Birds photos with a kit lens

[Chucaro]

Any of the members that are active on nature photography forums will know that the avian photographers are using very expensive lens which are some times on the order of $ 10000 plus.

That it is enough to intimidate any photographer with a sensible budget or a photographer who have lens for landscaping photography only ( the laters is my case) to participate on these Nature forums.

Using my Nikon D200 and an old Nikkor 75-240 I give it a go to capture a juvenile Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) using a portrait as a composition.

This lens perform reasonable well on an aperture of f/7. Surprisingly, against the common rules on cheap lens it performs very well at 240mm

Here is the result:
Exposure program: manual
aperture f/9
Shuter speed 1/250
Focal lens 240
ISO 800

Cheers

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/972.jpg

[dullbird]

nice pic :)

[mjm295]

Great pic mate, I only have kit lenses too and try to take wildlife pics, when the option arises.

These were taken last year, with a sony Alpha 100, +75-300 kit lens. Again it was on 300mm setting.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/766.jpg
and :
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/767.jpg

[Chucaro]

Nice captures, the first image is the best beacuse there is light on the eye of the bird which is very important in bird photography.
Which aperture and program you have used in the camera?

[Chucaro]

This is another shot with the Nikon D200 and the same lens.
I used the following setting
Program: Shutter speed priority @ 1/640
Aperture F 5/6
ISO 640
Focal lens 220mm

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/175.jpg

[mjm295]

Nice captures, the first image is the best beacuse there is light on the eye of the bird which is very important in bird photography.
Which aperture and program you have used in the camera?

Oh right - Im sure I have 1 or 2 more of that same bird maybe with light in the eye, let me check. "aperture/program" what's that then:o? They were taken on Auto. I haven't had time to learn how to use the camera properly yet. That's another great photo.

Edit - the auto setting gave me ISO 400, f5.6, 1/500th shutter speed.

[mjm295]

Here's another - my other bird shots are from too far away, no detail, and blurred.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/745.jpg

[Chucaro]

You are doing well, the last image have a good details is sharp where is important and there is not ISO noise on it.
All in all a very nice image.

For birds try to use Shutter speed priority program and have the SS set at 1/250 or more so the bird is sharp.
Play with the ISO setting so you have the best aperture for the shot. If you like to isolate the BG (back ground) from the rest of the image to eliminate distractions then the largest aperture allowed by the lens will be ideal like f/4 or so. The Kookaburra image is an example of this setting isolating the BG from the bird

When you are taken images of the birds in their enviroment then tou can use a small aperture which will give you more DOF.

Take several shots if you can using diferent apertures to see in which the lens performs better.
Regarding the focal lens in the majority of the cases the cheap lens do not perform well at the maximun focal lens and is better to use less range and crop if it is neccesary. The one that I am using (Nikkor 70-240) is an exception.
Keep posting mate and try to not use Program Auto and you will enjoy photography heaps more.

Cheers

[mjm295]

Cool, thanks for the tips. I just need some time to get out there and try it. The problem I have is I usually have my dogs with me, they are great a scaring the birds off.

[dullbird]

this pic was taken with a kit lense....It was also my first picture taken with a DSLR As I had no idea how to use it..:)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/635.jpg

Taken in Aperture priority
f/5.6
1/160
ISO 100
200mm

using a tripod

[Chucaro]

Very nice and you are going to have a lot of fun with the new camera.
Try to avoid taken shots during harsh light conditions. It is very hard to expossure the whites on the birds under this conditions.
I like the composition and the habitat shot.
Which camera are you using?
Thank you
Keep posting.

[dullbird]

Very nice and you are going to have a lot of fun with the new camera.
Try to avoid taken shots during harsh light conditions. It is very hard to expossure the whites on the birds under this conditions.
I like the composition and the habitat shot.
Which camera are you using?
Thank you
Keep posting.

the conditions weren't harsh.....the sun was going down the reason the white bird is brighter is because i used a center wheighted setting on the light meter.

it is a Nikon D80 and that shot was taken with a 55/200 VR lens

[Chucaro]

Nice camera, try to test the lens @ just under 200 and see how it performs.
Perhaps do a test @ 180 and f/7 against a shot @ 200 f/7
A good review of your lens is in THIS (http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/246-nikkor-af-s-55-200mm-f4-56g-if-ed-dx-vr-review--test-report) link
Cheers

