kdrk888 wrote:
Yes, Middle Creek. This was my 4th trip this year. I was at the Willow Point from 4:00-5:30. At least 4-5 Sony 200-600. Two were now next to me.
I might have been next to you, shooting the A9II and 200-600 lens. I left around 5:15PM. What focus setting were you using when there is a large number of them flying in front of you?
I took the one below several weeks ago at another place and thought it came out better than the on in Middle Creek.
Laslo Varadi wrote:
I might have been next to you, shooting the A9II and 200-600 lens. I left around 5:15PM. What focus setting were you using when there is a large number of them flying in front of you?
I took the one below several weeks ago at another place and thought it came out better than the on in Middle Creek.
Very nice shot you got there!
I had the A7RIV+200-600 and the A9+100-400+1.4TC with me that day, hand held. One of the two gentlemen with the 200-600 next to me was shooting with an A7RIV, not sure about the other one. I was one of the better behaved Asians there.
I keep reading about the AF problems of the A7RIV and 200-600 combo at 600mm, so I wanted to experiment more myself. For that trip I barely used the A9. I think I got some decent shots with the A7RIV+200-600, and I truly appreciate the 61MP that allows me to crop away 3/4 of the frame and still get a decent picture. I experimented both real time tracing in zone and flexible spot. I prefer the flexible spot tracking, the zone worked well when there is clean background, I think.
Douglas, I think next year I'd like to sign up for your Middle Creek Tour. We've been to Conowingo enough times for me to have the t-shirt.Something different up there would be nice. You've gotten some awesome stuff there and I'd like to see a blast-off this side of the Mississippi since we've already experienced the one at Bosque.
On our recent trip to Fl we had one day of full on rain but I knew where to go. Brian Piccolo just outside Miami. Often shot but still brought a big smile to Poof.
With the FE70-350G on the Riv
Sony ILCE-7RM4
FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
ƒ/8.0 300.0 mm 1/640 1250
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Douglas, I think next year I'd like to sign up for your Middle Creek Tour. We've been to Conowingo enough times for me to have the t-shirt.Something different up there would be nice. You've gotten some awesome stuff there and I'd like to see a blast-off this side of the Mississippi since we've already experienced the one at Bosque.
Count me in too for Middle Creek and Conowingo. I plan to go to Conowingo this spring again.
I had the A7RIV+200-600 and the A9+100-400+1.4TC with me that day, hand held. One of the two gentlemen with the 200-600 next to me was shooting with an A7RIV, not sure about the other one. I was one of the better behaved Asians there.
I keep reading about the AF problems of the A7RIV and 200-600 combo at 600mm, so I wanted to experiment more myself. For that trip I barely used the A9. I think I got some decent shots with the A7RIV+200-600, and I truly appreciate the 61MP that allows me to crop away 3/4 of the frame and still get a decent picture. I experimented both real time tracing in zone and flexible spot. I prefer the flexible spot tracking, the zone worked well when there is clean background, I think.
Very good results. So what was your conclusion using the A7r4 (I'm considering getting one when they go on sale) with the 200-600 lens? Interestingly I rented an A7r4 but wound up using the A9II. I found it easy to capture the gees when there was a few in the air but when they filled the sky in large numbers and relatively close, the tracking did not work for me as well.
MedicineMan404 wrote:
Douglas, I think next year I'd like to sign up for your Middle Creek Tour. We've been to Conowingo enough times for me to have the t-shirt.Something different up there would be nice. You've gotten some awesome stuff there and I'd like to see a blast-off this side of the Mississippi since we've already experienced the one at Bosque.
This season the highest number (estimated of course) was 125,000 snow geese. The record was over 200,000 two years ago, some years there could be "fewer" than 100,000. It's an amazing sight that no video or picture can convey. The best time for middle creek is usually the last week of Feb or the first week of March, depending on the weather. They actually have a live webcam for the lake:
Laslo Varadi wrote:
Very good results. So what was your conclusion using the A7r4 (I'm considering getting one when they go on sale) with the 200-600 lens? Interestingly I rented an A7r4 but wound up using the A9II. I found it easy to capture the gees when there was a few in the air but when they filled the sky in large numbers and relatively close, the tracking did not work for me as well.
I don't photograph small birds in flight, my BIF is mostly bald eagles, geese, herons, some ducks. For me the A7RIV's AF is pretty good for these, of course not as good as the A9 (II) but sometimes the ability to crop big is important for me. I got some decent shot with the A7RIV+200-600 (+1.4 TC sometimes). I would not hesitant to use it for big bird in flight. Of course, the keeper rate is not as good as the A9(II). I used the A7RIV+200-600 (+1.4 TC sometimes) at Conowingo last Nov and Dec, I am happy with what I got, I am only doing this for fun so my standard is not high.
Last Sunday I was able to photography hooded merganser in flight for the first time, with the A7RIV+200-600+1.4 TC, still got decent image size after very very heavy cropping. BUT I know some much more experienced birders are having trouble with the A7RIV+200-600 combo. I just bought a used A9 from the B&S board, will try that out more this weekend.
One of my goals for this weekend is to try and give the A7RIV and 200-600 another fair shot with all my regular subjects this time of year. When I had the R4 for two weeks last fall I really came away disappointed with it combined with the 200-600. The only thing that may get in the way of that goal is that the R4 arrived with a certain other lens that is likely to compete with the 200-600 for time in the field so my testing may be delayed somewhat
kdrk888 wrote:
I don't photograph small birds in flight, my BIF is mostly bald eagles, geese, herons, some ducks. For me the A7RIV's AF is pretty good for these, of course not as good as the A9 (II) but sometimes the ability to crop big is important for me. I got some decent shot with the A7RIV+200-600 (+1.4 TC sometimes). I would not hesitant to use it for big bird in flight. Of course, the keeper rate is not as good as the A9(II). I used the A7RIV+200-600 (+1.4 TC sometimes) at Conowingo last Nov and Dec, I am happy with what I got, I am only doing this for fun so my standard is not high.
Last Sunday I was able to photography hooded merganser in flight for the first time, with the A7RIV+200-600+1.4 TC, still got decent image size after very very heavy cropping. BUT I know some much more experienced birders are having trouble with the A7RIV+200-600 combo. I just bought a used A9 from the B&S board, will try that out more this weekend. ...Show more →
I just checked out a mint condition A7riv body at a camera store in VA. I decided to pass on it since I am now spoiled by the A9II.
I've taken a while to make up my mind, but this video has finally convinced me in favour of the Riv. If I was a pro sports / wildlife tog the decision would have been different.
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