300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses

dragon132312 · 04-07-2013, 11:15 PM

Nice shot Travis ,Derek and swip

Cant help with the ID sorry

**G_Money** · 04-08-2013, 07:11 AM

Originally posted by swip

Hawk in flight. Take with A*300mm + AFA1.7X TC.

Can someone confirm my ID of this bird?

Rough-legged hawk?

Hock · 04-08-2013, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

One of those birds looks like it was painted, Hock. We've nothing that colourful up here. Your BIF were very good, particularly for such a long lens. It must be a bear to get it aimed in the perfect direction.

Hello C_Rockies,

Raptors usually undergo an annual moult. Experts can tell by plumage whether 1st year, 2nd year... etc. The confusing variations in plumages are a result of this annual moulting.

Aiming is not difficult with large birds, but is a real pain with the smaller ones. I have some practice over the years.

Hock

Hock · 04-08-2013, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by Greyser

Thank you for posting this, Hock. Did you shoot RAW or jpeg? I assume all images went through PP. Am I right?

The small bird images are impressive. What was the distance and how much cropped they are, BTW?

The raptors shots were definitely taken from very long distances and are cropped a lot. There are obvious sharpening artifacts present. However, details and microcontrast are very good.

Hello Greyser,

I normally shot RAW all the time, but during Raptor Watch 2013 all cameras at the Pentax booth are set to jpeg since a lot of guys (and gals) will be trying out the gear. Yes all images went through PP, there is noticeable purple fringing in a lot of the shots.

The Coppersmith Barbets are shot up close. Only cropping done is to change 3:2 format to 4:5, i.e. just cropping left and right sides.

The first 3 BIFs taken on the first day of the event, they came low. The last 4 BIFs taken on the 2nd day, they did not come low enough. Yes, heavy cropping.

And yes, strong sharpening.

The shots are taken during the midday hours, they came wave after wave for more than 3 hours. These large raptors depend on thermals (rising hot air columns) to conserve energy during their migration.

Strong rising hot air columns do you no favour in terms of sharp pictures and the midday hours are not the time I like to shoot. But I had no choice. They do not fly during early morning hours and late afternoon simply because there are little or no thermals to make a safe crossing.

The waves of Oriental Honey-Buzzards on migration are what people came to see. The main reason for Raptor Watch as an annual event. I have to shoot when they come. There are no BIFs to shoot after the peak crossing hours.

Hock

Hock · 04-08-2013, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by dragon132312

Press post reply and try uploading 1 pic and then press post preview and you will see what it looks like before you submit the post

Hello Frank,

Thanks a lot. Will try now.

Hock

Hock · 04-08-2013, 08:39 AM

Hello All,

Re posting after failed first attempt.

First thing I did after collecting the lens is to shoot the bark of a coconut palm tree next to my house.
Only @ F/5.6. Looked very good at 100% view.

1st pix full image, 2nd pix 100% crop.

Hock · 04-08-2013, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by Hock

Hello All,

Re posting after failed first attempt.

First thing I did after collecting the lens is to shoot the bark of a coconut palm tree next to my house.
Only @ F/5.6. Looked very good at 100% view.

1st pix full image, 2nd pix 100% crop.

Hello All,

Sweet success at last.
Thanks to all who helped.

Hock

Hock · 04-08-2013, 08:55 AM

Hello All,

Second shot.

First pix full image, second pix !00% crop.

Hock · 04-08-2013, 08:59 AM

Hello All,

Next thing I shot was a resident White-throated Kingfisher, always around somewhere near my house.
Tried 1/200th second shutter speed, 1st test of SR. No problems.

White-throated Kingfisher. (Size: 11 ins.)
Shooting handheld from car. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.

Hock · 04-08-2013, 09:04 AM

Hello All,

A common countryside bird, also found along coastal inland areas.
2nd test of SR shooting @ 1/160th second shutter speed handheld.
Low contrast detail in weak late afternoon light looks good.

Dollarbird. (Size: 11.75 ins.)
Shooting first from tripod then handheld. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.

Hock · 04-08-2013, 09:09 AM - **1 Like**

Hello All,

Another picture with the DA 560mm lens.

Long-tailed Macaque.
Tripod mounted. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.

Hock · 04-08-2013, 09:12 AM - **1 Like**

Hello All,

A shy migrant to Malaysia, still around but should be leaving soon for home.
3rd test of SR shooting @ 1/60th second shutter speed. Now I am impressed.

Black-capped Kingfisher. (Size: 12 ins.)
Shooting handheld from car. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.

**swip** · 04-08-2013, 09:17 AM

Originally posted by Hock

Hello All,

A shy migrant to Malaysia, still around but should be leaving soon for home.
3rd test of SR shooting @ 1/60th second shutter speed. Now I am impressed.

Black-capped Kingfisher. (Size: 12 ins.)
Shooting handheld from car. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.

Very nice photos from your series of posts taken with the DA560 lens.

