Thematic The Yard Birds Thread

**Des** · 10-14-2021, 12:57 AM - **5 Likes**

Originally posted by Weevil

Can this count as a "yard-bat" ?

I think we can stretch the thread theme for such a capture!

I think this is an Australian Raven (there are Forest Ravens in the area too and it's not easy to tell them apart, except by call). KP + FA*300 f4.5.

**Weevil** · 10-14-2021, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by Des

I think we can stretch the thread theme for such a capture!

:-) Thanks !

normhead · 10-15-2021, 05:35 PM - **4 Likes**

Today in the back yard..... wild turkeys, a mom and three half grown juveniles.

**ehrwien** · 10-23-2021, 11:59 AM - **7 Likes**

Eurasian / Common Treecreeper with, I think, some kind of prey. K-3 III with DA* 300, full crop

Eurasian Treecreeper

**Des** · 10-23-2021, 04:30 PM - **8 Likes**

Originally posted by dlhawes

was experimenting with a Canon 90D I'd picked up, used, for cheap. I was surprised at the results.

Good surprise Dan? I have to say I don't much care for the bokeh. There's a lot of noise too, compared to what you would get with a KP, for example, even at 6400.

Likes and dislikes of this setup?

Red Wattlebird, named for the fleshy protrusion on their neck. K-S2 + DA 55-300 PLM at 300mm

**Des** · 10-24-2021, 02:49 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dlhawes

what lured me to this one was "best frame rate for the price" specifically to take pictures of birds.

I guess the 90D is Canon's rival to the Nikon D7500, with 11fps and 33mp, with a slightly smaller sensor (15 x 22mm) and a 700g body. And access to a wide range of EF mount lenses. The noise at 6400 isn't surprising, as both lag the KP with the accelerator chip.
https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Canon%20EOS%2090D,Nikon%20D7500,Pentax%20KP
As for the bokeh, yes can't judge on one image. Just a thought bubble: I wonder whether a TC can affect the quality of the bokeh? I have noticed that the bokeh from the FA*300 seems worse with the Kenko TC mounted.

As for the hawk, I guess it has to make a living, but I wonder whether humans have altered the predator/prey ratio. Small songbird numbers have declined in Australia with the growth in numbers and spread of predator birds like currawongs and introduced animals like cats, foxes and rats, all of which is attributable to humans, as well as loss of shrubby habitat (also due to humans).

**Des** · 10-26-2021, 03:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dlhawes

I've read comparisons that said that packing in lots of tinier dots results in more noise in the image, though I don't know why.

Photosite size and noise | Crafting Pixels
TL;DR: Smaller individual photosites get hit by fewer photons per exposure than bigger photosites, so they capture less information and the signal needs to be amplified more to achieve the same level of brightness. But the effect isn't as great as you might think, otherwise a camera with a 33mp APS-C sensor could never compete with a camera with a 24 or 16mp APS-C sensor.

Originally posted by dlhawes

The KP does make less noise at 6400 ISO; I figure it's because they pack ten more megapizzles (more or less) into the 90D's sensor

Partly that, but the main difference is the accelerator unit in the KP. The chart I linked to shows that at 500 ISO and below, the KP, 90D and D7500 have similar DR. The greater pixel count and slightly smaller sensor of the 90D means it lags the D7500 across the range, but only slightly. The real difference shows from 636 ISO, where the gains from the accelerator unit of the KP make it leap ahead of both. At 6400, the DR of the KP is 6.32 and the 90D is 5. The difference is even wider at about 5000 - almost 2 stops.

Originally posted by dlhawes

Also, when I put a Tamron 150-600 on the same camera, I got less scuzziness in the background.

Nice shot Dan. Still pretty noisy and low-contrast (both could be addressed in PP), but the resolution is good and I agree that the bokeh is much better. That's the second-generation Tamron 150-600? Oh I wish we had that lens in K-mount.

normhead · 10-27-2021, 09:11 AM - **4 Likes**

A couple of shots from 2011...

Without checking on Flickr can you tell which was taken with the DA*60-250 and which was taken with the Sigma 70-300?

We had numbers of Redpolls last year for the first time since the year this was taken. Some kind of 10 year cycle maybe?

By the way, I'm celebrating 10 years with the DA*60-250.

