Originally posted by Urs Wow absolutely wonderful shots!
I did try some hummingbirds with the DA*300 at F4, ISO800 and 1/125 but most came out unsharp shakey looking, guess I need to use a tripod or faster speed next time around.
A tripod can help, especially in the conditions I was shooting. Try bumping the shutter speed up by changing the EV comp value to -0.3 or -0.6, but not any more than that.
That 5.5 pound lens on the front is not conducive to hand held shots for more than a few in a row... it would be shaky due to muscle fatigue!!
Originally posted by 8540tomg Wow. Great stuff Marc. I've got the same feeder but nothing to show for it.
Tom G
Tom, a sincere thank you and please remember it's absolutely amazing in terms of numbers here in my front garden! Just 3 feeders will often have 4-8 birds at a time on each one. That doesn't include the Bee Balm and other hummingbird attractions in the garden.
For reference, here's what I posted in one of Mike's hummer threads...
Attracting hummingbirds
The best way to encourage activity (not including my tips on the solution care/handling) is to plant flowering plants AND small bushes in your garden. A great example is the purple sand cherry bush: grows quickly, beautiful leaves and great for them to perch on. Also have some others including an umbrella plant (potted, simply put outside in the summer time) and similar tree like bushes that don't grow much over 6 feet.
Flowering plants can include the following - pretty much any brightly colored and/or tubular flower:
Hibiscus
Autumn Sage
Bee Balm (Bergamot)
Bleeding Heart
Day Lilies
Fuschia
Snap Dragons
Peonies
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia)
Shrubs:
Butterfly bush
Azalea
Lilac
Flowering Quince
Weigela (Cardinal Shrub)
Vines:
Morning Glory
Trumpet Creepers
Honeysuckle
Mandevalia
Trees:
Flowering Crabapple
Hawthorne
Siberian Pea Tree
Mimosa
The above is a very short list, it's just for starters....
Try this book(let): Enjoying Hummingbirds, by Nancy Newfield. There are more than a few out there.