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P-visie · 2026-05-31T06:31:54-0400

White wagtail (Motacilla alba) chasing insects.

The AF couldn’t keep up with the action, but the next (unsharp) photo shows it got the insect.

R5 Mk II + RF 200-800mm, 50% crop.

@zajicekpavel · 2026-05-31T06:26:48-0400

The same lineup again today on a water barrel ...

@zajicekpavel · 2026-05-31T06:02:25-0400

AlanF said:
You are very lucky in having such a meadow! This website is very useful: https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/identify-a-butterfly?page=1

By the way, the R7 and RF 100-400 you use is one of the best pieces of kit for photographing butterflies - you can keep the right distance away but close enough, it's very sharp and light, and you need the depth of field of f/8 (of f/11 with extender) or more unless you stack.

You also added information about the equipment, yes, first I took various photos using the trial and error system, see the first photo of Lycaena phlaeas on lavender, which I posted here.. for that photo with R10 i needed about 2000 attempts with a macro lens (full manual) .. well, I bought a 100-400 and it still wasn't the same and then I read about TK 1.4, tried it and I'm satisfied with it. But I have to watch the light and ISO.. but I learned to live with it.

Chig · 2026-05-31T05:38:01-0400

Not holding my breath but if Canon actually made a connect app that even "connected" properly would be cool

If only they made software that worked like what everybody expects from a modern device instead of the unusable joke that every Canon App is

justaCanonuser · 2026-05-31T05:35:28-0400

candyman said:
I am willing to spend money on a never before seen lens if this is a compact internal zoom 20-70 f/2 IS

Plus, a lighter one than the current 28-70 f/2. This and the with 24mm wider end made me to decide against the f/2.0 and go for the f/2.8 RF zoom.

@zajicekpavel · 2026-05-31T05:32:28-0400

AlanF said:
https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/identifiky-a-butterfly?page=1

Thank you, that's helpful.

I had a great time this morning and managed to catch a butterfly I haven't had before...

Nymphalis polychloros (Large Tortoiseshell in English)

Photographed on an old apple tree

justaCanonuser · 2026-05-31T05:29:00-0400

erader said:
and when was the EF 100-400 III released? exactly. why would the 100-500 need a refresh

I don't expect a Mark II of the 100-500 within the rest of my life span, too

justaCanonuser · 2026-05-31T05:22:49-0400

riker said:
Sometimes I feel Canon is photography's Microsoft

To me, Canon is more photography's Toyota - not always fashionable but very reliable

As I posted multiple times here, my wife as a Nikonian has an extended gear that she caresses much more than me. But we had to send Nikon cameras and lenses so frequently to repair service (broken mirror box, dead buttons from a few drops of rain, several dead AF drives) that I learned: if you can compare in real life, you know why it is wise to stick with Canon. At least this applies if you need a really rugged gear for wildlife that simply works in harder environments. In the past 15-20 years I only had one repair with my original 7D (dead thumb wheel), that's it.

justaCanonuser · 2026-05-31T05:07:55-0400

AlanF said:
Back in 2015 in Cyprus, I took a live-view shot of the moon hand holding a 7Dii with a 300mm f/2.8 ii with a Canon 2xTC + 3rd party 3xTC at 1800mm - but I did rest the lens on a tree branch!

View attachment 229747

Alan, for using a tree branch as a steady camera support, with this setup, this is a really great image of the moon! Respect.

AlanF · 2026-05-31T04:47:16-0400

@zajicekpavel said:
Yes, there are more species blue butterflies, but they are all beautiful! I currently have a meadow full of them in front of my house.
Have about 20 species of butterflies on Instagram and I usually try to determine the exact species. Buti i don't have Parnassius appollo yet ;

You are very lucky in having such a meadow! This website is very useful: https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/identify-a-butterfly?page=1

By the way, the R7 and RF 100-400 you use is one of the best pieces of kit for photographing butterflies - you can keep the right distance away but close enough, it's very sharp and light, and you need the depth of field of f/8 (of f/11 with extender) or more unless you stack.

@zajicekpavel · 2026-05-31T04:30:26-0400

AlanF said:
@ISv
The most beautiful is pretty personal (not only for the butterflies of course). And the "blues" are many species, not one! My personal favorite from the European butterflies is the Apollo (Parnassius appollo). Actually there are several striking-looking butterflies in Europe (look at Apatura ilia when the wings are at the right angle for example...)!

