dclark wrote:
I have been using the Olympus sight for a while and I agree it is very useful for acquiring the subject. One caution is that the adjustments to center the dot are easy to inadvertently change and getting them reset can be a pain if you don't have a tripod.
Dave
Yes, the calibration dials are too accessible. I use a bit of tape to cover them after calibration.
dclark wrote:
I have been using the Olympus sight for a while and I agree it is very useful for acquiring the subject. One caution is that the adjustments to center the dot are easy to inadvertently change and getting them reset can be a pain if you don't have a tripod.
Dave
Traffic to the owl location this morning was bad after the long holiday weekend. The owls started hunting when I got there and without a tripod and it was a pain especially since I was in hurry. I brushed the dot sight against the brim of my hat a few times and I had to check to make sure that the calibration was still okay. I pointed the red dot at the stationary target and took a picture and viewed it. Fortunately, it was still on the spot. In that respect, it seems to work okay.
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Here is the second out of 5 peak frames, showing a juvenile owl trying to catch a green June bug mid-air. As soon as the owl took off from its perch, I started triggering the camera and kept on shooting until it came flying back. I did my best to put the red dot of the dot sight on the owl and kept on shooting. Frankly, I didn't see the bug but I knew that the owl was going after one of those bugs. I took maybe 60 frames in total but 5 of them show the owl and the bug in the same composition/frame. This particular juvenile owl missed a few times , but dad and they hunt together, is pretty deadly in catching his prey.
There is no way I could have captured the sequence with the tunnel vision of the 600mm lens. The best $129 I have even spent to get these kind of shots.
The image is cropped since the action took place further in the field. At the next outing I will put a 1.4X TC. I am getting greedy in my old days. Of course, it is possible that the action happens right at 20 feet as soon as I do that.
AGeoJO wrote:
Traffic to the owl location this morning was bad after the long holiday weekend. The owls started hunting when I got there and without a tripod and it was a pain especially since I was in hurry. I brushed the dot sight against the brim of my hat a few times and I had to check to make sure that the calibration was still okay. I pointed the red dot at the stationary target and took a picture and viewed it. Fortunately, it was still on the spot. In that respect, it seems to work okay.
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Here is the second out of 5 peak frames, showing a juvenile owl trying to catch a green June bug mid-air. As soon as the owl took off from its perch, I started triggering the camera and kept on shooting until it came flying back. I did my best to put the red dot of the dot sight on the owl and kept on shooting. Frankly, I didn't see the bug but I knew that the owl was going after one of those bugs. I took maybe 60 frames in total but 5 of them show the owl and the bug in the same composition/frame. This particular juvenile owl missed a few times , but dad and they hunt together, is pretty deadly in catching his prey.
There is no way I could have captured the sequence with the tunnel vision of the 600mm lens. The best $129 I have even spent to get these kind of shots.
The image is cropped since the action took place further in the field. At the next outing I will put a 1.4X TC. I am getting greedy in my old days. Of course, it is possible that the action happens right at 20 feet as soon as I do that. ...Show more →
Great shot and description how the dot sight helped you capture this image. Now I can't wait for mine!
I haven't even shot any birds in flight at this point, but I have taken the suggestion and ordered the Olympus Dot Sight and the Pixel TF-334 Flash Hot Shoe Adapter to assist me when I am finally able to find my subjects.
Picked up A7riv 5 days ago but haven't had much opportunity to try it outside. Had a break in the cloud for a brief moment and was able to take a few shot. Here is a compress raw converted in Lightroom Classic using Auto with no other processing exported to jpeg.
Shot at 600mm F4 ISO 400 1/250 sec. It focus well but if you have been using the A9 then you should be more methodical and prepared in the way you shoot when using the A7riv. Can't just spray and pray. Having spot on exposure is crucial as there isn't as much leeway as there is on the A9.
Joshua, that is an incredible capture, the owl has its eyes on the bug, the composition is perfect. I agree, this is the kind of shot that is probably impossible to make with the tunnel vision.
Now I need to find a place close to home with such an opportunity
Paul, you mean overexposing on the a7r4 is harder to correct? Usually shadows can be lifted very well on Sony sensors, but highlight clipping may be a problem. Is that what you noted?
Thanks for sharing. I too feel the AF capabilities of the a7x series is never going to be as good as the a9x else they would never be able to sell the latter.
