Nature American Kestrel having lunch

American Kestrel having lunch · 10:54 AM

Hi,

I don't know much about birds but a fellow photographer told me this is an American Kestrel.
What I DO know is that I'm developing a problem with my DA L 55-300mm.
I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!

All with K100D Super / DA L 55-300mm / 300mm / spot metering / +.3 comp / most of these at f8

Are you going to share or what?

guess not

Thanks,

alehel · 03-12-2010, 12:46 PM

I'm really tempted to buy that lens. Seems to produce some great images, but I'm kinda hoping there'll be a WR version at some point :-P

imtheguy · 03-12-2010, 01:18 PM

Nice series. Shots like the last one would be good with any lense. I too continue to be impressed with the 55-300. I am more impressed how you captured the lighting on the underside while shooting into a bright sky. Fill flash maybe? Regardless, very nice captures of interesting moments in nature.

PentX Girl · 03-12-2010, 01:24 PM

WOW...what great captures!!! Never been fortunate enough to photograph Kestrels...but I know how you feel about the DA 55-300 lens...love mine too

shawnxji · 04-09-2010, 08:22 AM

Wow... nice catches, although I prefer the ones before the head was snapped off

slowpez · 04-09-2010, 10:21 AM

Great lens but the photographer had a little something to do with these I think. Beautiful captures.

scott-devon · 04-09-2010, 11:27 AM

Beautiful shots, I'm envious... I'd love to get a good shot of a Kestrel.

Tuner571 · 04-09-2010, 05:22 PM

Your shots of these birds are impressively sharp. I really like that last one as it has the least distractions and more of the focus is on the bird.

timstone · 04-09-2010, 05:55 PM

Wow...these came from a lens that is usually included as a kit lens? I'd say you got a good sharp lens. The reviews only give an 8...I was expecting to see higher when I looked at that.

**Sailor** · 04-10-2010, 06:31 AM

Terrific, crisp shots of the "circle of life." I love my DA 55-300 - great IQ for the dough and small and light enough to tote around for hours.

Jer

MikeW · 04-10-2010, 07:08 AM

These are very nice captures of American Kestrels. I agree with another commenter about the nice job you've done getting the undersides of the birds lit. That is hard against such a bright sky. Kestrels eat insects and small rodents around here. You must live farther west to gauge from the lizards they are eating. You've inspired me. I've got to get my DA 55-300 out more.

**dcmsox2004** · 04-10-2010, 07:52 AM

you've done a marvelous job with the k100d super and 55-300mm!! beautifully crisp with wonderful color renditions.... thanks so much for sharing! dave m

**monochrome** · 04-10-2010, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by timstone

Wow...these came from a lens that is usually included as a kit lens? I'd say you got a good sharp lens. The reviews only give an 8...I was expecting to see higher when I looked at that.

When used under appropriate lighting the DA 55~300 is a sorely under-appreciated lens. It is quite sharp, renders color very nicely and is light and versatile - an especially good value for the money.

**ismaelg** · 04-10-2010, 05:14 PM

Thank you all for the nice comments!
MikeW, I'm waaaay south and east of Indiana. I'm in Puerto Rico.
About the lit underside, I didn't use flash. I've found that the sweet spot of this lens is using spot metering, Av@ f8 and compensate +0.3

Thanks!

timo4352 · 04-10-2010, 06:12 PM

Very nice.
I've yet to even see a kestrel, let alone get a shot of one.

ismaelg
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by ismaelg
	Find threads started by ismaelg
	Find threads in which ismaelg has posted

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature American Kestrel in flight	ismaelg	Post Your Photos!	5	04-14-2010 07:13 PM
Nature American Kestrel	ismaelg	Post Your Photos!	5	03-17-2010 10:10 AM
Kestrel, k20d & iso 3200	LaRee	Post Your Photos!	29	12-23-2008 02:55 AM
Kestrel in Action (4 IMG)	ToXiQ	Post Your Photos!	14	01-23-2007 12:17 PM

03-12-2010, 12:46 PM	#2
alehel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 167	I'm really tempted to buy that lens. Seems to produce some great images, but I'm kinda hoping there'll be a WR version at some point :-P

03-12-2010, 01:18 PM	#3
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Nice series. Shots like the last one would be good with any lense. I too continue to be impressed with the 55-300. I am more impressed how you captured the lighting on the underside while shooting into a bright sky. Fill flash maybe? Regardless, very nice captures of interesting moments in nature.

03-12-2010, 01:24 PM	#4
PentX Girl Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,700	WOW...what great captures!!! Never been fortunate enough to photograph Kestrels...but I know how you feel about the DA 55-300 lens...love mine too

04-09-2010, 08:22 AM	#5
shawnxji Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: DC Metro, USA Posts: 212	Wow... nice catches, although I prefer the ones before the head was snapped off

04-09-2010, 10:21 AM	#6
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	Great lens but the photographer had a little something to do with these I think. Beautiful captures.

04-09-2010, 11:27 AM	#7
scott-devon Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,140	Beautiful shots, I'm envious... I'd love to get a good shot of a Kestrel.

04-09-2010, 05:22 PM	#8
Tuner571 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,549	Your shots of these birds are impressively sharp. I really like that last one as it has the least distractions and more of the focus is on the bird.

04-09-2010, 05:55 PM	#9
timstone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 400	Wow...these came from a lens that is usually included as a kit lens? I'd say you got a good sharp lens. The reviews only give an 8...I was expecting to see higher when I looked at that.

04-10-2010, 06:31 AM	#10
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Terrific, crisp shots of the "circle of life." I love my DA 55-300 - great IQ for the dough and small and light enough to tote around for hours. Jer

04-10-2010, 07:08 AM	#11
MikeW Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 437	These are very nice captures of American Kestrels. I agree with another commenter about the nice job you've done getting the undersides of the birds lit. That is hard against such a bright sky. Kestrels eat insects and small rodents around here. You must live farther west to gauge from the lizards they are eating. You've inspired me. I've got to get my DA 55-300 out more.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-10-2010, 07:52 AM	#12
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	you've done a marvelous job with the k100d super and 55-300mm!! beautifully crisp with wonderful color renditions.... thanks so much for sharing! dave m

04-10-2010, 08:25 AM	#13
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by timstone Wow...these came from a lens that is usually included as a kit lens? I'd say you got a good sharp lens. The reviews only give an 8...I was expecting to see higher when I looked at that. When used under appropriate lighting the DA 55~300 is a sorely under-appreciated lens. It is quite sharp, renders color very nicely and is light and versatile - an especially good value for the money.

04-10-2010, 05:14 PM	#14
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681 Original Poster	Thank you all for the nice comments! MikeW, I'm waaaay south and east of Indiana. I'm in Puerto Rico. About the lit underside, I didn't use flash. I've found that the sweet spot of this lens is using spot metering, Av@ f8 and compensate +0.3 Thanks!

04-10-2010, 06:12 PM	#15
timo4352 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 169	Very nice. I've yet to even see a kestrel, let alone get a shot of one.