might recover. Back to the door and it had gone! Momentarily I thought it recovered....then saw it firmly gripped in the beak of a black backed gull as it flew away. And I thought I was having a bad day! Well at least he got one last sightseeing flight around the neighbourhood in the sunshine ...before he was devoured!! 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 17th, 2018 11:18 | 49th Post |
| Ian that is super and I liked your Tawney Owel too.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Thu May 17th, 2018 11:28 | 50th Post |
Eric wrote:I am having difficulties getting a buyer for my father's house and I can undersftand why buying and selling homes is one of the most stressful events in ones life. Ranting and raving at yet another time waster I looked out on the back lawn. Thats wildlife
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| Posted by Eric: Thu May 17th, 2018 15:39 | 51st Post |
Iain wrote:One today not cropped just brought close with penuts. Very nice Iain ...what lens? Jays seem to be able to spot peanuts from miles away. I put a scoopful periodically in the bird house and within minutes a Jay will have swooped in, swallowed a dozen and flown away. Back again and again. What amazes me is how they register the presence of peanuts that have been added to a normally empty bird house. Do they they have a photographic memory that can be recalled to compare with current situation? A sort of spot the difference test? Interestingly, if I put kibbled peanut in the house, they don't come!! Obviously want whole red peanuts,
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Thu May 17th, 2018 16:15 | 52nd Post |
Squarerigger wrote:You gentlemen are too modest! I would be very pleased with any of those shots. In the hide it's as easy to use a bean bag or just rest the lens on the window sill; outdoors, technique and VR get the job done, I know some people use Wimberlys and other aids, if were to use a support it would be a simple monopod. It looks like you all had a grand time and Robert, I am surprised you were able to make it through the day's outing without taking a nap after traveling over night. The company was so refreshing and exciting any tiredness evaporated, the concentration of trying to get half decent shots against the odds overcame tiredness, that said, Eric's driving was so sedate on his way back home, following him I almost pulled into a lay-by for a snooze! That all changed when we hit the roundabout near his home, it was a bit like following Lewis Hamilton for the last mile!!! LOL Enjoyed the photographs and the information on equipment used. I appreciate being able to benefit from someone else's experience with the hope of increasing my own abilities. Well it won't be me, that's for sure, right now a long lens is a very long way down my wish list. I reckon a 600mm on DX (900mm equivalent) is pretty well a minimum with my field craft, but I also need a patient friend who can recognise a common bird from a special, rare bird, because I am pretty well bird illiterate. It helps a lot to know what you are taking pictures of. With plants/flowers I have a germ of an idea, but birds...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Thu May 17th, 2018 16:43 | 53rd Post |
Eric wrote:Iain wrote:Same as the others. That's my wildlife set up.
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| Posted by Eric: Thu May 17th, 2018 17:29 | 54th Post |
Robert wrote:
I think I will have that framed. Jan won't believe it. Mike was asleep in the back...so I was taking it easy.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri May 18th, 2018 14:03 | 55th Post |
| Another of the Little Ringed Prover punc up series. Attachment: LR Plover 0912.jpg (Downloaded 26 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Fri May 18th, 2018 16:16 | 56th Post |
| It's a pity we can't supply food incentives to waders. We wouldn't need 600mm! Attachment: 8B9B3683-DCBD-408E-B105-E6E132442A25.jpeg (Downloaded 25 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Fri May 18th, 2018 16:21 | 57th Post |
| . Attachment: 88F8FF91-9C83-4FCC-AB90-D4D8D8227358.jpeg (Downloaded 25 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat May 19th, 2018 05:12 | 58th Post |
| Those two pixs look a little contrasty and dark on my monitor?
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 08:47 | 59th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Those two pixs look a little contrasty and dark on my monitor? I confess I struggled with the bright sunlight and backlighting. Incredibly, the stripes on the lawn behind the crow gave 1/2 stop difference. Attachment: 22B3E4F9-F556-48F9-BFEE-37B6746B699A.jpeg (Downloaded 20 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 08:51 | 60th Post |
| I spot metered on this one.... Attachment: 9D511FCC-CB5E-4B0D-913F-48CC5E771340.jpeg (Downloaded 21 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 08:57 | 61st Post |
| Is this shot any better? Attachment: 914961A1-10B6-40C8-8DAF-159D5BC06488.jpeg (Downloaded 28 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 08:59 | 62nd Post |
| Another one taken with the same set up, had to watch for the glare off the water. Attachment: Web3.jpg (Downloaded 28 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 09:00 | 63rd Post |
| Or this one in same position? Have to say downsizing these files for the forum destroyed quality! I must try other methods to get smaller file sizes or use Flickr. Attachment: 27DF918B-52DE-4492-9543-F5D152E30605.jpeg (Downloaded 28 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 09:09 | 64th Post |
| I've checked the settings on the camera and they are standard/ default contrast. I wonder if the fresnel lens is introducing more contrast? I've not upped contrast on original pasted images
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 09:59 | 65th Post |
| What lens are you using Eric
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| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:07 | 66th Post |
| Another one showing the differance in size between a Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover. Attachment: web4.jpg (Downloaded 28 times)
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:18 | 67th Post |
Eric wrote:I've checked the settings on the camera and they are standard/ default contrast. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:21 | 68th Post |
| Great pixs Ian whay do you think we saw the Ringed Plover giving the Little Ringed Plovers hell?
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:23 | 69th Post |
Iain wrote:What lens are you using Eric It's the new 300mm f4PF with 1.4tc on D500. Birds were about 50ft away....some cropping and file size reduction to be accepted by forum limits I've been commenting with Graham and others that the boketh on this lens is not soft and smooth. In fact it renders grass and fine branches rather strangely ....if I didn't know it was a fractal lens I would have actually said the grass looks like a fractal effect. It may handle bright sunshine differently as well?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:27 | 70th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Eric wrote: |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:28 | 71st Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Great pixs Ian whay do you think we saw the Ringed Plover giving the Little Ringed Plovers hell? My guess is that its nesting near by, it's quite common for them to chase each other when nesting.
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| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:31 | 72nd Post |
Iain wrote:Another one showing the differance in size between a Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover. Nice birds...shame about the beach.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:32 | 73rd Post |
| I think if I remember that this is the same type of glass that Canon used in the 400mm f4 DO lens and there were a lot of complaints over odd things like your experencing with the 300mm. I've also had a little go at your Carron Crow. Attachment: 9D511FCC-CB5E-4B0D-913F-48CC5E771340.jpeg (Downloaded 41 times)
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| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:34 | 74th Post |
A bit rocky.
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| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:40 | 75th Post |
Iain wrote:I think if I remember that this is the same type of glass that Canon used in the 400mm f4 DO lens and there were a lot of complaints over odd things like your experencing with the 300mm. On my screen that looks good. Can I send you all my images? At this stage I am just checking the camera / lens performance and using the iPad for convenience. I am even shooting jpeg at the moment while I find my feet.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 19th, 2018 10:43 | 76th Post |
| Hey perhaps everyone should have a go at the crow? We could have a 'pimp my crow' competition?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 11:57 | 77th Post |
Eric wrote:Hey perhaps everyone should have a go at the crow? You could try this one from Monday. Attachment: Web5.jpg (Downloaded 28 times)
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| Posted by Squarerigger: Sat May 19th, 2018 13:36 | 78th Post |
| Great shot Iain, may I ask how close you were to the bird you did not crop?
____________________ -------------------------------------------- Gary |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 19th, 2018 14:03 | 79th Post |
| Gary, Not sure how close but it was full frame at 460mm.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 20th, 2018 05:49 | 80th Post |
| Super shot but sunlight is rough on black birds and shadow detail could be sorted in Photoshop to show a bit more. I think you get best quality for bird pix in overcast weather ie cloudy bright. Look at Eric's shot of the Sedge Warbler spot on lighting giving good detail.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sun May 20th, 2018 06:30 | 81st Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Super shot but sunlight is rough on black birds and shadow detail could be sorted in Photoshop to show a bit more. I think you get best quality for bird pix in overcast weather ie cloudy bright. It's a cruel irony that in the UK we need the sun to give us 1/2000 at f8 and <800 iso...and it brings with it other exposure problems. One, perhaps obvious and basic, thing I've learnt is that when the sun is out full, you really need the bird posing it's head so the part facing the camera is in full sun. The shadow side, no matter how much recovery you do is always 'dead' and pointless facing the camera. Like this... Attachment: 7FD93103-5346-413B-ACE9-47D5C39534B7.jpeg (Downloaded 40 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sun May 20th, 2018 06:31 | 82nd Post |
| ...rather than like this.... Attachment: DA74B433-B497-458B-9C6F-9EE0D997DDCC.jpeg (Downloaded 40 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sun May 20th, 2018 06:37 | 83rd Post |
| I suppose it's just like studio modelling but without the benefit of fill in reflectors (unless water is around to help). The above examples are heavy crops so poor quality but before they get binned they taught me the lesson to pay attention not only to the birds body position and movement but where the light falls on the key area it's eye. Whilst the pose is better in the second one...the eye is going to be dead being in the shadow. Apologies if this sounds a bit like teaching granny to suck eggs to you experts, but I'm on a new learning curve or perhaps remembering things long forgotten...and sharing my journey may be of interest to others. Also....take a look at the boketh out of focus reeds way behind the birds. They show the scintered fragmented look I was mentioning with this lens....it gives a more distracting effect than good old plain fuzz.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 20th, 2018 09:46 | 84th Post |
| Is this any better, using shadows highlights and midtone contrast in Photoshop.I also see the problem you are talking about in background out of focus detail. Attachment: Eric 02.jpg (Downloaded 44 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 20th, 2018 10:04 | 85th Post |
| This was mine at same time with the D850 picked this as with side view most of body was in full shadow. I have over processed slightly in Photoshop to show haw much detail you cam pull out of a Raw file in post processing. Also how does background compare with you lens Eric? Attachment: Redshank0924.jpg (Downloaded 38 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sun May 20th, 2018 12:21 | 86th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Is this any better, using shadows highlights and midtone contrast in Photoshop.I also see the problem you are talking about in background out of focus detail. I was referring to the other Redshank post with it's eye in the shadow. I am aware of the usefulness of the Highlight and Shadows filter. But like most Photoshop filters they can only be used in moderation before the artefacts they reveal become unacceptable. I personally feel that Lightening shadows is a last resort, especially when dealing with a heavily cropped segment of an image. I fear that many of my images of that ilk are better in the bin than attempting a rescue.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sun May 20th, 2018 12:55 | 87th Post |
| Ok, further to my last post, couldn't resist doing some selective tweaking of the shadowed side of the head. But it would be so much easier NOT to put key areas of the image in shadow in the first instance. Attachment: C355F60C-4864-4EA2-901D-7E9CBF3D22DC.jpeg (Downloaded 38 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sun May 20th, 2018 13:21 | 88th Post |
| Have to say Graham, the background on that D850 image is similar to mine. So maybe it's these new sensors or the firmware, rather than the glass??
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 20th, 2018 17:55 | 89th Post |
| I agree that our images above are for the bin I would never dream of blowing up such a small image and hope to get quality.Strong sun is not best lighting for birds has not helped either.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon May 21st, 2018 14:03 | 90th Post |
| Home and this afternoon in Titchfield Haven and the Avocets have produced while we were in E-Anglis. 32 in reserve and in an hour I saw three parents with young. Got quite close to this family with 3 young. Nikon D850 with 80-400lens as above with x1.4. Attachment: Avocets1062f.jpg (Downloaded 33 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon May 21st, 2018 14:05 | 91st Post |
| Then thunder storm, young under Mum while Dad sorts out Shellduck. Sorry quality fell off very low light in heavy rain! Attachment: Avocets1074.jpg (Downloaded 33 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon May 21st, 2018 18:24 | 92nd Post |
| This was the more dramatic shot but sadly with the thunder storm I did not have quite ca fast enough shutter speed! Attachment: Avopcets1078.jpg (Downloaded 30 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Tue May 22nd, 2018 09:29 | 93rd Post |
| One from today, same set up. Attachment: web5.jpg (Downloaded 30 times)
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue May 22nd, 2018 10:27 | 94th Post |
| Super Ian, spot on pix!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed May 23rd, 2018 18:12 | 95th Post |
| Couldn't resist this one Graham Attachment: E99862D1-DA72-48F1-B963-C2F328420FCC.jpeg (Downloaded 19 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 24th, 2018 11:05 | 96th Post |
| Three (mealworms) isn't a crowd! Attachment: 461C9B9A-ACA0-4F41-93D5-19705B524ADE.jpeg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 24th, 2018 11:06 | 97th Post |
| Although it helps if you ram them right down!! Attachment: EEBA9B2E-ADA8-4C0C-9652-EDF901C6CC85.jpeg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 24th, 2018 11:09 | 98th Post |
| Next lesson...bathing! Attachment: 8DA57BB6-9C85-458D-BB90-BED76AC5D98E.jpeg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu May 24th, 2018 11:30 | 99th Post |
| Not a great day here cloudy and dull but this Little Owl was playing. Would have preferred it on a tree. Attachment: Web6.jpg (Downloaded 22 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Thu May 24th, 2018 12:10 | 100th Post |
| I am very envious how you manage to get out photographing birds so frequently, Iain. Ever since retiring I seem to have some domestic duty interfering too frequently....and when there's an opportunity, the weather is invariably unfavourable or the wife has an appointment at the dentist/doctor/hairdressers/chiropodist. I only managed to photograph the starlings as the car was in for service and I couldn't go anywhere. Looking forward to some ME time some time soon. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu May 24th, 2018 13:01 | 101st Post |
| I'm lucky in that Kay is still working so time is my own.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 24th, 2018 13:37 | 102nd Post |
| Eric we also lawn full of baby starlings in rain today camera had 500mm on too large so close. Great Little Owl pix Ian.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu May 24th, 2018 15:44 | 103rd Post |
| Think I will send Jan back out to work. Having just had car serviced and discovered it really needs a complete set of boots, it would have a double advantage.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri May 25th, 2018 18:15 | 104th Post |
| I have been testing the D850 with the big 500mm AF-S f4 lens for first time with the x1.4 extender giving a 700mm lens. Depth of field is a serious problem and even at f9 focus must be spot on. This was dull light today so 1250 ISO and 1/800 sec at f9 hand held. Even with the x1.4 extender the Sparrow is not even 1/2 of the total frame size. Attachment: Sparrow1095.jpg (Downloaded 35 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sat May 26th, 2018 08:13 | 105th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:I have been testing the D850 with the big 500mm AF-S f4 lens for first time with the x1.4 extender giving a 700mm lens. Depth of field is a serious problem and even at f9 focus must be spot on. This was dull light today so 1250 ISO and 1/800 sec at f9 hand held. Even with the x1.4 extender the Sparrow is not even 1/2 of the total frame size. Well that's a pretty decent shot...despite your reservations about cropping. No noise issue...sharp on the eye....even a highlight in the eye! Lovely IQ. Thinking aloud...... It's normally ideal to fill the frame in the camera. But when the subject is moving erratically and quickly it's harder to keep a full frame subject framed. So one HAS to back off magnification to be able to follow movement. This inevitable means cropping of the final image....and therefore the quality of the sensors pixels and noise control become more important. Of course this is true for birds in flight also, but these tend to be bigger birds. So in some ways having longer lenses or getting closer with lesser tele lenses may not be the key to getting best shots from smaller birds. Getting the little b@@@ers to stay still, knowing their location and probable movements are bigger contributors....along with best sensor. I am there leaning towards your preferred combination D850 with 80-400mm and 1.4tc. Although reading some US photographers take on this, they go one stage further. They suggest the bigger pixels of the D5 give better low light performance and reduced noise levels even superior to the D850 even when cropped! Interesting thought.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 26th, 2018 08:24 | 106th Post |
| There are two thing in what you say Eric, 1. I am now taking even small birds with space around then to give an idea of the environment they live in so I dont need to fil;l the frame. 2.While the D5 would, in my opinion,would give everything you need for wildlife photography there is still the issue that it is FF so you need to get closer for the shots or crop more.