[dullbird]

Nice camera, try to test the lens @ just under 200 and see how it performs.
Perhaps do a test @ 180 and f/7 against a shot @ 200 f/7
A good review of your lens is in THIS (http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/246-nikkor-af-s-55-200mm-f4-56g-if-ed-dx-vr-review--test-report) link
Cheers


thanks for the link I dont really use that lense anymore I have a nikon 2.8 70/200mm now

which is what these were taken with
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1488.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/629.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1494.jpg

just posted up the other one with the ducks because the thread was about bird pics with kit lenses:)

[Chucaro]

Very nice captures, I like the pose on them.

[dullbird]

NM I personally always think unless your wanting to focus in on a specific spot stay with the auto focus.....it is hard to keep moving things sharp and in focus when doing it manually especially when they are quick movers

[Chucaro]

The Blue faced honey eaters are very nice birds.
You captured a very nice habitat shot.
If you have Photoshop the blue cast can be removed. If you do not have PS I can try to remove the cast for you if you like it.
Thank you both to keep the thread a live :)

[Chucaro]

These shots of a Red winged parrot or Crimson winged parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus) are from my garden couple days ago.
I used the Nikon D200 and the Nikkor 75-240
I do not like the harsh natural light but I cannot let the opportunity passed :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/03/196.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/03/197.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/03/198.jpg

[Bushie]

This is one from a while ago - this guy dropped in for a visit one breakfast.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/236.jpg

Martyn

[Bushie]

And this was one of the first I took with the Pentax

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/1014.jpg


Martyn

How do I stop photoshop stripping the exif data out ?

[Chucaro]

Very nice capturez Martyn, I love the kookas and the head angle of this one is spot on.
Very sharp and clear reflectioon on the eye. Did you used the flash?
The pigeon is very good as well

[werdan]

This is one from a while ago - this guy dropped in for a visit one breakfast.

They do that, don't they?

We were staying down at Tidal River a couple years back when a 'burra has swooped down and grabbed my son's egg & bacon sandwich. It's spun in mid-air, landed on it's back against the side of our dome tent and then trampolined back into the air and flew off. Most awesome manoeuvre I've ever seen. Very batman! Of course, No1 son wasn't so impressed. :D

[Bushie]

Very nice capturez Martyn, I love the kookas and the head angle of this one is spot on.
Very sharp and clear reflectioon on the eye. Did you used the flash?
The pigeon is very good as well

No flash - it was with the Fuji from about 150mm. He was keeping his eye on my little finger (bait), - so was I :D


Martyn

[Chucaro]

No flash - it was with the Fuji from about 150mm. He was keeping his eye on my little finger (bait), - so was I :D


Martyn

I was concentrated on the eye and is a little black shadow with a bright spot tal looks like your reflection. For this reason I have asked.
Would be nice to see the eye at 100% crop. Looks great.
Sorry I get carried away with sharp images :D

[Bushie]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/03/11.jpg

Looks like it's one of the kids/wife and the cream fence across the other side of the yard.


Martyn

[Chucaro]

See that :) it is amathing what can be seen on the eyes of the birds

[Chucaro]

One more parrot come to the backyard
Pale headed Rosella
Scientific name: Platycercus adscitus
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes

Nikon D200, Nikkor 75-240
1/400s f/5.6 at 240.0mm iso800

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1264.jpg

[Maggot4x4]

Not quite birds but...

These were hand held. I can't remember the exif info but could find it if I had to.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1007.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/1008.jpg

[MickS]

I think this fella is the Barry White of the bird world ;)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/992.jpg



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/993.jpg

[dullbird]

speaking or lori's :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1493.jpg

[MickS]

A couple more plus a butcher bird :)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/982.jpg



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/983.jpg



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/984.jpg

[Chucaro]

Top shots, love them :BigThumb:

[Chucaro]

At our garden :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/980.jpg



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/981.jpg

[Sparksdisco]

14878

14879

14880

Well they are close to birds :wasntme:

call them pilbra birds:p

[Chucaro]

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
Nikon D200 1/250s f/5.6 at 220.0mm iso800

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/04/170.jpg

[Grumpy]

Red Capped Parrot


http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv337/margntony/Wildlife/RedcapParrot.jpg

[Chucaro]

What a beauty! We do not have them here :(
Thank you for sharing:)

[Grumpy]

What a beauty! We do not have them here :(
Thank you for sharing:)


They are native to the South-West of W.A.

