Nature Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker · 02:15 PM

Life has kept me away from the camera for a while. It was quite windy and cold here in Waterloo today with some scattered flurries. Managed a few shots of a pair of Downy Woodpeckers. I'm not a big fan of feeder shots as a rule but that’s where the birds and I came together.

Tom G

**Rense** · 12-05-2010, 02:21 PM

Wonderful detailed shots Tom! The first one is very good IMHO.....

**Scottnorwo** · 12-05-2010, 02:30 PM

great shots. nice and sharp

8540tomg · 12-05-2010, 02:34 PM

Thanks for looking Rense, Scott

Tom G

Jimbo · 12-05-2010, 05:25 PM

Tom, beautifully done. You continue to puch to new heights bud. Fro me its the first one. JIMBO

8540tomg · 12-05-2010, 06:07 PM

Thanks for looking Jim.

I kind of like the pose in #2.

I tried to get a few shots of these guys in a tree but no luck. They semed far more interested in this suet sandwich than anything else. This allowed me to get pretty close to the 15 foot minimum focusing distance with the M 400.

Tom G

**Sailor** · 12-06-2010, 06:20 AM

Wow, Tom, super job. The detail is incredible - color is perfect.

Jer

8540tomg · 12-06-2010, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by Sailor

Wow, Tom, super job. The detail is incredible - color is perfect.

Jer

Thanks Jer. Much appreciated.

Considering the lighting conditions these turned out pretty well.

Tom G

**dcmsox2004** · 12-06-2010, 06:37 AM

really nice captures tom..... especially with a big manual lens like this.... dave m

8540tomg · 12-06-2010, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

really nice captures tom..... especially with a big manual lens like this.... dave m

Thanks Dave,

This lens (M 400/5.6) is a challenge and I miss a lot of shots but that's no big deal when shooting in the digital format.

On the other hand I wouldn't get any shots like these at all with the rest of my lens collection.

The new K5 looks like a very good camera and a significant upgrade to my K10. I wonder how much better the results could be with a K5? I think this will be my next purchase unless the family gives me one for Christmas - unlikely.

Tom G

**Tamia** · 12-06-2010, 08:32 AM

I just love woodpeckers, and you captured the downys' behavior very well. He seems to be alert to something. Who's out there? AH, a female. And there she is. Excellent details.

**Lowell Goudge** · 12-06-2010, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by 8540tomg

Thanks Dave,

This lens (M 400/5.6) is a challenge and I miss a lot of shots but that's no big deal when shooting in the digital format.

On the other hand I wouldn't get any shots like these at all with the rest of my lens collection.

The new K5 looks like a very good camera and a significant upgrade to my K10. I wonder how much better the results could be with a K5? I think this will be my next purchase unless the family gives me one for Christmas - unlikely.

Tom G

Tom, as usual, nothing short of excellent.

If you are considering the K5, you may wish to look at the thread on Manual Aperture Lenses and metering. From results posted by Bende8 and comparing them to results I have for other bodies, it looks like the K5 meters as well as the origonal *istD with Manual Aperture lenses, with about only +/- 1/2 stop exposure drift over the whole range of apertures.

That is a lot better than your K10D. (or mine)

One thing is for sure, you don't need any lenses, you seem to make your's work just fine

8540tomg · 12-06-2010, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by Tamia

I just love woodpeckers, and you captured the downys' behavior very well. He seems to be alert to something. Who's out there? AH, a female. And there she is. Excellent details.

Thanks Tamia,

Actually, there was a Sharp Shinned Hawk on patrol and the Downy was well aware of this predator. No luck at all getting a shot of the hawk.

Tom G

8540tomg · 12-06-2010, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

Tom, as usual, nothing short of excellent.

If you are considering the K5, you may wish to look at the thread on Manual Aperture Lenses and metering. From results posted by Bende8 and comparing them to results I have for other bodies, it looks like the K5 meters as well as the origonal *istD with Manual Aperture lenses, with about only +/- 1/2 stop exposure drift over the whole range of apertures.

That is a lot better than your K10D. (or mine)

One thing is for sure, you don't need any lenses, you seem to make your's work just fine

Thanks Lowell, very kind.