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| Posted by Eric: Sat May 26th, 2018 09:00 | 107th Post |
Iain wrote:There are two thing in what you say Eric, I will try and find the article that I read Iain. It was interesting because it compared D5, D850 and the D500 in wildlife situations. The conclusion was indeed that the advantage of the D500 was obviously the DX multiplier. But when light levels were low, the noise levels of the D500 were a little higher than the D850 but a lot higher than the D5. So in situations where you needed to use high iso you were better off using the D5 and cropping. Interestingly he was of the view that the extra pixels of the D850 didn't best the D5. He felt the old chestnut of 'bigger pixels are better' still came up trumps. I know it's a different generation but I wonder if you have got a view about the D4 in low light situations compared to the D500? Which wins at say 3000 iso....a D500 or a cropped D4? PS....I think your cropping is just right. You put the bird in the habitat to give a more interesting image.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 26th, 2018 09:22 | 108th Post |
| The D4 is better than the D500 in low light and I would say that full frame the IQ is better two but when you come the cropping the advantage is lost.
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| Posted by Eric: Sat May 26th, 2018 10:19 | 109th Post |
Iain wrote:The D4 is better than the D500 in low light and I would say that full frame the IQ is better two but when you come the cropping the advantage is lost. Maybe the extra mp of the D5 tip the balance? Bit academic ....as I have no intention of getting a D5.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat May 26th, 2018 11:22 | 110th Post |
| If I had the money I'd risk one or if someone offered to buy me one I'm sure I could manage to accept it.
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| Posted by Robert: Sat May 26th, 2018 18:34 | 111th Post |
| You guys just lack commitment, just get a D5 each and then you can find out for sure.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 27th, 2018 06:21 | 112th Post |
| I keep saying the D850 is all you need. (I have tried the D5 when I purchased the D850 and for birds not as good ) This pix today is 500mm F4 plus x1.4 hand held 1/800 sec VR f13 ISO 1250 Attachment: Young Starling 1114 D.jpg (Downloaded 31 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 27th, 2018 06:23 | 113th Post |
| See wahat I mean? This blow up from above would make a spot on 16x12 inch exhibition quality print. Attachment: Young Starling 1114 S.jpg (Downloaded 30 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Sun May 27th, 2018 09:01 | 114th Post |
| Plenty of reach and sharpness there Graham. Excellent as always.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Sun May 27th, 2018 11:32 | 115th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:I keep saying the D850 is all you need. (I have tried the D5 when I purchased the D850 and for birds not as good ) This pix today is 500mm F4 plus x1.4 hand held 1/800 sec VR f13 ISO 1250I have to say I found it to be the other way round. The D5 locks on a little bit quicker and the noise is less. After trying all three taking sporting action I would put then D5, D500 and D850 but thats just my opinion.
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| Posted by Robert: Sun May 27th, 2018 13:13 | 116th Post |
| All three have their attributes from a photographic point of view. I see the D5 as king, versatile, robust and very high quality images but expensive if you don't need the robust, or incredible speed. The D500 as little sister of the D5 with DX and better spread of AF points, almost as robust and almost as fast. The D850 as I see it is ultimate quality image, with wonderful dynamic range and resolution but looses a tad on the speed, focusing and robustness, also expensive and very demanding of computer power for post processing and storage.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Sun May 27th, 2018 15:01 | 117th Post |
Robert wrote:All three have their attributes from a photographic point of view. I would agree.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon May 28th, 2018 02:49 | 118th Post |
| D500-D850 auto focus and holding focus in action both much the same. Noise on D850 is better and you can use higher ISO. A shown above, in youg starling pix, you can get large sharp images for D850 with fine detail and I would doubt if D5 would score so highly in this area but I did only get to use one for a day.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Mon May 28th, 2018 04:03 | 119th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:D500-D850 auto focus and holding focus in action both much the same. Noise on D850 is better and you can use higher ISO. A shown above, in youg starling pix, you can get large sharp images for D850 with fine detail and I would doubt if D5 would score so highly in this area but I did only get to use one for a day. Yes, but my complaint with FX is that the AF points cover a much smaller proportion of the image than with DX. AFAIK that holds true between the D5/D850 and the D500. It drive me nuts sometimes. I don't always, in fact I rarely want the point of focus in the centre of the image. I know you can acquire focus, lock then re-frame but I don't want the faffing about that entails especially with moving subjects. The focus points on FX should have a similar distribution on FX as they do on DX, it seems like a cost cutting measure to utilise the same AF module on both formats.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Mon May 28th, 2018 04:11 | 120th Post |
Robert wrote:Graham Whistler wrote: Yes that is correct. The DX spread of AF points in the viewfinder is greater than on an FX camera. If I want a better control of points then I switch to AF-C mode with Dynamic which seems to work well especially with wideanglelenses.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Mon May 28th, 2018 08:38 | 121st Post |
Robert wrote:Graham Whistler wrote: Maybe it's just that they are a fixed dimension/area on both...but when overlayed it covers more of a DX sensor than it does on the larger FX? Maybe my memory is playing up but I don't recall the focus point distribution on th D3 to be limiting in any way? As you say, if required you could focus and reframe. But I don't recall the frequency of that requirement to have ever been an issue. Whilst the point is well made, I do wonder how often the D850 focusing range limits would be an obstacle in use? Tracking moving birds means 'get then in the middle and keep them there' for me. I never have time to compose in camera...and anyway focal length limitation invariably mean cropping to suit is always necessary.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Mon May 28th, 2018 08:57 | 122nd Post |
Eric wrote:Maybe my memory is playing up but I don't recall the focus point distribution on th D3 to be limiting in any way? As you say, if required you could focus and reframe. But I don't recall the frequency of that requirement to have ever been an issue. I'm an obtuse old so and so...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Mon May 28th, 2018 11:53 | 123rd Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: Ah yes...coming at the problem from a different angle.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Mon May 28th, 2018 11:57 | 124th Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: I think we are all moving into that bracket.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 1st, 2018 07:09 | 125th Post |
| Very wet afternoon at Blashford Lakes Reserve (Ringwood Hants) yesterday. Very little about but this very wet Jay posed for a few pixs. D850 80-400 plus x1.4. Poor light ISO 2000 1/650 sec f8 Attachment: Jay1172.jpg (Downloaded 44 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 1st, 2018 07:10 | 126th Post |
| Also very fedup Robin! Attachment: Robin1160.jpg (Downloaded 45 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Jun 1st, 2018 09:04 | 127th Post |
| Didn't get out much this week but got this one of a common tuen. Attachment: D50_6490.jpg (Downloaded 42 times)
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 1st, 2018 09:57 | 128th Post |
| Good one Ian at least it's dry!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Jun 1st, 2018 13:11 | 129th Post |
| It's been cold dull and windy but dry.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jun 5th, 2018 18:26 | 130th Post |
| Shelduck this evening at Titchfield Haven. D500 with 18-140mm lens. Attachment: Shelduck 0218.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 5th, 2018 18:42 | 131st Post |
| Sweet!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 09:46 | 132nd Post |
| One from today and one that is not a bird but does fly both taken with D500 and sig 150-600 at 600mm Attachment: D50_6686.jpg (Downloaded 31 times)
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| Posted by Iain: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 09:47 | 133rd Post |
| Couldn't get both to go on the one post. Attachment: D50_6619.jpg (Downloaded 31 times)
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| Posted by Robert: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 10:41 | 134th Post |
| Can see what you mean, would need a much bigger post. How do you find the Sigma 150-600mm Iain? It seems pretty sharp and has nice bokeh, at least in the second image, not bad in the first. With the DX it's the equivalent of 750mm which is beginning to be useful for birds. Are you still finding you have to crop heavily?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 12:08 | 135th Post |
Robert wrote:Can see what you mean, would need a much bigger post. The first one I had was soft so exchanged it and the second copy was fine. Focus is quite quick on the D500 and should be good on your D3. On the D500 it gives a FOV of 900mm, 600mm x the 1.5 crop so really good for birds except for the ones that know what size lens you have on and move back 20 feet.
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| Posted by Robert: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 12:42 | 136th Post |
Whoops! my maths are a bit out, 900 of course, I must have been thinking 500mm.  Thanks for that, interesting. Certainly gives plenty of working distance for the insects!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 12:56 | 137th Post |
Robert wrote:Whoops! my maths are a bit out, 900 of course, I must have been thinking 500mm.The four spot chaser was taken at 600mm f8 as always it looks a bit softer on the forum than it is.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 17:58 | 138th Post |
| First class well done!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 7th, 2018 08:48 | 139th Post |
| I had a nightingale singing in a tree, 4ft outside my caravan window this morning... at 5am. I opened the blind to tell it to b@gger off and it clearly knew what I wanted it to do. If it's there tomorrow....I will probable do the same, as I am not my sharpest at 5am after a few beers the night before.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Thu Jun 7th, 2018 14:47 | 140th Post |
| Eric, you need to sit up with a bottle of wine!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 7th, 2018 14:57 | 141st Post |
Eric wrote:I had a nightingale singing in a tree, 4ft outside my caravan window this morning... at 5am. I opened the blind to tell it to b@gger off and it clearly knew what I wanted it to do. If it's there tomorrow....I will probable do the same, as I am not my sharpest at 5am after a few beers the night before. Think I would be there with the camera.
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| Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 8th, 2018 16:15 | 142nd Post |
Iain wrote:Eric wrote: Didn't come back this morning. The sight of me first thing was obviously too much for it. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Fri Jun 8th, 2018 18:04 | 143rd Post |
Poor Nightingale probably only wanted you to take it's picture!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Jun 9th, 2018 03:32 | 144th Post |
Robert wrote:
It's keeping its distance across other side of the site. Moving on today so it can have its pitch back.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jun 16th, 2018 18:43 | 145th Post |
| 3 Young Starlings at our bird bath. D500 with 80-400mm AF-S at 400mm 1/2500 sec f7.1 1000 ISO. Attachment: 3 Young Starlings rgb.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sun Jun 17th, 2018 13:36 | 146th Post |
| Rough old hide I am in at the moment, Graham. Attachment: 3127C1B2-F920-451D-B559-E533912677D4.jpeg (Downloaded 33 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sun Jun 17th, 2018 14:06 | 147th Post |
| Parent magpie was feeding 4 young! Loads of feeding shots but considering all her/his paternal efforts, I was surprised he/she was in such good condition. Attachment: 507D7C17-F6B6-45A3-A825-33281995346D.jpeg (Downloaded 32 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sun Jun 17th, 2018 15:15 | 148th Post |
Eric wrote:Rough old hide I am in at the moment, Graham.NOW that's the sort of hide I like.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jun 17th, 2018 18:40 | 149th Post |
| Looks good to me hope you are having a good holiday. Robert has been in touch and he will be joining me for a day in Ravenglass when I am filming first week in July. I have fixed up a cab ride for him on one of the steam locos and he will record the event with GoPro and I hope some D3!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 22nd, 2018 12:45 | 150th Post |
| Evening Flight, Isla Attachment: Islay Evening Flight small.jpg (Downloaded 27 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Fri Jun 22nd, 2018 18:13 | 151st Post |
| Nice shot Graham. Looks like the geese are from a composite.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 22nd, 2018 18:22 | 152nd Post |
| Well spotted JK, yes the judge at our camera club did not like the landsape giving it only 8 out of 10 so I spiced it up a bit in Photoshop with the Canada Geese taken with D500 and 500mm lens. Main pix in Isla with D810 24-70mm AF-S lens.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Fri Jun 22nd, 2018 18:42 | 153rd Post |
| Well I wont comment further on photo judges other than many have little talent or ability and that their critique is frequently stilted. Personally I like the original Isla shot.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Jun 23rd, 2018 03:14 | 154th Post |
jk wrote:Well I wont comment further on photo judges other than many have little talent or ability and that their critique is frequently stilted. I have to agree with your comment, the Isla shot is great it would look nice hanging on the wall.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jun 23rd, 2018 13:29 | 155th Post |
| I have sold quite a few copies of the Isla shot w/o birds at art exhibitions as reported in Sale of Fine Art Prints.It also did well in an RPS exhibition that makes the point about local judges. I am still very happy to be in the local Gosport camera club and have made several like minded local friends.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Jun 23rd, 2018 13:30 | 156th Post |
| I'm not surprised Graham.
|
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 04:54 | 157th Post |
| Despite my claims to avoid bird photography at all, one of my fascinations is capturing swallows, they are so fast and unpredictable. This isn't a lens challenge, more reactions and speed. Last weekend 23-24th June, Christopher and I went to Scotland, long story but suffice to say it was a wonderful weekend apart from the midges. We stayed at a campsite right next to a river with the most ferocious midges I have yet encountered. With the midges came swallows. In the morning I amused myself trying to photograph the swallows. I was shooting into the sun which didn't help, The lens was set in f/20, which explained why I needed ISO 3,200 to get an image at 1/500 sec, I was putting it down to the dark conditions, early morning and under trees. I am not used to using Shutter priority, which seemed appropriate at the time... I will stick with Aperture priority in future I think. I used the 70-300 VR, hand held on the D3. The surface of the river was reflective, smooth black, mirror like. The swallows were catching flies very close to the water, indeed even splashing down occasionally. I had been hoping for a kingfisher which I was told do frequent that section of the river but perhaps they saw my lens. Not wonderful images but in those conditions I was quite pleased. Don't think I will win any prizes with them.   I like the reflections.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 04:57 | 158th Post |
| You got images Robert and that is a feat in its self with swallows.