Tony :wheelchair:

[Bushie]

Then there's the common Maggie (Young one)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/1172.jpg

Martyn

[Chucaro]

Nice one Martyn, I like more the juveniles like this one than the adults.
The adults are very hard to expose and have a good details on the blacks and whites.
The adult Butcher birds for some reason they are easy.
Cheers

[Chucaro]

just a close detail of a Kooka :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/1167.jpg

[MickS]

Slimy, yet satisfying....:D

[stage1slave]

No flash kit lens or anything,and not very sharp, but I thought you may enjoy this anyways



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/905.jpg

[Chucaro]

Nice shot
Hard to say with the light but looks like that it is a Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoide .
The Marbled Frogmouth, (P. ocellatus) are from far north Qld

[stage1slave]

Thanks Chucaro, didn't know there was a marbled version. We thought we were pretty lucky to spy him so active in the middle of the day. He had just landed not far from our campsite. Possibly disturbed from his roost.

[djambalawa]

This isn't really a kit lense but its a good option I reckon for those who want to get pro results in a cheaper lense. I bought a 2nd hand Nikkor 180mm 2.8 for around $400 I think and it really does give professional results. A bit short for serious small bird photography I guess but still very handy.

This shot of a brown falcon cropped heaps so it doesn't really show off the outstanding quality possible. Taken with my D70 I think.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/802.jpg

I do have the Nikkor 200-400 F4 too which is pretty awesome but certainly not a kit lense...

[Chucaro]

Nice capture and pose, what a shame that you did not have the 200-400 with you, it is an awesome lens.
I guess that the 180 f2.8 can be used with a 1.4 converter.
The image can be sharpened a bit more in PSCS3 and come good.
Thanks for posting

[Bushie]

This isn't really a kit lense but its a good option I reckon for those who want to get pro results in a cheaper lense. I bought a 2nd hand Nikkor 180mm 2.8 for around $400 I think and it really does give professional results. A bit short for serious small bird photography I guess but still very handy.

This shot of a brown falcon cropped heaps so it doesn't really show off the outstanding quality possible. Taken with my D70 I think.



Exif says Nikon D2X ;)

Martyn

[djambalawa]

ah thanks :)

I went from a D70 to a D2X to a D300.. thought it was long enough ago for when I had my D70 - I shoulda checked.

[Chucaro]

Good capture NM :)

[DeanoH]

Heres my contribution, all taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700.

My mandatory Blue Faced Honeyeater (juvenile)
at "The Willows" Qld.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/734.jpg

King Parrot (juvenile)
on my verandah "Tynong Nth" Vic.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/735.jpg

Australian Pelican
on the beach "Monkey Mia" WA.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/736.jpg

And for a bit of fun, Corrugated Cocky
side of the road near Gullargambone. NSW.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/737.jpg

I cheated and cloned the pole out to make it "fly"

Deano

[PSi]

Great Horned Owl on a gorgeous day in San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna.
Lens: 18-200 at 200mm

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/652.jpg

Pair of Zebra Doves nesting in car porch.
Lens 70-300 at 195mm

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/653.jpg

[Grumpy]

At Silverston out from Brokenhill :lol2::lol2::no2:
Some of these blokes are clever.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/610.jpg

[Chucaro]

A piece of ART :D

[DeanoH]

Kaye and I are currently in Alice Springs after touring around the centre for the past few weeks. Lake Eyre has water in it as do a lot of creeks and waterholes. Consequently the bird life is prolific. Aah to have a dedicated 'bird' camera with a ridiculously long lens and image stabilisation.............. Anyhow heres a few bird shots that did turn out OK. The kite shot was taken with a Nikon Coolpix 5700, the rest with a Nikon D80. The galah and kite shots were taken by me the egret and finches by Kaye.

