Post your Bird Portraits (2)

Not backing down on either side
7th in the series

Umm! Maybe another time..

final in the series

paul katinas wrote in post #19269570

steveb108 wrote in post #19269559
Visit to the county's sunflower fields

Hosted photo: posted by steveb108 in
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forum: Birds

Beautiful capture Steve, congratulations. Happy trails.

Thanks a million, Paul!

BlueTraveler wrote in post #19269467
Results of yesterday's a6400 BIF test...
First, the above settings worked very well.
We received much-needed rain in AZ in the past 3 weeks which raised the lake's water level, causing the Osprey to "fish" well away from the pier, but a few birds were kind enough to fly by my station.

The a6400 and 200-600mm combo (at f/6.3) worked better than expected. The results were comparable to my a9 with 200-600mm and 1.4 TC (at f/9). I'd much rather shoot the a9 for several reasons, though.
1. The small, light form factor of the 6400 made keeping the bird in the frame difficult...as if the small camera and big lens combo was out of balance.
2. The location of the viewfinder didn't allow me to keep both eyes open to find and focus on the bird, making that process longer and causing me to miss some shots. This is a BIG deal to me.
3. For flight shots I like shooting at 20 fps which the a6400 can't match.

Other notes...
1. The a6400's focusing is fast and accurate...right there with the a9.
2. I shot 100% manual (including ISO) because the metering systems of both cameras are unable compensate for fast moving birds crossing light and dark backgrounds as well as flying above and below the tree line. All my shots were about 1/3 stop over exposed. I shot 1/3200 at f/6.3 and ISO 800. I should have set the ISO to 640.
3. To get a similar equivalent focal length with my a9 I'd need to add a 1.4 teleconverter (which costs 1 full stop) and then double the ISO.
3. I don't use Lightroom's sharpening or noise reduction, preferring to run my raw images through Topaz AI Clear. It does a slightly better job than the built-in Lightroom tools.
4. LD asked why the Sony gurus say not to use tracking for BIF. The answer is that the only time to use tracking is if someone or something will temporarily block your moving subject. I've gotten better results since I started following that advice.
5. The 4th and 5th shots show the original and then the cropped version of an Osprey in the distance.

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-JStgHWZ-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-jwntWxS-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-HX9396j-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-fXqvt36-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-3nRjRkM-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A on Smugmug

First of all, Mike...thank you for your excellent report. I know it was quite time consuming for you, but very interesting and helpful to me.

1. I am surprised that your a6400 and 200-600mm combo (at f/6.3) were comparable to your a9 with the the 200-600mm and 1.4 TC (at f/9). That is so different from the results of comparing my Canon EOS m6 Mark II (crop sensor body) to my Canon EOS R5. The R5 out performs the m6 II in all respects. I am anxiously waiting for Canon to come out with an APS-C body that comparable to my 7DII.

3. Like you, I don't sharpen or use noise reduction in Lightroom. I also use topaz.

4. I am going to follow the Sony gurus advice for awhile and see how well it works.

Thanks again for your very constructive reply.

jimmy_racoon wrote in post #19269351
Cooper's hawk

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/MKSR​Jp trick or treat by James Stewart, on Flickr

Very cool looking shot, Jimmy. Love the setting with the weather vane.

Itsed65 wrote in post #19269538

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mg7​dDg
Cedar Waxwing by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Beautiful, Ed! They certainly are a stunning looking bird.

steveb108 wrote in post #19269559
Visit to the county's sunflower fields

Hosted photo: posted by steveb108 in
./showthread.php?p=192​69559&i=i57263365
forum: Birds

Holy cow...what a magnificent shot, Steve! It almost looks to beautiful to be real! Congratulations!

paul katinas wrote in post #19269571
Great Horned Owl
Happy trails.

Hosted photo: posted by paul katinas in
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forum: Birds

Terrific shot of this great horned owl partaking in a meal, Paul! It truly is a fantastic find.

RW123 wrote in post #19269596
In your face but this is a tough young crow
6th in the series

Hosted photo: posted by RW123 in
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forum: Birds

Wow Rich, what an extraordinary series! This is some really great photography! Very nice work.

kd_reno wrote in post #19269599

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mg9​dGy Wilson's Phalarope by Ken Drozd, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mdg​SA1 Wilson's Phalarope by Ken Drozd, on Flickr

These are both wonderful shots, Ken! Really nice work!

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19269602
First of all, Mike...thank you for your excellent report. I know it was quite time consuming for you, but very interesting and helpful to me.

1. I am surprised that your a6400 and 200-600mm combo (at f/6.3) were comparable to your a9 with the the 200-600mm and 1.4 TC (at f/9). That is so different from the results of comparing my Canon EOS m6 Mark II (crop sensor body) to my Canon EOS R5. The R5 out performs the m6 II in all respects. I am anxiously waiting for Canon to come out with an APS-C body that comparable to my 7DII.

3. Like you, I don't sharpen or use noise reduction in Lightroom. I also use topaz.

4. I am going to follow the Sony gurus advice for awhile and see how well it works.

Thanks again for your very constructive reply.

My pleasure. The results were definitely surprising. I'll still use the a9 90% of the time because of the benefits I mentioned.

Lame-Duck wrote in post #19269614
Very cool looking shot, Jimmy. Love the setting with the weather vane.

Beautiful, Ed! They certainly are a stunning looking bird.

Holy cow...what a magnificent shot, Steve! It almost looks to beautiful to be real! Congratulations!

Terrific shot of this great horned owl partaking in a meal, Paul! It truly is a fantastic find.

Wow Rich, what an extraordinary series! This is some really great photography! Very nice work.---

These are both wonderful shots, Ken! Really nice work!

--Thanks Mike--much appreciated.
As, I was driving to photograph birds--I was thinking that I had not seen any hawks lately and voila.
It is amazing how nature listens to our thoughts at least it seems that way. Thanks again!
All the Best
rich

RW123 wrote in post #19269598
Umm! Maybe another time..

final in the series

Hosted photo: posted by RW123 in
./showthread.php?p=192​69598&i=i101391484
forum: Birds

Great series Rich!

Great information thanks for sharing. Have you tried using the A9 in crop mode? Would you not be able to achieve the same without having to use the 1.4TC and losing a stop of light? I have actually assigned one of the buttons on the lens to crop mode but admit haven’t used it as such.

female Superb Fairy Wren

Common linnet

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mga​aj8

a fully coloured male Superb Fairy Wren
cropped somewhat!