Absolutely! There are several blues, usually small, and they can differ greatly on their underwings. One of the pleasures of nature photography is that it can lead you into a study of nature and learning about birds and insects for example. ObsIdentify is a marvellous app for identification but it is no substitute for knowing what the features are that define the species you are looking at. It’s a general problem with machine learning apps that they can give you the right answer but not the reasoning behind it. But, they can be the starting point for asking why.

Yes, there are more species blue butterflies, but they are all beautiful!

I currently have a meadow full of them in front of my house.
Have about 20 species of butterflies on Instagram and I usually try to determine the exact species. Buti i don't have Parnassius appollo yet

;

@zajicekpavel · 2026-05-31T03:41:33-0400

P-visie said:
Prosím, pište dál. Jaký objektiv jste použil/a?

Canon RF 100 - 400 + TK 1.4

AlanF · 2026-05-31T03:35:09-0400

@ISv
The most beautiful is pretty personal (not only for the butterflies of course). And the "blues" are many species, not one! My personal favorite from the European butterflies is the Apollo (Parnassius appollo). Actually there are several striking-looking butterflies in Europe (look at Apatura ilia when the wings are at the right angle for example...)!

Absolutely! There are several blues, usually small, and they can differ greatly on their underwings. One of the pleasures of nature photography is that it can lead you into a study of nature and learning about birds and insects for example. ObsIdentify is a marvellous app for identification but it is no substitute for knowing what the features are that define the species you are looking at. It’s a general problem with machine learning apps that they can give you the right answer but not the reasoning behind it. But, they can be the starting point for asking why.

Ian K · 2026-05-31T02:17:54-0400

blackcoffee17 said:
Im afraid any aperture increase will be a significant size and weight increase and im not sure Canon will do that. The main selling point of this lens is being a compact do-everything sports, wildlife and events. But full TC compatibility would be great.

Yes, I already said it would add size / weight. However the current version starts to fall apart in low light, due to the aperture. I would gladly exchange the change for more utility. If fact I'm about to take delivery of a RF 100-300 f/2.8, to use with and without a 1.4x or 2x. To make a “RF 100-300 f2.8 + RF 140-420 f/4 + RF 200-600 f/5.6”.

P-visie · 2026-05-31T02:15:50-0400

@zajicekpavel said:
I am very pleased with your interest in tree frogs. So I will add 2 more photos in full format. Here I like how its back is bent against a leaf ...
(both photos are taken with R7). The photos are from the Czech Republic, the city of Břeclav - Poštorná.

Please keep posting. Which lens did you use?

P-visie · 2026-05-31T02:13:07-0400

ISv said:
Some from today... Common wax-bill, subadult (male) Northern Cardinal, Red-whiskered Bulbul ("desperately searching for birds", in this case it's fledglings) and fledglings of Chestnut Munia.

Beautiful, I hope that the subadult (male) Northern Cardinal selects perches more suitable to photography when he’s grown up.

ISv · 2026-05-31T00:57:46-0400

Dragon said:
The mob is getting bigger. My little birds are lapping down almost 3 lbs. of sugar a day. The Anna's are back and also some Rufous. All R7 +200-800.

Very colorful Allen's female

View attachment 229791

Anna's Male

View attachment 229792

Rufous Male (won't pose anywhere there isn't food)

View attachment 229793

Typical crowding at the chow hall.

View attachment 229794

"3 lbs. of sugar a day"

! "Rufous Male (won't pose anywhere there isn't food)" - smart guy

!

ISv · 2026-05-31T00:49:15-0400

Some from today... Common wax-bill, subadult (male) Northern Cardinal, Red-whiskered Bulbul ("desperately searching for birds", in this case it's fledglings

) and fledglings of Chestnut Munia.

@zajicekpavel · 2026-05-31T00:33:45-0400

I am very pleased with your interest in tree frogs. So I will add 2 more photos in full format. Here I like how its back is bent against a leaf ...

(both photos are taken with R7). The photos are from the Czech Republic, the city of Břeclav - Poštorná.

ISv · 2026-05-31T00:12:05-0400

@zajicekpavel said:
The season of blue butterflies has begun. Which in my opinion is the most beautiful butterfly.

The most beautiful is pretty personal (not only for the butterflies of course). And the "blues" are many species, not one! My personal favorite from the European butterflies is the Apollo (Parnassius appollo). Actually there are several striking-looking butterflies in Europe (look at Apatura ilia when the wings are at the right angle for example...)!

Nice photos, keep posting!