Galah at Muloorina waterhole, near Maree SA.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/222.jpg

Great Egret also at Muloorina Waterhole

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/223.jpg

Zebra Finches at Old Andado Station near Mt Dare NT

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/224.jpg

Whisteling Kite Birdsville Qld

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/225.jpg

The kites a bit 'soft' but I still like it.

One of the goals of this holiday is to come home with 12 good bird shots to create a calendar for next year. We've done this before and sent them out instead of Christmas cards. It's a fair bit of work but worth it in the end. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to take 12 good bird shots.

It's off to the Kimberley from here so hopefully we'll get them.

Kaye & Deano

[dullbird]

The birds are still a bit wary of us, but finally found the bird feeder this visit to our country house

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n74/numpty_01/wildlife/DSC_1108.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n74/numpty_01/wildlife/DSC_1004.jpg

NM I was just looking at your Galah picture and noticed that the bird off to the right is the only sharp one. Did you focus on this guy and the recompose the shot? other wise I would say you focus point is not set to center. they can be changed to a number of different points but if you haven't locked it then you may of accidentally moved the focus point. of course you may of moved it yourself and meant for the shot to be like that. I just thought I would check:)

[abaddonxi]

And I was wondering, NM, why you haven't turned your bird feeder into an oil-burning shed heater? Looks like a perfect candidate.

Watch out, Ron's up your way shortly.

[dullbird]

DB...I think I did focus on one bird. The shots were taken late in the afternoon with very low light so on slow speed, hand held. I have the camera on auto focus and for some reason it kept wanting to refocus, so I focused on one bird rather than try to get all in focus (maybe a depth of field thing?).

The white cockies weren't so sure of us so I shot the pics through the kitchen window

Still learning.......

I found the "missing" camera mount for our old tripod, and now have a remote, but have yet to get out and play with them

if you focused just on that bird to the right NM it would of been much more to the centre of the shot, unless you recomposed the shot. as you have to point it at the bird to get it to focus...if you have your focal point set to centre then you would of point straight at it...So unless you looked at that bird half hit the shutter and looked back to the centre of them all and fully pressed releasing the shutter I don't see how you could of got that shot unless your focal point was set to the right.

Its not a critisim........by any shape or form. just if your unaware of the focal points it something that can be played with but if you forget about them can really ruin a shot

[Chucaro]

For me it is impossible to get a sharp hand held bird photo at shutter speeds less than 1/250.
For birds generally I set my camera at Shutter speed priority and play with the ISO setting to get the proper exposure.

[Chucaro]

This image was taken @ 1/640 ISO 800 to be able to get a sharp image.
I am not happy with the exposure because there a lost details on the whites at the back of the neck.
I believe that black and white birds are one of the most dificult birds to expose properly. To get the details on the black tones it is a risk to loose the details on the whites :(

Nikon D200
Focal lens at 240mm
F/8

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/115.jpg

[DeanoH]

Not only exposure, I've been trying to take a good picture of a 'Willy Wagtail' for years and am still trying.

Deano

[Chucaro]

Not only exposure, I've been trying to take a good picture of a 'Willy Wagtail' for years and am still trying.

Deano

Hi Deano, I am dreaming with capturing a Kingfisher :D
One day I am going to get a Nikkor 300mm f/4 and a X1.4 converter :)

[dullbird]

are these king fishers? they were not taken with a kit lens though

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1490.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/11/395.jpg

[Chucaro]

Yes they are, do you have a close up?
Which lens you have used?
My 240 is way to short to get them :(

[dullbird]

no that's the pics, I do have more of the top one but they are similar both taken on the 70-200mm. both taken in NT

[Chucaro]

Thank you for posting them It is one of my elusive fav birds

Have a look THIS (http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone/fave_kingfishers) site and you will have an idea of which type of photos I am aming :D
Then again........Romy have a $20000 camera/lens combination :(

[Chucaro]

Pushing the limits of the Nikkor 75-240 I managed to get this portrait without blowing the whites on the head of the bird.
The perspective it is not the best because it was high up on one of the grevilleas and the time of the day was not the best as well regarding harsh light.
The good thing is that I was able to set the lens at f/9 where it performs very well on all its focal lens.
This aperture give me the chance to capture good details of the plumaje.

