I just looked back through this thread and there are some really wonderful images here. I wanted to thank everyone for all the kind words. I've been dreaming of warmer weather and the return of my Ospreys, so here are a few from warmer weather..
I've had a DSLR just about 1 year now, so I am very much a beginner, especially when it comes to long lenses, and shooting birds. I have had the Tamron a few Months now and am enjoying learning to use it. I thought some other newbies might find it useful to see what kind of shots a rank beginner gets with this lens. First some static birds because they are easier to shoot.
Ryano67, thanks for the encouragement. I am in awe of some of the work I see posted on this site. I aspire to learn from them. Kind of intimidating. This is my second time posting any images here. It took a while to work up to it.
Hi Steven, great images you posted. Great looking wood-duck, was it in wild?
I only had my Tamron a week by now, taken out twice to local NWR area. I find it works great under good light, and your subject is at close range, under 100' or so. Do post more and often.
Hi Steve, nice to meet you. Yes, the Wood Duck is wild. I took this picture just today. I had a meeting out near Santee Lakes this morning, so stopped by for a long lunch. Got the flying shots of the Egrets, and the Pelican today too. Some were close, and some were cropped fairly heavily. The D810 makes that possible.
I think most of the other birds are wild too. Some were shot at the Wild Animal Park ponds, so it can be hard to tell which are wild, and which are part of their collection. They seem to mix freely. Heck, I don't even know what kind of ducks/birds they are a lot of the time. .
I did have the opportunity to go to the Bosque de Apache for two days. Shot in low light and far away a lot there. The lens seemed to work fine, but of course the "keeper rate" was lower the less light there was. I will post some from that trip later.
I think you will enjoy the Tamron. There should be plenty of good bird opportunities in the Delta, and you are not far from the Sierras.
Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get up to the lake again now that we have some open water and get some birdies but here is my absolute first out of the box combined with a D810 and no Micro Adjust. Picked it up at Norman camera and went straight to the Lake. I have to tell you, I cant wait to try it on some birds and ducks!
Great images, Robb! Looks pretty darn cold, brrrrr.... Here in CA, everyday is above 60F, short sleeves but clouds or birds or even lighthouse where I am.
Congratulations on your new acquisition. Like yours, mine worked best with 0 MA, after lengthy trial errors with AFMA. We'll wait for some birdie shots.
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