Out for the little winter birds
p.1 #1Out for the little winter birds
Still learning with the new Sony 400-800 lens. Pretty incredible!
Had a chance to get out with my buddy Johnohio for a walk on a windy cold day at one of our locals. Found a little hotspot of action and had fun with the activity.
Just like my 200-600 was almost always at 600, the 400-800 is almost always at 800. However the super close focusing at 400 is great and will work well for butterflies and dragonflies this Spring.
Karl
1 Junco
2 Red Bellied WP
3 Downy looking at me
4 White Throated Sparrow
5 White Breasted Nuthatch
6 Red Headed WP
7 Wren
8 Black Capped Chickadee
9 Cardinal
10 Bluejay
Had a chance to get out with my buddy Johnohio for a walk on a windy cold day at one of our locals. Found a little hotspot of action and had fun with the activity.
Just like my 200-600 was almost always at 600, the 400-800 is almost always at 800. However the super close focusing at 400 is great and will work well for butterflies and dragonflies this Spring.
Karl
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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1 Junco
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/800s 1000 ISO +0.7 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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2 Red Bellied WP
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/800s 1000 ISO +0.7 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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3 Downy looking at me
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 750mm f/8.0 1/800s 640 ISO +0.3 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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4 White Throated Sparrow
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 785mm f/8.0 1/800s 2500 ISO +0.3 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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5 White Breasted Nuthatch
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 443mm f/7.1 1/800s 1250 ISO +0.3 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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6 Red Headed WP
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/800s 640 ISO +0.7 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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7 Wren
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/800s 2500 ISO +1.0 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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8 Black Capped Chickadee
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 400mm f/8.0 1/800s 500 ISO -0.3 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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9 Cardinal
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/500s 1250 ISO +0.7 EV
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 Karl Witt 2026 |
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10 Bluejay
ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 700mm f/8.0 1/1000s 1250 ISO +2.3 EV
Jan 16, 2026 at 01:22 PM
p.1 #2Out for the little winter birds
Hrrrrm... 1, 5, 6, 7 9 & 10 are my pick's Karl, did I miss any?
Terrific set, it looks like you and John had a fun day out.
It appears you got a nice sharp copy of that lens, lots of super fine detail on those little fellas.
Eric
Jan 16, 2026 at 01:36 PM
p.1 #3Out for the little winter birds
Great looking collection my friend. Like them all. I have yet to see let alone photograph a RHWP. Thanks for sharing these beauties Karl.
Jan 16, 2026 at 01:46 PM
p.1 #4Out for the little winter birds
Ok Karl You show-off. I was just about ready to post a couple shots and then I had to peek at your amazing shots with your new lens. I have to give my top votes to the Woodies!!! But all are superb. Only think I don't like about them is they are not mine!
Mike
Mike
Jan 16, 2026 at 01:50 PM
p.1 #5Out for the little winter birds
OH these are stunners Karl! Hand held also? Wow! Such texture and detail in the feathers and so vibrant on a cold winter morn! The bokeh on this lens is superb!
I love the cold! Mary-land has missed all the snow but not the intense cold and wind.
Again wonderful compositions! Glad you and john got to "meet up".
Dan
I love the cold! Mary-land has missed all the snow but not the intense cold and wind.
Again wonderful compositions! Glad you and john got to "meet up".
Dan
Jan 16, 2026 at 02:05 PM
p.1 #6Out for the little winter birds
Excellent set Karl. Welcome to the world of real reach. Watch out, you will soon be adding a 1.4x as it's so nice to fill the frame with little birds. Then again, there is such a thing as too much reach.
Morris
Morris
Jan 16, 2026 at 02:43 PM
p.1 #7Out for the little winter birds
Erictator wrote:
Hrrrrm... 1, 5, 6, 7 9 & 10 are my pick's Karl, did I miss any?
Terrific set, it looks like you and John had a fun day out.
It appears you got a nice sharp copy of that lens, lots of super fine detail on those little fellas.
Eric
Nah, you pretty much covered them buddy
Very happy with the lens, challenge to myself is to get more DOF on the little ones, difficult when they won't turn sideways for me
But I will make it work best I can with what is given.
Take care, Happy New Year Eric
Karl
Hrrrrm... 1, 5, 6, 7 9 & 10 are my pick's Karl, did I miss any?
Terrific set, it looks like you and John had a fun day out.
It appears you got a nice sharp copy of that lens, lots of super fine detail on those little fellas.
Eric
Nah, you pretty much covered them buddy
Very happy with the lens, challenge to myself is to get more DOF on the little ones, difficult when they won't turn sideways for me
But I will make it work best I can with what is given. Take care, Happy New Year Eric
Karl
Jan 16, 2026 at 02:46 PM
p.1 #8Out for the little winter birds
Ted ellis wrote:
Great looking collection my friend. Like them all. I have yet to see let alone photograph a RHWP. Thanks for sharing these beauties Karl.
RHWP is a fav of mine. Fortunately I see them at a few locals to me.They are beautiful and a challenge on exposure.
Thanks much Ted
Karl
Great looking collection my friend. Like them all. I have yet to see let alone photograph a RHWP. Thanks for sharing these beauties Karl.
RHWP is a fav of mine. Fortunately I see them at a few locals to me.They are beautiful and a challenge on exposure.