Cheers


Galah
Scientific name: Cacatua roseicapilla
Family: Cacatuidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Nikon D200
1/500s f/9.0 at 220.0mm iso200

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/1660.jpg

[nsgnomad]

Thanks everyone for some great photos in this thread, and the good tips. I was hoping to post a couple of my pics, but after spending the last 2 hours looking for them in vain, it made me realise that I need to spend some time in organising my photos. However I will relate an observation of what I thought surprising behaviour in some birds I saw near Woodenbong (Qld).
We had stopped for lunch and while we were eating, noticed a magpie that was making a curious noise. It was like a whistle that a person might make to attract someone else's attention.
After we tossed it a left over apple core to try to keep it nearby, 2 rainbow lorrikeets flew in and very shortly picked a fight with the magpie and succeeded in driving it away so they could eat the apple core. I thought this was very surprising.
The pic I was intending to post was of the lorrikeets hungrily eating the apple core with fragments of apple hanging from its beak. Sorry, you will just have to imagine it.

[DeanoH]

dullbird, nice pic of a Forest Kingfisher sitting on the pole. I like the photo, perhaps straighten the pic and zoom in a tad more, great. The others an Azure Kingfisher, beautiful bird. You've done well to have two such good shots.

Chucaro, heres a shot of a magpie i took in the Flinders ranges a couple of years ago using a Nikon Coolpix 5700.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/615.jpg

You're right about the contrast, get the black ok, lose the white and vice versa. Still if it was easy it wouldn't be as much fun. Once it's burnt out its gone as with the beak. Still, it's the best I've done to date.

BTW with out sounding totally silly, what exactly is a 'kit lens' ? Is it as simple as an SLR body bought as a 'kit' with a certain lens or what ? Am I guilty of posting non 'kit lens' photos in this thread ?, as the Coolpix 5700 does not have a detachable lens.


Deano

[Chucaro]

BTW with out sounding totally silly, what exactly is a 'kit lens' ? Is it as simple as an SLR body bought as a 'kit' with a certain lens or what ? Am I guilty of posting non 'kit lens' photos in this thread ?, as the Coolpix 5700 does not have a detachable lens.


Deano

A kit lens is the lens that the manufacturer include in a "Package"
The reason why I called this thread birds with kit lens was to trying to separate the "Pro" lens ( the $ 3000 +) from the others
There will be impossible with a lens under $ 700 to get consistant sharp bird images.
It is not impossible to get good shots with a cheap lens but it is hard because the range and the quality of the glass.
My images are done with a lens that cost me $650.00 back in 2003 about 1/4 of the cost of a 240mm Pro lens :(

[slt]

With a Canon 17-85 f/4-5.6, a true kit lens...
Black Currawong, on Cradle Mountain, TAS

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/609.jpg

The following, while not with a kit lens were taken with a relatively 'cheap' Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and a 2x converter... Iceland gulls and a male Eider duck from memory, from Iceland late last year (and I'll never again complain about cold weather anywhere in Australia :angel:).

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/610.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/611.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/612.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/613.jpg

[Chucaro]

You can see by the natural light in the images that the weather it is not very friendly over there :D

Then again in the wrong time of the day the glare from the ice is terrible!

[300+]

The following, while not with a kit lens were taken with a relatively 'cheap' Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and a 2x converter... Iceland gulls and a male Eider duck from memory, from Iceland late last year (and I'll never again complain about cold weather anywhere in Australia :angel:).

What do you think of that lens? I'm thinking of getting one, along with the 2xTC.

I have a 75-300 4.5-5.6 and am looking to upgrade quality and speed.

Cheers, Steve

[300+]

I took this with my Sony kit lens:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I like the pic for two reasons. Firstly, it's a nice pic. Secondly, this was taken from where I sit when I'm working :-)

Cheers, Steve

[slt]

What do you think of that lens? I'm thinking of getting one, along with the 2xTC.

I have a 75-300 4.5-5.6 and am looking to upgrade quality and speed.