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| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 05:05 | 159th Post |
| Thanks Iain, yes they are quick! You can see how many midges there were. This one is un-processed, just cropped. Shows how powerful Lightroom is at recovering images, the two above were as dark as this one.  The wing tip almost touched the water!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 07:16 | 160th Post |
| Love the 2nd one you did will getting them sharp at 1/500 sec. I try to use at least 1/1600 for flight pixs.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 07:29 | 161st Post |
| Thanks Graham, I only spent half an hour, there were a lot of misses! How I ended up with f/20 I have no Idea? I spent all Saturday photographing waterfalls, I was using f/22 a lot at ISO100, I can't understand why low ISO seems to be only a recent afterthought, I would have thought low ISO would have been easy. I don't have large ND filters for milky waterfalls. The D810 only goes down to ISO64.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 09:44 | 162nd Post |
| From my caravan hide...
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 10:08 | 163rd Post |
| Nice shot Eric I guessing it was a blue sky!
|
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 11:26 | 164th Post |
Went to post image and it's too big. Haven't got size reduction software with me here in France...although I could email myself a lower res copy and post that Here we go... Attachment: 58BC9E81-6B77-4DA1-A1FB-57B4B9130050.jpeg (Downloaded 17 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 11:33 | 165th Post |
| Won't bore you with others as they are all fairly common birds, but I logged 24 species in 4 days on that campsite, including a little tern and 3 different woodpeckers. This chap came when light fading so a bit noisy and too slow shutter. Attachment: 3F79EBA7-67E3-416B-B691-3DF8731D5CA2.jpeg (Downloaded 16 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 11:51 | 166th Post |
| Do they chirp and sing in French?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 12:10 | 167th Post |
Robert wrote:Do they chirp and sing in French?
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| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 12:24 | 168th Post |
Robert wrote:Do they chirp and sing in French? Actually the Blackcaps here have a different song to the one in my garden back home.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 12:39 | 169th Post |
| On another amusing note. Jan and I set off to visit a Chateau early one morning as it was some miles away. As we drove across deserted French country roads ( where are the French?) I saw a turtle dove on the phone wire as I drove passed. I stopped, U turned round, drove back, U turned and got th3 wife's Panasonic off the back seat. Turtle doves are very wary...probably due to being shot at! So my plan was to drive passed it again slowly, lean out of the window an let AFC do the rest. Well it moved further down the wire, so I drove further along...and it moved further along. "what I need, Jan, is for you to steer the car while I lean out the window with both hands free and we will go faster so the dove doesn't feel threatened". Off we go. I got a sort or grab shot record. (Below) But when I reseated myself and taken back the wheel ....Jan had been faithfully steering us ....on the left hand side of the road. Fortunately no Gendarmes, farmers or other road users about...or we wouldnt have done it. But I haven't seen a turtle dove for 25years...so worth being naughty for a few minutes. Attachment: CD45E808-CEA9-4134-968C-6635397C528B.jpeg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 12:46 | 170th Post |
| Here a better tree creeper shot.... B@gger, too big again. Will give up till we are back in Blighty next month.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 13:32 | 171st Post |
Eric wrote:Jan had been faithfully steering us ....on the left hand side of the road. Well, what's wrong with that? That's where I drive, most of the time. Nice turtle dove!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 14:18 | 172nd Post |
| The second shot is exceptional. I guess you have seen the reflection of the swallow in the water?
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 15:16 | 173rd Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: I actually find it harder to drive on left when I come back to UK. It's as if the concentration of driving on right is firmly imprinted on the brain cancelling a life of uk driving. My wife comes to my assistance yet again...she shouts LEFT, LEFT, LEFT as I we drive away.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 15:29 | 174th Post |
Eric wrote:Robert wrote: Just remember for your dodgy UK car in Europe....... Drive on the pavement, you are closest to the pavement!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 15:53 | 175th Post |
jk wrote:The second shot is exceptional. Thanks JK, yes, I have (had) some where the bird literally collides with the water and some nice reflections but exposure all to pot. I covered about 800 miles in 56 Hrs, still a bit jet lagged.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jun 26th, 2018 18:48 | 176th Post |
| Here a better tree creeper shot.... I can not see this? Glad you are having a good trip. Hope to get pixs of 3 bab y Little Owls with Malcolm tomorrow evening.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Jun 27th, 2018 02:39 | 177th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Here a better tree creeper shot.... I didn't post it Graham. I haven't got photoshop or an app that will sample down the D500 files on my iPad. The only course I have is to email myself a copy at a reduced file size which results in quite inferior images. You seem to retain quality in your posted images despite downsizing for the forum. Is there a trick I am missing or is it just downsampling in PS you do? I know Robert posts images elsewhere and links the image to the forum to retain quality. I planned to do the same...but hav3nt got round to it yet.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Jun 27th, 2018 02:49 | 178th Post |
| This is an 800kb version to be going on with..... Attachment: 18F68B9B-81E6-4B3B-8893-A103C6988586.jpeg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 28th, 2018 09:44 | 179th Post |
| One form yesterday. Again the head doesn't look sharp on the forum. Attachment: Web7.jpg (Downloaded 11 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 28th, 2018 11:31 | 180th Post |
Iain wrote:One form yesterday. I reckon it terned it's head.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 28th, 2018 12:22 | 181st Post |
Eric wrote:Iain wrote: 
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jun 28th, 2018 13:02 | 182nd Post |
| Twany Owl with young from yesterday. D850 with 80-400mm lens. It was quite late evening, 3200 ISO lens at f5.6 1/200 sec. Attachment: Tawney1475.jpg (Downloaded 42 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Thu Jun 28th, 2018 14:55 | 183rd Post |
| I think he is fishing for compliments! Nice one Iain.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 28th, 2018 15:13 | 184th Post |
| It's getting worse
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 02:32 | 185th Post |
| Three Little Owls, D850 again very late evening and 3200 ISO need I say more this made a noise free A3+ print. Attachment: _DSC1386.jpg (Downloaded 37 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 04:56 | 186th Post |
| I am a bit peed off with our feathered friends. Spent a couple of hours in 28deg walking 6km around a meandering boardwalk through reedbeds yesterday and photographed.....a coot and a heron. Oh I did get half a Reed warbler as well. Think I saw, for a millisecond, a pair of bluethroats chasing each other. Heard a grasshopper warbler, crept up on it ....and it flew off before I could raise the camera. All the reeds were too high and dense to enable cameras to focus through. So I lost some lovely reed bunting and Sergie poses.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 06:30 | 187th Post |
| Eric sorry about that often the way you do best in your own back garden and you live in best bit of UK for birds! I'm off on Sunday to Ravenglass for a weeks filming on the little railway but will take a Nikon D500 just in case!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 14:33 | 188th Post |
| A Sedge Warbler that was nesting very close to where I took this and feeding young. Attachment: Web8.jpg (Downloaded 38 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 14:48 | 189th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Eric sorry about that often the way you do best in your own back garden and you live in best bit of UK for birds! I'm off on Sunday to Ravenglass for a weeks filming on the little railway but will take a Nikon D500 just in case! Hope weather holds for you. On a positive note, Ive just been told by Mike (whom you met) that my tree creeper is a short toed treecreeper common in Europe but different to the one we get in the UK. So that's a new tick for me as well! I thought it's bill looked very large but not being up on these sort of distinctions any more, I assumed it had a big 'beak'...because it was french.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 14:51 | 190th Post |
Iain wrote:A Sedge Warbler that was nesting very close to where I took this and feeding young. Nice sedgie,Iain The grasshopper warbler was close enough to get that sort of shot but was behind the leaves like you have on the left. The D500 preferred the leaves to the warblers eye between them, for some reason. One repositioning move and it was gone. 
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 16:44 | 191st Post |
| The joys of wildlife photography
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| Posted by Robert: Fri Jun 29th, 2018 19:50 | 192nd Post |
| https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44658839/what-a-hoot-tawny-owl-takes-a-bath
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jun 30th, 2018 06:29 | 193rd Post |
| Yes Robert our 2 baby Little Owls and their Dad wanted to cool their feet after our above photo session this week. It was nearly dark by then so once again the Nikon D850 pushes very high ISO with no problems with quality! Attachment: Little Owls Bath.jpg (Downloaded 30 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Jul 4th, 2018 14:32 | 194th Post |
| One form today taken on a Canon sx50 as I went out to take butterflies popped into the hide and found this just outside. Attachment: web9.jpeg (Downloaded 24 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Thu Jul 5th, 2018 07:31 | 195th Post |
| Very nice find. Haven't seen a Dabchick for years. Lovely little bird.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jul 5th, 2018 09:32 | 196th Post |
| I'm lucky we have a few ponds here with them in.
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| Posted by Iain: Mon Jul 9th, 2018 04:24 | 197th Post |
| One from the weekend of the sedge warbler again. Attachment: Web9.jpg (Downloaded 14 times)
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jul 9th, 2018 05:08 | 198th Post |
| Nice one!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Jul 9th, 2018 16:43 | 199th Post |
| Young thrush tried to come into our conservatory ...with the window shut! It was only a slight bump but he had a sit while he gained his composure. Flew off a few minutes later and was feeding on the patio a little later on, apparently unhurt...but no doubt a little wiser. Attachment: 2ACF41E8-48A6-4660-81E5-887616C9E2ED.jpeg (Downloaded 11 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Jul 9th, 2018 16:51 | 200th Post |
| Another angle, probably the last view a snail gets!! Attachment: 8E4F6452-4D43-413B-BE73-184247CAD5A1.jpeg (Downloaded 11 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Mon Jul 9th, 2018 16:58 | 201st Post |
Eric too droll!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jul 10th, 2018 14:01 | 202nd Post |
| A Little Egret getting all fluffed up from today. Attachment: web10.jpg (Downloaded 37 times)
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| Posted by jk: Tue Jul 10th, 2018 15:31 | 203rd Post |
| Nice one Iain. We see them here in Spain but they are sleeker!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jul 10th, 2018 15:37 | 204th Post |
| This was the same bird 2 mins before something made it fluff up. Attachment: web11.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)
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| Posted by jk: Tue Jul 10th, 2018 15:48 | 205th Post |
| I think Tres Amigos or Three Friends is more appropriate!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jul 10th, 2018 17:06 | 206th Post |
Iain wrote:A Little Egret getting all fluffed up from today. Looks like it's on a mission! Watching these birds regularly you can see behaviour which isn't obvious unless you are attuned with them. That's one of the things I particularly like about watching nature, I don't do enough of it. Even watching the vermin seagulls around my home can be entertaining and enlightening, only yesterday I was watching some seagulls mobbing a buzzard, they drove it away eventually. It was far too far away to photograph, mere specks in the sky but watching them was amazing.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 08:03 | 207th Post |
| I've been house bound the last few days on domestic duties, while Jan recovers from a minor op. So my attention turned to the families of birds visiting a bird bath outside the window. I videoed 9 bluetits trying to bath and drink at the same time! In fact it was hard to isolate one without another tail or a beak poking into shot. But here's one...cropped to exclude sibling parts.... Attachment: E5F84814-C14A-4BB3-9D49-3FF0AD9C9CC0.jpeg (Downloaded 22 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 09:30 | 208th Post |
| Some were a little more reticent.... Attachment: 79226732-D5ED-4232-B9D2-51DDB00CADC5.jpeg (Downloaded 21 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 09:36 | 209th Post |
| We also had a family? of 6 magpies in the garden. They all gathered round a small acer and were jumping up and down like they were on elastic. I assumed they were trying to grab caterpillars or grubs off the leaves? The adults were more sensible ...they landed and stayed in the tree. Far less expenditure of energy. Kids...they never listen. Attachment: 6979FCA2-6283-4074-89A8-6C243F98880F.jpeg (Downloaded 22 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 17:19 | 210th Post |
| Managed to grab a couple of hours at RSPB Titchwell this evening.... Caspian Gull being mobbed by blockheaded gull.... Attachment: 211CBD13-8FEC-48DD-8956-E68F94DEB3C9.jpeg (Downloaded 18 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 17:20 | 211th Post |
| And another.... Attachment: 8CFBE04D-2653-44CD-A686-89B17B1D965F.jpeg (Downloaded 17 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 17:21 | 212th Post |
| Sitting for a couple of hours I was rewarded by a Lesser Yellowlegs.... Attachment: 688D7F27-74EB-4B08-8C81-5B8EF3B107CB.jpeg (Downloaded 18 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 17:23 | 213th Post |
| And as the sun went down..... Attachment: CC573E7F-0609-48F1-92B8-8D1B51773999.jpeg (Downloaded 19 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 17:24 | 214th Post |
| It spread its wings and left....so did I. Attachment: D0542D3D-BAF3-4EC6-8944-19B6B9DA1B1B.jpeg (Downloaded 19 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jul 17th, 2018 17:49 | 215th Post |
Eric wrote:Managed to grab a couple of hours at RSPB Titchwell this evening.... Nice series Eric, was the Black Headed Gull just having a bad day or are they all aggressive to their neighbours? We are overrun with gulls here not to sure which kind. Perhaps black back? They seem to get along pretty well. Have some funny moments when the chicks start to fly, they land on the roofs of the houses, some of which are very slippery...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jul 18th, 2018 05:02 | 216th Post |
| Good set of pixs Eric liked the Yellow Legs a stray over from the USA? We had one in our local reserve Titchfield Haven three years ago and had two weeks of birders from all over to see it! July 2015 D810 Attachment: YellowLegs1683.jpg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Jul 18th, 2018 05:03 | 217th Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: The Caspian gull is a lot bigger and the Black headed was I suspect protecting its young that although big enough to fly themselves are still under the parents protection. The yellow legs was being harassed by a Redshank every time it went near its chicks. Of course they are the same class of birds, so they compete for same food source...so it may also be saying"my patch".
