First week of BIF action with 7D MK II

[jmphoto]

What you can get - two flights from today. Even with focus and framing errors, easily 3-4 times more shots to choose from over 70D. I'm sure I don't have focusing options maximized, yet. 7D Mark II, 500 f/4L II w/1.4x III. Large group ISO 1600, f/6.3 @ 1/1600; small group ISO 400, f/8 @1/1250. Framing fails at end when "stops" of my hanging-in-car system reached (shown in earlier post My DIY ....shoot the bird from the car).

 

[Marauder]

Great shots Phil! Thanks for sharing! How do you like the AF and the ergonomics?

Thanks very much for looking and commenting!
So far I have been happy with the AF and the feel of the camera. The first day out was a little odd though. For several years I have been shooting my 7D with a battery grip attached and I don't have one yet for the MK II so I think I missed the weight and feel of this new camera at first. I shoot all BIF handheld and I'll probably get the grip for this new MK II eventually.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm also a current 7D (original) user, with the 100-400 and I'm looking forward to the 7D Mark II. Love your photos and look forward to seeing more!

 

[FEBS]

Hi Phil,

Nice photos you showed us here.
I was only out for about an hour in last weekend with the 7D2 and the 300/2.8ii. For the moment I see that I need to AFMA this lens on the 7D2, but Focal is not yet prepared for this cam. So the full sharpness as I did see in your pictures are still missing over here. However, I'm sure that I will get it after afma is done.
About ISO. in the past using my 7D with anything higher then iso 800 created a very noisy photo. This is much better with the 7D2 and also much easier to clean up. For the moment only tested this with jpeg and no noise in camera. I hope Adobe will soon add this camera to the next release of LR/PS. Getting nice pictures with iso 3200 and even iso 6400 is now possible, just as you also did mention. I'm very happy with this new camera.
I hope soon to post a few bif pictures to,

 

[Phil L]

Brown pelican sunset silhouette from last night and bald eagle from this morning.

 

[Click]

Great shots Phil. Well done.

 

[Phil L]

Great shots Phil! Thanks for sharing! How do you like the AF and the ergonomics?

Thanks very much for looking and commenting!
So far I have been happy with the AF and the feel of the camera. The first day out was a little odd though. For several years I have been shooting my 7D with a battery grip attached and I don't have one yet for the MK II so I think I missed the weight and feel of this new camera at first. I shoot all BIF handheld and I'll probably get the grip for this new MK II eventually.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm also a current 7D (original) user, with the 100-400 and I'm looking forward to the 7D Mark II. Love your photos and look forward to seeing more!

Thanks very much. I'm still lovin' the new MK II but not tremendously thrilled with the battery life. Thing died on me this morning shooting eagles.

 

[Phil L]

Great shots Phil. Well done.

Thanks much Click, appreciate that.

 

[Phil L]

Amazing pictures, i understand that these pics are cropped, but man, this combo should be the same as the 100-400 on 400mm, but still you are very close, do you use a hide? sure you do, i know skill is the most important, but even the quality is so great, now i am doubting my 100-400 has IQ issues.

Thank you, I'm happy you liked seeing these photos.

No I don't use any kind of blind or hide I just stand out there and the birds (and alligators) basically ignore me which is how I like it.

I've been using the 300 f4 IS with a 1.4 for five years on a 7D and have always been happy with that combo. Although, I still have my old 300 laying around too.

Here's a shot from last week using the original 7D and a 15 year old beat to #%&* 300 f4 (non IS).
The old stuff can still crank it!

Wow, really no blind!, i only started bird photography recently, maybe the time of day is key, here ducks and heron fly when i reach the 100m mark, they have sharp eyes and ears, i even hid between trees and they still keep their distance, which really makes your pictures more amazing.

I'm lucky where I shoot that most of the birds pay me no attention even when quite close.
Here is a wood stork from Tue. evening. He was fishing right in front of me, these are close to full frame I only cropped a bit off one side. You could get pics with a cell phone.

 

[meywd]

Amazing pictures, i understand that these pics are cropped, but man, this combo should be the same as the 100-400 on 400mm, but still you are very close, do you use a hide? sure you do, i know skill is the most important, but even the quality is so great, now i am doubting my 100-400 has IQ issues.

Thank you, I'm happy you liked seeing these photos.

No I don't use any kind of blind or hide I just stand out there and the birds (and alligators) basically ignore me which is how I like it.

I've been using the 300 f4 IS with a 1.4 for five years on a 7D and have always been happy with that combo. Although, I still have my old 300 laying around too.

Here's a shot from last week using the original 7D and a 15 year old beat to #%&* 300 f4 (non IS).
The old stuff can still crank it!

