Show your Bird Portraits

[Jack Douglas]

Don that's quite a catch for you and the bird!

Jack

 

[AaronT]

it's a turkey

Just a photo of a turkey in my backyard. Taken with 5D MKII and 100-400.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Martin.
Well I'm quite amazed too, very nice little bit of footage, at about 44 seconds, following the scratch with a talon, was that a quick rub of the beak on the sharpening stone!

Cheers, Graham.

Not sure if anyone's interested in this but I was quite amazed..!

I was experimenting with HD video from my 70d and was impressed with the 3x zoom. Apparently it offers full HD capture from the centre portion of the sensor. The photo shows the full 70d aps-c using the sigma 120-300 at 300mm with 1.4x teleconverter or 420mm on a aps-c (672mm full frame equivalent) and the video shows the full HD footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70ncMovdcc&feature=em-upload_owner

What amazed me was that I couldn't see the Peregrine Falcon with the naked eye... it was just an almost invisible white dot from its white breast against the rocks.

Maybe I am easily amazed

 

[martinslade]

Jay in blossom... finally popped his head out between the bunches of blossom for a split second and got him..!

 

[martinslade]

Hi Martin.
Well I'm quite amazed too, very nice little bit of footage, at about 44 seconds, following the scratch with a talon, was that a quick rub of the beak on the sharpening stone!

Cheers, Graham.

Not sure if anyone's interested in this but I was quite amazed..!

I was experimenting with HD video from my 70d and was impressed with the 3x zoom. Apparently it offers full HD capture from the centre portion of the sensor. The photo shows the full 70d aps-c using the sigma 120-300 at 300mm with 1.4x teleconverter or 420mm on a aps-c (672mm full frame equivalent) and the video shows the full HD footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70ncMovdcc&feature=em-upload_owner

What amazed me was that I couldn't see the Peregrine Falcon with the naked eye... it was just an almost invisible white dot from its white breast against the rocks.

Maybe I am easily amazed

Aaahh... didn't realize it was sharpening its beak... thanks

 

[Jack Douglas]

Is somebody pulling somebody's leg?

Jack

 

[martinslade]

Is somebody pulling somebody's leg?

Jack

LOL

 

[martinslade]

Goldfinch

 

[Click]

very nice shot, martinslade.

 

[gruhl28]

Not sure if anyone's interested in this but I was quite amazed..!

I was experimenting with HD video from my 70d and was impressed with the 3x zoom. Apparently it offers full HD capture from the centre portion of the sensor. The photo shows the full 70d aps-c using the sigma 120-300 at 300mm with 1.4x teleconverter or 420mm on a aps-c (672mm full frame equivalent) and the video shows the full HD footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70ncMovdcc&feature=em-upload_owner

What amazed me was that I couldn't see the Peregrine Falcon with the naked eye... it was just an almost invisible white dot from its white breast against the rocks.

Maybe I am easily amazed

Martinslade, fantastic video. How do you enable that feature on the 70D to use just the center for video? I seem to remember reading about this before I bought mine, but I did not see anything about this in the manual.

 

[martinslade]

Not sure if anyone's interested in this but I was quite amazed..!

I was experimenting with HD video from my 70d and was impressed with the 3x zoom. Apparently it offers full HD capture from the centre portion of the sensor. The photo shows the full 70d aps-c using the sigma 120-300 at 300mm with 1.4x teleconverter or 420mm on a aps-c (672mm full frame equivalent) and the video shows the full HD footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70ncMovdcc&feature=em-upload_owner

What amazed me was that I couldn't see the Peregrine Falcon with the naked eye... it was just an almost invisible white dot from its white breast against the rocks.

Maybe I am easily amazed

Martinslade, fantastic video. How do you enable that feature on the 70D to use just the center for video? I seem to remember reading about this before I bought mine, but I did not see anything about this in the manual.

Yes, no prob... quite easy really... switch on video, hit the Q button and choose digital zoom 3-10 and leave on 3x otherwise greater than 3x deteriorates image as it tries to up-res lower pix to full HD. At 3x it uses the centre 1080x1920px 1:1 px for Full HD. Have fun with extra reach..!

 

[martinslade]

very nice shot, martinslade.

thanks bud

 

[scyrene]

A pair of eiders from yesterday. Never seen this species so close before (except captive individuals). One of those rare occasions when the big lens was overkill. All @ 700mm, f/5.6, on the 5Ds.

 

[Jack Douglas]

A pair of eiders from yesterday. Never seen this species so close before (except captive individuals). One of those rare occasions when the big lens was overkill. All @ 700mm, f/5.6, on the 5Ds.

Very nice!

"Rare occasion" - this statement prompts me to ask the birders here for an opinion. A local fellow is selling a 500 4 II (great shape), asking about $6500 US. As many of you know I've been a regular 300 2.8 II 2X III shooter who has wondered almost constantly about the 500 as an alternative but I'd have to give up my 300. A new 1DX II with F8 focus is a hopeful for this fall unless something very negative occurs. So, any advice would be appreciated.

Jack

 

[scyrene]

A pair of eiders from yesterday. Never seen this species so close before (except captive individuals). One of those rare occasions when the big lens was overkill. All @ 700mm, f/5.6, on the 5Ds.

Very nice!

"Rare occasion" - this statement prompts me to ask the birders here for an opinion. A local fellow is selling a 500 4 II (great shape), asking about $6500 US. As many of you know I've been a regular 300 2.8 II 2X III shooter who has wondered almost constantly about the 500 as an alternative but I'd have to give up my 300. A new 1DX II with F8 focus is a hopeful for this fall unless something very negative occurs. So, any advice would be appreciated.

