[Theme] Show Birds

[Nasos Kosmas]

Thank you John
Today’s photos, same bird with z50 300pf+ 1.4x kenko DG300
Much more lighter setup than with 200-500  and about the same IQ with less reach

[elsid]

A resting buzzard took off, in speed, when I approached.

[Jan Anne]

Been experimenting a bit with AF button layout and (memory) settings on the a7IV and having a secondary AF-ON button with a dedicated BIF memory recall settings proved very useful on a recent trip to local bird sanctuary.

I was shooting stationary birds at low shutter speeds, low ISO and single point AF when this seagull swooped in, simply moved the thumb over to the other AF-ON button and the camera switched gears to 1/3200th, aperture wideopen, center weighed auto ISO, continues drive and wide area AF with tracking on the stickiest setting.

Played around with different crops but somehow the image looked best as shot to keep as much of the dark clouds in the frame.

[Jan Anne]

The Seagull posted above was a nice warm up for the tracking skills but the real treat is the colony of cormorants, the low winter sun is a bit of a struggle though and never seems to peek over the trees to my left by the time the cormorants land on their favorite branch when they return from a long day of feeding.

I met the warden on my last visit though and he is going to show me around a bit so hopefully we can find a location with better light at the end of the day.

[Nasos Kosmas]

Elias are you chasing buzzards these days?
Nice seagull Jan Anne with beautiful dark clouds

I was lucky today, I took an hour trip and while entering another town by the sea I sow this beautiful bird
I dint miss the change and hit from the car window   
In order to not disturb the bird I jumped to my photo bag from the inside of the car
Z50 200-500

[golunvolo]

They were circling for some time around that same spot.

   Z6, 135mm 2.8 ai

[elsid]

Very nice image Paco (composition, coloring)

[elsid]

Vanellus vanellus (Northern lapwing)

[golunvolo]

Very nice image Paco (composition, coloring)

 Thank you. With the 135mm 2.8 ai it was an experience

[Fons Baerken]

They were circling for some time around that same spot.

   Z6, 135mm 2.8 ai

Excellent composition!

[golunvolo]

Thank you Fons

[Nasos Kosmas]

Thank you. With the 135mm 2.8 ai it was an experience

Some years ago I was a manual lens fun
Now all manual focus lens are sitting on the shelf, I can understand your "experience"

[Nasos Kosmas]

Elsid very nice bird, unlike others, a little unic is it  easy to find in Greece?

[ColinM]

The Seagull posted above was a nice warm up for the tracking skills but the real treat is the colony of cormorants

..... the low winter sun is a bit of a struggle though

Hi Jan, I've not been keeping up recently,  but assume these were taken with the new'ish  x-600m zoom on your Sony?
I'm interested to know the shutter speeds you used and how much you cropped (not much on the seagull it seems)?

I'm sure my results would be no better, but to my eye it seems like the seagull isn't as sharp as the wonderful shot of the cormorants? I'm guessing tracking BIF introduces additional challenges etc.

It would be lovely to hear any other findings from your early use of this combo, ergonomics, balance during a long days shooting etc

[Jan Anne]

Mandatory shot with the cormorants, shot at 600mm and 25% crop.