Don't leave home without your Zoom

metalfab · 05-01-2008, 01:38 PM

Well, I would have used a zoom if I had one on the walk today. Out of nowhere comes these opportunities that can and will be missed. Now I'm wanting a zoom badly.

Casually walking along and I heard a rustling in the thick trees beside me. I look carefully without moving too much, out flies a woodpecker and lands 25-30 feet away on the side of a tree. Here I am, only armed with my DA35. Here is a 100% crop (400x400) from the original.

I guess the DA35 can be called "micro-ma"? lol

Damn Brit · 05-01-2008, 02:29 PM

I would respond by saying "don't leave home without your second body with zoom attached". Mind you I haven't got a second body yet myself so I often find myself in the same position as you did.

Miserere · 05-01-2008, 02:50 PM

Damn those rude birds! They have no manners, I tell you!

thePiRaTE!! · 05-01-2008, 04:36 PM

Doh!

A lot of birds in human areas are pretty tolerant to close proximity. You can always try the cautious creep or the squat and hold out your hand trick. I got some fairly decent pics of a huge raven on a well trodden hiking trail once in the latter fashion with my FA31 while in the same predicament as yourself.

I carry the diminuitive Voigtlander 180/4 in my bag at all times these days for occasions such as you've encountered. If you're blessed with a few moments to make the swap, its a tiny lens with great sharpness and decent reach.

**rparmar** · 05-01-2008, 04:59 PM

What we need is a decent 2x teleconverter we can quickly screw on the front of a lens. I suppose if such a thing were possible it'd be available by now.

**sholtzma** · 05-01-2008, 05:39 PM

That Pileated Woodpecker is the biggest woodpecker in most of the continent. Though not rare, they aren't a common site in many places. You were fortunate to get so close. And not a bad result with the 35mm.

Aegon · 05-01-2008, 05:41 PM

I took that photo a year ago!

SpecialK · 05-01-2008, 08:17 PM

Had the zoom, a 12-24, when the B-17 flew by...:-(
Attachment 11627

thePiRaTE!! · 05-01-2008, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by Aegon

I took that photo a year ago!

lol, but does your .exif data say 35mm?

Aegon · 05-01-2008, 08:39 PM

I believe my exif data says 200mm F5.6. I didn't leave home without my zoom. And my zoom didn't stop at 24!

jsherman999 · 05-01-2008, 09:19 PM

Originally posted by thePiRaTE!!

Doh!

I carry the diminuitive Voigtlander 180/4 in my bag at all times these days for occasions such as you've encountered. If you're blessed with a few moments to make the swap, its a tiny lens with great sharpness and decent reach.

Good plan, that lens is sharp enough to allow you to crop, also. Incredible resolution.

The shot below was taken quickly with the VL 180/4 in a slight breeze - it's a tight crop with a lot of detail retained:

(too bad I sold it

)
.

**rparmar** · 05-02-2008, 03:06 AM

You sold the Voigtlander? I remember from another thread you raving about it. Now it's almost impossible to find.

I have a dumb question: does it have automatic metering? None of the thread I read actually ever stated that. I know it's manual focus.

Something that's held me back from investigating further (along with lack of cash) is the fact I find it completely ugly.

John Kovarik · 05-02-2008, 03:25 AM

Ha! Great catch! I have a Pileated Woodpecker living in the woods down the hill from me
and I've been trying unsuccessfully for over a year to get a good pic................

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-02-2008, 05:32 AM

very nice shot.

When I take my dog out for walks in the park, I always take my camera, usually with my 70-200F2.8 plus 2x TC, sometimes my 300 F4 and 1.7x. AF TC.

the reason, you never know what you will find.

this year, 2 great shots below

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/228838-post1.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/187646-post19.html

AML · 05-02-2008, 05:51 AM

Metalfab, i had an experience today where i was kicking myself. I was out and about in the car when i decided to stop by a new park area, and noticed it had a little creek running through it.
I grabbed the camera bag, walked over to the creek and noticed there was a duck standing on a concrete divider and was just about ready to dive into the water. I pulled out the camera and noticed i still had the 18-55mm lens on, and i had left my 50-200mm at home. Of course, i wasn't able to get close enough to get any decent shots.

As soon as i got home, the 200mm was put in the bag ready for my next outing, and i was still kicking myself at the missed opportunity.

Your Pileated Woodpeckers are amazing birds, wish we had them in Oz.
From what i've read, aren't these birds hard to capture at the best of times? I think you did a great job given your circumstances.

