I am now also leaving the OSS on with the 200-600 hand held for birding too. I've been using Mode 3 on the lens itself, but Mode 2 or 1 could be just as good but I got tired of testing and couldn't find any details about the different OSS modes for this lens.
Last nights early moon handheld, 200-600 +1.4x FF mode.
Make: SONY
Model: ILCE-7RM4
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Bias: -0.3 EV
F Number: F 9
Max Aperture: F 8.99
ISO Speed ratings: ISO 400
Flash: Flash did not fire [off]
Focal Length: 840 mm
35mm Equivalent: 840 mm
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
A couple shots from yesterday. The A7RIV's AF may not be as fast as the A9's for small bird in flight, but the 61MP just gives you so much room to crop.
chiron wrote:
Douglas--Beautiful images. Is there an easy way to include the shutter/aperture/ISO/focal length? I'd like to use these to evaluate the lens.
Thanks you Peter! The easiest way to see the EXIF is just click the the flickr link below each picture, it’s right there. I hate having to go through the steps to reduce the file size to fit FM’s size requirements, even though I am allowed to upload the down sized pictures directly. In any event, almost all the pictures of these birds were shot at 600mm and cropped.
kdrk888 wrote:
Thanks you Peter! The easiest way to see the EXIF is just click the the flickr link below each picture, it’s right there. I hate having to go through the steps to reduce the file size to fit FM’s size requirements, even though I am allowed to upload the down sized pictures directly. In any event, almost all the pictures of these birds were shot at 600mm and cropped.
Thanks, Douglas. The lens looks great all the way out to 600mm and wide open. Terrific detail in the feathers and the shots are so good. What percentage crop would you estimate for most of these (if that is a question that can be answered).
chiron wrote:
Thanks, Douglas. The lens looks great all the way out to 600mm and wide open. Terrific detail in the feathers and the shots are so good. What percentage crop would you estimate for most of these (if that is a question that can be answered).
Peter, the final posted images of the cardinals are probably 1/2 to 2/3 of the original frame, the smaller birds are probably 1/3 to 1/4 of the frame. I understand some very experienced birders are having AF tracking issues with the A7RIV4 and the 200-600 at 600mm. I don't doubt them at all. I would say my in focus rate for big bird (geese, swans, eagles) in flight with this combo is somewhere between 3-5 out 10. I recently bought an A9 too but the 61MP of the A7RIV gives you so much room to crop and still get images with lots of details. It's really a trade off. Another option is the 100-400 GM +1.4 TC. It's a great compact combo but you do lose a bit of light compared to the 200-600. But with the 200-600 you can put a 1.4 TC on it to get to 840mm! One click on the A7RIV for crop mode you are at 1260MM with 26MP! I got some good shots (by my standard) from the the 200-600+1.4 TC for bald eagles.
You can see the EXIF of the bald eagle shots in this link if you are interested:
But bear in mind, I am nowhere near being a birder as some folks here. I would say I am more into airshows than birds. I go to 7-8 airshows a year. In the dead winter there is no much else to shoot other than birds.
kdrk888 wrote:
Peter, the final posted images of the cardinals are probably 1/2 to 2/3 of the original frame, the smaller birds are probably 1/3 to 1/4 of the frame. I understand some very experienced birders are having AF tracking issues with the A7RIV4 and the 200-600 at 600mm. I don't doubt them at all. I would say my in focus rate for big bird (geese, swans, eagles) in flight with this combo is somewhere between 3-5 out 10. I recently bought an A9 too but the 61MP of the A7RIV gives you so much room to crop and still get images with lots of details. It's really a trade off. Another option is the 100-400 GM +1.4 TC. It's a great compact combo but you do lose a bit of light compared to the 200-600. But with the 200-600 you can put a 1.4 TC on it to get to 840mm! One click on the A7RIV for crop mode you are at 1260MM with 26MP! I got some good shots (by my standard) from the the 200-600+1.4 TC for bald eagles.
You can see the EXIF of the bald eagle shots in this link if you are interested:
But bear in mind, I am nowhere near being a birder as some folks here. I would say I am more into airshows than birds. I go to 7-8 airshows a year. In the dead winter there is no much else to shoot other than birds.
Great pictures of the hunt and also eagles dog-fighting! I think my favorite is the largish one toward the end of the eagle with claws out in front skimming the water, wings up, and about to strike.