Pradeep, Overexposing is hard to correct on any camera for me! Actually it's the opposite. It gets noisy quickly even at fairly low ISO. Although it's a finer grainy film type of noise, it's still there. It's fine if you are taking portraits with good lighting and slow shutter speed. When it's overcast and you need to catch a kingfisher diving needing a shutter speed of 1/4000 sec then it gets difficult. I love the definition the 61mp gives. The new shutter feels great. Just commenting on some of the issues I'm seeing. Not so much issues, but what to watch out for using the A7riv. There's no perfect camera for everything. We all want the moon though. Still early days. I'm still learning about this particular camera.
Primus wrote:
Joshua, that is an incredible capture, the owl has its eyes on the bug, the composition is perfect. I agree, this is the kind of shot that is probably impossible to make with the tunnel vision.
Now I need to find a place close to home with such an opportunity
Pradeep
Thank you, Pradeep! Yes, find some local birding spots and from time to time you can go to well known birding locations. Mukesh goes to Conowingo Dam for his eagle shots for example and I go almost annually to Bosque del Apache. We will be there in mid December this time around.
Footlink wrote:
Pradeep, Overexposing is hard to correct on any camera for me! Actually it's the opposite. It gets noisy quickly even at fairly low ISO. Although it's a finer grainy film type of noise, it's still there. It's fine if you are taking portraits with good lighting and slow shutter speed. When it's overcast and you need to catch a kingfisher diving needing a shutter speed of 1/4000 sec then it gets difficult. I love the definition the 61mp gives. The new shutter feels great. Just commenting on some of the issues I'm seeing. Not so much issues, but what to watch out for using the A7riv. There's no perfect camera for everything. We all want the moon though. Still early days. I'm still learning about this particular camera. ...Show more →
Hi Paul, the seemingly increasing noise level is directly related to the 61MP, I guess. As long as we are aware of the situation and make the necessary adjustment as much as we can, then that's it. Yes, we all want the moon . I am definitely anxious to find out about the A9 II, which will be introduced by either tomorrow or the end of month or the end of the year.
BTW, it is interesting to see that the A7r IV is available in Asia 2 weeks before here on this side of the Pacific.
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I finished editing this 4th frame from that sequence just now and I am including the previous frame, as well...
Footlink wrote:
Pradeep, Overexposing is hard to correct on any camera for me! Actually it's the opposite. It gets noisy quickly even at fairly low ISO. Although it's a finer grainy film type of noise, it's still there. It's fine if you are taking portraits with good lighting and slow shutter speed. When it's overcast and you need to catch a kingfisher diving needing a shutter speed of 1/4000 sec then it gets difficult. I love the definition the 61mp gives. The new shutter feels great. Just commenting on some of the issues I'm seeing. Not so much issues, but what to watch out for using the A7riv. There's no perfect camera for everything. We all want the moon though. . Still early days. I'm still learning about this particular camera. ...Show more →
I hear you, we all want a Ferrari in a Hyundai!
Perhaps the a9 is more forgiving in this situation. Last year I was at a workshop where we needed 1/4000 for birds rushing into a feeder setup and fighting in the air, twisting etc. The light was bad as it was overcast and raining a little. I pulled up the exposure slider by almost 3 stops in many cases, as the aperture had to be around 5.6 to allow enough dof for the entire bird. There was some noise but perfectly usable even as a large print - which is where my images end up if good enough.
I had to get out on the lake tonight. Holiday boat traffic was gone and the lake was calm. I saw some Osprey in the distance. I hit the throttle on the boat racing toward them but didn't have to go to far or fast as this guy flew straight towards me.
Footlink wrote:
Wasn't the best light angle. But the kingfisher won't cooperate and pose where I wanted him to so I'll just have to settle for the side angle shot.
Paul,
This is the first time I see images taken with the A7r IV and GM 600mm plus a 2X TC. Did you crop the images or are they pretty much the entire frame? I am just curious. We will be able to put our hand on the A7r IV exactly a week from today... .
FYI, the photo with the Red whiskered Bulbul was shot from 47 feet. I use a golf laser range finder to measure distance from the target so I have an idea of the maximum distance I can be away from the target and still expect maximum detail.
, but dad and they hunt together, is pretty deadly in catching his prey. 
