|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-18-2024, 01:59 AM
|
| |
Thanks very much Peter. Favoured by fortuitous framing foliage.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
03-17-2024, 03:28 PM
|
| |
Satin Bowerbird (female). K-3iii + FA*300mm f4.5
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-30-2024, 11:17 PM
|
| |
Silvereye. K-3iii + DA 55-300 PLM at 300mm.
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-30-2024, 04:02 AM
|
| |
Both superb shots.
Gorgeous Ken. Fine work as always.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-25-2024, 01:54 PM
|
| |
Thanks very much Ray. Thornbills are pretty bold, so it is possible to get quite close sometimes, but they move so quickly, and they move around in foliage so much, that catching the moment is the tricky thing.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-25-2024, 02:07 AM
|
| |
Sorry to hear that. Presumably a local favourite.
Brown Thornbill. K-3iii + DA 55-300mm PLM at 300mm.
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-07-2024, 03:39 PM
|
| |
Male Australian King-parrot extracting some seed. K-3iii + Sigma AF 400mm f5.6 tele macro.
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
12-14-2023, 06:41 PM
|
| |
I think if I were locked up in a cage and people taunted me and poked me, I would do that too. And I'd probably be a bit, um, erratic in my behaviour. If cockatoos could sue people it would even up the balance.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
12-14-2023, 04:28 PM
|
| |
Yes Julie, a cockatoo is technically any of the large parrots in the Cacatuidae family, members of which are found across the Philippines, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and a number of islands in the western Pacific. The name cockatoo comes from a Malay word.
The Cacatuidae family has eight genera (members of all 8 genera are found in Australia). The cacatua genus is just one of those 8 in the family. The genus cacatua includes 12 species, only four of which are found in Australia - but they include Long-billed, Little and Western Corellas as well as the best-known of all cockatoos, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
Australia has 10 other species that are part of the Cacatuidae family: the amazing Palm Cockatoos, Black-cockatoos (5 species), Pink Cockatoos, Gang-gangs, Galahs and Cockatiels.
We have 5 species of cockatoo in our area of south-eastern Victoria: Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoos, Gang-gangs, Galahs, Little Corellas and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
12-14-2023, 02:45 PM
|
| |
Little Corella. (Only "little" compared to other corellas.) K-3iii + DA 55-300 PLM at 300mm.
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
12-08-2023, 08:42 PM
|
| |
Buff-banded Rail. K-3iii + Sigma AF 400mm f5.6 APO tele macro.
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-30-2023, 07:54 PM
|
| |
Thanks very much Ray. Nice to see you around - our paths haven't crossed for quite a while.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-30-2023, 01:33 PM
|
| |
Thanks very much Hans. Yes, I never cease to wonder at the privilege of having such a remarkable creature visit. Even in rural areas of Victoria, it's not something everyone experiences.
The conservation status of koalas is complicated. The northern koalas of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are now listed as Endangered, due mainly to habitat loss (land clearing and urbanization) and bushfire. The southern koalas (larger and fluffier, to cope with cooler winters) of Victoria and South Australia are more mixed. By the 1920s they were almost wiped out by land clearing and hunting (for fur), except for those in the dense forests of South Gippsland in eastern Victoria (known as Strzelecki koalas). A small number of survivors (less than a dozen) from different parts of Victoria were removed to an island. There they bred up vigorously. From there they have been translocated to many parts of their former range across Victoria and eastern South Australia and to new areas in SA. The translocated koalas have increased dramatically in numbers in some places. Unfortunately, because there was such a small gene pool, they are severely inbred and have a number of genetic problems (chlamydia is widespread, for example). The koala pictured here is one of the small number of Strzelecki Koalas (believed to be about 1200) - the only surviving indigenous southern koalas. Which makes our grumpy chap really special.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-28-2023, 10:25 PM
|
| |
Thanks Peter. It certainly looks that way! Not Blinky Bill - maybe Winky Bill?
(It's a he, by the way. He's a periodic visitor to our place, and rather a grumpy fellow. He grunts whenever a plane flies over or a truck goes past, and pays unwelcome attention to a quiet girl koala who also visits.)
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-28-2023, 09:31 PM
|
| |
G'day, cobber!
K-3iii + FA*300mm f4.5
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-28-2023, 09:30 PM
|
| |
Very nice series Peter. You have a big range of birds in Queensland.
Magnificent, Terry.
Very impressive.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-27-2023, 07:00 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-26-2023, 02:14 PM
|
| |
I didn't know that Steven. That's interesting.
Three species have been recorded in Australia (Wilson's, Red-necked and Grey), but all way off-course! The Australian Bird Guide says that they differ from other shorebirds "by persistent, animated swimming behaviour, frequently changing direction and sometimes spinning in tight circles to create upwellings of planktonic prey". It also says that the female is larger and more brightly coloured. Quite a distinctive group!
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-26-2023, 01:29 PM
|
| |
Thanks very much Peter.
Yes, it is Steven. I was probably better off having the PLM rather than the FA*300 on the camera, for the fast AF.
You'd hardly recognise it as the same species, without the breeding plumage. What a find! Great to have the two viewings side by side. All very good shots.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-26-2023, 03:10 AM
|
| |
Eastern Whipbird. Their distinctive whipcrack call is often heard in the bush in eastern Australia, but the bird is far less often seen, and usually only fleetingly. It's great to get a clear sight of one. Photo ops like this don't come often. K-3iii + 55-300 PLM at 300mm
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-23-2023, 08:26 PM
|
| |
Great samples and a terrific response Greg.
We see the point coming up again and again that resolution using standard tests is often an unreliable guide to image quality. (It's a point often made about the Limiteds.) You've made it very eloquently here.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-23-2023, 02:43 PM
|
| |
You are certainly showing consistently good images with the DA*300 here Greg. And so are many others.
I had a look at the article. Putting aside the criticism for lack of in-lens stabilisation, some of the points are fair: SDM AF not as fast and accurate as DC AF on the 150-450; tested resolution not as good as the 150-450. Maybe they are right that it does need a refresh, to match the capability of the K-3iii?
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-23-2023, 01:48 AM
|
| |
Can't argue with that. Great shot Mike.
Red Wattlebird. K-3iii + FA*300mm f4.5
 |
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-21-2023, 03:18 PM
|
| |
I suspect you have got the absolute maximum out of this Marcus. It seems a low-contrast lens and the resolution looks pretty mediocre to me - like my old Sigma 170-500. A pity because it's a good size and weight and there aren't many AF xx-400 options in K-mount. (Something like the Nikkor 80-400.) Is this the DG or non-DG version?
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
11-19-2023, 04:04 PM
|
| |
Thanks to you for raising it Hans. Your question struck a chord. It also prompted me to show the colour version for comparison, which took on a life of its own.
We should have these kinds of discussions more often. Why did you compose this way? Why this or that processing? And so on. Looking under the hood, so to speak, with fellow enthusiasts can be very informative.
Ha! It does sound kind of mythological. I wondered why they got that name (they are invariably in forested areas), until one day at the Prom (Wilsons Promontory NP) ...
Thanks very much Racer. Yes I am still inclined to prefer the B&W version, but this must be a minority view. The cropped colour version just got Explored on Flickr and has 130+ faves compared to about 8 for the B&W!
|
