A few birds with the DA*300

A few birds with the DA*300 · Posted by channeler, 04-28-2008, 03:17 AM

A few early attempts with the DA 300.

Posted this one in the SLR Lens section but am also including it here for comparison. This was taken with the DA 300 without TC.

Wet Blackbird. Hand Held. 1/125th, F8, ISO 800, Exp Comp -1.0

The next two were taken with the Kenko Teleplus MC7 DG 2x Teleconverter attached.

Heron. Monopod. 1/350th, F5.6, ISO 800, Exp Comp -1.0

Dunnock? Tripod, 1/250th, F4, ISO 800

I haven't tried the Kenko 1.5x TC for bird shots yet. It is bound to be easier as it gives me SDM focusing with the DA 300. I find manual focusing with the 2x a bit hit and miss even when using a tripod. Shots were in quite poor light so I had to use the higher ISO and it still didn't give me the higher shutter speeds I really needed. Still need to further develop hand held and monopod technique too.

Paul

scott-devon · 04-28-2008, 05:22 AM

Very nice series Paul, spot on with the focus.

**Peter Zack** · 04-28-2008, 05:29 AM

Looks good so far. You did a good job with the MF and the image quality holds up well with the 2x. That Blackbird is one wet, dirty looking character.

attack11 · 04-28-2008, 05:33 AM

you just sold me on this lens. gonna lust after it until i own it

*daacon* · 04-28-2008, 05:54 AM

Nice captures Paul and congrats on the new Lens - sure looks like a keeper. I agre with Peter #1 is very good and that sure is "Dirty Bird"

For such a harsh background the Heron came out very nice as well. Have fun looking forward to some more.

codiac2600 · 04-28-2008, 07:26 AM

Great shots and that is such an awesome lens. I finally got my hands on one last week and have fallen in love with it. I think you've found yourself a gem and we will all be seeing a lot of birds from you soon.

*palmor* · 04-28-2008, 07:27 AM

Great shots, 1st is my favorite from a technical perspective but the I really like the heron shot because because you caught him with a leg up and his foot sticking out.

John

channeler · 04-28-2008, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by palmor

Great shots, 1st is my favorite from a technical perspective but the I really like the heron shot because because you caught him with a leg up and his foot sticking out.
John

Originally Posted by daacon

Nice captures Paul and congrats on the new Lens - sure looks like a keeper. I agre with Peter #1 is very good and that sure is "Dirty Bird" For such a harsh background the Heron came out very nice as well. Have fun looking forward to some more.

Thanks John and Dave. I could have done with a boat to get a decent one of that Heron so I could have shot against a greener background. He never budged from the water's edge.

Paul

Originally Posted by Peter Zack

Looks good so far. You did a good job with the MF and the image quality holds up well with the 2x. That Blackbird is one wet, dirty looking character.

Thanks Peter. As you and Dave commented that blackbird was real dirty. Don't know what it had been up to. It was a wet day but didn't see any other birds as wet as this one. I think most of the others had the sense to seek shelter and stay dry. As to where it had had its beak; perhaps fishing for worms in the mud?

Paul

Originally Posted by scott-devon

Very nice series Paul, spot on with the focus.

Thanks Scott-devon, Paul

Originally Posted by attack11

you just sold me on this lens. gonna lust after it until i own it

Happy lusting attack11, and may your desires be soon fulfilled.

Paul

channeler · 04-28-2008, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by codiac2600

Great shots and that is such an awesome lens. I finally got my hands on one last week and have fallen in love with it. I think you've found yourself a gem and we will all be seeing a lot of birds from you soon.

Thanks Chris. I was particularly keen to see how it worked with the TCs as for smaller birds I think I'll need more reach than the 300mm. I'm encouraged by initial results. Hopefully will get better with more practice, with lens, TCs, monopod, stalking, etc.

Paul

dantuyhoa · 04-28-2008, 09:57 PM

Congrats on the new lens Paul .

Great shots . I'm impressed . I'm not sure about birding : I sit on my azz for three hours and still got some lousy shots . And I was cheating with a bird feeder

!

channeler · 04-29-2008, 09:10 AM

Thanks Tran. I know the feeling. Some days I try shooting in the garden and there are lots of opportunities, not that I actually manage to get many keepers. The other afternoon I sat there for two hours and it was dead; more like a meditation than a photoshoot. Someone else's bird feeders must have had better goodies.

Paul

Sebbe_J · 05-03-2008, 08:14 AM

This lens sure looks promising!

Um, you have to excuse my ignorace but I just have to ask; What will be the largest aperture when you use a 2x or a 1.4x converter? (-:

/S

channeler · 05-03-2008, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Sebbe_J

This lens sure looks promising!

Um, you have to excuse my ignorace but I just have to ask; What will be the largest aperture when you use a 2x or a 1.4x converter? (-:

/S

Hi Sebbe, With a 1.4x or 1.5x TC attached you lose one full stop of light so if the lens was set at F4, the effective aperture would actually be F5.6. With a 2x TC you lose two full stops of light. So if the lens was set at F4 the effective aperture would be F8. At least that is my understanding.

Paul

PS: I've done some tests with the lens and Kenko 1.5x and 2x TCs which you can see here if you are interested:

DA*300 Sample 100% Crops (Some with TCs)

*Heinrich Lohmann* · 05-03-2008, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by channeler

A few early attempts with the DA 300.

Posted this one in the SLR Lens section but am also including it here for comparison. This was taken with the DA 300 without TC.

I haven't tried the Kenko 1.5x TC for bird shots yet. It is bound to be easier as it gives me SDM focusing with the DA 300. I find manual focusing with the 2x a bit hit and miss even when using a tripod. Shots were in quite poor light so I had to use the higher ISO and it still didn't give me the higher shutter speeds I really needed. Still need to further develop hand held and monopod technique too.

Paul

Very nice Paul, you will LOVE that lens.

Take care

Sebbe_J · 05-03-2008, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by channeler

Hi Sebbe, With a 1.4x or 1.5x TC attached you lose one full stop of light so if the lens was set at F4, the effective aperture would actually be F5.6. With a 2x TC you lose two full stops of light. So if the lens was set at F4 the effective aperture would be F8. At least that is my understanding.

Paul

PS: I've done some tests with the lens and Kenko 1.5x and 2x TCs which you can see here if you are interested:

DA*300 Sample 100% Crops (Some with TCs)

Okay, then I see. Thanks for your anwser!