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Jul 18th, 2018 05:07 | 218th Post |
| Just noticed that in the photo of the black headed gull hovering over the Caspian ....there is a Mediterranean gull on the extreme left. It's black head extends further back and down the neck and it's white eye ring isn't continuous giving the appearance of eyelids! So 4 gull species and an avocet in one shot.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jul 18th, 2018 06:34 | 219th Post |
| You could be right Mediterranean Gulls seem to be mixing in with our local Black-Headed Gulls in Titchfield this year I find it very hard to see much difference. As you say Eric the Med Gull has whiter eyelids and also a thicked bright red bill.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Jul 18th, 2018 15:48 | 220th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Good set of pixs Eric liked the Yellow Legs a stray over from the USA? We had one in our local reserve Titchfield Haven three years ago and had two weeks of birders from all over to see it! July 2015 D810 Thanks...yes a stray migrant from USA. But it may have been last year. That's a lovely image you captured. Lighting was poor here yesterday, for once overcast! Could have done with that sunlight but only emerged at Titchwell at 8pm! He was wandering about feeding quite rapidly ...so that didn't help. And ...I really could have done with that new 500mm lens. Attachment: C36A3379-099D-4C3B-82F7-9156437DF6F8.jpeg (Downloaded 15 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jul 19th, 2018 10:05 | 221st Post |
| Nice set of pictures Eric and you seem to have done alright with what you were using.
|
| Posted by Eric: Fri Jul 20th, 2018 07:14 | 222nd Post |
Iain wrote:Nice set of pictures Eric and you seem to have done alright with what you were using. Thanks Iain. As you know it all depends on how close you can get to minimise cropping loss of detail. I think a 500mm lens would have been better for the yellowlegs because lighting was dull... so ISO high. Cropping in those situations always tends to result in less than ideal clarity. Having said that, there wa a guy in the hide with an 800mm and he kept saying.."it's too close for me now". Personally I would love a 500mm with the integral switchable 1.4x tc. I think with the D500 that would be a good flexible and fast combination. Really don't understand Nikon just fitting that feature to a zoom lens.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Jul 20th, 2018 08:11 | 223rd Post |
| It does seem odd, i know from a sports point of view a 300 or 400 2.8 with a internal tc would be great.
|
| Posted by Eric: Fri Jul 20th, 2018 10:04 | 224th Post |
Iain wrote:It does seem odd, i know from a sports point of view a 300 or 400 2.8 with a internal tc would be great. Yes it would. I suspect if they made tc switching so easy, it could impact on zoom sales! I rarely use all the focal lengths on a zoom....normally use the two extremes. So a switchable tc on a prime would be far more useful.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Jul 20th, 2018 12:02 | 225th Post |
| One from this week, a young Water Rail. Attachment: web12.jpg (Downloaded 39 times)
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jul 21st, 2018 05:13 | 226th Post |
| Very good pix Ian, well seen!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jul 21st, 2018 14:31 | 227th Post |
| Another Little Owls pix father is on post and 4 week old are the two on left. Attachment: Little Owls 3.jpg (Downloaded 35 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 21st, 2018 16:39 | 228th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Another Little Owls pix father is on post and 4 week old are the two on left. Lovely image, Graham My wife says ...can you grab a couple for her and bring them up in September? 35 years ago we were driving to Norwich ton the scenic route. As we approach a cross roads that was new to me I looked at the signpost. NB this was before sat navs!! Sitting on the sign was a little owl. Not sure which of us was more surprised but we sat and looked at each other for several seconds before it flew off in the direction of Norwich. So we followed the owl. It was the first and only time I have seen a little owl in the wild. But every time I go past that junction I always check the signpost.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jul 24th, 2018 11:47 | 229th Post |
| Not a bird but it does fly Taken at 600mm on the sig 150-600 and D500 Attachment: web13.jpg (Downloaded 28 times)
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| Posted by Robert: Tue Jul 24th, 2018 12:27 | 230th Post |
| Very nice Iain.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Jul 24th, 2018 16:12 | 231st Post |
| Is it just me or have others noticed that some photos when put on the forum seem to look soft even when sharp before putting them on.
|
| Posted by Robert: Tue Jul 24th, 2018 16:30 | 232nd Post |
| Need to go to supersavers Iain! LOL No, it's not you, it's the forum software, most, if not all, suffer to some degree. It compresses the quality out of the images, colour range and sharpness. I tend to use Flicker, although several of these 'free' image hosting sites seem to be stopping allowing images to be hosted then displayed on forums. I think photo bucket is one. Increasingly I am seeing messages that images are no longer available.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Wed Jul 25th, 2018 05:15 | 233rd Post |
| Nice one Iain. Yes the forum software seems to fuzz the images. I dont know why but it is something that the next change in software needs to consider and address.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Wed Jul 25th, 2018 11:15 | 234th Post |
| Coppermines has a good name, or did last time I looked.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Jul 25th, 2018 11:27 | 235th Post |
Robert wrote:Need to go to supersavers Iain! LOL The appointment is already booked for next month.
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| Posted by Eric: Thu Jul 26th, 2018 16:36 | 236th Post |
| Coincidentally Iain, my attention turned to butterflies today. This Gatekeeper was in the garden while I was testing out my new lens.(80-400). And yes, the software really messes with sharpness. Attachment: E492B459-FEEB-4F48-A6FB-0AFCB81DB9B0.jpeg (Downloaded 18 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Jul 26th, 2018 16:53 | 237th Post |
| So you've gone for the 80-400 then.
|
| Posted by Robert: Thu Jul 26th, 2018 17:07 | 238th Post |
| Very good Eric, despite the degradation. The high contrast background helps a lot. To some degree I think we have to accept that forum hosted images will be badly degraded, I don't think any forum image software is much better, the issue is storage of the image on the forum server and speed of delivery to the viewer. The cost of storage of large numbers of good quality images on the server would I think be prohibitive. Even with hosted images I am regularly seeing very slow presentation of image as they slowly populate posts on other forums, some not even appearing at all. A good (strong?) contrast image will usually present better and more clearly than a low contrast image. This becomes an issue with fine detail like feathers and the tiny scales on butterfly wings, which can become a mush rather than beautiful and clearly defined detail.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Fri Jul 27th, 2018 06:29 | 239th Post |
| Love the inky blackness of the background Eric. Did you notice the bee on the top flower (just its rear)? Love the single eye spot on the butterfly wing.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 28th, 2018 15:24 | 240th Post |
jk wrote:Love the inky blackness of the background Eric.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 28th, 2018 15:25 | 241st Post |
jk wrote:Love the inky blackness of the background Eric. I missed that bee, Jk. There was one flying in bottom right corner ....but I cropped it out as it was too near frame edge and distracting. Attachment: C6496DC3-907A-4567-8BF0-FDFE3EC042E0.jpeg (Downloaded 44 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 28th, 2018 15:30 | 242nd Post |
Iain wrote:So you've gone for the 80-400 then. Yes Iain. I managed to pick up a grade 9 used model at WEX for £1000 cheaper than a new one! The butterfly was one of the first test images. I want to fully compare IQ with my 300P lens...at 300 of course... before 14day return runs out. Just in case there was a fault the previous owner discovered and WEX didn't. At 400mm it seems to be ok.... Attachment: 0D52127F-72AD-4C8E-9A2A-E1D83CB0C21F.jpeg (Downloaded 47 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 28th, 2018 15:52 | 243rd Post |
| Another at 400mm Attachment: 0BB66CBD-1A0E-461C-9250-728F3203C8F6.jpeg (Downloaded 45 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jul 29th, 2018 02:52 | 244th Post |
| Starting to look good but you can do better now you have the right lens and your good skills!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Sun Jul 29th, 2018 04:16 | 245th Post |
| The lens seems good, one must wonder why the PO disposed of the lens... I can't help but notice the perch peg on the feeder appears to be aluminium, might it not be more comfortable for the birds if you used a bit of round wood like a twig, drilled up the centre and slid over the aluminium perch with a little glue to keep it from rotating? Just a thought... The bird seems to be clenching the aluminium peg very tightly.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Sun Jul 29th, 2018 04:57 | 246th Post |
Robert wrote:The lens seems good, one must wonder why the PO disposed of the lens... I asked WEX the same question!! They said they were experiencing a lot of people switching to mirrorless. You can imagine my response (if that were true) . The lens is totally unmarked and all the contents eg straps and pouch, unused. It had all the impressions of someone who bought it and never bothered to use it....unless they did and found something wrong with it? That's why I have to try it out exhaustively next week before 14day cooling off period, 'warms up'. It's funny you mention the birds grip on the perch. It had just lost its grip on a sunflower seed it was sandwiching between its claws. The claws were interlocked round each other and the seed in manner that made me wonder if it was gripping the perch at all. The perches are aluminium for hygiene. As they are easier to clean which is important to stop diseases crossing between different species. That's the official story of course.....I never wash the branches of the tree it's hanging in. Attachment: 5F02EDA6-F898-4817-97B2-A1BB76376463.jpeg (Downloaded 49 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sun Jul 29th, 2018 09:28 | 247th Post |
| They look ok Eric. There are people that buy a lens like that because they think they are going to use it but then find it sits in the bag for months on end and so get rid of it
|
| Posted by Eric: Sun Jul 29th, 2018 11:58 | 248th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Starting to look good but you can do better now you have the right lens and your good skills! I've now satisfied myself the 'half price' 80-400 is ok, so I will be keeping it for now. I would however say that when using the 1.4x tc I have to stop down to f11 to keep the quality....f8 is (no surprise) not quite as sharp as without the tc. The images are also not quite as good at 300mm setting with the tc, when compared with the 300mm P lens and the tc. But this has always been my experience...tcs are best with primes.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sun Jul 29th, 2018 15:13 | 249th Post |
Eric wrote:Graham Whistler wrote: I would have to agree with that last bit.
|
| Posted by jk: Mon Jul 30th, 2018 10:37 | 250th Post |
| Sounds like you got a great bargain Eric. Sometimes people just dont get on with a particular lens.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Mon Aug 6th, 2018 07:52 | 251st Post |
| Perhaps more interesting than the new ML camera, (for some) there are some Nikon Rumour images of the new 500PF lens kicking about. Seems it's about the size of an 80-200 f2.8.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Aug 18th, 2018 09:10 | 252nd Post |
| I told it to fly towards me but it didn't do as it was told! Attachment: web14.jpg (Downloaded 24 times)
|
| Posted by jk: Sat Aug 18th, 2018 10:04 | 253rd Post |
| You need a retriever! Good catch though, but a shame it is not facing you or side on.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Aug 18th, 2018 11:39 | 254th Post |
| Yes, it was the only time it came to fish in the river as most of the time they were fishing in Loch Ken which was a 2 minute flight for them. There were two adults and two young saw all four on the nest but too far to get any good shots.
|
| Posted by Eric: Sat Aug 18th, 2018 13:39 | 255th Post |
Iain wrote:Yes, it was the only time it came to fish in the river as most of the time they were fishing in Loch Ken which was a 2 minute flight for them. And I thought it was just me they did that to.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Aug 18th, 2018 14:10 | 256th Post |
| As my old friend says "they don't read the script"
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| Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 11:42 | 257th Post |
Iain wrote:As my old friend says "they don't read the script" True. Managed to get a few shots of these little chaos today at the birdbath. Had a flock of 20 assorted tits at the feeders so it was just a matter of sitting there waiting and not falling asleeezzzzz. Attachment: 9752F923-D692-472E-A016-A581F1B9563B.jpeg (Downloaded 11 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 11:45 | 258th Post |
| One more Attachment: 427CF13B-CFC2-45A8-B5D5-2C8CC9C6DF1D.jpeg (Downloaded 9 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 11:51 | 259th Post |
| Last but not least Attachment: 41DF9E7F-71A3-4E92-9E6A-94AE49490F21.jpeg (Downloaded 9 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 11:57 | 260th Post |
| Good shots Eric. What is its name? Obviously a finch.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 13:30 | 261st Post |
| Well done Eric. My friend Pete who has the Kingfisher hide sent me this today. Sorry he uses Cannon. I must go there again soon. Attachment: Kingfisher is Back!.jpg (Downloaded 35 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 13:55 | 262nd Post |
jk wrote:Good shots Eric. It's a Long Tailed Tit....I think it's the smallest in the tit family?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 22nd, 2018 14:28 | 263rd Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Well done Eric. My friend Pete who has the Kingfisher hide sent me this today. Sorry he uses Cannon. I must go there again soon. Wow that an amazing shot. The big fish really looks annoyed. It reminds me of an incident on our lawn earlier this year, when a kestrel pounced on a blackbird outside the window. Before the wife even had time to scream, a cat shot out of the bush and went for the kestrel. The kestrel was startled and flew off....so the cat grabbed the wounded blackbird, as a conciliation.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Aug 24th, 2018 07:28 | 264th Post |
| Eric I should have added: http://www.petewhieldonphotography.co.uk/ Pete has some very good pixs well worth looking at even if he is a Cannon user. He is the keeper of the super owls I have posted many pix of also has the Kingfisher hide.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Fri Aug 24th, 2018 17:20 | 265th Post |
| That kingfisher shot is amazing. Not only kingfisher caught as it exits the water with fish but a second fish out above the surface. What is the large fish? Not a trout, but maybe a Chub?
