What a difference a week can make... two weeks ago I was photographing displaying male turkey on a day in which we experienced some relief from the polar vortex (see link to 80-400G thread here --> https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1220559/1#14751197 .... one week later it is cold and snowy. The D500 and 500PF worked like a charm as I shot for hours in the blowing snow and near frigid conditions.
What I usually do in such situations is take a few images at lower ISO levels, then bump it up for the flight shot.
Or, if your body allows it, assign general BIF settings to one (thumb) button on the back of the camera. You can then set the camera for static shots, fire and then simply press the programmed BIF settings button when the bird takes off.
I believe this programming feature has been implemented in the last D5 firmware. Sadly, not yet on the D850... (it's available on many Canon and Sony bodies).
On the left: Z7+FTZ+TC14EIII+500PF w/RRS plate and Kirk grip. Excellent results even at 700mm and at 6 lbs it's 1/2 size and weight of the 600mm setup. But @f8 ya' gotta have the light. It's my new "good light pocket-rocket" so to speak.
On the right: D850 w/grip + 600E. At 12 lbs it's a brute, but razor sharp at all ranges w/wo TC, and rocks for action at f4.
I get to see Kingfishers at best two times a year.
This shot pales by most photographers standards but considering the huge distance
I'm very pleased to have nabbed on....and on a natural perch. When I do see them it
is usually on a wire.
Nikon D500
500.0 mm f/5.6
ƒ/8.0 700.0 mm 1/2500 800
MedicineMan404 wrote:
I get to see Kingfishers at best two times a year.
This shot pales by most photographers standards but considering the huge distance
I'm very pleased to have nabbed on....and on a natural perch. When I do see them it
is usually on a wire.
Nikon D500
500.0 mm f/5.6
ƒ/8.0 700.0 mm 1/2500 800
Amazing pictures above! Congrats, really. We also have a few kingfishers - so far no luck.
I am still trying out the lens, high ISO here. Interesting backgrounds with minimal processing.
Songbird by Dora Orosz, on Flickr
Nikon D500, 500.0 mm f/5.6, ƒ/6.3 500.0 mm 1/800 12800
It can make even the most mundane subjects melt your heart.
