300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses

**dadipentak** · 05-05-2011, 01:17 PM

Thumbs up, Freak & G Money!

**G_Money** · 05-05-2011, 02:15 PM

Thanks, dad.

Freak · 05-05-2011, 05:03 PM

Originally posted by Clinton

@Freak, did you post process those Bigma shots?

Clinton, I tend to PP all my .DNG shots via ACR. But it's very basic, and their is really not much tweaking going on. The colours in my last batch really pop because I was using the Metz-58 on-board with Bigma, and it made a large difference.

I really just change the exposure, whitebalance, sharpening, and add a little vignetting. If i get time i will post a non-processed one in comparison.

Originally posted by dadipentak

Thumbs up, Freak & G Money!

Cheers! I also love the last one in particular G_Money.

Here is another of mine from yesterday, It's a large water bird... A "Darter"

**Clinton** · 05-05-2011, 05:14 PM

Originally posted by Freak

Clinton, I tend to PP all my .DNG shots via ACR. But it's very basic, and their is really not much tweaking going on. The colours in my last batch really pop because I was using the Metz-58 on-board with Bigma, and it made a large difference.

Are you using the Metz straight up, or are you using any kind of additional reflector or distance extender?

Freak · 05-05-2011, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by Clinton

Are you using the Metz straight up, or are you using any kind of additional reflector or distance extender?

That is just straight onboard... I'm really quite amazed at the difference myself. It was just afternoon sun with the metz, it really helped fill in the shadow detail and help separate the BG a little, while making the colors stronger.

The metz is focused to 105mm (So focuses the light as far forward) and i played with power, and EV compensation and tried to balance the ISO to allow as much distance as I could. (Which was surprisingly a lot)

I ordered a cheap deflector and umbrella yesterday to try more of that in the future, and i plan to add a Sigma EF610 soon so i can use HSS off-camera. But i'm still very new at flash in general.

Skog · 05-06-2011, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by G_Money

A*600 with 1.4 X-L converter.

That first one is a very nice bird! And iso 9000?? Is that correct? If it is, what kind of pp did you apply?

**G_Money** · 05-06-2011, 02:59 AM

Originally posted by Skog

That first one is a very nice bird! And iso 9000?? Is that correct? If it is, what kind of pp did you apply?

Yes, ISO 9000. I did a little noise reduction in Lightroom, along with some sharpening and a little exposure and clarity. The high ISO is what moved me towards a K-5. Even without any NR, the images from it at 9000 are much cleaner than the K20D at 1600. I need all the help I can get.

Skog · 05-06-2011, 04:05 AM

Hmm I have the k-x, and from the sample images I have seen, the high iso shots from k-5 is not that much better, if at all. But your picture looks noise free to me. I must have under estimated the k-5. Although I suspect the small size of the image shown here helps. Anyway Good job, I really like that one! What bird is it?

A general question to all of you; when applying noise reduction, do you apply it globally, or do you mask out the bird/subject to retain detail in the plumage etc?

**G_Money** · 05-06-2011, 07:12 AM

It's a Black-and-white Warbler. The noise reduction was overall, LIghtroom doesn't allow for masking, although the detail slider allows some control over which areas get left alone. I'm sure that bringing the image into Photoshop and using DeNoise or Dfine and layer masking could produce superior results.

I don't have any experience with a K-x, so I can't comment.

**pacerr** · 05-06-2011, 02:10 PM

Anyone looking for an economical long lens may find this useful.

Linked rather than duplicated from the Adaptall forum.

H2

#828 (permalink)

8540tomg · 05-07-2011, 04:19 PM

Common as dirt in this area and the only decent shots of the day. Got close enough to use the K10's pop up flash for fill-in light.

Tom G

normhead · 05-07-2011, 07:08 PM

A few more for the season. Sugar maple flowers and flaming bush buds.

**dadipentak** · 05-07-2011, 07:52 PM

Real nice, normhead! I took a couple of stabs at that sort of thing but you did it better.

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-09-2011, 08:41 AM

I guess I need to add my latest shots with my SMC300F4 and 1.7x AF TC.

Shot with my K7 and using flash.

this is still my go to setup when I really want to get close. note this was shot in vertical format, but was cropped full width, and half height. The reason for the vertical format was to use the lens and camera to block the auto sensor on my AF540FGZ from a nearby object on my right that would influence the flash if the light reflected back to the sensor. Remember with K mount there is no P-TTL flash,

gary1952 · 05-10-2011, 02:48 AM

I have tried to use flash on birds and failed. Nice shots by the way... I will have to try again.. Just cannot get the ballance right... I always end up with shadows everywhere and to bright or two dark... Frustraiting for me... But I see some of the best shots with flash... HUmmmm

05-06-2011, 02:10 PM	#1765
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,350	Tamron CZ-500 Anyone looking for an economical long lens may find this useful. Linked rather than duplicated from the Adaptall forum. H2 #828 (permalink)

05-07-2011, 04:19 PM	#1766
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Red Winged Blackbird Common as dirt in this area and the only decent shots of the day. Got close enough to use the K10's pop up flash for fill-in light. Tom G

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05-05-2011, 01:17 PM	#1756
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Thumbs up, Freak & G Money!

