Originally posted by biz-engineer
You did not understand because you are looking for technical (machine driven) perfection.
You know what, the D500 is nothing. If the machine driven photography was so valuable, we could design and manufacture a machine that automatically focus, frame and track, all birds would be in perfect focus, perfectly centered in the frame. But the value of those photographs will be so little than no company that has the capability to develop such machine will ever do it. We do military equipment to intercept missiles, we could all BIF shooters use the missile intercept equipment, if that's the axis on which we should develop photography.
I do understand a simple fact. Each time I go out with very capable wildlife shooters, they tell the same things to enthusiasts: learn the technique, learn to control the light, learn how to get close to subjects, learn your camera and last (but not less important), practice a lot. Once the enthusiast photographers start to get better and better results, the Pro photographers will give you the same advice: buy a proper gear for consistancy. I learned a lot about af when I was using K-5 II and K-3 II. And I mean it. Then I learned a lot also when I started to get more serious about wildlife to deal with the shortcomings of my camera, a Canon 6D. When I got even serious about wildlife, I bought 5D Mark IV. In all this time I got the chance to shoot with different cameras from different manufacturers and I learnd new approaches. I know that with all the techniques in the world, I get better results at BIF with 1Dx Mark II or D5 than I get with 5D Mark IV. And by better I mean more consistent results. When the experienced photographers take my camera to take some higher resolution images than they get from 1Dx/D4, they get great results, but I often hear them say "I missed this by a hair", "the wings are not how I want", "come on camera, move", etc.
I do want to get at the level of wildlife photographers that I follow and as much as I want, practicing each day or a K1 will not get me where I want. Because a proper gear is also important for the ones with high standards.
For occasional wildlife I don't need more than my camera. But for getting the best results, a fast camera with a fast lens will get me there. And as much as I wanted not to give credit to a pro photographer a year ago, he may be right when he told me that I will end up with a 5DsR or a similar camera for high resolution images and a 1Dx Mark II for "living dangerous".
---------- Post added 09-19-18 at 09:01 PM ----------
Originally posted by BigMackCam Ha ha
Thanks for the level-headed intervention, Mark. Much appreciated
Ah, forums and their shortcomings...
Not been able to see the other person is the worst thing when comes to debating over a subject because it may look like we are fighting. A smiley face at the end of a phrase is not enough unfortunately to understand that the discussion has to be a relaxed one.
Please delete any comment that you find inapropiate. I don't know which are and I don't know how I can delete a comment on the mobile version of the website.