Wow, really no blind!, i only started bird photography recently, maybe the time of day is key, here ducks and heron fly when i reach the 100m mark, they have sharp eyes and ears, i even hid between trees and they still keep their distance, which really makes your pictures more amazing.

I'm lucky where I shoot that most of the birds pay me no attention even when quite close.
Here is a wood stork from Tue. evening. He was fishing right in front of me, these are close to full frame I only cropped a bit off one side. You could get pics with a cell phone.

Amazing shots, i think luck exists, but this is not a case of luck, where do you take these photographs? maybe one day i can visit this area

 

[Phil L]

Amazing pictures, i understand that these pics are cropped, but man, this combo should be the same as the 100-400 on 400mm, but still you are very close, do you use a hide? sure you do, i know skill is the most important, but even the quality is so great, now i am doubting my 100-400 has IQ issues.

Thank you, I'm happy you liked seeing these photos.

No I don't use any kind of blind or hide I just stand out there and the birds (and alligators) basically ignore me which is how I like it.

I've been using the 300 f4 IS with a 1.4 for five years on a 7D and have always been happy with that combo. Although, I still have my old 300 laying around too.

Here's a shot from last week using the original 7D and a 15 year old beat to #%&* 300 f4 (non IS).
The old stuff can still crank it!

Wow, really no blind!, i only started bird photography recently, maybe the time of day is key, here ducks and heron fly when i reach the 100m mark, they have sharp eyes and ears, i even hid between trees and they still keep their distance, which really makes your pictures more amazing.

I'm lucky where I shoot that most of the birds pay me no attention even when quite close.
Here is a wood stork from Tue. evening. He was fishing right in front of me, these are close to full frame I only cropped a bit off one side. You could get pics with a cell phone.

Amazing shots, i think luck exists, but this is not a case of luck, where do you take these photographs? maybe one day i can visit this area

Thanks again for the kind comments.
Most of the wildlife stuff I shoot in Murrells Inlet at Huntington Beach State Park in SC which is in the coastal SC area just south of Myrtle Beach.

 

[Phil L]

Here's a bald eagle jumping around on a pine tree and a forster's tern with a fish from earlier this week.

More on the terns from yesterday's blog post here:

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/14/these-little-birds-are-fast-but-not-always-fast-enough/

 

[DominoDude]

Here's a bald eagle jumping around on a pine tree and a forster's tern with a fish from earlier this week.

More on the terns from yesterday's blog post here:

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/14/these-little-birds-are-fast-but-not-always-fast-enough/

That "branch jumper" is stunning, Phil! It's an extra plus that it is a slightly different view of the Eagle than in most shots.

 

[Phil L]

Here's a bald eagle jumping around on a pine tree and a forster's tern with a fish from earlier this week.

More on the terns from yesterday's blog post here:

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/14/these-little-birds-are-fast-but-not-always-fast-enough/

That "branch jumper" is stunning, Phil! It's an extra plus that it is a slightly different view of the Eagle than in most shots.

Hey thanks very much for looking and commenting and I'm happy to know you feel that way about the eagle photo. That is exactly what I was hoping for when I got the photo... something a little different.
Cheers,
Phil

 

[Phil L]

GBH flight from this morning and a baby alligator in the swamp on Thur. morning.

Also today's post featuring another GBH jumping off from a tree this morning can be seen here:

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/16/the-first-step-is-the-hardest/

 

[Marauder]

Superb shots Phil! Please keep them coming! I'm saving for my own 7D2 (hope to get it in the Spring). You have a great talent for wildlife photography. Looks like lots of wildlife to shoot in your area and you're getting just amazing shots!

 

[risc32]

So the battery life isn't exactly where you'd want it? Would you say it's worse than the 7d?

 

[Phil L]

Superb shots Phil! Please keep them coming! I'm saving for my own 7D2 (hope to get it in the Spring). You have a great talent for wildlife photography. Looks like lots of wildlife to shoot in your area and you're getting just amazing shots!

Thanks very much, I appreciate you checking out my wildlife photos and we do indeed have a decent variety around this area.
I'm sure you will enjoy your new 7D when it arrives. It is a great camera for bird and other wildlife action.

 

[Phil L]

So the battery life isn't exactly where you'd want it? Would you say it's worse than the 7d?

Well I guess to be fair I'm used to shooting my regular 7D with the grip so it always seemed like the batteries went on forever. I have not yet ordered a grip for the MK II but likely eventually will.
But twice now I have had the battery in the MK II just roll over and die on me on the middle of shooting when I thought it should have had more life left.

 

[Phil L]

Here's a young brown pelican from this morning.

 

[Phil L]

A few eagle pics taken Nov. 3, the day my new 7D MK II arrived.

Full series of five photos here: http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/19/nice-day-for-a-flight/