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Sat Aug 25th, 2018 17:29 | 266th Post |
| Well after the latest contribution from Graham my contribution pales into insignificance but if only to bring things down to earth... Here goes. I have been hoping to re-visit the Isle of Skye for a while. With Christopher stuck with me for the entire school summer holiday I though it would give him a break and change of scenery. Most of my photography was landscape and plants but while camped next to Loch Slapin on the East coast on our way to Elgol, I had the opportunity to see several birds. The only one I am sure of is the Grey Heron... It caught at least six fish for breakfast while I was watching. Birds taken with the D3 and the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR. Loch Slapin and the Cuillin Hills, D3 and 24-120, @ 52mm and f4.   Cheeky chappie!   Is this just a sparrow, or something more interesting?  A grey Crow?  I did see a Golden Eagle pretty close up but it was sat with it's back to me on an electricity pole, it flew off when I got too close but I didn't get any useful pix of it in flight, one was sharp but too far away.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Aug 25th, 2018 19:06 | 267th Post |
Robert wrote:Well after the latest contribution from Graham my contribution pales into insignificance but if only to bring things down to earth... Here goes.That's probably a Rock Pipit...could be a Meadow or even Tree Pipit...difficult to tell from that angle. The other is a Hooded Crow. Nice to see you are taking on the wildlife Robert. Well done.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Aug 25th, 2018 19:34 | 268th Post |
Eric wrote:Robert wrote: I would go with Meadow Pipit as it has lighter legs. Nice pic's Robert.
|
| Posted by Robert: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 02:43 | 269th Post |
| Thank you gentlemen, it seems bird ID isn't straightforward! What about the 'cheeky chappy'? I have tried several bird ID sites but no conclusive answers. A few look similar but too many variations. I quite enjoy watching them, I always have but to hold my interest best requires something with wheels and an engine, preferably large, powerful and loud!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 03:46 | 270th Post |
| It's a Pied Wagtail Robert.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 04:51 | 271st Post |
| Super landscape pix Robert good light. Skye is on my list of places I would like to go to, weather puts me off a bit my last two trips to the Highlands both times I had near 100% rain!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 06:32 | 272nd Post |
Iain wrote:It's a Pied Wagtail Robert. Thanks Iain! I guess that's pretty common.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Robert: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 06:34 | 273rd Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Super landscape pix Robert good light. Skye is on my list of places I would like to go to, weather puts me off a bit my last two trips to the Highlands both times I had near 100% rain! Thanks Graham, I'm just the one who pressed the button, the sun and the glaciers did most of the work! After the volcano's of course! LOL It's a fair drag for you, must be best part of 700 miles each way? I did 1,150 miles over five nights, add 600 to get up here, that's roughly 1700? Just keep a close check on the weather forecasts and grab a week, it's well worth it. There are plenty of places to pull in with a camper. The forecasts are pretty accurate nowadays. They were spot on last week. Take a look at my Skye thread, should be something there to wet your appetite...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 07:30 | 274th Post |
Robert wrote: Graham Whistler wrote:Super landscape pix Robert good light. Skye is on my list of places I would like to go to, weather puts me off a bit my last two trips to the Highlands both times I had near 100% rain!Thanks Graham, I'm just the one who pressed the button, the sun and the glaciers did most of the work! After the volcano's of course! LOL It's a fair drag for you, must be best part of 700 miles each way? I did 1,150 miles over five nights, add 600 to get up here, that's roughly 1700? Just keep a close check on the weather forecasts and grab a week, it's well worth it. There are plenty of places to pull in with a camper. The forecasts are pretty accurate nowadays. They were spot on last week. Take a look at my Skye thread, should be something there to wet your appetite... It is always about the light! The photographer needs to be there to take the image but also to capture it so it can be reproduced correctly which may or may not need some Photoshop to get it accurately, or not so accurately represented!!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 07:43 | 275th Post |
Robert wrote:Iain wrote: Yes it is Robert.
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| Posted by Robert: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 07:59 | 276th Post |
jk wrote:It is always about the light! All about capturing photons on film or a sensor. But that's a bit clinical! There is more to it than that. It's often about catching the moment, like the Kingfisher shot, rapid shutter rate can't always do that, unless it's silly fast, which requires an electronic shutter. Electronic shutters have their own issues, like restricting AF and EV ranges. Then there is composition, rank stupidity and fine tuning, choosing the ideal camera position frequently isn't an option. Probably the biggest factor, apart from the quality of the light is the direction of the light. I have to say I think the camera can help too, since the D3, I feel I am getting more keepers and better results, I always felt restricted with DX and still do now when I use the D300S or the D200IR even though the pixel count/file size is very similar.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Robert: Sun Aug 26th, 2018 08:06 | 277th Post |
Iain wrote:Robert wrote: Well I never noticed it wagging it's tail! I guess it would take me years to learn all the birds by sight, I better stick with old cars and flowers, although identifying flowers is a massive challenge too, I do know a few...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Aug 27th, 2018 04:54 | 278th Post |
. Good point!
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Aug 27th, 2018 05:41 | 279th Post |
| I agree Meadow Pipit looks very close. I must catch up and do some more bird photography have been too busy with my Ravenglass film. Have high hopes: will be in Spain all of next month ferry from Portsmouth to Santander then drive down slowly to the rented villa in Ronda.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Mon Aug 27th, 2018 11:13 | 280th Post |
| Yes, thanks for the confirmation, it does resemble the Meadow Pipit very closely. Seems to be fairly common.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Tue Aug 28th, 2018 05:16 | 281st Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:I agree Meadow Pipit looks very close. I will be doing the reverse route on 10-12September. I want to be in UK when the Brexit stuff happens. I dont want to try and bring my dogs and stuff back too close to the March 2019 point. I will bring my dogs over in September then get any residual stuff transported across to UK in the interim. The Brexit stuff is going to be very messy! Incompetence seems to be the running theme.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Aug 28th, 2018 05:34 | 282nd Post |
| Hand knitting a complex pullover pattern is a long slow business. Unraveling it only takes minutes. Re-knitting the same wool into another pullover will likely take longer than the original. Not a perfect analogy but...
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Tue Aug 28th, 2018 08:31 | 283rd Post |
| I think that the wool was well knitted over the UK public's eyes. While I am anti-bureaucracy and the current establishment and certainly dont want a Central State of Europe or an EU Army I do think that the advantages do outweigh the disadvantages by a small amount. However undoing 40years of legislation is a non-trivial task. The lies and deceptions sold to the public before the Referendum should be exposed and all associated with them disbarred from public office permanently whether they are Leave or Remain. Both lied! The current MPs seem unable to either act in a coordinated fashion or to truly represent a party or the public that they should represent and just get on with doing the job!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Aug 29th, 2018 18:09 | 284th Post |
| There are quite a few of our leaders I would like to Snipe at too! A D500 80-400mm lens plus x1.4 image from yesterday rather dull weather. Attachment: Snipe392S.jpg (Downloaded 54 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu Aug 30th, 2018 04:30 | 285th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:There are quite a few of our leaders I would like to Snipe at too! A D500 80-400mm lens plus x1.4 image from yesterday rather dull weather. Lovely shot. And to think that Snipe is/ was one of the Duke of Edinburgh's favourite breakfasts.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Thu Aug 30th, 2018 07:22 | 286th Post |
| Nice catch Graham. Love the dark muddy water drop.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Aug 30th, 2018 14:04 | 287th Post |
| Titchfield Haven again this morning and there are still some Avocets there. D500 with 80-400mm plus x1.4 Attachment: Avocets0444S.jpg (Downloaded 47 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Thu Aug 30th, 2018 14:46 | 288th Post |
| Very nice Graham, lovely birds the Avocets. I like Curlews but don't seem to see them as often now.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 4th, 2018 16:31 | 289th Post |
| Currently on hols in France..but managed a spot of birding yesterday. Attachment: 0A5FA4D9-C626-42A3-A052-6FE5E2F3F2A8.jpeg (Downloaded 38 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 4th, 2018 16:35 | 290th Post |
| Shortly after capturing the GCrested Grebe a Kingfisher flew past at 200mph so didn't catch it. But then a couple of Dabchicks appeared and one obligingly proceeded to catch a crayfish. Bit of a distance from me so heavy crop. Attachment: 920FEF38-C80A-404E-AB0C-C1B69090C541.jpeg (Downloaded 38 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Sep 4th, 2018 18:24 | 291st Post |
| Eric two good looking pixshope weather holds for you in France. We are off to Spain on this Friday of ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and wll be there till 2 Oct. We have rented a villa near Ronda in the south hope to get some vulture pixs!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Tue Sep 4th, 2018 19:19 | 292nd Post |
| You have just missed the bee eaters Graham. Well they were flying south this last week but you might see some at Ronda when you get there!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 6th, 2018 05:00 | 293rd Post |
| Plenty of bees in our garden. Depart for Spain on ferry tomorrow. Hope our Sunflowers when over & dry will keep birds happy this winter. Attachment: Sunflower0552.jpg (Downloaded 32 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Sep 10th, 2018 13:15 | 294th Post |
| Griffon Vulture at 6000 feet in Picos de Europn, N Spain. Nikon D850 with my 80-400 at 400mm 1/1000 sec f9 1000 ISO focus on C 72 point. Not easy to take but got 12 usable images in 3 hours at the top of the cable car. Yes I rode up! Attachment: _DSC1593.jpg (Downloaded 26 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Mon Sep 10th, 2018 13:22 | 295th Post |
| Well done Graham, it doesn't look malnourished!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Sep 12th, 2018 09:21 | 296th Post |
| One from a few days ago. Attachment: DSC_9283.jpg (Downloaded 19 times)
|
| Posted by Robert: Wed Sep 12th, 2018 09:24 | 297th Post |
| Nice portrait Iain.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 14th, 2018 16:04 | 298th Post |
| Immature Black Redstart about to take a bath... Attachment: 781AD61E-AF63-48BB-937D-ECB4619C1D5A.jpeg (Downloaded 13 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Fri Sep 14th, 2018 16:39 | 299th Post |
| Looks like it's waiting for you to go away!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Sat Sep 15th, 2018 05:23 | 300th Post |
Iain wrote:One from a few days ago. Superb shot Iain.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 11:16 | 301st Post |
| Ok, not bird photography but near enough .....hummingbird moth dancing around meant the D500 had to be on high speed performance. Attachment: CD8E50CB-FB29-4FA9-989A-E9D1ED9D9DC5.jpeg (Downloaded 18 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 11:16 | 302nd Post |
| And another.. Attachment: 3DB09D94-B960-4320-BF29-09524A711CCB.jpeg (Downloaded 18 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 13:24 | 303rd Post |
| Mmmm... What lens Eric?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 16:40 | 304th Post |
| Great shots Eric. I have had those in the garden in Spain. Some can be almost as large as a real humming bird!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by jk: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 16:43 | 305th Post |
Robert wrote:Mmmm... What lens Eric? Also how many shots to get two sharp ones! They are very difficult to focus on. I took my pictures of the hummingbird moth with my D2X and macro lens I think. It was very difficult. It may be easier with the D500 but still very tricky as they hardly stay still for very long!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 17:55 | 306th Post |
| Sorry, my Mmmm... might have translated in a way I hadn't intended. I love the flowers and the moth, I also very much like the totally blurred background while maintaining nice depth of focus on the flower AND the moth. I am wondering if this was taken with the 300 PF? If so at what aperture?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:05 | 307th Post |
Robert wrote:Mmmm... What lens Eric? Only got one Robert D500+300mm+1.4xtc. 1/1000th@f9 in M mode and auto ISO...c. 4500iso
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:08 | 308th Post |
jk wrote:Robert wrote: I took 101 shots. 80% in focus. Problem is the wing position or the background detail make some less ideal. That said I've got a good 50 like these posts. Attachment: B803FB72-9FBC-4501-B468-CDAC2B52F115.jpeg (Downloaded 17 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:11 | 309th Post |
| Or the branch behind the critter ... Attachment: 6E797F1A-103E-423F-8A03-23B5C69C99B3.jpeg (Downloaded 17 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:19 | 310th Post |
| There is no doubt that the D500 AFC is awesome. I've got the camera set up with the rear AF button on single point focus AFC and the fn1 button set to 9point focus AFC ...with shutter set to Ch. If I can't keep the focus area on the subject with single point, I can quickly use the 3rd finger to switch to 9point. There's no doubt having enough viewfinder space to track the subject helps ....but of course that then means some degree of cropping loss. So it presents a dilemma.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:22 | 311th Post |
| Well done Eric, not an easy thing to catch.
|
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:28 | 312th Post |
Iain wrote:Well done Eric, not an easy thing to catch. Thanks Iain. Have you any experience with these ..... https://petapixel.com/2018/08/22/nikon-unveils-the-df-m1-a-dot-sight-for-super-telephoto-tracking/ Was wondering if it might help with BIF shots?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:32 | 313th Post |
| No I haven't but looks interesting
|
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:37 | 314th Post |
Iain wrote:No I haven't but looks interesting Curently only compatible wit the Coolpix P1000 but rumour has it that it could be rolled out to DSLRs You track the bird in the sight not the viewfinder. If the subject has the red spot on it the subject will be centre lens.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:40 | 315th Post |
| I tend to do that with the centre spot anyway, if it going to be unpredictable I use 25 point.
|
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 17th, 2018 18:47 | 316th Post |
Iain wrote:I tend to do that with the centre spot anyway, if it going to be unpredictable I use 25 point. Oops...I also use 25point not 9point, on the f1button
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Sep 18th, 2018 02:11 | 317th Post |
Eric wrote:Robert wrote: Awww! Send me your postal I will pop my fisheye in the post to widen your horizons!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Sep 18th, 2018 02:38 | 318th Post |
| I am aware of the dot sight. Basic principle. Used by shooters with guns, very accurate and easy, not dependent on eye position. In photography used to locate stars when setting up polar mount tracking devices. No need to go to the expense of the Nikon device, eBay for a tenner! Search for "holographic dot sight" I think the open ones are the best for photography but haven't used one myself (yet). The only slight issue is the flash shoe is a rather inaccurate way of mounting it. Ideally it would be best Araldited to the top of the lens, or a clamp slot for a rifle sight machined in the top of the lens? Even a couple of tie wraps would probably get the job done... Check out this thread... Same idea, better, less crude implementation. http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,7555.msg122483.html#msg122483
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 18th, 2018 04:28 | 319th Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: That's very generous of you Robert. I am lying really ...as I have got a 16-85 DX lens as well. But I am taking this re-equipping sloooowly. I am happy the D500 with the 300mm and tc works for larger birds or closer positions. I see no point in going to the D850 just for this application, as I would have a heavier, more expensive camera that has bigger files and, as yet not proved to me that cropping its images to the DX size frame produces better images than the D500 out of the camera. But am prepared to be proven wrong. So my next birding purchase may be the 500mm P lens ...when it's available. That leaves the desire for an FX body for all other photography to be satiated. This COULD BE a Z camera. But it would need to be less frustrating in use and performance than other mirrorless bodies I've tried. If my cropping scepticism is proved wrong then a D850 MAYBE the obvious body to filfil both my uses. But then I have the issue of immediacy (mentioned on Z thread).... I don't want to be swopping wide angle and tele lenses in the field. So two bodies with the right lenses, is the answer....that ain't going to be two D850s!! I could suppress the FX urge and simply use the LUMIX FZ2000 for wide angle plus at a fraction of the price......in fact if I borrow Jan's, it's FREE.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Sep 19th, 2018 13:31 | 320th Post |
| We are now in our villa 3 km from Ronda in S Spain. We have Vultures gaining hight over us most days. Nikon D850 with my 80-400mm at full reach plus x1.4 1/1000 sec 650 ISO Attachment: Griffon Volture 1647jpg.jpg (Downloaded 11 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Sep 19th, 2018 13:33 | 321st Post |
| We had 7 Black Vultures in at once this morning. Same set up as above and about 1/3 of frame. Attachment: B Volture1751.jpg (Downloaded 48 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Wed Sep 19th, 2018 14:25 | 322nd Post |
| Better not leave any food lying around. Nice cloud formation in the background of the first vulture image. Black to grey ones here, I recorded 60.2MPH windspeed at lunchtime, just behind the house.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Sep 19th, 2018 15:27 | 323rd Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:We are now in our villa 3 km from Ronda in S Spain. We have Vultures gaining hight over us most days. Nikon D850 with my 80-400mm at full reach plus x1.4 1/1000 sec 650 ISO Very impressive image Graham. I guess you needed to keep moving when being scrutinised like that by a vulture.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 20th, 2018 03:09 | 324th Post |
| You only have to worry if you are dead as they never take live prey. The Black Vulture is 2nd largest flying bird in the world with over 9 foot wingspan. They are listed as vulnerable and this part of Spain is one of the only places in Europe you can see them. They are very high up so photography is not easy yesterday was lucky as the were lower looking for hot air. The D850 is producing nearly 100% sharp images on 25 point area focus on C. I first started using 75 points and got a lot of nearly sharp images. Perhaps I am learning how to do it after 5 days here?
