My new lens, I love it!

70-200 2.8 IS
Not quite a duck shot but they've got feathers.
These are Brolgas, one of our native cranes, the Sarus being the other . These were taken at Healesville Sanctuary the other day but when I lived in Mackay in North Queensland I used to get them walking around the paddock with my mare.
I'm haven't quite nailed the focus, I dont know if the lens is in need of adjustment or I just need to improve my technique. I love the water in the background though

tis a lovely lens. i only have the F4 version without IS and i love that to bits.

your pics look slightly under exposed though, imo

dynamitetony wrote in post #8739282
tis a lovely lens. i only have the F4 version without IS and i love that to bits.

your pics look slightly under exposed though, imo

thanks, I'll use this as a learning experience, please tell me what I could've done differently. I had a fast shutter speed cause they were moving constantly. How could I have got better exposure?

NICE!!

i just bought a used 2.8 IS one couple days ago, will use it during the day this weekend, can't wait!!

2nd one is a bit underexposed.

Still awesome lens. Enjoy that big baby. I'll be shooting in a Race horse track this weekend hopefully my 450D can deliver along with my 2.8 IS lol.

Whippeticious wrote in post #8739372
thanks, I'll use this as a learning experience, please tell me what I could've done differently. I had a fast shutter speed cause they were moving constantly. How could I have got better exposure?

are you shooting in RAW ?

you can just up the exposure a touch in software (lightroom etc)

My 70-200 2.8 is will be here today!!! I can't wait.

Whippeticious wrote in post #8739372
thanks, I'll use this as a learning experience, please tell me what I could've done differently. I had a fast shutter speed cause they were moving constantly. How could I have got better exposure?

Open up your aperture more (if possible), or increase your ISO.

I love mine. It is very big and heavy, but so worth it.

I like the shots! In the first one, the water really lends an excellent effect, and the sunlight is dappled just right. Congrats on the new lens!

Whippeticious wrote in post #8739372
thanks, I'll use this as a learning experience, please tell me what I could've done differently. I had a fast shutter speed cause they were moving constantly. How could I have got better exposure?

difficult to answer unless we know how you got your exposure. In both of these there is so much bright white in the frame that it fooled your in camera meter, assuming that is what you used. Just like a snow scene or bright sandy beach scene will fool your meter.

I don't know how to tell you to get a better exposure if you are going to trust your in-camera meter. I use a hand held incident meter. some use a grey card. some use tricks like metering off your hand or some other neutral item.

timnosenzo wrote in post #8739660
Open up your aperture more (if possible), or increase your ISO.

thanks to those who offered advice. I shot in RAW, I had it wide open and and ISO of 400. Anything more than that and they look pretty ordinary with the noise, even this one is quite noisy. I dont have lightroom, only what the camera came with, zoom browser, DPP which I am not very good at using.
someone a bit more computer savvy might be able to improve them, but thats not me.

i would suggest, when shooting a lighter object like that bird, to dial in + exposure compensation because the camera's meter will typically underexpose lighter objects to acheive middle gray. thats my take.

Congratz on the new lens! In the 1st picture looks like the feathers should be white? If you're using in manual you shouldn't center the needle but expose the scene so it's ~1 stop overexposed (maybe 1.5 depending on the lighting). If you're using in Av or Tv then just dial in + exposure to compensate.

Tawcan wrote in post #8743316
Congratz on the new lens! In the 1st picture looks like the feathers should be white? If you're using in manual you shouldn't center the needle but expose the scene so it's ~1 stop overexposed (maybe 1.5 depending on the lighting). If you're using in Av or Tv then just dial in + exposure to compensate.

No, it is a pale grey bird, that's its true colour, not dirty. But thanks to both of you who've suggested trying the exposure. I can go back to the sanctuary, it's quite near to where I live so I can try out what you've both suggested.