AF vs MF

Did anybody claim that they were each stock teleconverters? I certainly didn't.

If I start with f/5.6 and use one stock teleconverter, then I'll be at f/8, so no autofocus. If I start with f/5.6 and use two stock teleconverters, then I'll be at f/11. However, I don't have to play by those rules. I use one Canon type and one "rigged" type, and that still leaves me at f/8 and a little underexposed.

So, what is surprising? I thought you knew all the tricks.

I study which branch the hummingbird is going to land on, in advance, then manually focus on the branch. A minute later, the little guy lands, and I snap the shot.

---Bob Gross---

That explains it. You're physically at f/11 (you *are* increasing the focal length without increasing the aperture), but only f/8 is being reported to the camera. This still seems unlike you.


BTW, when are you ever going to post some of these birds you shoot? After hearing some of your stories like this, I'm quite curious to see the results.

I find the viewfinder on the 10D awful for MF'ing. Its almost impossible...........

I mostly AF, and if I have the time to do MF, I will.

Mainly AF, although I'm starting to trust it less and less. When time allows, MF seems to give me better odds of the desired result.

If I am given this choice:
(1) Play by the rules and miss the shot.
--or--
(2) Cheat the rules and get the shot.

Which do you think I am going to do?

I've never had the Canon police pull up and write me a citation for illegal equipment.

I have no extra web space available, and I am disinclined to pull down something good to put up something temporary. Someday I'll have to get more hosted capacity.

Besides, I don't want to publish any images that are fine enough to print from, yet if they aren't fine res, then they don't look so hot. I think we are all in agreement that photos look their best when printed large.

---Bob Gross---

I spent $2,000 on a camera becaues it AF's fast...what'ya think

Yeah, I go through a lot of superglue and velcro, but they get me the shots.

Yep, I hear you.

I used to use all manual focus cameras. Then I bought a ElanII in 1992 and noticed that my photographs were more crisp and better focused. I then realized that my eyes are not that great for focusing for some reason. I don't wear glasses and have good vision, but for some reason, I can't quite focus as well as a good AF sensor can. Of course, I do use MF in all of my macro work, where the DOF is very thin, but then I also manually focus bracket to make sure I am getting the shot I want.

I now use AF about 90% of the time.

It doesn't take very much superglue to keep the hummingbird feet on the branch.

---Bob Gross---

the 10D viewfinder doesn't have a prism? :[I'm used to my canon A-1 so i kinda like manual focus.
if i'm doing action, auto focus.

if i'm doing still life or landscape, manual focus.

Try a Great Blue Heron sometime.

I had a Great Blue in my viewfinder on Monday, and it did not see me, so it stayed put for a minute without any glue. They have such a stupid gaze anyway.

Hummingbirds make the biggest challenge for me. Just the slightest turn of the head, and the iridescent colors come alive. But you almost have to be right on the shutter button, snapping away, to get it. The male Anna's has a look like "What do you want?"

---Bob Gross---