p.166 #2 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
These king fisher's are just brilliant... ;-)
If you don't mind I would like to ask something about gear. If I am not mistaken you still own an A7RII -> did you ever shoot this lens on it? Is the AF "usable" (I understand that it cannot be anywhere near A9 performance ;-)) ? How is the IQ at ISO3200 (and higher)?
I currently have an EF 100-400 Sigma lens and am toying with the idea of upgrading to either the E-mount version of the Sigma 100-400 or this Sony 200-600... If money was no problem I would buy the Sony in a heartbeat but since this ain't the case I wonder if I could be happy with the e-mount Sigma or am I eventully gonna end up with the Sony... :-)
My issues with EF Sigma are long hunting (slow focus motor) before locking the focus (after lock it seems to hold quite well - but at that time the birds are already far away :-)) and when I am shooting with >/=ISO3200 the pics lack detail (maybe too slow shutter speeds, the lens not sharp enough for 42mpx...?)...
p.166 #3 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Birds evolved and adapted to the availability of...food. The bill of this hummingbird is longer than the body (without tail, mind you ) and enables the bird to get nectar from this trumpet-like flower.
p.166 #5 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
AGeoJO wrote:
Thank you very much for your kind words, Jey! I photographed from a pretty high bluff over the Pacific Ocean. Actually, that area was closed off. It is a location where people have committed suicide . There are signs of discouragement for folks contemplating suicide to call a number to get help. Photographers, in this case, chose to just ignore the sign and climbed over the wall/fence with our gear to get the best spot .
I spent a lot of time there during the pandemic lockdown about twice a week for 4 months or so. Under normal circumstances, it would take me easily 2 hours one way to get to the location from where I live. During the lockdown, it took me only about an hour. I photographed and monitored the adult falcons during their courting and mating season, when the eggs were laid and hatched, when the male falcon hunted to bring food for the chicks, until they learned to fly and to grab food mid-air from the parents and finally, when they flew away. Most of my images were captured using my Sony GM 600mm though and as such could not be posted here.
I am looking forward to the next season that should start in the spring. Thank you again for your compliment!
Very interesting story regarding that high bluff. I've got shocked when started to think about some desperate people jumping out of the bluff, leaving behind the beauty of that natural place and their conceded lives. It is really sad to think about it. Maybe it is related to the Foehn wind effect on people. Here where I live something similar happens when certain kind of winds affects some people's disturbed mind.
On the other hand, from the words you wrote, you described a lot of love for the peregrine falcons' life. You seem to observe these little prey birds with real care along part of their lifespan. And without any doubt your photographs here and in the 600 f4 lens thread reflects that big respect. It is a big and great effort for your part and also thanks for sharing your splendid photographs. May I say that peregrine falcons is your favourite bird species then?
My favourite species is the laughing seagull, mainly because it is not difficult to see here and also because it seems very charming and pleasant to my eyes. It is not I don't like the rest of birds, of course, but the laughing gull has something that catches me. I am shooting birds from almost 2 months ago so I still have a lot learn about them and also to do more outings to improve my shooting skills.
p.166 #6 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
JeyB wrote:
Hi Joshua!
Very interesting story regarding that high bluff. I've got shocked when started to think about some desperate people jumping out of the bluff, leaving behind the beauty of that natural place and their conceded lives. It is really sad to think about it. Maybe it is related to the Foehn wind effect on people. Here where I live something similar happens when certain kind of winds affects some people's disturbed mind.
On the other hand, from the words you wrote, you described a lot of love for the peregrine falcons' life. You seem to observe these little prey birds with real care along part of their lifespan. And without any doubt your photographs here and in the 600 f4 lens thread reflects that big respect. It is a big and great effort for your part and also thanks for sharing your splendid photographs. May I say that peregrine falcons is your favourite bird species then?
My favourite species is the laughing seagull, mainly because it is not difficult to see here and also because it seems very charming and pleasant to my eyes. It is not I don't like the rest of birds, of course, but the laughing gull has something that catches me. I am shooting birds from almost 2 months ago so I still have a lot learn about them and also to do more outings to improve my shooting skills.
Hi Jey,
Over here, it has more to do with the season, like around Christmas when folks feel lonely and isolated, for example. Especially right now when the pandemic is still raging, I got the hunch that some people would think that would be the only way out .
My choice of a favorite bird will depend on the season . In the summer of 2018 and 2019, it was the burrowing owl. Although I had photographed them for 4-5 years or so but in the last 2 years they became active and gave a lot actions of their hunting skill. Then between March and August this year, there were the peregrine falcons and in August and September, my “favorite” bird was the white-tailed kite. I guess the key is to find their nest and the area where they hang out, hunt, feed the family, etc. The burrowing owl population declined dramatically this summer to our disappointment.
Thank you again,
Joshua
_______________________________________________
Burrowing owl in flight from 2019... Yes, it caught a June bug and it was carrying it back to the burrow.
p.166 #7 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
It makes sense, chasing birds where they really live and feed. I'll have to charge my walking batteries...
