Sparrows

Some sparrows for the group. The first two were shot with my XSi and an old all-metal construction manual focus Elicar Automatic 200mm at f/4. The third one was taken with my Canon 55-250 at f/10. All shots with camera on a tripod and me sitting behind the doorway remote controlling the camera via the laptop but with the lenses pre-focused. Camera was covered with an old towel as the sparrows seem to be intimidated by the camera and lense.

Clever idea! If you care to help a technics-challanged old fart, what's it take to control the camera w/ the computer?

ardeekay wrote in post #12859102
Clever idea! If you care to help a technics-challanged old fart, what's it take to control the camera w/ the computer?

All I used was the USB cable that came with the camera and the Canon software (EOSUtitilty) that came with it. I pre-focused using Live View on the camera. Camera and tripod was just inside my doorway with the door partly open and me sitting at the window beside the door reading while I wait for the sparrows to come by. When the sparrows came into view on the laptop, that's when I snapped thier picture via EOSUtility. I used my laptop to do this but you can do it from your desktop as well, provided you have a long enough USB extension.

I want to capture those camera-shy cardinals and blue jays when I have time to sit longer. The ones that I see only sit long enough to grab a sunflower seed and take off for the trees way out the back. One of these days I will get them, lol. The sparrows were easy, but the doves, finches, cardinals and blue jays require more patience.

Good shots.

IdiotsAbound wrote in post #12859227
All I used was the USB cable that came with the camera and the Canon software (EOSUtitilty) that came with it. I pre-focused using Live View on the camera. Camera and tripod was just inside my doorway with the door partly open and me sitting at the window beside the door reading while I wait for the sparrows to come by. When the sparrows came into view on the laptop, that's when I snapped thier picture via EOSUtility. I used my laptop to do this but you can do it from your desktop as well, provided you have a long enough USB extension.

I want to capture those camera-shy cardinals and blue jays when I have time to sit longer. The ones that I see only sit long enough to grab a sunflower seed and take off for the trees way out the back. One of these days I will get them, lol. The sparrows were easy, but the doves, finches, cardinals and blue jays require more patience.

OK-guess I thought it was wireless. I've tried the same w/ my remote shutter release-but its cable is 6', I think. And it's amazing how fast the flies, ants, gnats,etc. find that open door. Coupled w/ the HEAT right now, "no open doors!" Thanks for your response.

nicely done

ardeekay wrote in post #12859850
OK-guess I thought it was wireless. I've tried the same w/ my remote shutter release-but its cable is 6', I think. And it's amazing how fast the flies, ants, gnats,etc. find that open door. Coupled w/ the HEAT right now, "no open doors!" Thanks for your response.

The only reason I didn't actually have the camera setup outside the door is because of the 200mm lens's minimum focusing distance. If I had it outside with a shorter lense, I can close the door and stay inside with the AC lol. However, I have to wait for the active USB extensions to arrive first as the longest USB cable I have is only 6'. Also, one of the reasons I used the laptop and Canon's remote software is because I had more control over the shutter speed and ISO without touching the camera and scaring the birds away.

I am thinking of trying my Nikon Series E 100mm f/2.8 next time. I do have a very sharp Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and the 55-250 is plenty sharp as you can see from the 3rd pict, but I like the bokeh of the old Elicar 200mm much better for these kind of shots. Just can't remote focus with the MF lenses via the laptop, though.

You can get cable extensions for your remote, I believe.

I agree with the heat, that wooden railing gets flooded with sparrows in this heat when I have seeds spread along it. A few hours ago I counted over 20+ sparrows on that 4' rail at one time, all fighting each other over the seeds I left.

So you are closing the door on the cable? Gonna have to examine that more closely. Also have to fire up the desktop where the EOSUtility is loaded and look at that, too. Thank you very much.

ardeekay wrote in post #12863193
So you are closing the door on the cable? Gonna have to examine that more closely. Also have to fire up the desktop where the EOSUtility is loaded and look at that, too. Thank you very much.

With the cable approximately 3/16", it's thin enough to fit the gap between the bottom of the door and the door jamb so you could close it without pinching the cable.

With your 7D and 70-200, or even the 150-500 (which I hope to get someday), and a good sturdy tripod, you can certainly do very well using remote access. A small laptop really comes in handy for these kind of situations. I like being able to fine tune the focus via EOSUtility when I am using my AF lenses.

By the way, I'm an old fart too and with my knees and back buggered up I am unable to walk the old nature hikes like I used to. So being able to indulge in my hobby without carrying a lot of weight and walking long distances (I can only walk maybe a block before my back gives out) by using remote control/access is one of the few pleasures in life this old fart has left, lol.

Back at ya, I.A. They should have a Forum just for us seniors, right? LOL! Still haven't got to my desktop, was in the shop all day working on a project. I'll PM you w/ progress when I do. Thanks for your input!