Wetlands Birds From Today

[canonloader]

It was an overcast day and there wasn't much around, but I got to shoot something or I will shrivel up and die.

Ed, the AI Focus works beautifully. ;)

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/waterbirds/coots/coot5.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/waterbirds/coots/coot6.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/waterbirds/geese/canada1.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/waterbirds/geese/canada2.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/waterbirds/geese/canada3.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/waterbirds/geese/canada4.jpg

[JimLittle]

Really nice shots, Mitch!!

[Chandler.]

Very nice shots of the two birds I hate most. Beautiful birds, but have you ever had to shovel goose and/or coot poop off of your lawn?:p

[canonloader]

Thanks Jim. I'm kind of wondering where all the birds are though. I thought there should have been tons of them now that the ice has gone out. But it may still be a bit early, either that, or they are not stopping right here but using the main channel of the river to go north. :)

Thanks Chandler, no, never had to shovel bird crap. Oh, wait, yes, chicken crap, when I was growing up on the farm, and tons and tons of cow goo. ;)

[EdV]

Glad to hear the AI Focus worked out for you. I was using it today as well for both still and movement shots. My problem was that I would have it in One Shot and then when the bird would take off, I try to shoot without switching to AI Servo. This hopefully covers all the bases.

Very nice images there, Mitch. I particularly like the Coot images. I've yet to get one that I am really happy with. I tend to lose the red eye. You captured it beautifully. Well done.

[hTr]

Nice clear shots Mitch

How did you like toting that thing into the swamp?

[canonloader]

Thanks Ed. I'n still struggling with balck birds against any background. I had to use shadows and highlights in CS2 to bring them out at all. I guess I need to shoot with some more negative exposure compensation. I only used -1/3 on these.

Yup, I set to Center focus mark, AI Focus and slow burst mode and it fixed that HSM quiver on non moving objects and kept AI Servo when it was moving. Burst mode would also make it focus each time if it was a bird in flight, so everything works fine. I just have to learn a few new habits. But to be honest, I can't wait to get a cloudless day again, we get so few. :)

Thanks hTr. Ahhh, there's a nice wide path in the wetlands. I walked maybe another mile again with it, and no real problem. I had the mono attached though and took plenty of rest stops. Even sat on the grass to shoot these. ;)

[bromm]

Those are some nice shots Mitch, I'd say the break in period is almost over.;)

[canonloader]

Thanks Trevor. Not quite, the twist zoom is still a little stiff. Won't be long though. Still a few issues to work out, like where to mount the wheels and tote strap. ;)

[Chandler.]

Glad to hear the AI Focus worked out for you. I was using it today as well for both still and movement shots. My problem was that I would have it in One Shot and then when the bird would take off, I try to shoot without switching to AI Servo. This hopefully covers all the bases.

Why not have it set in AI Servo and have C.Fn. 4 enabled so you have both whenever you need them?

[canonloader]

ChandLer, never had much luck remembering to push yet another button to do something I forgot what it was. There was no problem like this with the 400L, but the Bigma in AI Servo seems to lock on to a still object, then if you just hold the button down, and the camera then wiggles a bit, it will start hunting for a new focus. AI Focus stopped that just fine. It goes into One Shot focus mode on still objects and doesn't hunt, but if it then moves, it goes into AI Servo instantly.

I guess this is one of those things everybody was talking about when they said you need to learn the lens. ;)

[Chandler.]

ChandLer, never had much luck remembering to push yet another button to do something I forgot what it was. There was no problem like this with the 400L, but the Bigma in AI Servo seems to lock on to a still object, then if you just hold the button down, and the camera then wiggles a bit, it will start hunting for a new focus. AI Focus stopped that just fine. It goes into One Shot focus mode on still objects and doesn't hunt, but if it then moves, it goes into AI Servo instantly.

I guess this is one of those things everybody was talking about when they said you need to learn the lens. ;)

Cool. Whatever works for you. I recently made the switch, and I like how it separates exposure lock and autofocus.

[EdV]

Why not have it set in AI Servo and have C.Fn. 4 enabled so you have both whenever you need them?

I don't want to hijack Mitch's thread here so I'll give you the short answer... because I'm not that smart! :oops: :( ;) It may cost me the keys to POTN but I don't know what C.Fn. 4 is let alone know how to enable it! :o

[canonloader]

I'm just not that coordinated. LOL

[jpalmer]

very nice shots if they arent the bird you where after have you used any of the range below 300mm yet mitch?. i seems you had the same weather we had here in the uk first thing was ok but by 9 low cloud drizzle all bl###y day . nice one.
many thanks

[canonloader]

Thanks J. Hmm, I have tested below 500mm a few times, and right down to about 50mm a few times out in the swamp, doing some panoramics. Looking at those pics is just weird after seeing macrobirds for months. All the shots of birds we see here are never seen like this with the naked eye, unless you got a pet Great Blue or Canada Goose.

[Chandler.]

I particularly like the Coot images. I've yet to get one that I am really happy with. I tend to lose the red eye. You captured it beautifully. Well done.

I agree. The red eyes never quite show up for me as well. Good work.

I don't want to hijack Mitch's thread here so I'll give you the short answer... because I'm not that smart! :oops: :( ;) It may cost me the keys to POTN but I don't know what C.Fn. 4 is let alone know how to enable it! :o

This was a very enlightening thread:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46965&highlight=focus+%2A

[Booswalia]

Great shots, Mitch. #5 is particularly nice.

[canonloader]

Thanks Shirley. I knew that was keeper when I saw I'd caught that water drop between the two bills. :)

[downywp]

REally nice work with here, I especially like the coot:) Are you getting more used to the extra weight of this beast?

[canonloader]

Thanks Downy. Yes, it's not that bad really. While I think it is too heavy to hand hold reliably, it's not that bad to carry around. But then, I'm 6'2" and not in that bad a shape for my age. I've had it out twice now in the wetlands, walking a mile with it each time. And was glad to get it back to the truck, each time. ;)

[Sindri Skulason]

Excellent shots. I can see that you and the Bigma are a great match. :-)

[canonloader]

Thanks Sindri. The Bigma likes me. :)

[morehtml]

I see you and the new lens are getting along! Good shots!

[canonloader]

Hey Allen, we get along fine. It does pretty much what I tell it to. LOL

Oh, wait. That means if it's not a good shot, it's my fault. :D