As promised, here are a few more images. Also, if you are interested, please check out my website (Portfolio pages in particular) for more images. Nearly all the posts on the Journal are Alaska related (heck, I think they all are now) - nearly 50 posts now! There's humor, theory, gear reviews, and even a little photography! Stop by and leave me your feedback!
These images are all from 3 trips to Homer over the past few months. I'm lucky in the fact that it is only a 5 hour drive for me (that's with good weather anyway!)
John -
I am really enjoying the 50D. I made a choice a while ago that I'd rather spend my money on getting to locations than on always buying new ultra-expensive cameras. After all, they're just light tight boxes. The 50D has performed very well so far, much better than it's predecessors, in my opinion. The auto focus is faster & more accurate (especially if you take the time to run the lens/sensor calibration) and the fps is more than adequate for my style. I tend to pump the autofocus between shots, rather than blasting and "making a movie". I have just had better luck being more selective about my shots (timing wise) than trust any autofocus tracking on any of my cameras. But that is a personal style choice, not saying it's right - it's just right for me
The only thing I notice that is not improved on the 50D is the noise, but it is an APS-C sensor, so what do we expect. It cleans up very well in post, in my experience. I like the size and light weight of the 50D when compared to the 1D series, which I have also shot with. Plus the "crop-factor" is an added bonus for tele work. That said, I will be getting a 5D mk2 for landscapes, then probably a 1D mk4 or equivalent with a "60D" as a backup.
I've owned a 10D, 20D, & 40D before this. I traded my 40D + batteries and a kit lens for this 50D, and have been very happy with it's capabilities. Let me know if you have any other questions.
#3 is a great image with those mountains in the BG like that. Also the sillywet in the last one is way cool. 5 hour drive? I would do if for eagles in a heart beat
Thanks Henrik & Ken-
Yeah 5 hours in the winter (but the roads can be "questionable" while driving through some of the passes). I've made the drive before and it's taken sometimes 9-10 hours if there is a blizzard, it's Alaska - so it happens
The drive has always been worth it, but I am really looking forward to this Spring through Fall. Long days, short nights, amazing wildlife & landscapes. Yeah... need to work on the patience thing I guess
Awesome, only 5 hrs. away! I've always wanted to go to Homer. I love the third shot, Dave. Great with the background and all.
I know what you mean, I love my MKIII, but it makes for short shooting sometimes, and often wonder if I wasn't better off getting a 50D for more length rather than a heavy, expensive lens. They look great.
Wow -
I forgot I had posted this thread and was just checking my older posts. For some reason, even though I click the notify me of responses thingamajiggy - FM never lets me know when someone responds. So I have to check manually. Very sorry that I didn't respond sooner.
Roman - Thanks! These were all taken with the 100-400 IS. I love the 500/4 and the 600/4, but I can get in flight shots with a higher success rate with the 100-400. Most of these were taken at less than 200mm anyway - so a 70-200/2.8 or f4 would have been even better. I like the flexibility of the 100-400, it is my often used lens. By far.
Thanks Garen, Ashish, JJBub, scelia, PierreB, and Eric.
Netgarden - Homer is a great place, although I don't know what the future holds for it in the winter. Now that feeding is banned, it will take some time to see what happens to the eagle population that has made Homer its home over the past 30 years. We will see.
Eric - you must be a refractive surgeon? I work in ophthalmology as well - it pays for my "habit"
Take care everyone, have a great summer (It's friggin' HOT up here in Alaska! I'm looking forward to cooler weather), shoot a lot. And thanks for taking the time to comment.
) - nearly 50 posts now! There's humor, theory, gear reviews, and even a little photography! Stop by and leave me your feedback!
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