Originally posted by gatorguy So I'm sitting outside in an Adirondack waiting for an interesting birding shot a few minutes ago, holding my camera and fiddling with the settings since it's close to sundown. Apparently I'm not really keeping an eye on the feeders because I see something swoop down and land on the ground in front of them but didn't see what only 40 feet away. I lean up from the chair and there's a Red-shouldered hawk tearing something apart on the ground. I raise my camera to take a shot and dang, it's the menu screen. OK, no panic. I click thru and raise it again. Dang, I forgot I had been setting up manual settings so the focus is on manual too. By the time the 6-10 seconds it took for me to get my wits about me runs off the clock it begins to take off. Still not too late right? LENS CAP!!!
A few weeks ago I was driving back from one of my birding spots. As I was driving I noticed something very large in a tree. I drove up close about 40 feet or 19 meters and rolled down my window. I grabbed the K3 and the Bigma. First the zoom lock was on so stuck at 50mm, not good. Unlock the zoom and press the back focus button, nothing. $%@### thing is turned off. Turn it on and aim again, Gone!. In three years that is the only hawk I have seen there. No more turning the camera off this year.
Lately I have been taking my K50 and HD55-300 with me while walking my dog. It is light enough to carry and handle even with my 100lb German Shepherd. These are some shots over the last few weeks. Overall I am happy with the 55-300 and the K50. For the price and being WR you can not really ask for more. Both the camera and the lens cost less than a DA*300 alone. It also much lighter than the K3 and Bigma. All are at 300mm.
Robin from last week with the K50 and HD55-300.
Sparrow in a pine tree, K50 and 55-300 again.
Two for one.
I have been trying to catch this dove for awhile now. This one is a heavy crop on the 55-300.