I am still trying to get the hang of using my 300/2.8 with the 2xTC, and I am using small, perching birds as my test subjects. The sun finally came out in Atlanta today, so out I went and here are three small birds I happened to capture ...

(1) Mockingbird, looking into the sun

Looks great to me, Chris!
These are nice a sharp. Keep up the good work!

Very sharp work indeed, paticularly #3. Thanks for sharing.
Bill

Chris, yours and Bonnie's work with the 300 plus 2x is very very good.
That seems to be a killer combo and much bang for the $$.

Mockers are great subjects to practice on, they are curious and will follow, coming quite close

You seem to have the hang of it, Chris. #3 then #1 are my picks

Hi Chris,

These are super shots. I especially enjoyed the brown-headed nuthatch. I've never seen one before.

Nice job with the 300 and 2.0 extender. Are you using a tripod? These look nice and sharp.

These pics show a very good exposure, very nice detail and good color. So I would say that you did a very good job with that combo, Chris.
Socrate

Herderdog wrote:
Looks great to me, Chris!
These are nice a sharp. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Bonnie. You know that I view your frequent posts as the standard to which my pictures must aspire, you are just turning out such consistently great shots with the 300/2.8 and TCs. Thank you for looking!

Bill James wrote:
Very sharp work indeed, paticularly #3. Thanks for sharing.
Bill

Thanks, Bill! The nuthatch was definitely my favorite. He was so obliging, he must have sat still for an entire 5-6 seconds!

Chris

Dave In La wrote:
Chris, yours and Bonnie's work with the 300 plus 2x is very very good.
That seems to be a killer combo and much bang for the $$.

Mockers are great subjects to practice on, they are curious and will follow, coming quite close

Thanks Dave. Coming from you these comments mean a lot to me. I am really pleased with the 300 -- I chose it over a 500 mainly for travel-related convenience issues, figuring it would be easier to travel overseas with the smaller lens. So I view it as a compromise, but I am happy enough with the results. And thank you for mentioning me in the same sentence as Bonnie, although I don't think I am anywhere near her level, but I am definitely working on it!

MaggieBee wrote:
You seem to have the hang of it, Chris. #3 then #1 are my picks

Thanks Maggie. I was so excited about that nuthatch, but immediately after he flew off, I was worried that he might have been too close because I was using the focus limit switch. I was steaming that I might have missed such a great opportunity, but then pleasantly surprised when I got home and the shots were actually in focus after all! I find I have to use the limit switch with the 2xTC or the AF just hunts too much and focuses too slowly.

JJBub wrote:
Hi Chris,

These are super shots. I especially enjoyed the brown-headed nuthatch. I've never seen one before.

Nice job with the 300 and 2.0 extender. Are you using a tripod? These look nice and sharp.

Thanks Cris! Yes, the brown-headed nuthatch only lives in the southeast. It's little consolation, though, when you have so many bald eagles up where you are!

These shots were taken using a monopod, Manfrotto 3232 tilt head, and a RRS clamp and plate. My primary reason for getting the 300 over a 500/4 was portability, so I am trying out this rig to see if it works. So far, with my limited experience, I am finding that I have to keep the shutter speeds at or above 1/800 to get sharp shots, although I can get a few at lower speeds, but much less reliably.

Shasoc wrote:
These pics show a very good exposure, very nice detail and good color. So I would say that you did a very good job with that combo, Chris.
Socrate

Thanks, Socrate. The 40D is really making it a lot easier on me -- I can now see how much the AF system on my old Rebel XTi was hindering me. Now I just need to grow into to the new camera and the 300.

Chris

Nice set, sharp with good color! I think you are right about 2 being a RWBB. Steve W

All three are great, Chris, but that nuthatch is more betterer than the rest

Ken

alameda wrote:
Nice set, sharp with good color! I think you are right about 2 being a RWBB. Steve W

Steve, thanks for the comments and thanks for confirming the ID on that one. There was a male RWBB hanging around too, and I got several decent pictures of him, but all were obstructed by branches in the way, so I will have to wait for another opportunity to get a good picture of one of the males.

Mr Zoom wrote:
All three are great, Chris, but that nuthatch is more betterer than the rest

Ken

Thanks Ken, I really appreciate it. I am always inspired by the pictures you post here. And I agree, the nuthatch is definitely the best effort for the day. Frankly, if I can get one picture like that every time I go out, I am happy!

Chris

Great shots Chris - -

all super sharp. Nuthatch is my favorite.....


Lil

Great nice and sharp, nice backgrounds. Hmm, I thought 2x were not supposed to be sharp, ha. How did you get the nuthatch to sit still? Those guys never sit still. I also agree 2 is a female RWB.

Great shots Chris! I really like #2 - the colors on the bird and the background really blend together wonderfully. Always enjoy your series!

J

Lil Judd wrote:
Great shots Chris - -

all super sharp. Nuthatch is my favorite.....


Lil

Thanks, I really appreciate it! At least now I know that when I get soft pictures, it is my technique and not the equipment -- won't that be comforting!

Tim Kuhn wrote:
Great nice and sharp, nice backgrounds. Hmm, I thought 2x were not supposed to be sharp, ha. How did you get the nuthatch to sit still? Those guys never sit still. I also agree 2 is a female RWB.

Tim, the 2x definitely does affect the sharpness of the lens, but with the image bigger on the sensor, the detail is still there. The bigger problem is the loss of 2 stops of light -- which forces me up to higher ISOs more than I would prefer and makes the 2x usable only when the light is really good.

How to make a nuthatch sit still? I have no idea, they are so hyperactive most of the time. I figured this one's gift of a few stationary seconds was just dumb luck!

jakita33 wrote:
Great shots Chris! I really like #2 - the colors on the bird and the background really blend together wonderfully. Always enjoy your series!

J

Jason, thank you so much. I am hoping to get out and shoot as much as I can this year -- maybe I will get a shot of a male RWB to go with the female... my regular haunt has a big swampy area that the RWBs love!

Chris

Since I like sharp pics I like #3 the most. Wonderful composition and awesome camera/lens combo indeed!
Ciaoooo

Terrific, great detail and color - that combo works beautifully!
Susan