Thanks much Ted
Karl
Jan 16, 2026 at 02:47 PM
p.1 #9Out for the little winter birds
Most impressive set Karl, you really do have a stunning set of images!
Jan 16, 2026 at 05:38 PM
p.1 #10Out for the little winter birds
Wow, these are incredible. Bigger than life size it seems, lol. With being at the 800 end was this handheld? I'm not sure I could handhold more than my 100-500.
Jan 16, 2026 at 07:16 PM
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p.1 #11Out for the little winter birds
these are incredible, my friend. The red bellied WP is amazing
Jan 16, 2026 at 07:52 PM
p.1 #12Out for the little winter birds
Karl Witt wrote:
Still learning with the new Sony 400-800 lens. Pretty incredible!
Had a chance to get out with my buddy Johnohio for a walk on a windy cold day at one of our locals. Found a little hotspot of action and had fun with the activity.
Just like my 200-600 was almost always at 600, the 400-800 is almost always at 800. However the super close focusing at 400 is great and will work well for butterflies and dragonflies this Spring.
Karl
A great selection of the little winter birds you were after. Looks like you more or less got them all. A great shot of the Red Headed WP. I was never so lucky to get one of those in front of my lens.
Still learning with the new Sony 400-800 lens. Pretty incredible!
Had a chance to get out with my buddy Johnohio for a walk on a windy cold day at one of our locals. Found a little hotspot of action and had fun with the activity.
Just like my 200-600 was almost always at 600, the 400-800 is almost always at 800. However the super close focusing at 400 is great and will work well for butterflies and dragonflies this Spring.
Karl
A great selection of the little winter birds you were after. Looks like you more or less got them all. A great shot of the Red Headed WP. I was never so lucky to get one of those in front of my lens.
Jan 16, 2026 at 07:59 PM
p.1 #13Out for the little winter birds
Beautiful Karl ! Looks like that lens has found a good home 
Gary
Gary
Jan 17, 2026 at 09:39 AM
p.1 #14Out for the little winter birds
Yes, indeedy, and all the usual suspects showed, Karl!
Douglas
Douglas
Jan 17, 2026 at 11:10 AM
p.1 #15Out for the little winter birds
Woodies are always a great find Mike. Glad you enjoyed these my friend👍🏼
You just keep posting please, you’ve got great stuff to share😁
Thanks my friend
Karl😎
genefixer wrote:
Ok Karl You show-off. I was just about ready to post a couple shots and then I had to peek at your amazing shots with your new lens. I have to give my top votes to the Woodies!!! But all are superb. Only think I don't like about them is they are not mine!
Mike
Jan 17, 2026 at 12:50 PM
p.1 #16Out for the little winter birds
John is a neighbor, we get out frequently, he has a great set of eyes and is an amazing photographer!
Yes I am always a handheld guy for shooting, just need to know your limits. Bokeh is pleasing and a few tweaks in processing tops it off.
Thanks my friend, Happy New Year to you and Susan.
Karl😎
Danpbphoto wrote:
OH these are stunners Karl! Hand held also? Wow! Such texture and detail in the feathers and so vibrant on a cold winter morn! The bokeh on this lens is superb!
I love the cold! Mary-land has missed all the snow but not the intense cold and wind.
Again wonderful compositions! Glad you and john got to "meet up".
Dan
Yes I am always a handheld guy for shooting, just need to know your limits. Bokeh is pleasing and a few tweaks in processing tops it off.
Thanks my friend, Happy New Year to you and Susan.
Karl😎
Danpbphoto wrote:
OH these are stunners Karl! Hand held also? Wow! Such texture and detail in the feathers and so vibrant on a cold winter morn! The bokeh on this lens is superb!
I love the cold! Mary-land has missed all the snow but not the intense cold and wind.
Again wonderful compositions! Glad you and john got to "meet up".
Dan
Jan 17, 2026 at 12:53 PM
p.1 #17Out for the little winter birds
Congrats on the new lens, seems to fit you well!
Bob
Bob
Jan 17, 2026 at 04:12 PM
p.1 #18Out for the little winter birds
Absolutely gorgeous set Karl!! Looks like you have the new lens all figured out. Beautifully done on all.
Birdie
Birdie
Jan 17, 2026 at 08:14 PM
p.1 #19Out for the little winter birds
Yes the reach is a benefit on these subjects for sure. Likely won’t ever see a 1.4x on it but will toggle APSC for the 1.6x advantage, Red Bellied was shot APSC equivalent to 1280mm without giving up f/stops
Thanks much
Karl😎
morris wrote:
Excellent set Karl. Welcome to the world of real reach. Watch out, you will soon be adding a 1.4x as it's so nice to fill the frame with little birds. Then again, there is such a thing as too much reach.
Morris
Thanks much
Karl😎
morris wrote:
Excellent set Karl. Welcome to the world of real reach. Watch out, you will soon be adding a 1.4x as it's so nice to fill the frame with little birds. Then again, there is such a thing as too much reach.
Morris
Jan 18, 2026 at 08:44 AM
p.1 #20Out for the little winter birds
Great set Karl, every one of them is very good! What a nice variety of little birds for a local walk! And, congrats on the new lens, hope it continues to serve you well for a long time!
-Mark
-Mark
Jan 18, 2026 at 10:56 AM