**Des** · 10-27-2021, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by normhead

Without checking on Flickr can you tell which was taken with the DA*60-250 and which was taken with the Sigma 70-300?

Ok, I'll be the dummy. I'm guessing the first is the Sigma and the second the 60-250. I wouldn't expect PF on the snow with a star lens.

normhead · 10-27-2021, 02:28 PM - **1 Like**

Winner winner chicken dinner.
I would have done a poll, but it seems pretty obvious. For me it was the feather detail.

**Des** · 10-27-2021, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by normhead

For me it was the feather detail.

When you say that it's obvious, but I wasn't sure whether a little bit of motion blur contributed to less detail in the first. And of course distance to subject makes a big difference with cheap zooms - f8, <3 metres, my old DA L 55-300 could about match the FA*300 for resolution. You pays ya money for the better lens to perform when it's pushed a bit.

Nice of the redpolls to attend the anniversary celebration.

normhead · 10-28-2021, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by Des

When you say that it's obvious, but I wasn't sure whether a little bit of motion blur contributed to less detail in the first. And of course distance to subject makes a big difference with cheap zooms - f8, <3 metres, my old DA L 55-300 could about match the FA*300 for resolution. You pays ya money for the better lens to perform when it's pushed a bit.

Nice of the redpolls to attend the anniversary celebration.

1/750s make motion blur unlikely on stationary bird.

**steamloco76** · 10-29-2021, 07:35 AM - **4 Likes**

Male ringneck pheasant. DFA150-450 WR on KP 10/28/21

**Des** · 11-03-2021, 06:18 PM - **11 Likes**

This Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) posed obligingly for a whole "glamour shot" session. It must be so used to being harrassed by other birds that it wasn't fazed by a mere photographer. KP + DA 55-300 PLM. (First three at 230mm f5.6, the other two at 300mm f6.3. The PLM does just fine wide open.)

Are we done now?

(X-posted from the 300mm+ thread)

OrchidJulie · 11-04-2021, 07:17 AM

Extraordinary portraits, Des! Well done!

10-23-2021, 04:30 PM - 8 Likes	#2465
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by dlhawes was experimenting with a Canon 90D I'd picked up, used, for cheap. I was surprised at the results. Good surprise Dan? I have to say I don't much care for the bokeh. There's a lot of noise too, compared to what you would get with a KP, for example, even at 6400. Likes and dislikes of this setup? Red Wattlebird, named for the fleshy protrusion on their neck. K-S2 + DA 55-300 PLM at 300mm Last edited by Des; 10-23-2021 at 05:37 PM.

10-29-2021, 07:35 AM - 4 Likes	#2473
steamloco76 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,710	Male ringneck pheasant. DFA150-450 WR on KP 10/28/21 Attached Images

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10-14-2021, 12:57 AM - 5 Likes	#2461
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by Weevil Can this count as a "yard-bat" ? I think we can stretch the thread theme for such a capture! I think this is an Australian Raven (there are Forest Ravens in the area too and it's not easy to tell them apart, except by call). KP + FA*300 f4.5.

10-14-2021, 08:05 AM	#2462
Weevil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Near Montréal, Québec Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,445	Originally posted by Des I think we can stretch the thread theme for such a capture! :-) Thanks !

10-15-2021, 05:35 PM - 4 Likes	#2463
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Today in the back yard..... wild turkeys, a mom and three half grown juveniles.

10-23-2021, 11:59 AM - 7 Likes	#2464
ehrwien Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 2,782	Eurasian / Common Treecreeper with, I think, some kind of prey. K-3 III with DA* 300, full crop Eurasian Treecreeper

10-24-2021, 02:49 PM - 1 Like	#2466
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by dlhawes what lured me to this one was "best frame rate for the price" specifically to take pictures of birds. I guess the 90D is Canon's rival to the Nikon D7500, with 11fps and 33mp, with a slightly smaller sensor (15 x 22mm) and a 700g body. And access to a wide range of EF mount lenses. The noise at 6400 isn't surprising, as both lag the KP with the accelerator chip. https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Canon%20EOS%2090D,Nikon%20D7500,Pentax%20KP As for the bokeh, yes can't judge on one image. Just a thought bubble: I wonder whether a TC can affect the quality of the bokeh? I have noticed that the bokeh from the FA*300 seems worse with the Kenko TC mounted. As for the hawk, I guess it has to make a living, but I wonder whether humans have altered the predator/prey ratio. Small songbird numbers have declined in Australia with the growth in numbers and spread of predator birds like currawongs and introduced animals like cats, foxes and rats, all of which is attributable to humans, as well as loss of shrubby habitat (also due to humans).

