p.35 #8 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
George DeCamp wrote:
Here's a set of images from this morning at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, SC! Two hours each way but worth the ride!
p.35 #10 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Thank you Lance...
I met a few Australians during my travel... Japan is much closer to you than me.
I highly recommend the tour I was on,... but you'll have to endure some deeply cold (dare I say Minnesota-like) temperatures
p.35 #12 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
OwlsEyes wrote:
Thank you Lance...
I met a few Australians during my travel... Japan is much closer to you than me.
I highly recommend the tour I was on,... but you'll have to endure some deeply cold (dare I say Minnesota-like) temperatures
bruce
It's a very tempting proposition but I might not survive the cold! .
p.35 #14 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
spent some time the last few days just shooting the local birds from the porch. we're starting to get some migratory ones it looks like.
400TC + 2x + 1.4x (internal) just testing for sharpness, bokeh, etc.
I don't have much experience shooting small birds, so also just working on technique and whatnot. I don't know that I'd post any of these to my flickr, but I was surprised that the 1.4x and 2x both did super well.
I found that I liked these images significantly more than my 800PF naked, with 1.4x, or with 2x...
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s1400 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s1250 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s1800 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s2500 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s1000 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s1250 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s560 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s1400 ISO0.0 EV
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Z TC-2.0x lens1120mmf/8.01/2000s2200 ISO0.0 EV
p.35 #15 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
I found stopping down to f10 really improves the sharpness at 1120mm. Maybe you can try the next time.
nmerc_photos wrote:
spent some time the last few days just shooting the local birds from the porch. we're starting to get some migratory ones it looks like.
400TC + 2x + 1.4x (internal) just testing for sharpness, bokeh, etc.
I don't have much experience shooting small birds, so also just working on technique and whatnot. I don't know that I'd post any of these to my flickr, but I was surprised that the 1.4x and 2x both did super well.
I found that I liked these images significantly more than my 800PF naked, with 1.4x, or with 2x...
p.35 #16 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
nmerc_photos wrote:
spent some time the last few days just shooting the local birds from the porch. we're starting to get some migratory ones it looks like.
400TC + 2x + 1.4x (internal) just testing for sharpness, bokeh, etc.
I don't have much experience shooting small birds, so also just working on technique and whatnot. I don't know that I'd post any of these to my flickr, but I was surprised that the 1.4x and 2x both did super well.
I found that I liked these images significantly more than my 800PF naked, with 1.4x, or with 2x...
I like the first shot and that cardinal in your post best..
So, I don't use the 2x converter, but I do use the 1.4x and the internal TC. I think you can get more clarity and detail from your set up.
I'd suggest the following: 1: I think your light is a bit harsh and you might be seeing a bit of a heat distortion effect. Try going out early morning or evening to get less direct light. 2: Stop down to f/11 and work to get a clean background. 3: Process with DXO Pure Raw, this cleans up noise and sharpens. I rarely do any sharpening when using DXO. 4: Try to get closer... You are asking a lot to resolve detail at that distance.
I was out shooting peregrines flying near a cliff face. I stacked my 1.4x converters and used DX crop and feel like I've got better clarity than what I'm seeing from some of your images.
bruce
p.35 #17 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
gannis wrote:
I found stopping down to f10 really improves the sharpness at 1120mm. Maybe you can try the next time.
I will certainly give it a try! I'm admittedly still a "wide open" noob. Something like 90%+ of my shots regardless of camera/lens combo are wide open.
I got in the habit of "I paid for this much aperture, I'm gonna use this much aperture!". but I do see a lot of the pros stopping down often for DOF or sharpness, and only using wide open as needed.
OwlsEyes wrote:
I like the first shot and that cardinal in your post best..
So, I don't use the 2x converter, but I do use the 1.4x and the internal TC. I think you can get more clarity and detail from your set up.
I'd suggest the following: 1: I think your light is a bit harsh and you might be seeing a bit of a heat distortion effect. Try going out early morning or evening to get less direct light. 2: Stop down to f/11 and work to get a clean background. 3: Process with DXO Pure Raw, this cleans up noise and sharpens. I rarely do any sharpening when using DXO. 4: Try to get closer... You are asking a lot to resolve detail at that distance.
I was out shooting peregrines flying near a cliff face. I stacked my 1.4x converters and used DX crop and feel like I've got better clarity than what I'm seeing from some of your images.
bruce...Show more →
Appreciate the feedback Bruce.
You are right on the lighting. This was like 2PM midday, so just about the worst light I could get. I was just happy there was light instead of clouds and rain.
Stopping down was mentioned above. These are backyard birds so I need to figure out how to setup some perches and get them to areas that have cleaner background.
All my editing is with DXO, so that's covered
Average distance was only 20' (7m), so I hope that isn't an issue, as this is about as close to a subject as I ever get
p.35 #18 · Official Nikon 400/2.8S image thread + some discussions
Totally agree with you and even i prefer shooting wide open always..it is just that with the 400S and 2 TC stack (both 1.4 external and 2X external), i recently noticed that stopping down improves the sharpness quite a bit..particularly the 2X TC stack at 1120mm.
nmerc_photos wrote:
I will certainly give it a try! I'm admittedly still a "wide open" noob. Something like 90%+ of my shots regardless of camera/lens combo are wide open.
I got in the habit of "I paid for this much aperture, I'm gonna use this much aperture!". but I do see a lot of the pros stopping down often for DOF or sharpness, and only using wide open as needed.
Appreciate the feedback Bruce.
You are right on the lighting. This was like 2PM midday, so just about the worst light I could get. I was just happy there was light instead of clouds and rain.
Stopping down was mentioned above. These are backyard birds so I need to figure out how to setup some perches and get them to areas that have cleaner background.
All my editing is with DXO, so that's covered
Average distance was only 20' (7m), so I hope that isn't an issue, as this is about as close to a subject as I ever get...Show more →