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 20th, 2018 04:30 | 325th Post |
| Last picture is not a Black Vulture but I have been told by expert that it is a Griffon. Sorry got that wrong!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu Sep 20th, 2018 07:19 | 326th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:You only have to worry if you are dead as they never take live prey. The Black Vulture is 2nd largest flying bird in the world with over 9 foot wingspan. They are listed as vulnerable and this part of Spain is one of the only places in Europe you can see them. The black vulture has been reintroduced into the Cevennes region of France and is doing well. We only managed to see one at a distance when there last year....but lots of Griffons.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Sep 21st, 2018 08:45 | 327th Post |
| Another one but from a windy UK Attachment: web-15.jpg (Downloaded 43 times)
|
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Sep 22nd, 2018 13:11 | 328th Post |
| This morning there were aprox 70 Griffon Vultures gaining hight over our villa. D850 with 80-400mm lens at about 90mm. Plenty of detail but you will not see it on this JPG Attachment: Griffon Vultures1818.jpg (Downloaded 36 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Sat Sep 22nd, 2018 13:46 | 329th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:This morning there were aprox 70 Griffon Vultures gaining hight over our villa. D850 with 80-400mm lens at about 90mm. Plenty of detail but you will not see it on this JPG That reminds me of the old joke about the farmer who bought a prize rooster. It tore around the chicken coup 'servicing' every hen...several times. It flew into the geese compound and serviced them too. It flew to the pond and serviced all the ducks. The farmer watched in amazement at it's stamina and prowess but was then horrified to see it finally collapse on its back in the farmyard. Dashing to the dead bird, the rooster "shooshed!" him, winked and pointed to the circling vultures. Sorry I will get my hat.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by jk: Sat Sep 22nd, 2018 13:52 | 330th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Last picture is not a Black Vulture but I have been told by expert that it is a Griffon. Sorry got that wrong!I was going to say it was a Griffon as we have them close by in the mountains about 50km away. We get many booted eagles and the like near me in Oliva.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by jk: Thu Sep 27th, 2018 05:19 | 331st Post |
| Superb shot. Looks like the weather is getting towards winter in Spain if you are getting clouds like that!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 27th, 2018 05:53 | 332nd Post |
| Sorry had difficulty loading below sent message to Robert.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 27th, 2018 05:55 | 333rd Post |
| Last day today and drive N on Friday catch ferry to Portsmouth on Monday. Tracking focus on D850 is first classs win win! Attachment: Late.jpg (Downloaded 27 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Thu Sep 27th, 2018 08:23 | 334th Post |
| Hi Graham, excellent image, well captured. What is the double circle on the left? Also when I got the image home I would clone that telephone pole out! Very distracting from a wonderful picture. Yesterday I had issues getting on the forum but the gallery was OK. It cleared later so given I was messing with my hard drives and switching stuff around I dismissed it. All I got was a white screen but I saw a single glimpse of the forum driving rain background as I tried re-loading the Recent Topics page. I did wonder if the recent spammers had tried to close us down with a white curtain. Seems OK now.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 27th, 2018 09:41 | 335th Post |
| Lens flare shot right into sun very bright, will clone out when we get home am busy packing our car now!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Sep 28th, 2018 08:32 | 336th Post |
| Nice shot Graham.
|
| Posted by jk: Fri Sep 28th, 2018 10:47 | 337th Post |
| It gets better and better Graham. Lovely image.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Oct 9th, 2018 05:51 | 338th Post |
| Anoth of my owl pixs. This is D850 in quite low light pushed to 3200 ISO F5.6 1/250 sec with the 80-400mm lens at 200mm. On the A3+ print no sign of noise. Attachment: Tawny Owls1510small.jpg (Downloaded 14 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Oct 9th, 2018 17:14 | 339th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Anoth of my owl pixs. This is D850 in quite low light pushed to 3200 ISO F5.6 1/250 sec with the 80-400mm lens at 200mm. On the A3+ print no sign of noise. That's a lovely composition Graham. Super quality image.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Oct 9th, 2018 19:25 | 340th Post |
| another nice shot Graham
|
| Posted by Eric: Wed Oct 10th, 2018 08:15 | 341st Post |
| I am equally envious at being close enough to need only 200mm
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Oct 10th, 2018 09:25 | 342nd Post |
| I think it's a captive bird Eric as it looks like there is part of the jesses showing by the post. I'm sure Graham will let us know.
|
| Posted by Robert: Wed Oct 10th, 2018 16:30 | 343rd Post |
| Very nice Graham. They look cuddly! We have a 'World' Owl Collection just up the road at Muncaster. I must take a day up there soon before it gets too cold.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 11th, 2018 04:50 | 344th Post |
Eric wrote:I am equally envious at being close enough to need only 200mm Eric you can come down here and photograph them too at Pete my photographer friends place: http://www.petewhieldonphotography.co.uk see his website. Pete with his baby little owls in pix, he also has barn and tawny owls.He has super woods and wild flower field also has wild tawny owl that he feeds ands comes to food at night. Attachment: _DSC1441.jpg (Downloaded 39 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Oct 12th, 2018 07:37 | 345th Post |
| A rare bird turns up that intrests far eastern bird photographers!!!???? Attachment: Bird Photographers in the far east..jpg (Downloaded 37 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 12th, 2018 07:42 | 346th Post |
| We had a Bee eater close to us this week the first day there was about 10 people, the second day 30+ but the bird had taken off early that morning and didn't come back. I'm glad I don't go chasing things like this.
|
| Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 13th, 2018 04:17 | 347th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:A rare bird turns up that intrests far eastern bird photographers!!!???? Far East Anglia can look like that sometimes
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Oct 13th, 2018 06:20 | 348th Post |
Eric wrote:Graham Whistler wrote: I bet. It's another place that they will all run to if something turns up.
|
| Posted by Eric: Wed Oct 17th, 2018 05:46 | 349th Post |
| These Stonechats are fast little b@ggers. I'd heard of jump jets but not jump chats! There it was sitting on a bush, hit the shutter and it had gone....up. Attachment: AB67C86F-7525-45EF-89B0-9E6EA76BFA92.jpeg (Downloaded 27 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Oct 17th, 2018 15:49 | 350th Post |
| Springs in there legs
|
| Posted by Robert: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 02:01 | 351st Post |
Iain wrote:Springs in there legs Zebedee?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 02:25 | 352nd Post |
| yes but we're showing our age now Robert.
|
| Posted by Robert: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 14:27 | 353rd Post |
| Is Magic Roundabout not still on? I haven't really watched TV since the ex-wife moo-ved out and took the TV with her... Never seen a need to replace it... Nor the TV!
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 16:17 | 354th Post |
| Are we getting Ermintrude involved now (that was the name of the cow on magic roundabout if I remember right ) I don't mean your ex wife.
|
| Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 02:24 | 355th Post |
| We probably gone as far down this track as is wise! I probably get a spell put on me.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 04:16 | 356th Post |
| https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kZTBDnj0Cgc
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 13:34 | 357th Post |
Just as I remember it. 
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 15:36 | 358th Post |
| First program i ever saw on a colour TV
|
| Posted by Robert: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 16:44 | 359th Post |
| WHAT!!! You had COLOUR TV?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 19:30 | 360th Post |
| Jus t a rental we shared with 10 other families
|
| Posted by Robert: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 03:32 | 361st Post |
| Ah, That's OK then! I can still remember being shown a new TV with an almost round screen, must have been about 1956? It was the first TV in the village and everybody came round to see it. Don't think I ever saw it working though. I was told reception wasn't too good and it took about ten minutes for the valves and tube to warm up to get a proper picture.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 25th, 2018 10:17 | 362nd Post |
| Two form yesterday. Came in and sat on top of a feeder for almost 5mins. Attachment: DSC_1164.jpg (Downloaded 40 times)
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| Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 25th, 2018 10:18 | 363rd Post |
| No. 2 Attachment: DSC_1175-Edit.jpg (Downloaded 40 times)
|
| Posted by jk: Thu Oct 25th, 2018 10:23 | 364th Post |
| Super shots Iain.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 25th, 2018 13:15 | 365th Post |
| Super sharp image Iain. Was that first one a crop and the second a full frame version?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 25th, 2018 16:06 | 366th Post |
| Second one is ff the first is a crop of one of the other 90 pics I have of it. It did stay for close to 5 mins you just have to take them while you can.
|
| Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 25th, 2018 18:02 | 367th Post |
Iain wrote:Second one is ff the first is a crop of one of the other 90 pics I have of it. Super IQ
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 01:54 | 368th Post |
| D500 with the sigma 150-600
|
| Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 10:21 | 369th Post |
Iain wrote:D500 with the sigma 150-600 Your lens seems to be loads sharper than other people's examples I've seen from that lens. Did you get it recalibrated at Sigma? Phil Tompkinson at Blueyonder reckoned that was the first thing he did when buying a Sigma...sent it to Sigma UK to have it readjusted ...correctly. If yours is straight out of the box ...you've got a brilliant version.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 10:54 | 370th Post |
| I calibrated it myself but it only needed -2 and these were taken at 600mm wide open @6.3
|
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 12:16 | 371st Post |
| That is super quality Ian. I should have kept my Sigma, perhaps not. it was no way near as sharp as that you have got a very good one. Is it male Sparrowhawk?
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 13:05 | 372nd Post |
Iain wrote:I calibrated it myself but it only needed -2 and these were taken at 600mm wide open @6.3 I seem to recall you said it was the C lens and not the more expensive S version? If so, you got a real cracker.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 13:07 | 373rd Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:That is super quality Ian. I should have kept my Sigma, perhaps not. it was no way near as sharp as that you have got a very good one. Is it male Sparrowhawk? It's a female Graham. She's got her 'nails' finely manicured. Beautiful bird.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 26th, 2018 16:34 | 374th Post |
| As Eric says Graham it's a female, the male is grey.
|
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Oct 28th, 2018 18:29 | 375th Post |
| A few ducks for a change, this has not been made in Photoshop it is as seen reflectioons of buildings in early morning low sun. Attachment: Reflections0803S.jpg (Downloaded 25 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 09:15 | 376th Post |
| Nothing exciting just a Blue Tit. Attachment: DSC_1354.jpg (Downloaded 16 times)
|
| Posted by Eric: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 11:11 | 377th Post |
Iain wrote:Nothing exciting just a Blue Tit. Iain that's a lovely image (yet again!!) What camera settings did you use?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 11:49 | 378th Post |
| It was 1/200 F6.3 and 6400iso 600mm Eric.
|
| Posted by Eric: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 12:08 | 379th Post |
Iain wrote:It was 1/200 F6.3 and 6400iso 600mm Eric. I am amazed you got it to keep that still for 1/200th.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 13:00 | 380th Post |
| Super glue
|
| Posted by jk: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 13:01 | 381st Post |
| Eric if you look closely at the head of the Blue Tit ist is slightly fuzzy compared to the tail which is pin sharp. These birds are twitchy!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 13:51 | 382nd Post |
| Quality is remarkable at wide open 600mm and very high ISO! As JK said back of head not quite there but eyes are sharp and great setting.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 14:24 | 383rd Post |
| I don't know how close Iain was to the bird, but assuming he was 10m away, the dof is only 30mm at that aperture. With a bird that's 120mm I reckon Iain has got focus spot on. Birds do twitch around the head and that's why I like to use 1/1000+ shutter speeds. But frankly a bit of blurr doesn't matter, when the overal image is so pleasing.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 14:44 | 384th Post |
| You are about with the distance Eric.
|
| Posted by Iain: Wed Nov 7th, 2018 18:37 | 385th Post |
| I do use a bean bag when in a hide to keep things steady.
|
| Posted by Eric: Thu Nov 8th, 2018 05:04 | 386th Post |
Iain wrote:I do use a bean bag when in a hide to keep things steady. I used to use one but ended up sitting on it after an hour in a hide.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Mon Nov 12th, 2018 09:58 | 387th Post |
| A big crop for this one. Attachment: DSC_1452.jpg (Downloaded 45 times)
|
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Nov 12th, 2018 14:58 | 388th Post |
| Looks good and sharp
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Tue Nov 13th, 2018 09:27 | 389th Post |
Eric wrote:Iain wrote: I think you need one of these. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-2-3-Layers-Car-Inflatable-Travel-Footrest-Blow-up-Pillow-Mat-Flocking-Cushion/132672173430?hash=item1ee3e0b576:m:moh4kbNKes00DtZ4AnKlkhw
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Tue Nov 13th, 2018 09:53 | 390th Post |
|
| Posted by Iain: Sat Nov 24th, 2018 10:15 | 391st Post |
| My first Brambling of the year. Attachment: DSC_2219-Edit.jpg (Downloaded 33 times)
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| Posted by jk: Sat Nov 24th, 2018 12:50 | 392nd Post |
| Nice shot Iain. Exposure is great. Did you use flash?