Hock · 04-08-2013, 09:39 AM

Originally posted by swip

Very nice photos from your series of posts taken with the DA560 lens.

Hello swip,

Thanks for looking and comments.

Hock

repaap · 04-08-2013, 10:09 AM

Impressive stuff, thank you for posting these. Now Imust head to kios and buy a lottery ticket...

Really nice details and color.

Originally posted by Hock

Hello All,

A shy migrant to Malaysia, still around but should be leaving soon for home.
3rd test of SR shooting @ 1/60th second shutter speed. Now I am impressed.

Black-capped Kingfisher. (Size: 12 ins.)
Shooting handheld from car. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.

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04-07-2013, 11:15 PM	#7231
dragon132312 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 813	Nice shot Travis ,Derek and swip Cant help with the ID sorry

04-08-2013, 07:11 AM	#7232
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	Originally posted by swip Hawk in flight. Take with A*300mm + AFA1.7X TC. Can someone confirm my ID of this bird? Rough-legged hawk?

04-08-2013, 07:47 AM	#7233
Hock Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Shah Alam, Selangor Posts: 47	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies One of those birds looks like it was painted, Hock. We've nothing that colourful up here. Your BIF were very good, particularly for such a long lens. It must be a bear to get it aimed in the perfect direction. Hello C_Rockies, Raptors usually undergo an annual moult. Experts can tell by plumage whether 1st year, 2nd year... etc. The confusing variations in plumages are a result of this annual moulting. Aiming is not difficult with large birds, but is a real pain with the smaller ones. I have some practice over the years. Hock

04-08-2013, 08:24 AM	#7234
Hock Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Shah Alam, Selangor Posts: 47	Originally posted by Greyser Thank you for posting this, Hock. Did you shoot RAW or jpeg? I assume all images went through PP. Am I right? The small bird images are impressive. What was the distance and how much cropped they are, BTW? The raptors shots were definitely taken from very long distances and are cropped a lot. There are obvious sharpening artifacts present. However, details and microcontrast are very good. Hello Greyser, I normally shot RAW all the time, but during Raptor Watch 2013 all cameras at the Pentax booth are set to jpeg since a lot of guys (and gals) will be trying out the gear. Yes all images went through PP, there is noticeable purple fringing in a lot of the shots. The Coppersmith Barbets are shot up close. Only cropping done is to change 3:2 format to 4:5, i.e. just cropping left and right sides. The first 3 BIFs taken on the first day of the event, they came low. The last 4 BIFs taken on the 2nd day, they did not come low enough. Yes, heavy cropping. And yes, strong sharpening. The shots are taken during the midday hours, they came wave after wave for more than 3 hours. These large raptors depend on thermals (rising hot air columns) to conserve energy during their migration. Strong rising hot air columns do you no favour in terms of sharp pictures and the midday hours are not the time I like to shoot. But I had no choice. They do not fly during early morning hours and late afternoon simply because there are little or no thermals to make a safe crossing. The waves of Oriental Honey-Buzzards on migration are what people came to see. The main reason for Raptor Watch as an annual event. I have to shoot when they come. There are no BIFs to shoot after the peak crossing hours. Hock

04-08-2013, 08:27 AM	#7235
Hock Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Shah Alam, Selangor Posts: 47	Originally posted by dragon132312 Press post reply and try uploading 1 pic and then press post preview and you will see what it looks like before you submit the post Hello Frank, Thanks a lot. Will try now. Hock

04-08-2013, 08:41 AM	#7237
Hock Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Shah Alam, Selangor Posts: 47	Originally posted by Hock Hello All, Re posting after failed first attempt. First thing I did after collecting the lens is to shoot the bark of a coconut palm tree next to my house. Only @ F/5.6. Looked very good at 100% view. 1st pix full image, 2nd pix 100% crop. Hello All, Sweet success at last. Thanks to all who helped. Hock

04-08-2013, 09:17 AM	#7243
swip Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,827	Originally posted by Hock Hello All, A shy migrant to Malaysia, still around but should be leaving soon for home. 3rd test of SR shooting @ 1/60th second shutter speed. Now I am impressed. Black-capped Kingfisher. (Size: 12 ins.) Shooting handheld from car. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm. Very nice photos from your series of posts taken with the DA560 lens.

04-08-2013, 09:39 AM	#7244
Hock Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Shah Alam, Selangor Posts: 47	Originally posted by swip Very nice photos from your series of posts taken with the DA560 lens. Hello swip, Thanks for looking and comments. Hock

04-08-2013, 10:09 AM	#7245
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Impressive stuff, thank you for posting these. Now Imust head to kios and buy a lottery ticket... Really nice details and color. Originally posted by Hock Hello All, A shy migrant to Malaysia, still around but should be leaving soon for home. 3rd test of SR shooting @ 1/60th second shutter speed. Now I am impressed. Black-capped Kingfisher. (Size: 12 ins.) Shooting handheld from car. Shot with Pentax K-5 Ltd & DA 560mm.