It was just an Yellow-faced canary today.

RaPhoto said:

Well spotted ISv! SoCal is correct (inland coastal). The Casaurina sp. (locally called a Sheoak) is in my neighbor's yard. The woodpeckers and nuthatches like working the trunk and branches for insects. Flycatchers and hummers like the snags for looking for flying insects.

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"Even broken watch is right twice a day"!

candyman said:

Red Squirrel

Canon EOS R5 Mark II
EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Shot at 400mm with f/5.6, ISO 6400, 1/640
Distance: 6 meter

View attachment 226960

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Great photo but there is no acorn : 9 out of 10!!!

I hope we will have a +/- regular rainy season here and January - February and I may be able to post more species (and better photos if I attache the zoom!) of butterflies but for now they are just few.

The Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 is the best selling full frame mirrorless zoom lens of all time. The RF 28-70 f/2.8 may also prove to be Canon's best selling full frame zoom. So a Canon RF 70-180 f/2.8 STM lens makes a lot of sense. It would complete the "trinity" and be a powerful way to attract plus retain customers to Canon. The Sony/Nikon mount version of the 70-180 f/2.8 currently cost $1,000/$1,250 USD respectively. If Canon could come in around $1,300 or $1,400 USD then it should be close enough to get the job done for Canon.

Exploreshootshare said:

Out of curiosity: were there any great deals on canon refurbished gear on Black Friday besides the 200-800mm? I checked several times and didn't see any. Did I just miss it or was nothing special going on?

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There were some interesting deals, though I found them a bit less attractive than previous years. Still I did get a couple of items.

This year Canon had the "Black Friday" deals earlier. On Wednesday/Thursday. Then on the actual Black Friday, there were no new Canon refurb deals. I think that is actually a smart way for them to do it so the retailers can have their Black Friday specials for the new gear and not compete with the Canon Refurb store. I'm sure they will have more deals, especially after the Black Friday returns start kicking in.

ISv said:

Nice! I have no idea where you are taking these photos but combination of Cassin's Kingbird and Casaurina sp. (Australian Iron wood or Australian Pine - that is not Conifer at all...) is telling me Southern California (probably coastal)?

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Well spotted ISv! SoCal is correct (inland coastal). The Casaurina sp. (locally called a Sheoak) is in my neighbor's yard. The woodpeckers and nuthatches like working the trunk and branches for insects. Flycatchers and hummers like the snags for looking for flying insects.

Exploreshootshare said:

Out of curiosity: were there any great deals on canon refurbished gear on Black Friday besides the 200-800mm? I checked several times and didn't see any. Did I just miss it or was nothing special going on?

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There have been a bunch of lenses and bodies. They usually sell out within minutes (or faster). Best thing if you’re interested in something is to set an alert on CPW, and if you get a ping act immediately.

Out of curiosity: were there any great deals on canon refurbished gear on Black Friday besides the 200-800mm? I checked several times and didn't see any. Did I just miss it or was nothing special going on?

The RF10-20mm f4 would be my choice.
Note that you can use normal filters for the Laowa lenses. The RF10-20mm f4 uses either gelatin filters cut to size on the back of the lens or big filter adapters like the NiSi - S6 or Haida M15/M10 Adapter Ring (and others).

If shooting astro, I’d go with the faster aperture. For everything else, the RF 10-20/4L is an excellent lens (though is certainly works for astro, too) and a lot of fun to use. Easy to pack, too (I had the EF 11-24/4L previously, that thing is a beast).

EricN said:

That's impressive! Something else to mention is the Laowa lenses aren't available with autofocus (I think no lens data is sent to the camera as well?). Unless mekos really needs that wider aperture for low light, can you think of anything reasonable criticisim against the 10-20?

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Not really, it's a terrific lens. That said, you have to shoot this level (unless you want a fisheye-type effect).

candyman said:

It's also fun to photograph the chaffinch (female) when it's sitting on the ground cover instead of on a branch.

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Yes, very nice in this environment.

You have to keep in mind that these Laowa lenses for RF mount do not have any contacts to the camera so you won't even get EXIF data for focal length and aperture. Before I bought my Laowa macro lens I thought that it wouldn't matter to me but in the end it did.
If you do not need it for low light/astro personally I would recommend the Canon lens. Then you have autofocus as well.

I don't think this FW is important for me, as I haven't encountered any problems with the current FW 1.1.1. I'm just curious about what's hidden under point 5.

Canon EOS R5 Mark II
EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Shot at 400mm with f/5.6, ISO 5000, 1/320
Distance: 4.90 meter

It's also fun to photograph the chaffinch (female) when it's sitting on the ground cover instead of on a branch.

David Pro said:

Not to mention that the 5-6 stops of image stabilization means you can hand-hold this baby for almost anything. I've used it hand-held for 1/2 second waterfall exposures.

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That's impressive! Something else to mention is the Laowa lenses aren't available with autofocus (I think no lens data is sent to the camera as well?). Unless mekos really needs that wider aperture for low light, can you think of anything reasonable criticisim against the 10-20?

John D P said:

So frustrating!! November 16 & 26 pass without announcing the 300-600 f4-5.6. This is the upgrade to my 100-500mm. I want this lens. Canon has been ignoring the high end long glass community for awhile now. Canon should give us an idea what's going on!!!!

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a canon guy told me, we have to wait until next summer!
but the next vcm will be a 14mm

Click said:

LOL The second first one.

The Sparrow

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WOW!!! That's a big upset: House Sparrow over a Merganser!
That Sparrow landed at the water just behind my back (I was sitting on a bench). As sitting I had to take the camera from the tripod turn halfway back and shoot handheld - otherwise the Sparrow could be gone. Pretty awkward position and only 2/3 of the shots were acceptable!

Not to mention that the 5-6 stops of image stabilization means you can hand-hold this baby for almost anything. I've used it hand-held for 1/2 second waterfall exposures.

Don't know about the Laowas but love my 10-20 f/4, unique with the 10mm non-fisheye (but keep it level) and also zooms to 20mm!

LOL The second first one.

The Sparrow

Click said:

Beautiful shots, ISv. I really like the first one.

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In this particular case I don't know which first do you like: the Merganser or the Sparrow?

Beautiful shots, ISv. I really like the first one.

Short walk today. Recently I figured out I have just two saved photos of the House Sparrow! Today got some more (mostly because there was not much else).
Otherwise - Pacific Golden Plover in deep shade and immature Saffron Finch - changing to adult plumage.