Cheers, Steve

I think it's an excellent lens for the price. When I switched from Canon to a Nikon D700 last year I opted for the Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8 and 24-70 f/2.8, but baulked at the $3k for the 70-200, especially since it was a pre-FX design. I went for the Sigma instead, which I got for $1100 at the time. It has no problems auto-focusing even with the 2x converter and is pretty sharp for a zoom. There's a fair bit of vignetting wide open (just the same as with the old Nikkor version), but at f/2.8 that's rarely an issue anyway. One thing that really attracted me is the close focusing distance of 1m, which allows it to be a pseudo macro.

The following is a 100% crop of a boat a good 2km away (with the 2x converter on), the little island is 15km away:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/541.jpg

The next one is a good example of the bokeh wide open, which isn't at all bad in my opinion:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/542.jpg

Only negative, it's not built like a Nikkor, but then it was a lot less than half the price :)

slt

PS. Apologies to Chucaro for hijacking the tread :)

[Chucaro]

PS. Apologies to Chucaro for hijacking the tread :)

It is Ok mate, the purpose of thisa forum is to share our knowledge and this thread is very good to talk about the images, equipment and other educative issues.

Go for it!

[Chucaro]

Very nice image with the Sony gear Steve. It is sharp and the tones are very good. With the best natural light this shot would be a killer!
Which camera body and lens are you using?

Cheers

[300+]

Very nice image with the Sony gear Steve. It is sharp and the tones are very good. With the best natural light this shot would be a killer!
Which camera body and lens are you using?

Cheers

It is an A100 with the 75-300 f4.5-5.6 kit lens. The shot was taken in the late afternoon. The main problem I had was the branch kept moving and making things fuzzy. As the light was fading the exposure was stressed - this was 400 ISO and 1/200sec at F5.6 & 300mm. But the fading light was a great colour! The main weakness of the A100 is noise at higher ISOs. I avoid going over 400 if I can.

There was minimal post processing just noise reduction, a tiny tweak on the levels and some sharpening.

Cheers, Steve

[Chucaro]

Steve, to reduce the ISO noise try to over expose a bit and then correct the exposure on the PP. Works very well on the Nikon 200. I tahe very clean shots at 800 ISO, a set up tat many Nikon users do not like to use.
Cheers

[300+]

Steve, to reduce the ISO noise try to over expose a bit and then correct the exposure on the PP. Works very well on the Nikon 200. I tahe very clean shots at 800 ISO, a set up tat many Nikon users do not like to use.
Cheers

I've read that before, but I'm unconvinced. Unless you mean over-expose by half a stop I don't see it working. I've always imagined that half a stop won't make a difference.

My logic is that if I was able to over-expose by a stop I wouldn't need such a high ISO and I could expose correctly at the next ISO down.

Cheers, Steve

[Chucaro]

Oh well, I guess that all the cameras are diferent. Works on the Nikons :)

[Chucaro]

and they come to feed from the Grevillea Moon Light

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/04/1565.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1497.jpg

[DeanoH]

A friend of SWMBO's took this pic in her back yard in Drouin Victoria. She regularly feeds the birds, in this case Galahs, and took this pic recently.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1494.jpg

Has anyone seen a Black Galah before ?

Deano

[300+]

Does your LR leak oil? Do you have a pile of seeds under it?

Could explain a lot...

Cheers, Steve

[Chucaro]

One more Magpie and it is not black :eek:
Possible a young bird because the others in the area are pure black.

Cheers

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1582.jpg

[stage1slave]

A friend of SWMBO's took this pic in her back yard in Drouin Victoria. She regularly feeds the birds, in this case Galahs, and took this pic recently.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1494.jpg

Has anyone seen a Black Galah before ?

Deano

Never! Must be a natural mutation. Let's hope none attemps to capture it, as it would be worth a fortune in the aviculure scene. A 'blue' house sparrow was recently photographed in a suburban Sydney garden as well.

cheers
Evelyn

[Chucaro]

The pair of Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)
also known as Green Lorikeets, Green and Yellow Lorikeets are coming every afternoon now and it is a lot of fun to watch them on the bushes.

Nikon D200 Nikkor 75-240
1/200s f/5.6 at 240.0mm iso400

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1074.jpg

[Chucaro]

Grey Fantail
Scientific name: Rhipidura fuliginosa
Family: Dicruridae

Nikon D200 Nikkor 75-240
1/125s f/7.1 at 240.0mm iso28

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/09/1062.jpg