I've been following that thread with interest. The K5 looks like a winner but I think I'll hold off for a while to save some cash and see if any warts appear. So far it seems to be a very good camera and a quantum leap over our K10s.

Tom G

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12-05-2010, 02:21 PM	#2
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Wonderful detailed shots Tom! The first one is very good IMHO.....

12-05-2010, 02:30 PM	#3
Scottnorwo Millionth Poster! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stafford, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,086	great shots. nice and sharp

12-05-2010, 02:34 PM	#4
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Thanks for looking Rense, Scott Tom G

12-05-2010, 05:25 PM	#5
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	Tom, beautifully done. You continue to puch to new heights bud. Fro me its the first one. JIMBO

12-05-2010, 06:07 PM	#6
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Thanks for looking Jim. I kind of like the pose in #2. I tried to get a few shots of these guys in a tree but no luck. They semed far more interested in this suet sandwich than anything else. This allowed me to get pretty close to the 15 foot minimum focusing distance with the M 400. Tom G

12-06-2010, 06:20 AM	#7
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Wow, Tom, super job. The detail is incredible - color is perfect. Jer

12-06-2010, 06:28 AM	#8
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sailor Wow, Tom, super job. The detail is incredible - color is perfect. Jer Thanks Jer. Much appreciated. Considering the lighting conditions these turned out pretty well. Tom G

12-06-2010, 06:37 AM	#9
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	really nice captures tom..... especially with a big manual lens like this.... dave m

12-06-2010, 07:12 AM	#10
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 really nice captures tom..... especially with a big manual lens like this.... dave m Thanks Dave, This lens (M 400/5.6) is a challenge and I miss a lot of shots but that's no big deal when shooting in the digital format. On the other hand I wouldn't get any shots like these at all with the rest of my lens collection. The new K5 looks like a very good camera and a significant upgrade to my K10. I wonder how much better the results could be with a K5? I think this will be my next purchase unless the family gives me one for Christmas - unlikely. Tom G

12-06-2010, 08:32 AM	#11
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384	I just love woodpeckers, and you captured the downys' behavior very well. He seems to be alert to something. Who's out there? AH, a female. And there she is. Excellent details.

12-06-2010, 08:34 AM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,890	Originally posted by 8540tomg Thanks Dave, This lens (M 400/5.6) is a challenge and I miss a lot of shots but that's no big deal when shooting in the digital format. On the other hand I wouldn't get any shots like these at all with the rest of my lens collection. The new K5 looks like a very good camera and a significant upgrade to my K10. I wonder how much better the results could be with a K5? I think this will be my next purchase unless the family gives me one for Christmas - unlikely. Tom G Tom, as usual, nothing short of excellent. If you are considering the K5, you may wish to look at the thread on Manual Aperture Lenses and metering. From results posted by Bende8 and comparing them to results I have for other bodies, it looks like the K5 meters as well as the origonal *istD with Manual Aperture lenses, with about only +/- 1/2 stop exposure drift over the whole range of apertures. That is a lot better than your K10D. (or mine) One thing is for sure, you don't need any lenses, you seem to make your's work just fine

12-06-2010, 09:20 AM	#13
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by Tamia I just love woodpeckers, and you captured the downys' behavior very well. He seems to be alert to something. Who's out there? AH, a female. And there she is. Excellent details. Thanks Tamia, Actually, there was a Sharp Shinned Hawk on patrol and the Downy was well aware of this predator. No luck at all getting a shot of the hawk. Tom G

12-06-2010, 09:24 AM	#14
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Tom, as usual, nothing short of excellent. If you are considering the K5, you may wish to look at the thread on Manual Aperture Lenses and metering. From results posted by Bende8 and comparing them to results I have for other bodies, it looks like the K5 meters as well as the origonal *istD with Manual Aperture lenses, with about only +/- 1/2 stop exposure drift over the whole range of apertures. That is a lot better than your K10D. (or mine) One thing is for sure, you don't need any lenses, you seem to make your's work just fine Thanks Lowell, very kind. I've been following that thread with interest. The K5 looks like a winner but I think I'll hold off for a while to save some cash and see if any warts appear. So far it seems to be a very good camera and a quantum leap over our K10s. Tom G