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Female Northern Cardinal · **1 Like**

Beautiful late winter day here in Waterloo. The warming weather has the local Cardinal population jumping more than usual. I've never had much luck with Cardinals as they flit around too much for my manual focus skills. This female stayed put slightly longer than normal and I managed a few. No luck with the males at all.

Tom G

**Bob Harris** · 02-20-2012, 12:15 PM

Very nice shot Tom of this illusive bird, spot on focus. TFS.

civano · 02-20-2012, 12:28 PM

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing!

8540tomg · 02-20-2012, 01:21 PM

Thanks guys. Most kind.

Tom G

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 02-20-2012, 02:19 PM

These are wonderful Cardinal images Tom, I know how hard they are to get. Thanks for posting them.

8540tomg · 02-20-2012, 04:32 PM

Thanks Heinrich,

It's not often I can get that close.

Tom G

slowpez · 02-21-2012, 07:18 AM

She is a beauty. For the life of me, I can't figure out how anyone can take bird shots using manual focus. That is a skill I will never master.

wcchamp18 · 02-21-2012, 08:11 AM

Beautifully done!

GibbyTheMole · 02-21-2012, 08:39 AM

Nice shots! Cardinals are tough to get because like you say, they're timid & hop all over the place. Here's a male I got last year using a K100D & cheapo Samyang 100-500 I sold to another forum member:

Guess I shoulda gotten rid of the PF in post... Lens was meh, but it's what I had at the time & it did the job. Much like Cardinals, Blue Jays are tough to get, too.

I actually get better results focusing manually when shooting birds.

8540tomg · 02-21-2012, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by slowpez

She is a beauty. For the life of me, I can't figure out how anyone can take bird shots using manual focus. That is a skill I will never master.

Thanks Susan,

Just takes time and patience - a lot of patience. Actually, for the images above I'm pretty sure AF would have been defeated by all the twigs these birds like to hide in. In cases like this manual focus is often the only option.

Tom G

8540tomg · 02-21-2012, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by GibbyTheMole

Nice shots!

I actually get better results focusing manually when shooting birds.

Thanks Tracy/Gibby,

I get better shots with MF as well. Then again as all my loger lenses are manual focus I don't really have much choice. Although it is prone to chromatic aberation and purple fringing the old M 400/5.6 didn't do too badly in this case.

Tom G

Frogfish · 02-21-2012, 10:11 AM

That's a gorgeous series Tom.

The only C&C I'd offer is they really need some NR applied to make those backgrounds silky smooth (you can always bring back the sharpness after applying the NR) !

mickey · 02-22-2012, 01:18 AM

Respect to manually focusing on birds...I know that it can be quite the challenge.
Your patience paid off.

8540tomg · 02-22-2012, 05:32 AM

Thanks Micky,

It's a challenge but fun at the same time.

Tom G

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02-21-2012, 09:07 AM	#11
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by GibbyTheMole Nice shots! I actually get better results focusing manually when shooting birds. Thanks Tracy/Gibby, I get better shots with MF as well. Then again as all my loger lenses are manual focus I don't really have much choice. Although it is prone to chromatic aberation and purple fringing the old M 400/5.6 didn't do too badly in this case. Tom G Last edited by 8540tomg; 02-21-2012 at 09:14 AM.

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02-20-2012, 12:15 PM	#2
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Very nice shot Tom of this illusive bird, spot on focus. TFS.

02-20-2012, 12:28 PM	#3
civano Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 224	Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing!

02-20-2012, 01:21 PM	#4
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Thanks guys. Most kind. Tom G

02-20-2012, 02:19 PM	#5
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	These are wonderful Cardinal images Tom, I know how hard they are to get. Thanks for posting them.

02-20-2012, 04:32 PM	#6
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Thanks Heinrich, It's not often I can get that close. Tom G

02-21-2012, 07:18 AM	#7
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,461	She is a beauty. For the life of me, I can't figure out how anyone can take bird shots using manual focus. That is a skill I will never master.

02-21-2012, 08:11 AM	#8
wcchamp18 Closed Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 764	Beautifully done!

02-21-2012, 08:39 AM	#9
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	Nice shots! Cardinals are tough to get because like you say, they're timid & hop all over the place. Here's a male I got last year using a K100D & cheapo Samyang 100-500 I sold to another forum member: Guess I shoulda gotten rid of the PF in post... Lens was meh, but it's what I had at the time & it did the job. Much like Cardinals, Blue Jays are tough to get, too. I actually get better results focusing manually when shooting birds.

02-21-2012, 09:04 AM	#10
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Originally posted by slowpez She is a beauty. For the life of me, I can't figure out how anyone can take bird shots using manual focus. That is a skill I will never master. Thanks Susan, Just takes time and patience - a lot of patience. Actually, for the images above I'm pretty sure AF would have been defeated by all the twigs these birds like to hide in. In cases like this manual focus is often the only option. Tom G

02-21-2012, 10:11 AM	#12
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	That's a gorgeous series Tom. The only C&C I'd offer is they really need some NR applied to make those backgrounds silky smooth (you can always bring back the sharpness after applying the NR) !

02-22-2012, 01:18 AM	#13
mickey Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Respect to manually focusing on birds...I know that it can be quite the challenge. Your patience paid off.

02-22-2012, 05:32 AM	#14
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461 Original Poster	Thanks Micky, It's a challenge but fun at the same time. Tom G

Nature Female Northern Cardinal

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