05-01-2008, 01:38 PM	#1
metalfab Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 302	Don't leave home without your Zoom Well, I would have used a zoom if I had one on the walk today. Out of nowhere comes these opportunities that can and will be missed. Now I'm wanting a zoom badly. Casually walking along and I heard a rustling in the thick trees beside me. I look carefully without moving too much, out flies a woodpecker and lands 25-30 feet away on the side of a tree. Here I am, only armed with my DA35. Here is a 100% crop (400x400) from the original. I guess the DA35 can be called "micro-ma"? lol

05-01-2008, 08:17 PM	#8
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Had the zoom, a 12-24, when the B-17 flew by...:-( Attachment 11627 Last edited by SpecialK; 06-04-2015 at 08:03 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature Don't Feck With Me!	donallison13	Post Your Photos!	1	11-02-2010 09:10 PM
Nature Don't Feck With Me!	donallison13	Post Your Photos!	1	11-02-2010 06:27 PM
Photo of the Day - Home Sweet Home	Adam	Post Your Photos!	1	07-02-2009 01:18 PM
Don Neal	donneal	Welcomes and Introductions	2	01-25-2009 05:10 PM
Don in Louisville	craftsmansky	Welcomes and Introductions	3	10-28-2007 04:21 AM

05-01-2008, 02:29 PM	#2
Damn Brit Guest	I would respond by saying "don't leave home without your second body with zoom attached". Mind you I haven't got a second body yet myself so I often find myself in the same position as you did.

05-01-2008, 02:50 PM	#3
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	Damn those rude birds! They have no manners, I tell you!

05-01-2008, 04:36 PM	#4
thePiRaTE!! Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Photos: Gallery Posts: 942	Doh! A lot of birds in human areas are pretty tolerant to close proximity. You can always try the cautious creep or the squat and hold out your hand trick. I got some fairly decent pics of a huge raven on a well trodden hiking trail once in the latter fashion with my FA31 while in the same predicament as yourself. I carry the diminuitive Voigtlander 180/4 in my bag at all times these days for occasions such as you've encountered. If you're blessed with a few moments to make the swap, its a tiny lens with great sharpness and decent reach.

05-01-2008, 04:59 PM	#5
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	What we need is a decent 2x teleconverter we can quickly screw on the front of a lens. I suppose if such a thing were possible it'd be available by now.

05-01-2008, 05:39 PM	#6
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043	That Pileated Woodpecker is the biggest woodpecker in most of the continent. Though not rare, they aren't a common site in many places. You were fortunate to get so close. And not a bad result with the 35mm.

05-01-2008, 05:41 PM	#7
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	I took that photo a year ago!

05-01-2008, 08:18 PM	#9
thePiRaTE!! Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Photos: Gallery Posts: 942	Originally posted by Aegon I took that photo a year ago! lol, but does your .exif data say 35mm?

05-01-2008, 08:39 PM	#10
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	I believe my exif data says 200mm F5.6. I didn't leave home without my zoom. And my zoom didn't stop at 24!

05-01-2008, 09:19 PM	#11
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by thePiRaTE!! Doh! I carry the diminuitive Voigtlander 180/4 in my bag at all times these days for occasions such as you've encountered. If you're blessed with a few moments to make the swap, its a tiny lens with great sharpness and decent reach. Good plan, that lens is sharp enough to allow you to crop, also. Incredible resolution. The shot below was taken quickly with the VL 180/4 in a slight breeze - it's a tight crop with a lot of detail retained: (too bad I sold it ) .

05-02-2008, 03:06 AM	#12
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	You sold the Voigtlander? I remember from another thread you raving about it. Now it's almost impossible to find. I have a dumb question: does it have automatic metering? None of the thread I read actually ever stated that. I know it's manual focus. Something that's held me back from investigating further (along with lack of cash) is the fact I find it completely ugly.

05-02-2008, 03:25 AM	#13
John Kovarik Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	Ha! Great catch! I have a Pileated Woodpecker living in the woods down the hill from me and I've been trying unsuccessfully for over a year to get a good pic................

05-02-2008, 05:32 AM	#14
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	very nice shot. When I take my dog out for walks in the park, I always take my camera, usually with my 70-200F2.8 plus 2x TC, sometimes my 300 F4 and 1.7x. AF TC. the reason, you never know what you will find. this year, 2 great shots below https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/228838-post1.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/187646-post19.html

05-02-2008, 05:51 AM	#15
AML Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 212	Metalfab, i had an experience today where i was kicking myself. I was out and about in the car when i decided to stop by a new park area, and noticed it had a little creek running through it. I grabbed the camera bag, walked over to the creek and noticed there was a duck standing on a concrete divider and was just about ready to dive into the water. I pulled out the camera and noticed i still had the 18-55mm lens on, and i had left my 50-200mm at home. Of course, i wasn't able to get close enough to get any decent shots. As soon as i got home, the 200mm was put in the bag ready for my next outing, and i was still kicking myself at the missed opportunity. Your Pileated Woodpeckers are amazing birds, wish we had them in Oz. From what i've read, aren't these birds hard to capture at the best of times? I think you did a great job given your circumstances.