Here, a typical yellow legged juvenile seagull placidly floating in the sea surrounded by onion rings
Sony A7 RIII@600 mm, f6,3, 1/1000, ISO 250
p.166 #8 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Maybe it is offtopic and a little embarrasing for me, but would it be possible to play a little between all the 200-600 posters? I mean playing to color theme photographs.
The last photo I've posted was mainly dominated by blues, so the next photograph shared by any user should also have a lot of blues. After a while any other member is free to upload a different color dominated photo and we could follow his/her new pattern.
This could result into an interesting visual mosaic. Same color for all-over-the world photographs, be it birds, animals, landscapes or any other 200-600 photographs...
p.166 #9 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
bobek13 wrote:
These king fisher's are just brilliant... ;-)
If you don't mind I would like to ask something about gear. If I am not mistaken you still own an A7RII -> did you ever shoot this lens on it? Is the AF "usable" (I understand that it cannot be anywhere near A9 performance ;-)) ? How is the IQ at ISO3200 (and higher)?
I currently have an EF 100-400 Sigma lens and am toying with the idea of upgrading to either the E-mount version of the Sigma 100-400 or this Sony 200-600... If money was no problem I would buy the Sony in a heartbeat but since this ain't the case I wonder if I could be happy with the e-mount Sigma or am I eventully gonna end up with the Sony... :-)
My issues with EF Sigma are long hunting (slow focus motor) before locking the focus (after lock it seems to hold quite well - but at that time the birds are already far away :-)) and when I am shooting with >/=ISO3200 the pics lack detail (maybe too slow shutter speeds, the lens not sharp enough for 42mpx...?)...
Thanks
I don't have the A7R II left , sold it last year
I have an A7r III now and with 200-600 and it works ok
Not as good AF as on the A9 and slightly worse Iso performance too
But on Still Objects it is good and a little worse on BIF
So unfortunately can not help you with how it performs on the A7R II
Ronny //
Great shot Joshua and Bill
Sony ILCE-7RM3 + FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS by Ronny Olsson, on Flickr
Sony ILCE-7RM3 + FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS by Ronny Olsson, on Flickr
Sony ILCE-7RM3 + FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS by Ronny Olsson, on Flickr
p.166 #10 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
AGeoJO wrote:
Thank you very much for your kind words, Jey! I photographed from a pretty high bluff over the Pacific Ocean. Actually, that area was closed off. It is a location where people have committed suicide . There are signs of discouragement for folks contemplating suicide to call a number to get help. Photographers, in this case, chose to just ignore the sign and climbed over the wall/fence with our gear to get the best spot .
I spent a lot of time there during the pandemic lockdown about twice a week for 4 months or so. Under normal circumstances, it would take me easily 2 hours one way to get to the location from where I live. During the lockdown, it took me only about an hour. I photographed and monitored the adult falcons during their courting and mating season, when the eggs were laid and hatched, when the male falcon hunted to bring food for the chicks, until they learned to fly and to grab food mid-air from the parents and finally, when they flew away. Most of my images were captured using my Sony GM 600mm though and as such could not be posted here.
I am looking forward to the next season that should start in the spring. Thank you again for your compliment!
I know that area as we frequently hike there. Fantastic ocean view with nice wildlife and surrounded by multi million dollar home. Unfortunately, parking in that city has become increasingly restrictive for the hikers!
I really like this one!
Myself, I would even crop a tighter vertical, going for a 2:1 ratio (it's just a personal thing; I much prefer for verticals either a 5:4 ratio or a 2:1 ratio than the 3:2 one gets without a crop). A lot of Japanese panel paintings with birds have that elongated aspect ratio too. Just a thought.
p.166 #16 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
gregfountain wrote:
Great shot Joshua!
Thank you very much, Greg! And sorry for the delay in responding...
Rubyww wrote:
I know that area as we frequently hike there. Fantastic ocean view with nice wildlife and surrounded by multi million dollar home. Unfortunately, parking in that city has become increasingly restrictive for the hikers!
Ruby, you can park at Pt Vicente for some falcon actions, when they are active, of course. Maybe we will bump into each other next year.
p.166 #17 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
When I started out tonight, the sun was shinning ... that didn't last long.
King of the forest.
He got into it with the older 20 point buck the other night.
A new king was crowned.
p.166 #18 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Thanks for your insights... :-)
Ronny Olsson wrote:
Thanks
I don't have the A7R II left , sold it last year
I have an A7r III now and with 200-600 and it works ok
Not as good AF as on the A9 and slightly worse Iso performance too
But on Still Objects it is good and a little worse on BIF
So unfortunately can not help you with how it performs on the A7R II
) and enables the bird to get nectar from this trumpet-like flower.
. There are signs of discouragement for folks contemplating suicide to call a number to get help. Photographers, in this case, chose to just ignore the sign and climbed over the wall/fence with our gear to get the best spot 
. 
