[tduell]

Here's an example of the detail in an image from the DFA 150-450 + 1.4x TC, shot with the K-1. Note that this image is downsized/resampled and 95% jpg quality.
I'm pretty happy with this level of detail, but I do see slightly better results, on occasions when all goes right, using the K-3 Mark III.

Cheers,
Terry

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[rgknief60]

You should be getting good results from that combination, a close shot should reveal feather detail. Have you carried out careful AF Fine Adjustments for the lens/TC combination?

I do see slightly better results, on occasions when all goes right, using the K-3 Mark III.

I have not done the fine adjustment. I think that is next. I just finished looking through the last three months of 300 plus, and note that the combination is used quite a bit. That is reall nice detail on the frogmouth and chick.

The first image below is the only other thing I shot besides cranes on the outing with the 33, 1.4 & 150-450. I shot it from the same location as most of the images, did not move the tripod. What is below is a cross post from 300+.
________________

This is what happens when one takes a break from the main subject, and turns around. I think this is a junenile. This individual was cracking acorns. In the second photo you can see a small piece of the acorn flying off to the right. It appears that the top of the snag is storage for acorns as well. Could someone help with an ID?

It is a juvenile Red-Headed Woodpecker. I've seen lots of them near here at a nature preserve. Here's a shot I got recently.

Thanks GvilleRick!

The first image is taken with the K33, HD 1.4x, and 150-450. It is cropped to 4000x3000 for comparison with the Q7. The second and third imamges are taken with the Q7, IR remote, Pentax Adapter, and DA 300mm. Manual focus with the 300mm is a challenge Since the bird returned to the snag repeatedly, I pre-focused, and hoped it would hop into focus.


Surveying its Domain by Roger Knief



Cracking an Acorn by Roger Knief



My Acorn by Roger Knief

[K2 to K50]

That could well be. Thanks for the reply.


All of my K3III images were shot on at 1000/second, as one never knew when they would get up and dance. That was a bit slow for many of the BIF images. Cranes are faster than they look.

The image above is handheld. The morning light was not real dark or bright. It was partly cloudy, and I'd guess the clouds were overhead when this was taken as I did not have to deal with highlights. All other images were taken on a tripod with shake reduction off, using the HD 1.4x.

Shooting hand-held in that low light with the combination of 150-450mm plus 1.4x TC would be stretching it for me. Even without the TC I try to keep the 150-450mm shooting at 1/2000 hand-held, so would never go below that with the TC in the equation hand-held (I am a small guy and 78 yrs old). Checked your google drive images, with a bit of magnification - the images are a little soft-edged. In my own experience that's what a TC sometimes does, although others on this forum seem to get very good results. I think the autofocus does seem to struggle in low light with the TC behind the 150-450mm).

Just another tip: I did look at your other pics in Flickr, and noticed you were shooting at F13 - I think, at the distance you were working, shutting down for extra depth of field was probably not gaining much, I would stick to the F8 imposed by the TC and go for a higher shutter speed.


Here is a second attempt to show you one of my shots at ISO 5000 on the K3 iii with the 150-450mm (no TC). The shot was at a relatively close distance - 4-6 metres.
K3P16227-1 | Pale-headed Rosella | Peter Wighton | Flickr.

To be fair, I think, from looking at your other pics, that you were quite some distance from the birds when you were shooting - maybe too far to expect too much feather detail?

Anyway, if you can, try taking the TC out of the equation and shoot with just the 150-450mm for comparison sometimes.


PS: you have some nice macros on Flickr!

[bspn]

Could someone help with an ID?



Surveying its Domain by Roger Knief



Cracking an Acorn by Roger Knief



My Acorn by Roger Knief

Looks to be a juvenile red headed woodpecker. You can see the head is brownish in the first image, typical of the young redheaded which will become red in both male and female adults.

[rgknief60]

Shooting hand-held in that low light with the combination of 150-450mm plus 1.4x TC would be stretching it for me.

Very nice image, Peter. Wow.

I reviewed the images again, and it was handheld...sort of. I was resting the lens on the viewing platform rail for the shot I posted. Not as steady as a tripod, but somewhat better than handheld. I shot some images of the same pair from a closer location with no support, and they turned out much worse.

I posted a lot of images on the drive for which I did not expect much detail, hoping that someone would see some pattern. You confirm what I thought, that they are soft. As the day progressed, the cranes moved further away, so most of the images I took became "record" shots. The resting pair of cranes were probably the closest subject I photographed.

Thanks for the advice on the shutter speed. I posted one image of a hummer here a while back, also taken with the 33, at minimum focus distance without converter. I thought it was just OOF due to shallow DOF, but shutter speed may have been a major issue. It was mostly soft until I ran it through Denoise-AI. It was low light at 1/250. So shutter speed may be a major component to my problem.

Thanks again for the feedback, and kind words about the macros on flickr.

Roger

---------- Post added 11-13-22 at 07:10 PM ----------

Looks to be a juvenile red headed woodpecker. You can see the head is brownish in the first image, typical of the young redheaded which will become red in both male and female adults.

Thanks a lot for the ID!

[e_nogueras]

K-3 III with DFA 150-450 (@ 450mm) - Julio Enrique Monagas National Park in Bayamon, Puerto Rico

[Erictator]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

This anhinga was such a poser, eh?


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/5.6 450.0 mm 1/320 iso640


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/5.6 450.0 mm 1/320 iso1000


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/5.6 450.0 mm 1/320 iso800

[ehrwien]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

This anhinga was such a poser, eh?


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/5.6 450.0 mm 1/320 iso640


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/5.6 450.0 mm 1/320 iso1000


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/5.6 450.0 mm 1/320 iso800

What a marvellous series! Excellent!

[Erictator]

What a marvellous series! Excellent!

Thanks!
Eric

[Erictator]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

Heron on a successful hunt...


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250

Down the hatch!

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250

[Erictator]

Xpost from K-1 thread:

This heron is on the prowl, I love the long hurry-up stride with head held high as he see's other birds feeding and wants to join in.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1600

Head-on shots from the front of some birds can be almost comical, heh.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250

[bspn]

Xpost from K-1 thread:

This heron is on the prowl, I love the long hurry-up stride with head held high as he see's other birds feeding and wants to join in.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1600

Head-on shots from the front of some birds can be almost comical, heh.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250

I particularly like the bird's pose in the last one. I see an almost proud 'hands on his lapels' look, if only he had arms, and hands, and a lapel.

[RobG]

Showoff by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

[Erictator]

Showoff by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

Looks about ready to launch! Nice catch.
Eric

[Erictator]

Xpost from K-1 thread:

More shore birds...

Wood Stork, "Just passing through"...

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso400

Heron thinking "Oh, what's that over there?"

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/8.0 450.0 mm 1/2000 iso1250