Jack

Thanks!

Well I would say the 500 II is a superb lens and good value compared to the (slightly better by all accounts) 600 II. I rarely shoot at 500mm, I find 700-1000mm much more suitable for the birds I chase, but it varies a lot by region and personality (and tbh I'd add a second extender more often if autofocus could be retained!). The 500 is obviously bigger and heavier than the 300 - I met a photographer with the latter lens once, and was amazed how small it felt. And the 300 2.8 has that extra stop of aperture if you are in a situation where 300mm is enough. From what I have read, the 300 2.8 is slightly better wide open and with extenders than the 500 but essentially both are flawless. The 2x extender adds softness and a little CA, but the 1.4 doesn't affect IQ appreciably.

Autofocus at f/8 is pretty snappy - I've only used the 5D3 and now the 5Ds but the newer body seems much snappier. And the 1DxII has much more flexibility as it's not just restricted to the centre point plus expansion - and will doubtless be even faster and more reliable. I'd say, if you find yourself shooting at 600mm a lot, give it a go!

 

[Jack Douglas]

A pair of eiders from yesterday. Never seen this species so close before (except captive individuals). One of those rare occasions when the big lens was overkill. All @ 700mm, f/5.6, on the 5Ds.

Very nice!

"Rare occasion" - this statement prompts me to ask the birders here for an opinion. A local fellow is selling a 500 4 II (great shape), asking about $6500 US. As many of you know I've been a regular 300 2.8 II 2X III shooter who has wondered almost constantly about the 500 as an alternative but I'd have to give up my 300. A new 1DX II with F8 focus is a hopeful for this fall unless something very negative occurs. So, any advice would be appreciated.

Jack

Thanks!

Well I would say the 500 II is a superb lens and good value compared to the (slightly better by all accounts) 600 II. I rarely shoot at 500mm, I find 700-1000mm much more suitable for the birds I chase, but it varies a lot by region and personality (and tbh I'd add a second extender more often if autofocus could be retained!). The 500 is obviously bigger and heavier than the 300 - I met a photographer with the latter lens once, and was amazed how small it felt. And the 300 2.8 has that extra stop of aperture if you are in a situation where 300mm is enough. From what I have read, the 300 2.8 is slightly better wide open and with extenders than the 500 but essentially both are flawless. The 2x extender adds softness and a little CA, but the 1.4 doesn't affect IQ appreciably.

Autofocus at f/8 is pretty snappy - I've only used the 5D3 and now the 5Ds but the newer body seems much snappier. And the 1DxII has much more flexibility as it's not just restricted to the centre point plus expansion - and will doubtless be even faster and more reliable. I'd say, if you find yourself shooting at 600mm a lot, give it a go!

Thanks for that! Between posts I searched for comparisons and as we both know the answer is blowing in the wind. If I could hang onto both there would be no question. I do use the 300 alone but not too often. Where I live, a used 500 is very rare so that's why I'm getting in a twist. A 500 purchase could derail the 1DX II. Do you find yourself ever complaining about the weight/portability of the 500?

Jack

 

[gruhl28]

Not sure if anyone's interested in this but I was quite amazed..!

I was experimenting with HD video from my 70d and was impressed with the 3x zoom. Apparently it offers full HD capture from the centre portion of the sensor. The photo shows the full 70d aps-c using the sigma 120-300 at 300mm with 1.4x teleconverter or 420mm on a aps-c (672mm full frame equivalent) and the video shows the full HD footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70ncMovdcc&feature=em-upload_owner

What amazed me was that I couldn't see the Peregrine Falcon with the naked eye... it was just an almost invisible white dot from its white breast against the rocks.

Maybe I am easily amazed

Martinslade, fantastic video. How do you enable that feature on the 70D to use just the center for video? I seem to remember reading about this before I bought mine, but I did not see anything about this in the manual.

Yes, no prob... quite easy really... switch on video, hit the Q button and choose digital zoom 3-10 and leave on 3x otherwise greater than 3x deteriorates image as it tries to up-res lower pix to full HD. At 3x it uses the centre 1080x1920px 1:1 px for Full HD. Have fun with extra reach..!

Thanks!

 

[snowleo]

Two weeks ago I just discovered a hole in a tree. I heard warning cries of a starling. I had my 7D II and my 100-400 ready to take these shots.

 

[scyrene]

Do you find yourself ever complaining about the weight/portability of the 500?

Not really. Yo'll probably need a bag that can take it, although I've squeezed it into even a normal backpack when necessary. It's a chunky piece of kit but not excessive in my experience. And I walk or take public transport, I don't drive - if you do, it would be even less of a problem.

I'd personally say go for it. It's not gonna lose much value, if any, while you try it out.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Do you find yourself ever complaining about the weight/portability of the 500?

Not really. Yo'll probably need a bag that can take it, although I've squeezed it into even a normal backpack when necessary. It's a chunky piece of kit but not excessive in my experience. And I walk or take public transport, I don't drive - if you do, it would be even less of a problem.

I'd personally say go for it. It's not gonna lose much value, if any, while you try it out.

Oh, just the words my wife would kill you for - kidding of course. I walk for hours with the 300 X2 and it does get heavy but not enough so I'd chance not taking it. One last question. From way back it seems it wasn't too good with the 2X III. What's your take.

While this is slightly off topic hopefully other shooters on this thread are interested.

Here is my love lorn Brown-headed cowbird. A real gentleman that hopefully will find a real mate.

Jack