05-05-2011, 02:15 PM	#1757
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	Thanks, dad.

05-05-2011, 05:03 PM	#1758
Freak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 361	Originally posted by Clinton @Freak, did you post process those Bigma shots? Clinton, I tend to PP all my .DNG shots via ACR. But it's very basic, and their is really not much tweaking going on. The colours in my last batch really pop because I was using the Metz-58 on-board with Bigma, and it made a large difference. I really just change the exposure, whitebalance, sharpening, and add a little vignetting. If i get time i will post a non-processed one in comparison. Originally posted by dadipentak Thumbs up, Freak & G Money! Cheers! I also love the last one in particular G_Money. Here is another of mine from yesterday, It's a large water bird... A "Darter"

05-05-2011, 05:14 PM	#1759
Clinton Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,912	Originally posted by Freak Clinton, I tend to PP all my .DNG shots via ACR. But it's very basic, and their is really not much tweaking going on. The colours in my last batch really pop because I was using the Metz-58 on-board with Bigma, and it made a large difference. Are you using the Metz straight up, or are you using any kind of additional reflector or distance extender?

05-05-2011, 06:54 PM	#1760
Freak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 361	Originally posted by Clinton Are you using the Metz straight up, or are you using any kind of additional reflector or distance extender? That is just straight onboard... I'm really quite amazed at the difference myself. It was just afternoon sun with the metz, it really helped fill in the shadow detail and help separate the BG a little, while making the colors stronger. The metz is focused to 105mm (So focuses the light as far forward) and i played with power, and EV compensation and tried to balance the ISO to allow as much distance as I could. (Which was surprisingly a lot) I ordered a cheap deflector and umbrella yesterday to try more of that in the future, and i plan to add a Sigma EF610 soon so i can use HSS off-camera. But i'm still very new at flash in general.

05-06-2011, 12:52 AM	#1761
Skog Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 167	Originally posted by G_Money A*600 with 1.4 X-L converter. That first one is a very nice bird! And iso 9000?? Is that correct? If it is, what kind of pp did you apply?

05-06-2011, 02:59 AM	#1762
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	Originally posted by Skog That first one is a very nice bird! And iso 9000?? Is that correct? If it is, what kind of pp did you apply? Yes, ISO 9000. I did a little noise reduction in Lightroom, along with some sharpening and a little exposure and clarity. The high ISO is what moved me towards a K-5. Even without any NR, the images from it at 9000 are much cleaner than the K20D at 1600. I need all the help I can get.

05-06-2011, 04:05 AM	#1763
Skog Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 167	Hmm I have the k-x, and from the sample images I have seen, the high iso shots from k-5 is not that much better, if at all. But your picture looks noise free to me. I must have under estimated the k-5. Although I suspect the small size of the image shown here helps. Anyway Good job, I really like that one! What bird is it? A general question to all of you; when applying noise reduction, do you apply it globally, or do you mask out the bird/subject to retain detail in the plumage etc?

05-06-2011, 07:12 AM	#1764
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	It's a Black-and-white Warbler. The noise reduction was overall, LIghtroom doesn't allow for masking, although the detail slider allows some control over which areas get left alone. I'm sure that bringing the image into Photoshop and using DeNoise or Dfine and layer masking could produce superior results. I don't have any experience with a K-x, so I can't comment.

05-07-2011, 07:08 PM	#1767
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	A few more for the season. Sugar maple flowers and flaming bush buds.

05-07-2011, 07:52 PM	#1768
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Real nice, normhead! I took a couple of stabs at that sort of thing but you did it better.

05-09-2011, 08:41 AM	#1769
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I guess I need to add my latest shots with my SMC300F4 and 1.7x AF TC. Shot with my K7 and using flash. this is still my go to setup when I really want to get close. note this was shot in vertical format, but was cropped full width, and half height. The reason for the vertical format was to use the lens and camera to block the auto sensor on my AF540FGZ from a nearby object on my right that would influence the flash if the light reflected back to the sensor. Remember with K mount there is no P-TTL flash,

05-10-2011, 02:48 AM	#1770
gary1952 Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: thailand Posts: 45	I have tried to use flash on birds and failed. Nice shots by the way... I will have to try again.. Just cannot get the ballance right... I always end up with shadows everywhere and to bright or two dark... Frustraiting for me... But I see some of the best shots with flash... HUmmmm