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Sat Nov 24th, 2018 13:40 | 393rd Post |
| No Jonathan, the sun was shining straight on it.
|
| Posted by jk: Sun Nov 25th, 2018 05:44 | 394th Post |
| Nice shot. Better without flash.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Nov 28th, 2018 06:19 | 395th Post |
| Nice shot Ian! We have just returned from a very wet 4 days in Venice and a return flight yesterday delayed by London fog. There will be a few Venice pixs later I took the D500 with just the 18-140 mm lens DX but good and sharp my standard holiday lens with this camera. This Little Egret was takinig no notice of all the tourists on the water bus landing stage and caught a fish in between posing for me. Attachment: Egret1033_00001.jpg (Downloaded 23 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Nov 28th, 2018 06:54 | 396th Post |
| Nice shot. Good to be able to get that close.
|
| Posted by jk: Wed Nov 28th, 2018 08:02 | 397th Post |
| Perfect exposure of a lovely shot Graham. Always love the white with detail.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Nov 29th, 2018 05:15 | 398th Post |
| Yelow Legged Gull rare in UK but plenty of these very bold birds in Venice take no notice of us even if you get very close for a photo. But watch out if you have food not funny! Attachment: Yellow Leggeg Gull0967_00001.jpg (Downloaded 16 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Nov 29th, 2018 05:23 | 399th Post |
| I think this is a young Yellow Legged Gull? Attachment: YoungY1016_00001.jpg (Downloaded 16 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Thu Nov 29th, 2018 15:20 | 400th Post |
| Who needs a D850 and 500mm lens? Just need to get close to the subject. Lovely images Graham...especially like the egret composition.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Thu Nov 29th, 2018 18:20 | 401st Post |
Eric wrote:Who needs a D850 and 500mm lens? Just need to get close to the subject. Well I have been saying that for a long time, I just lack the field craft and patience. A long while back I read about a native African who submerged himself in a pool where Lions came to drink, he hid with his camera somehow behind a log or something. At Sundown he managed to take a wonderful photograph of the Lions drinking which he sold for a very good price.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Eric: Fri Nov 30th, 2018 15:46 | 402nd Post |
Robert wrote:Eric wrote: Well it was a tongue in cheek comment because sadly as opportunist bird photographers, as opposed to being given special access, we are always going to need extra mm.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Dec 5th, 2018 08:58 | 403rd Post |
| In our garden this morning in rain, sorry it's on a feeder: Nikon D850 with the new 500mm lens plus x1.4 ISO 2500 VR 1/320 sec f8 Attachment: Woodpecker2390.jpg (Downloaded 28 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Dec 5th, 2018 13:25 | 404th Post |
| This is what Eric means, saw this Kingfisher at Titchfield Haven yeaterday. This is the full D850 frame as shot with 500mm +x1.4 ie 700mm lens! It was only there for a few seconds so no chance of moving closer. Attachment: Kiongfisher2368.jpg (Downloaded 22 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 5th, 2018 15:46 | 405th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:In our garden this morning in rain, sorry it's on a feeder: Nikon D850 with the new 500mm lens plus x1.4 ISO 2500 VR 1/320 sec f8 What a lovely lady! What's in the feeder Graham?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Dec 10th, 2018 18:43 | 406th Post |
| We are waiting to be fed this morning from upstairs room! D850 with new 500mm and x1.4 Attachment: Starlings2407.jpg (Downloaded 13 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 12:24 | 407th Post |
| Good sun today so had a long walk in Farlington Marsh. Plenty of waders and ducks but a long way from the sea wall. This is 700mm lens best I could get, no luck with the Short Eared Owls that are here now and hunt voles by day. They have been seen but not for me! Attachment: Waders2463.jpg (Downloaded 11 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 12:25 | 408th Post |
| Even this Pied Wagtail was nearly out of range, this is a huge blow up but detail still quite good. Attachment: Wagtail2445.jpg (Downloaded 11 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 12:35 | 409th Post |
| Not wanting to disrupt a wonderful thread but I couldn't resist sharing this short video of a Pea**** who nearly came to a sticky end... https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06t5mqz?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=bbcone&intc_campaign=iplayer&intc_linkname=vidclip_pea****wakesuptiger_contentcard25
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 12:48 | 410th Post |
| We had a pea**** wandering around the town here in St Columb earlier this week. Probably going to be somebody's christmas turkey if he isnt careful.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 18:45 | 411th Post |
| I was struggling with lighting in a woodland on Monday. This shot was the least noisy at iso 2500. Attachment: 685775BC-18BA-45A5-B0FE-628963E6B274.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 18:50 | 412th Post |
| And at 11000iso....well even the long tailed tit is bemused at the gritty surroundings. Attachment: 4B1581C7-62AB-425D-BFEB-2029FBA08585.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 18:57 | 413th Post |
| I have made no attempt to sharpen or denoise these files...they are just cropped ( heavily for long tailed tit) to better show the background noise and enable posting. I would be interested to know what ISO's other people are routinely needing to capture woodland birds?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 19:06 | 414th Post |
| Here's another just under 3000iso Attachment: 01C29241-EACD-4949-818B-C1D2EEB3244C.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 11th, 2018 19:11 | 415th Post |
| It is less obvious when the subject is bigger in the frame and the background more forgiving. This was at 7500iso Oops...this was a full frame image and too big to post. So I sampled it down and I think the jpegging has softened some of the noise. Maybe that's the answer? Attachment: E1DB87F2-A5F6-4903-815A-46A4688FDBA6.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 05:57 | 416th Post |
| The naughty wizard waved a wand over your pix Eric! Even these super ISO settings need a bit of after post work to improve but I find the D500 beyond ISO2500 quickly gets beyond help. What a lot of photographers forget if you under expose in the first place noise builds up very quickly in post production and even Photoshop CC is not able to correct it. Attachment: Eric.jpg (Downloaded 6 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 07:37 | 417th Post |
| Graham, it might be useful if you could detail the steps you took to improve the image. XMP file would be useful.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 08:44 | 418th Post |
| Now you see I don't want to HAVE TO remove artefacts after the event. Frankly all de-noising software does is make the photo softer. Without masking, that includes the subject! I still want to get it right in the camera. I know I know that's old school! I don't want to HAVE TO crop.....so I need to get closer or buy expensive long lenses. I don't want to HAVE TO de-noise....I want a noise free camera up to 5000iso. If the lighting needs higher iso....I can either accept I will get noisey images or go to the pub. I don't want to HAVE TO mask my subjects to protect them from the excesses of de-noising filters. Take a look at Jeffs Slavonic grebe shot. Being frank, if that level of noise free, sharp quality can be obtained on a 4/3 camera why can't Nikon do better on cameras costing 3,4,5x the price of the Panasonic?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 08:52 | 419th Post |
| JK I will do my best but it is a bit complex: It is best done on the RAW file but you can also process Tiffs or JPG but works much better on RAW load image in normal way into Photoshop CC: 1: Filter: Camera Raw Filter selct 3 option of x2 triangles 2: Image size to 200% so you can see noise. 3: Lumiinace slider to 40% watching noise go Luminance detail up to 80% Sharpening up to 60 Sharpening plus Luminance should = 100 as rough guide. 4: fit image to fit to view. 5: Hold down ALT Key screen goes white keep holding ALT and slide Masking up to 70% you will now just see highlight detail only. Open image and finish any normal processing you would do like levels etc. (This pix has been processed this way too) It is much better to do this live on computer as I do for a workshop. Attachment: Wagtail2446.jpg (Downloaded 5 times)
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 09:02 | 420th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:
That can indeed be true, but in this image (accidentally set ex comp to +0.3) the noise is clearly an inherent problem Attachment: 9B97FC98-9939-424C-BB3E-B0BD8BC853F3.jpeg (Downloaded 5 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 09:05 | 421st Post |
| Eric that is what is so good about this method it uses Masking so you have 100% of control look at my pix on the new 500mm lens blog of the Snipe with a drip, noise removed 100% from BG but not on the bird.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:22 | 422nd Post |
jk wrote:Graham, it might be useful if you could detail the steps you took to improve the image. With respect, we should be able to take photsos that don't need rescuing with computers. That was the thrust of my argument. All the images I posted have had NO digital witchcraft applied. There are many ways that visible noise or jpegging artefacts can be reduced. They all achieve this by some degree of image softening. That can't be right? We spend thousands of pounds on the finest optical equipment only to soften the images to hide noise? I have my own selective noise reduction method (reposted image below). Although it only takes a couple of minutes....it's time I would rather not have to spend masking sensor limitations. Attachment: ED4CC8BE-EFBE-4121-A09B-8012FB893A76.jpeg (Downloaded 10 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:28 | 423rd Post |
| Nothing exciting just a Blue Tit. D500 150-600mm @ 6.3 1/320 iso2500 Attachment: DSC_2385.jpg (Downloaded 10 times)
|
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:34 | 424th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Eric that is what is so good about this method it uses Masking so you have 100% of control look at my pix on the new 500mm lens blog of the Snipe with a drip, noise removed 100% from BG but not on the bird. So does mine Graham. See above. But I would question the result you got on my Coal tit above because to my eyes there is loss of detail on the bird? It's got that 'fresh make up' look I mentioned before. I am sure it's a question of degree whichever method you use. The point is ....we shouldn't have to be tinkering with the IQ of a captured image. Never did it (or could do it) with film. Sure we could do selective exposure adjustments and even introduce grain effects during film processing. But darkroom sharpening and removing grain were all signs we miss handled focus and chose the wrong filmstock in the first place.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:34 | 425th Post |
| The Blue Tit I posted above has no noise reduction on it. Cropping is the biggest way to highlight noise in a image thats why my view is if the bird, unless its rarity, is too far away I wait for a better opportunity.
|
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:40 | 426th Post |
Iain wrote:Nothing exciting just a Blue Tit. D500 150-600mm @ 6.3 1/320 iso2500 That's interesting Iain. You don't seem to have my noise issues. This is 1/1000 @f8 and 2200iso with D500 and 300mmPF lens with no editing apart from crop 50% Attachment: DC0E962A-BAEB-4069-B674-19A37EDCF24D.jpeg (Downloaded 9 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:43 | 427th Post |
| I've had a few people say that to me Eric. I must have a good copy of the camera. I showed a few shots at 5000iso at the camera club I run and some people couldn't believe it.
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| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 10:49 | 428th Post |
Iain wrote:I've had a few people say that to me Eric. I must have a good copy of the camera. I showed a few shots at 5000iso at the camera club I run and some people couldn't believe it. Lucky man! For a while `I wondered if it was the fresnel lens...which does impart a different boketh to conventional lenses. But yesterday I did a comparison with a conventional lens albeit a tad shorter than 300mm ( but adjusting shooting distance to match) and there was very little difference in noise. It's clearly a d500 / sensor issue.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 11:16 | 429th Post |
Iain wrote:The Blue Tit I posted above has no noise reduction on it. VERY WISE ADVICE
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:02 | 430th Post |
one of mine from a few years back , hobby taking a dragon fly in flight , Nikon D7100 plus 300mm f4 with 1.7tc giving 500mm . this was my 2nd 7100 as the first one blew up after 3000 actuations this one actually lasted till the end of the day and just over 3000 actuations and led to a full cash refund and my parting company with nikon at the time .... a lot of water under the bridge since then and a few broken canons as well . but we plod on regardless 24 hrs later by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
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| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:16 | 431st Post |
| been reading some of the comments hear with interest Eric this is the way I process and it stays the same whatever brand/model /lens I use . I initially process in Lightroom c.c to get the crop/ colour /w.balance / sharpness/exp looking how I wanted it to look at times I over enhance the bird for effect as some can be rather drab in dull lighting ... I then open image in p.s and usually apply one touch of brightness around the eye detail, next I use subject surround and layer the bird . the I apply noise reduction via a plug in to the background layer only . rejoin the layers and resize the image for the web normally at 1400 pixels on longest edge unless its a super pic . then its simply a case of applying my copyright info to the pic and sharpening the bird layer in smart sharpen . file /save as usually to my desktop first . in my books this is the only way to get acceptable bird images . but others thoughts may differ
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:26 | 432nd Post |
| The Photoshop method I use also only reduces noise in background as the Masking protects the bird. Nice to stir up a some intersting points of view. I think we all agree small birds are not easy.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:35 | 433rd Post |
| follow one of my pics to my Flickr stream graham . lots to whet your appetite on there around 7k + at last count
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| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:38 | 434th Post |
blackfox wrote:been reading some of the comments hear with interest Eric this is the way I process and it stays the same whatever brand/model /lens I use . Interesting thread and thanks for insight to your methods. I don't have the latest PS with Subject Sselect but I do it the old fashioned way. Duplicate layer, apply de-noise to top layer and then simply erase the bird from the top layer to reveal the original below. Erased bird..... Attachment: layer.jpg (Downloaded 7 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:45 | 435th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:The Photoshop method I use also only reduces noise in background as the Masking protects the bird. Nice to stir up a some intersting points of view. I think we all agree small birds are not easy. I think we are all coming to that agreement and as Iain said ......If you cant get a big sharp well exposed low iso picture of the bird, forget it till a better opportunity comes. I still cant get my head round 20years digital camera development and we STILL have to tune/ hone/ enhance/ change the results in a computer. I think we are all being taken for mugs.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:49 | 436th Post |
| doing it the hard way Eric , simply add outline around the bird via lassoo tool click anywhere on pic for drop down box , choose select inverse , then apply de noise to the background layer . click on pic again , choose select inverse again followed by layer via copy you will now have a separated image in your right hand workflow . resize for web , then click on image in right hand workflow box ,double click on it then smart sharpen image only .
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| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:52 | 437th Post |
| get in that Range Rover and get your bum up to north Wales ,I'll run it by you properly and invest in photoshop CC CLASSIC its worth it to save the grief
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| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 13:55 | 438th Post |
heres one from last week in really anus horribles lighting , sorry its a panasonic image again but it shows what can be done even in crap light I hope j.k allows me a bit of free rein for the moment  the stare by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
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| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 14:19 | 439th Post |
blackfox wrote:doing it the hard way Eric , simply add outline around the bird via lassoo tool click anywhere on pic for drop down box , choose select inverse , then apply de noise to the background layer . click on pic again , choose select inverse again followed by layer via copy you will now have a separated image in your right hand workflow . Ah but I've been doing it for 30 years like that....so I am damn quick.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 14:21 | 440th Post |
blackfox wrote:get in that Range Rover and get your bum up to north Wales ,I'll run it by you properly May just do that in new year. Never too old to consider new methods.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 14:23 | 441st Post |
Eric wrote:Graham Whistler wrote:
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| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 14:25 | 442nd Post |
| its pretty spectacular up here Eric , as rob will tell you , wide open beaches with mountains behind , I live atop a hill with un-obstucted views up and down the dee estuary and marshes . . I can virtually see the weather coming In ,, which means I aint been out for a week >:(
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| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 14:28 | 443rd Post |
blackfox wrote:its pretty spectacular up here Eric , as rob will tell you , wide open beaches with mountains behind , I live atop a hill with un-obstucted views up and down the dee estuary and marshes . . I can virtually see the weather coming In ,, which means I aint been out for a week >:( With the Brexit mess and France looking more like a scene from Les Miserables, we may be caravanning in North Wales this Spring.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 14:36 | 444th Post |
| bring money , lots of money , thats why we take our caravan to Yorkshire LOL anyway just done a frank Sinatra shot for you. I did it my way Attachment: i did it my way .jpg (Downloaded 20 times)
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 04:38 | 445th Post |
| This is why we must keep this Forum going, we can all learn from each other, GOOD NEWS!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 07:45 | 446th Post |
camera arrived this morning , first couple of practise shots with my old vivitar manual focus 200mm lens . I think I'm going to like this a lot as processing methods have moved on since I last had one and the files were easy to process just now . if any one has a auto v.r lens they want to donate I won't object  the dark destroyer has landed by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr the merry go round by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
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| Posted by jk: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 08:59 | 447th Post |
| I think that we are looking at small images on a forum software that 'tends' to degrade image quality. We also need to be aware that technology has moved on since film days when there was no internet web forums with high quality images being displayed.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by jk: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 09:00 | 448th Post |
| That said the images that Blackfox is posting show great image quality.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 10:31 | 449th Post |
blackfox wrote:if any one has a auto v.r lens they want to donate I won't object Have a word with Rob (Plowden)....he has a contact for used Nikon gear.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Iain: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 10:38 | 450th Post |
blackfox wrote:camera arrived this morning , first couple of practise shots with my old vivitar manual focus 200mm lens . I think I'm going to like this a lot as processing methods have moved on since I last had one and the files were easy to process just now . if any one has a auto v.r lens they want to donate I won't object It looks good Jeff.
