PetKal wrote:
Conrad, the eagles are getting better, you got an Ivory Billed Woodpecker in flight, and the horse is well done.
I am also hoping to see more of the "ordinary" birds and animals from you where access is not a limiting factor to your photography. Eagles are fine, just that being quite distant, one can only get a limited mileage out of them photographically.
Tony Markle (Imagemaster) gets very interesting and very well crafted eagle shots with the 100-400, they are in the class of their own. However, the key IMO is that in addition to his skill, he has a superb access to the birds in some beautiful natural habitat plus he probably uses a blind too.
I for one would rather see a well done image of a chicken than a very large crop of an eagle in the empty sky. Here is my chicken for ya done with the 400 f/5.6. ...Show more →
Goooood chicken! Haha! I know what you mean. I wish there was some way to get closer to the eagles without disturding them at the same time get some closer shots. Oh well I guess these are as good as they're gonna get with my 400mm.
PetKal wrote:
Conrad, the eagles are getting better, you got an Ivory Billed Woodpecker in flight, and the horse is well done.
I thought that was some kind of magpie, is that really an Ivory Billed Wookpecker? I heard those things are on the critically endangered species list! He was so far away.
Hehe... that horse actually followed me around for a while. Haha!
Chris B. wrote:
So.... Conrad, do you have a 100-400? I don't see one in your profile.... so before you comment on the speed of AF on a particular lens, you might want to shoot with one. I shot this image with a 100-400... this particular P-51 Mustang flies about 200 mph, which I think qualifies for "quickly moving", and it doesn't appear to be OOF.
Chris B. wrote:
So.... Conrad, do you have a 100-400? I don't see one in your profile.... so before you comment on the speed of AF on a particular lens, you might want to shoot with one. I shot this image with a 100-400... this particular P-51 Mustang flies about 200 mph, which I think qualifies for "quickly moving", and it doesn't appear to be OOF.
Hey Chris! Very very nice shots! So you know, I USED to have the 100-400mm for about a year. I barely used it cause it just couldn't focus quick enough whenever a slow a$$ egret would flap by! Haha! So I tried and tried but was never happy with it. It was super sharp, and produced wonderful colors, but when the subject took flight, I just never got any keepers, and I mean never. I know, I know, the 100-400mm is the king of airshow lenses, as evidenced by your terrific photos! Maybe I shouldn't have been too quick to sell it. Anyway, the 400 f5.6 has been a joy to use, and my keeper rate has literally gone from 1% to about 10%. Maybe its the time I've been putting into this, maybe it was an exceptionally slow AF system on that particular lens, who knows?
And yes... one can say 200mph is quickly moving. Hehe....
Conrad Tan wrote:
Hey Chris! Very very nice shots! So you know, I USED to have the 100-400mm for about a year. I barely used it cause it just couldn't focus quick enough whenever a slow a$$ egret would flap by! Haha! So I tried and tried but was never happy with it. It was super sharp, and produced wonderful colors, but when the subject took flight, I just never got any keepers, and I mean never. I know, I know, the 100-400mm is the king of airshow lenses, as evidenced by your terrific photos! Maybe I shouldn't have been too quick to sell it. Anyway, the 400 f5.6 has been a joy to use, and my keeper rate has literally gone from 1% to about 10%. Maybe its the time I've been putting into this, maybe it was an exceptionally slow AF system on that particular lens, who knows?
And yes... one can say 200mph is quickly moving. Hehe.... ...Show more →
I had a 400 f5.6L even after I got the 100-400 because it seemed to be a tad sharper but I still needed the flexibility of the zoom. However once I got my 300/2.8L IS and used it once with a 1.4x, I sold the 400... the only thing I miss about the 400 is the weight! And some day, I may opt for the best of both worlds: the 400 DO.
Mark Fadely gave ne a bit of inspiration to try my hand at swallows again today. Didn't do too bad given that I fired only about 20 shots, but more work is required on choreography so to speak, for better results. Need to get a healthier vantage point so that I wouldn't have to shoot into the lake surface reflection and also get some direct light on the birds. Next time I'll probably go for a shorter but faster lens, either 200 f/2 or 135L.
Chris B. wrote:
I had a 400 f5.6L even after I got the 100-400 because it seemed to be a tad sharper but I still needed the flexibility of the zoom. However once I got my 300/2.8L IS and used it once with a 1.4x, I sold the 400... the only thing I miss about the 400 is the weight! And some day, I may opt for the best of both worlds: the 400 DO.
PetKal wrote:
Mark Fadely gave ne a bit of inspiration to try my hand at swallows again today. Didn't do too bad given that I fired only about 20 shots, but more work is required on choreography so to speak, for better results. Need to get a healthier vantage point so that I wouldn't have to shoot into the lake surface reflection and also get some direct light on the birds. Next time I'll probably go for a shorter but faster lens, either 200 f/2 or 135L.
Very cool Peter! So tell me, how dizzy were you after shooting those? I like #2 for some reason the best.
Conrad Tan wrote:
Very cool Peter! So tell me, how dizzy were you after shooting those? I like #2 for some reason the best.
Not dizzy at all because didn't fire more than 2 dozen shots. Besides, I have been conditioned well by pijuns for this type of BIF.
This afternoon, I have improved the score a bit too by avoiding water reflection and getting a more suitable lens.....the fast 135L. Since this is no place for any lens other than the 400 f/5.6, I'll post just one shot to give you a flavour of it.
Thank you, Noelle, shooting pijuns in flight with different lenses has been a useful conditioning regimen. That's why I keep suggesting to Conrad...."Son, gotta shoot PIF."
And yes I'll bring a flash next time! Haha!
Here is my chicken for ya done with the 400 f/5.6. 