10-26-2021, 03:27 PM - 1 Like	#2467
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by dlhawes I've read comparisons that said that packing in lots of tinier dots results in more noise in the image, though I don't know why. Photosite size and noise \| Crafting Pixels TL;DR: Smaller individual photosites get hit by fewer photons per exposure than bigger photosites, so they capture less information and the signal needs to be amplified more to achieve the same level of brightness. But the effect isn't as great as you might think, otherwise a camera with a 33mp APS-C sensor could never compete with a camera with a 24 or 16mp APS-C sensor. Originally posted by dlhawes The KP does make less noise at 6400 ISO; I figure it's because they pack ten more megapizzles (more or less) into the 90D's sensor Partly that, but the main difference is the accelerator unit in the KP. The chart I linked to shows that at 500 ISO and below, the KP, 90D and D7500 have similar DR. The greater pixel count and slightly smaller sensor of the 90D means it lags the D7500 across the range, but only slightly. The real difference shows from 636 ISO, where the gains from the accelerator unit of the KP make it leap ahead of both. At 6400, the DR of the KP is 6.32 and the 90D is 5. The difference is even wider at about 5000 - almost 2 stops. Originally posted by dlhawes Also, when I put a Tamron 150-600 on the same camera, I got less scuzziness in the background. Nice shot Dan. Still pretty noisy and low-contrast (both could be addressed in PP), but the resolution is good and I agree that the bokeh is much better. That's the second-generation Tamron 150-600? Oh I wish we had that lens in K-mount.

10-27-2021, 09:11 AM - 4 Likes	#2468
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	A couple of shots from 2011... Without checking on Flickr can you tell which was taken with the DA60-250 and which was taken with the Sigma 70-300? We had numbers of Redpolls last year for the first time since the year this was taken. Some kind of 10 year cycle maybe? By the way, I'm celebrating 10 years with the DA60-250.

10-27-2021, 01:13 PM	#2469
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by normhead Without checking on Flickr can you tell which was taken with the DA*60-250 and which was taken with the Sigma 70-300? Ok, I'll be the dummy. I'm guessing the first is the Sigma and the second the 60-250. I wouldn't expect PF on the snow with a star lens.

10-27-2021, 02:28 PM - 1 Like	#2470
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Winner winner chicken dinner. I would have done a poll, but it seems pretty obvious. For me it was the feather detail.

10-27-2021, 11:34 PM	#2471
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Originally posted by normhead For me it was the feather detail. When you say that it's obvious, but I wasn't sure whether a little bit of motion blur contributed to less detail in the first. And of course distance to subject makes a big difference with cheap zooms - f8, <3 metres, my old DA L 55-300 could about match the FA*300 for resolution. You pays ya money for the better lens to perform when it's pushed a bit. Nice of the redpolls to attend the anniversary celebration.

10-28-2021, 06:14 PM	#2472
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by Des When you say that it's obvious, but I wasn't sure whether a little bit of motion blur contributed to less detail in the first. And of course distance to subject makes a big difference with cheap zooms - f8, <3 metres, my old DA L 55-300 could about match the FA*300 for resolution. You pays ya money for the better lens to perform when it's pushed a bit. Nice of the redpolls to attend the anniversary celebration. 1/750s make motion blur unlikely on stationary bird.

11-03-2021, 06:18 PM - 11 Likes	#2474
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	This Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) posed obligingly for a whole "glamour shot" session. It must be so used to being harrassed by other birds that it wasn't fazed by a mere photographer. KP + DA 55-300 PLM. (First three at 230mm f5.6, the other two at 300mm f6.3. The PLM does just fine wide open.) Are we done now? (X-posted from the 300mm+ thread)

11-04-2021, 07:17 AM	#2475
OrchidJulie Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Magic City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,937	Extraordinary portraits, Des! Well done!