Sparrows have invaded the feeders...

[Back288]

...so I shot them;) (with the camera). Not rare, not exciting, but you practice on what you can get, I guess. Sparrows at the feeders from over the weekend. Comments and advice always welcome, thanks for looking!

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Back288/IMG_2017sc.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Back288/IMG_2067sc.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Back288/IMG_2025sc.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Back288/IMG_2033sc.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Back288/IMG_2044sc.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n233/Back288/IMG_2060sc.jpg

[canonloader]

All very nice shots. And hey, sparrows are birds too. :)

I'd like to know how you like your XTi? I got to try one out last week and other than missing a few of the options the 30D has, I found it to be a pretty good camera, although on the Bigma, it wouldn't focus as sure and fast as with the 30D. But then the Bigma doesn't focus as sure and fast as a Canon L USM lens on a 30D either. Any down side to it you have found?

[Back288]

Thanks Mitch! Regarding the XTi, up until a couple weeks ago at EAA, I'd have said no complaints at all. Since then (and including that trip) it seems to underexpose. It's probably me and my settings, and I'm going to be tinkering with the settings some more on my next shoot to hopefully figure it out.

The EAA shots were all terribly underexposed even though it was a bright sunny day (too bright at times) and all the indicators on the camera said they'd be spot-on. That was my first time trying anything other than "M" manual (I used shutter priority that day) so I just chalked it up to learning curve. But then these bird shots (and some others I'll be posting soon) from this last weekend were all underexposed as well and taken in manual. The indicator showed perfect exposure in the viewfinder, and the images in the camera's lcd were fine too, but when I got them onto the computer, they were all very dark and noisy. I guess I should use histogram instead, but I'm still learning that (and everything else). As I said it's probably me and not the camera, but other than that, I've been pleased with it. That doesn't mean I don't want a 5D wwaayyy down the line when I can save up enough for it though:D!

[canonloader]

That's a weird problem. I always shoot in Av mode, and did with this borrowed XTi also and got excellent exposure. I can't use Manual mode on birds. Too much changes too fast for me to ever keep up with it. Av mode lets me control the aperture while the camera controls shutter speed. I don't want the f/stop changing on me indiscriminately as all lenses have a sweet spot which I want mine to stay on. :)

[Back288]

That's a weird problem. I always shoot in Av mode, and did with this borrowed XTi also and got excellent exposure. I can't use Manual mode on birds. Too much changes too fast for me to ever keep up with it. Av mode lets me control the aperture while the camera controls shutter speed. I don't want the f/stop changing on me indiscriminately as all lenses have a sweet spot which I want mine to stay on. :)

Yeah, it is a weird problem, and I'm almost certain it'll end up being my fault instead of the camera in the end. One thought I had on the issue is that I had been shooting mostly with center-weighted metering, but switched to evaluative a few weeks ago. This may have something to do with it. Wednesday morning they're predicting good weather, so I'm going to go back to center-weighted and try again to see if that helps the exposure. If it helps my pictures look more like yours, I think I'll try AV mode too:D.

[canonloader]

I almost always use Evaluative metering. Make sure your Exposure Compensation didn't get set to either side of the center mark and use Av mode for starters. Also, if the camera gets really hot, it will cause all sorts of problems with the sensor.

If you shot in manual and the exposure compensation got set to the plus side, your going to get dark images from under exposure.

[KFrost.]

Nice shots, I prefer the last two shots where the bird is on a more natural perch.

[Cooper911]

I almost always use Evaluative metering. Make sure your Exposure Compensation didn't get set to either side of the center mark and use Av mode for starters. Also, if the camera gets really hot, it will cause all sorts of problems with the sensor.

If you shot in manual and the exposure compensation got set to the plus side, your going to get dark images from under exposure.
I don't believe you can use exp comp in Manual. I like these shots. Question....when do you use exp comp on your shots...perhaps you are using the reverse of what you need.

[Back288]

Nice shots, I prefer the last two shots where the bird is on a more natural perch.

Thank you for the kind words, I checked out your posts and gallery too, very impressive. Maybe with lots of practice, I can get images more like yours by the time I'm three times your age;). I prefer the more natural shots too, unfortunately though our yard attracts many winged visitors, the backgrounds are not very photogenic.

I don't believe you can use exp comp in Manual. I like these shots. Question....when do you use exp comp on your shots...perhaps you are using the reverse of what you need.

After studying up more, you are correct, EC doesn't work in Manual. Because I never use TV or AV, I never noticed this until now, but the EC was set to 1 on the darker side, which totally explains my bad EAA photos. As far as the bird shots from the other day taken in Manual, I'll chalk it up to me not paying attention to my metering and settings enough, and try again tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the comments and help.

[canonloader]

I don't believe you can use exp comp in Manual.
I won't say you are wrong, but turn on your 30D, set the dial to M then press the right most top button, the one with the little lightning bolt and the plus and minus sign. Look in the peephole and turn the back wheel. What is that if it's not Exposure Compensation?

[Back288]

I won't say you are wrong, but turn on your 30D, set the dial to M then press the right most top button, the one with the little lightning bolt and the plus and minus sign. Look in the peephole and turn the back wheel. What is that if it's not Exposure Compensation?

Hi Mitch, it's probably different on the 30D I've never had the pleasure to shoot with one, but in the XTi manual, regarding EC, it says "This feature can be used in the Creative Zone modes (except for <M>)". In Manual with the XTi, pressing the AV/plus minus button (the XTi doesn't have the lightning bolt/plus minus button) and turning the wheel adjusts the aperture, thus moving the indicator + or - on the meter in the viewfinder.

[canonloader]

Well, either way, it's about useless in M mode as far as I can see anyway. It would just make you adjust the other settings to compensate for it, and after it's set, it disappears and you could easily forget about it being set. :)

[Back288]

That's what messed up my EAA photos, I must've adjusted the EC by mistake while playing around with AV or TV modes right after I bought the camera last year, and then forgot to check it the day I used TV mode at EAA. I must still have some P&S on the brain, this shows I have to get MUCH more practice, and pay way closer attention to what I'm doing with the DSLR. Ahh, the learning experience goes on...