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| Posted by jk: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 13:18 | 451st Post |
| VR who needs VR? Get a tripod and it works for all lenses. I have a Nikon 400mm f2.8 AFS ED which you can purchase. Nice price.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 13:48 | 452nd Post |
| you may tickle my fancy by P.M Jonathon , I still have my large CF tripod and jobu gimbal .. it might be out of my reach but you never know
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| Posted by jk: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 13:56 | 453rd Post |
blackfox wrote:you may tickle my fancy by P.M Jonathon , I still have my large CF tripod and jobu gimbal .. it might be out of my reach but you never know Best sit down first! It is in great condition and has a Nikon padded case for it. Just like this. https://www.wexphotovideo.com/nikon-400mm-f2-8-af-s-ii-if-ed-lens-used-1673956/?mkwid=sP4IdeLVa_dt&pcrid=227169419658&kword=&match=&plid=&product=1673956&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_8eBir6d3wIVDuR3Ch2uvgogEAQYAiABEgLZePD_BwE I can do better (cheaper) but not a huge amount. PM me offer!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 14:18 | 454th Post |
| very nice Jonathon but unfortunately way way out of my price range . possibly go for something along the lines of a 70-300 vr or if I can find one at the right price a 300mm f4 like I used to have
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| Posted by jk: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 15:18 | 455th Post |
| The latest 70-300 VR is very good I have one. The 400 will go to Mifsuds or FixationUK in the new year.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Robert: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 15:58 | 456th Post |
| I find the 70-300VR is prone to vignetting at the long end, I keep reverting to the AI 300-f/2.8 MF, heavy as it is. It's way better than the zoom and pretty easy to focus. Would be a dream on a Z6 with IS and viewfinder magnification.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 16:52 | 457th Post |
| most manual focus lenses work extremely well on the micro four thirds bodies rob , as they only use the central part of the lens .. as with everything price is the deciding factor
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| Posted by Robert: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 17:29 | 458th Post |
| I haven't checked prices recently but I expect the old 'P' lenses will have plummeted in price alongside the older bodies to make really good lenses available to anyone who needs them at a reasonable price. I have called a halt to anything longer than 300mm if it's not long enough, I walk, either towards the subject or away, to find something closer to photograph. Do you still get down to the Little Tern colony where we met? I enjoyed that day.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 13th, 2018 17:44 | 459th Post |
| Rarely go there these days as you can no longer park in the holiday camp ,which involves a much longer walk from the village . But I do now visit a very small local reserve about a mile away where we get birds in within a few feet of us , sometimes even in the hide ,but don't tell graham and Eric , Wales is crowded enough
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| Posted by Robert: Fri Dec 14th, 2018 02:54 | 460th Post |
I did wonder how long the parking arrangements would last. Money, money, money.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by blackfox: Fri Dec 14th, 2018 17:25 | 461st Post |
| sorry to post another non nikon image rob/jk but I am totally chuffed with this mornings session this was with my g80 and 100-400 Leica rig hand held and one of about 160 superb ones .... I was gonna use the d300s as well but it was that cold I only lasted a hour . so if you can humor a old friend till I get a decent lens please .. these allowed a group of photographers to walk right up to them and fire away with bothering about us  a early christmas present by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
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| Posted by Robert: Fri Dec 14th, 2018 18:07 | 462nd Post |
| Not bothered what camera you used, more interested in what specie the bird is? Don't think I have ever seen one before that looks anything like that.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by blackfox: Fri Dec 14th, 2018 18:34 | 463rd Post |
| It's a Scandinavian waxwing Rob . Not rare but they only make there way here in harsh winters , so we get a inversion; every few years . Been waiting for a couple of years for them to appear again , today it all came together birds ,weather and the fact this flock wasn't bothered by humans . Plus the tree was low . The perfect storm .loads more on my flickrstream BTW taken outside John Lewis store on the Chester retail park with cars whizzing past my backside
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Dec 14th, 2018 19:15 | 464th Post |
| Super pix well done, but bit of subject failure from auto colour bal caused by the blue sky?
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by Robert: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 00:08 | 465th Post |
| Thanks Jeff, very interesting. Don't think I will ever be an ornithologist! Will stick with commemoratively named plants. At least you can get close (usually) without them flying away. The flowering seasons and wind being the main issues with that subject. Long lenses and Jobe's patience not usually needed, just a calm day, not too bright.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Robert: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 00:19 | 466th Post |
Graham Whistler wrote:Super pix well done, but bit of subject failure from auto colour bal caused by the blue sky? Not far out, could be caused by the forum software which doesn't always play fair. I took the liberty of a minor adjustment in Ps, using the white feathers below the eye as the white point. I don't know about the bird but the branch looks better, not as red. Lovely bird. Attachment: 46312114891_95d9d34ce2_b.jpg (Downloaded 17 times)
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by blackfox: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 03:57 | 467th Post |
| Probably more due to me liking a saturated image for impact than anything else. Graham and Robert , I post a lot of stuff onto Facebook groups as well and it helps to overcome there resizing issues if. The photos are saturated
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| Posted by Robert: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 04:51 | 468th Post |
| Either way it's a striking pic. Graham has a good eye for colour balance. Since it's hosted on Flicker it won't be the forum software. Is Facebook still around?
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 06:50 | 469th Post |
| Super pin sharp pix its great to get that close. We have had Waxwings down here last winter but I have never been able to see them.
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 09:19 | 470th Post |
| Great picture Jeff. Is that full frame of image or a part? I think that you must be in a hide to get that close or you have some hidden skill to get so close with a 100-400. But with the G80 you get x2 on the lens which is then a 200-800. I think when you consider the size and weight of 4/3 in the context of birding then this is a real winner.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by blackfox: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 12:00 | 471st Post |
| no hide Jonathon ,actually stood on the pavement outside John Lewis store in Chester , the tree /bush was about 12 feet away and the birds just landed and started to eat , no special skills needed . there was about 8 peeps there armed with 500 and 600mm lenses that had to hand hold as there literally wasn't enough room to deploy tripods . a mate of mine turned up with one of the new nikon p1000 cameras as well NOW that is a beast
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| Posted by jk: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 12:08 | 472nd Post |
| Obviously a better class of Waxwing in Chester! Probably has a JL customer loyalty card. Yes my friend in Spain has just got the P1000. A beast of a bridge!
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by blackfox: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 12:45 | 473rd Post |
| answer me this one if possible when using manual focus lenses on the d300s in a/v mode does the aperture close down automatically on all lenses , . it does on my vivitar 200mm just wondered if they all did it
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| Posted by jk: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 13:27 | 474th Post |
| Do you mean LiveView? I am not a video person or LV user but I think yes.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by blackfox: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 15:04 | 475th Post |
| no I meant through the viewfinder Jonathon
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| Posted by blackfox: Sat Dec 15th, 2018 16:57 | 476th Post |
| found out the answer myself by chance , on some m/f lenses that little half moon index on the lens mount locks with the camera closing the lens down to the correct aperture once the shutter is pressed if the mount is either old or often cheap third party its missing hence you will be looking at a dimmer image through the v/finder
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| Posted by blackfox: Sun Dec 16th, 2018 09:15 | 477th Post |
oh go on then another waxwing from fri  grab-a-berry bird by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
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| Posted by Iain: Sun Dec 16th, 2018 10:16 | 478th Post |
| Nice shot Jeff.
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| Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Dec 16th, 2018 10:38 | 479th Post |
| Super well done!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Sun Dec 16th, 2018 10:57 | 480th Post |
| Nice work. How far away were you? I guess you were using the G80 + 100-400. And is it cropped?
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by blackfox: Sun Dec 16th, 2018 11:09 | 481st Post |
| Between 12 to 20 feet at maximum , there were about 8 of us there and the guys with the mega lenses couldn't put there tripods up it's a very narrow pavement on a bend . The manouverabilty of my rig made it easy to move into a favourable position . I often had to stand in the road shooting over the heads and shoulders of the others . A advantage of being tall
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| Posted by Iain: Sun Dec 16th, 2018 12:22 | 482nd Post |
| Their quite tame when they come here, I've been as close as 5 foot of them.
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| Posted by blackfox: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 12:45 | 483rd Post |
| some shots yesterday with the d300s and a borrowed 70-300 tamron lens , not a very sharp copy so i.q a bit suspect , but nice to get my eye back in on fast moving stuff Attachment: in a flap .jpg (Downloaded 8 times)
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| Posted by blackfox: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 12:45 | 484th Post |
| and another Attachment: gliding .jpg (Downloaded 8 times)
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| Posted by blackfox: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 12:58 | 485th Post |
| and another one deep woodland hide , makes it hard to get right even with good modern gear Attachment: coming your way .jpg (Downloaded 8 times)
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| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 17:01 | 486th Post |
| Sunshine broke out in Norfolk. Unfortunately, the world and his wife had the same idea as me to get out on the marsh. Why people have to make so much noise when out in groups I never understand. Shouting that a water rail was in the dyke.....for 30sec! Didn't even have time to get the camera out of the bag. Fortunately they weren't interested in a common old redshank. Attachment: B9E58CB4-4FBA-4DD5-B0C7-372B7301E9E1.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 17:18 | 487th Post |
| ....or these (2) grey plovers. Yeah I know there's noise but haven't got a good noise reduction app on the iPad. Will wander into the office and fire up the PC one day. Attachment: 9CC194DD-6D53-4C0D-B6E5-2C4EB84B25BA.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 17:20 | 488th Post |
| ....and they totally missed a Water Pippit. Mind you it was smaller than the red focus rectangle in the D500 viewfinder ....so difficult to see in the stubble and get good focus. Attachment: B2EC7811-5CB9-4270-A22F-3DC5308CDCA7.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 17:29 | 489th Post |
| Very nice Eric, let the masses do their thing.
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by blackfox: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 17:37 | 490th Post |
| Looks good to me Eric
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| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 18:33 | 491st Post |
blackfox wrote:Looks good to me Eric Thanks....no processing apart from crop on iPad. So when I power up PC and CC I will have a go at noise and sharpening etc As Robert knows ( and derides me because of it) I'm a lazy b ....preferring to work on iPad in an armchair. :wink; Anyway....I've actually worked a way of doing selective noise reduction in Snapseed...despite them not having that option in their menu. Don't suppose anyone's interested in HOW, as few use such a primitive editing app., but here's a before ..... Attachment: 416EBCA7-F2B4-4A4C-9A17-28BC802C35D9.jpeg (Downloaded 9 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 18:33 | 492nd Post |
| And After... Attachment: 30EFD7C7-75DA-4BC0-809E-F79AC8539B90.jpeg (Downloaded 9 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 18:34 | 493rd Post |
| And another Attachment: 9F79899D-BB3C-4E35-BA03-C3451C39AF10.jpeg (Downloaded 9 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 18:34 | 494th Post |
| And after.... Attachment: 45FE81A9-5C4C-4B9E-8BA7-26B7D6FD5E4D.jpeg (Downloaded 8 times)
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Eric: Tue Dec 18th, 2018 18:35 | 495th Post |
| It may be crude and imprecise.....but maybe that sums me up.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by blackfox: Wed Dec 19th, 2018 02:50 | 496th Post |
| It's the end result that counts ,not what equipment etc that you used to get there , interesting if only done on a i.pad though . Are they from raw files or j.pegs Eric
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| Posted by Iain: Wed Dec 19th, 2018 03:04 | 497th Post |
| It works thats the main thing Eric.
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| Posted by Robert: Wed Dec 19th, 2018 03:41 | 498th Post |
| I can't equate using an iPad to edit large resolution photographs as being lazy, crude or imprecise! It must take the patience of Jobe to manipulate and edit, even to just crop, let alone anything more adventurous on an iPad. I find dual 28 inch screens and my MacPro, barely adequate at times. This is my workstation where I spend much of my day if not engaged in other activities like working at my lathe or welding up some contraption or other. Please excuse the dust! Recent building works are still lingering... iPhone photo. Attachment: Screen Shot 2018-12-19 at 08.30.59.jpg (Downloaded 7 times)
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by jk: Wed Dec 19th, 2018 05:11 | 499th Post |
| Eric, Can you detail what you did to those two images. Is it just mask background and reduce noise.Subject area sharpen. Is it that simple?
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Wed Dec 19th, 2018 05:46 | 500th Post |
blackfox wrote:It's the end result that counts ,not what equipment etc that you used to get there , interesting if only done on a i.pad though . Are they from raw files or j.pegs Eric JPEGs because iPads won't handle nef files ...at the moment (see * below) But that's not an issue as I am not printing exhibition print....they are only being viewed on screens...so jpegs are good enough. I spent 25+years running my photography and design company, much of the time sat in front of large screens in an office similar to Roberts setup, with controlled ambient lighting to get best editing quality out of the photographs and artwork designs. It ruined my eyes for one thing!. But in recent years publishers and printers have drifted into digital printing presses. Cheaper, quicker, more flexible, easier to operate ....but inferior in quality to traditional litho printing, the quality of printing dropped making the lengths I was going to in finessing, pointless. I confess I adopted an "it will do" attitude like most of the industry. You only have to go into most people houses and look at their TV set up to realise they don't appreciate true colour balance, contrast and dynamic tonal range....so who are we trying to please with our ott efforts? But I still know some diehard agencies insisting on large format digital files... when their clients only want websites. In truth I am holding out until next year when Adobe are releasing a full Photoshop CC version for the new iPad Pro. (* hopefully with Adobe camera raw included.) With a 1TB onboard hard drive, much improved performance, coupled with the Apple pen for precise direct on screen editing and my WiFi external hard drive storage ......I will be able to sit in an armchair and watch the garden birds while editing.
____________________ Eric |
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