[Canada_Rockies]

Title should be Yellow Rumped Warbler. My apologies to anyone who is as confused as I am.

I was out at a site where I have taken pictures of Harlequin ducks, who were a no show. While I was being patient, I heard the trill of a song bird, and it was singing from a branch about 30 degrees up from me. This is one of a dozen shots, and I like it the best. It also tells me that the M 400 just might work with the F 1.7X AF converter, once I learn the quirks. The shot is not as clear as it should be. I believe it to be motion blur from a tripod that was on a soft surface, but it could be bad focus, or the combination is just not sharp enough. This is a 1040 X 1553 crop from the original, downsized to 1024X tall for the forum.

Manfrotto 055B tripod with Manfrotto 0168 ball head
K10D + F 1.7X AF + M 400/5.6
1/250 at f/9.5 (f/16 effective), ISO 400

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Last edited by Canada_Rockies; 05-16-2010 at 09:10 AM. Reason: Title incorrectly typed as "Headed"

[8540tomg]

Hey Albert,

I don't want to highjack your thread but not only do we use the same gear (M 400/5.6, DA* 16~50 etc.) we are starting to shoot similar subjects. This is getting creepy.

I shot this Yellow-rumped Warbler with the M 400/5.6 yesterday. First time I have seen this species in my local area.




K10D, SMC Pentax M 400/5.6, ISO 400, 1/350 sec, f8.



Tom G

[Canada_Rockies]

Hey Albert,

I don't want to highjack your thread but not only do we use the same gear (M 400/5.6, DA* 16~50 etc.) we are starting to shoot similar subjects. This is getting creepy.

I shot this Yellow-rumped Warbler with the M 400/5.6 yesterday. First time I have seen this species in my local area.

K10D, SMC Pentax M 400/5.6, ISO 400, 1/350 sec, f8.

Tom G

It must be the Canadian connection, not to mention the probability that we are trying to "one up" each other - which is nothing but a good thing to inspire others.

By comparing our two photos, we can see that although they are both Yellow Rumped Warblers, they are definitely in different sub species. Yours is a "Myrtle" while mine is an "Audubon's". That matches our Eastern vs Western locations.

I also notice that your shot with the M 400 no converter seems quite a bit sharper than mine with the 1.7X. I was not happy with the footing under the tripod, and that means that I should have moved between the two visits he made.

PS: I changed my title to Yellow Rumped. Thanks for making me look. What a dummy to mis-title the post.

[8540tomg]

It must be the Canadian connection, not to mention the probability that we are trying to "one up" each other - which is nothing but a good thing to inspire others.

By comparing our two photos, we can see that although they are both Yellow Rumped Warblers, they are definitely in different sub species. Yours is a "Myrtle" while mine is an "Audubon's". That matches our Eastern vs Western locations.

I also notice that your shot with the M 400 no converter seems quite a bit sharper than mine with the 1.7X. I was not happy with the footing under the tripod, and that means that I should have moved between the two visits he made.

PS: I changed my title to Yellow Rumped. Thanks for making me look. What a dummy to mis-title the post.

Hey Albert,

"One up" - not at all my friend. I hope I didn't offend. I gave up on that competion crap ages ago. I've learned a lot about the M 400/5.6 from your insights and observations. That is one of the best things about this forum. Photography is all about fun for me.


The only converter I have is an old K series K T6-2X and to be frank I seldom like the results I get with it so I hardly ever use it. I do have a tripod but it gets about the same amount of use as the rear converter. I find I have a lot more luck using a monopod with the M 400/5.6 and by-and-large I like the results I get with it. I am least willing to carry it around which is more than I can say about my tripod. I find it is easier to maipulate and I can snap off the shots quicker. Shake reduction seems to work fairly well in this case. I know the tripod is better but only if one is willing to carry it around. In the shot above I was pretty close - around 16ft or so.


As for the mis-titled post, and this is creepier still, I did the same thing today when I misidentified a female Red Winged Blackbird as a Song Sparrow. Duuhhh!



PS How do you change the title of a post. I don't see where it can be done in the edit area?

Cheers


Tom G

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Last edited by 8540tomg; 05-16-2010 at 12:46 PM. Reason: typo

[Marc Sabatella]

How do you changed the title of a post. I don't see where it can be done in the edit area?

you can't, but a moderator can

[Marc Sabatella]

And this Red Winged Blackbird seemed to be looking for a mate.

Aren't they all, pretty much non-stop all the time?

Really nice shots. I agree that it's surprisingly hard to catch these guys (and gals) quite as still as one would like - especially in a pose that exposes the red wing. But if it's just the tail ruffled by the wind, that's a plus in my book.

[8540tomg]

you can't, but a moderator can

Thanks for the heads-up Marc. Good to know for my next dumb mistake.

Tom G

[yeatzee]

Well guys, I got tired of searching for a used cheap replacement 50mm for my M 50mm (broken) and came upon an auction on ebay for a M 28mm F/3.5, auto TC, and some random soft focus lens. The only lens I own that wider than 50mm (which is broken) is the kit lens, so needess to say I've been searching for a 28mm (that and because of its magnification when reversed.). List price was $130 but I offered $75 and sure enough

(this was before I was offered to by Jsherman and DWB.... guys Im still interested btw )

[yeatzee]

In the mean time, here's a shot I took earlier today with the M 85mm. All natural light since I had to let one of the photographers use my flash batteries :ugh:



(@F/2)

[yeatzee]

A candid from the wedding

[yeatzee]

Another, this time outside... @F/2 like the above



Saturation is SOC.... I LOVE THIS LENS

[malakola]

[schub84]

Pentax M 50 1.7

[8540tomg]

Not much luck birding today so I was curious to see how sharp

the old M 400 could be when stoped down to f22 or so,

ISO 100, 1/50 sec shutter speed. I was using a monopod and

pressed it into a railing for additional stability.



Not an artistic triumph to be sure but sharp with good

colour rendition of spring growth on an old Scotch Pine

I believe.

Oh yeah. one bird shot. Just a Common House Sparrow.

I was out birding after all.



Tom G

[yeatzee]

Well today I was randomly given a bunch of pentax stuff at church by a friend's dad I am friends with on facebook

I got a Pentax ME, an M 50mm F/2, an M 50mm F/1.7 (YES! I DON"T HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER TO REPLACE MY BROKEN ONE! ), an M 135mm F/3.5 (never had a desire for this lens but I'll still give it a shot to impress me) and some other stuff not relevant to the thread (2x TC, a random super close focusing 28mm that I LOVE, an old 80-200mm F/4.5, 2 old flashes, 2 camera bags, a Minolta X-370 with a 28mm, 80-200mm, and 35-70mm lenses, and finally bunch of hoods and caps.)

All of this, and I just bought myself an M 28mm F/3.5

I will have 17 lenses by the end of the week

Anyways pictures to come with the M lenses