Went out for a walk with the K10D/Sigma 70-300 DL Macro/Kenko 1.5 TC combination yesterday. Ended up in some fields/woodland but couldn't get close enough to get any decent shots. However, on the way there I heard this robin in a branch of a tree overhanging the pavement, singing for all he was worth. Spring must certainly be near. Light was a bit better so I was able to get higher shutter speeds, though paradoxically some of the lower speeds just happened to come out better. But if there's anything more difficult than holding this combo steady when it's level, it's holding it pointing upwards as I had to do for these shots. Left the robin singing away as in 2.

Paul

300mm+1.5TC, 1/250th, F8, ISO 1600, Spot Metering, Exp Comp +1.0


300mm+1.5TC, 1/320th, F8, ISO 1600, Spot Metering, Exp Comp +0.7

[Lowell Goudge]

to me seems about 1 stop over esposed,

hard to judge with the bright sky background.

wish spring was close by here, 3 feet of snow on the ground!

[daacon]

Thos are better Paul , especially considering the white background well done in a done in a difficult situation !

[channeler]

Thanks for the comments Lowell and Dave. Lowell, I tried a couple with no exposure compensation but the robin seemed a little dark due to the bright background. I took most of the others at +0.7 compensation, some of them like the second one below came out less bright. The first below was one with no exposure compensation. No snow here but we had halestones yesterday. Didn't put him off his singing though.

Paul

300mm+1.5TC, 1/2000th, F8, ISO 1600, Spot Metering, Exp Comp None


300mm+1.5TC, 1/800th, F8, ISO 1600, Spot Metering, Exp Comp +0.7

[palmor]

I always add a + EV when shooting up into trees like that.. even with spot metering there always seems to be enough ambient light filtering in when focused on something so small that it throws the metering off a little IMO.

[Lowell Goudge]

paul

something funny with exposure.

no compensation 1/2000

your first 2 shots are 1/250 and 1/320, that is 2-3 stops.

next shot was 1/800, 1.5 stops. down. I think your metering off the sky, 1/1000 would, to me seem about right in this case.

[channeler]

Lowell, the rather erratic changes in shutter speed did make me wonder. I thought perhaps there may have been some change in the lighting during the time I was shooting. I had the camera in AV mode and fixed the aperture at F8. I used spot metering and focused on the robin's breast.

Paul

[channeler]

Last robin picture I promise. Lowell, I had another look through all the images I took and I found one at 1/1000th, but it appears dark on my monitor. Puzzling as it seems significantly darker than the one at 1/800th. I'm not sure what is going on with these exposures. Looking at them all again the 4th above at 1/800th or another I have at 1/640th seem about the best compromise. Can a TC interfere with the accuracy of the data recorded?

Paul

300mm+1.5TC, 1/1000th, F8, ISO 1600, Spot Metering, Exp Comp +1.0