Show your Bird Portraits

[ISv]

A waldrapp (geronticus eremita) at Leipzig Zoological Garden.
Those are endangered, but reintroduction programmes in southern Germany, esp. near Lake Constance seem to be successful.
R6m2, RF100-400 @400mm, FF, f/8, 1/1000, ISO1000

View attachment 217466

I have never seen even photo of this!Thanks!

 

[ISv]

I Had to lean on Topaz to get that much out of it, but it was too funny to not post. Just wasn't quite in focus and the exposure was weird as well. The R7 with the 200-800 does pretty well, but it can't keep up with hummers moving on the z axis toward or away from the camera. I have an EF 100-400 that is faster, but then I have to be closer and that modifies their behavior. The R5 with the 200-800 is a little faster than the R7, but then I still lose magnification. Take enough shots and eventually you get a winner.

"The R5 with the 200-800 is a little faster than the R7, but then I still lose magnification." - the magnification of the lens should be the same, no? With R7 you just have the detail spread on more pixels and you can crop more. I have no idea where you are taking these photos but if it's your backyard (I think you have a feeder there?) I would sacrifice my old tent to make a hide at closer distance (I mean I would cut a window on the site looking at the birds, the entrance should be on the opposite site). Let it stay until the birds get familiar with it's presence and enjoy?! Of course instead of tent you may use other means but you got the idea.
For luxury you may add there a chair and even a small table for the coffee and snack...
Well, here I got over the top ROFLMAO but to dream is not a sin!

 

[Maximilian]

I have never seen even photo of this!Thanks!

You're welcome.

 

[ISv]

Thank you, ISv.

Thanks to yourself - I'm just saying what I see

 

[Maximilian]

A wild carrion crow (corvus corone) in a birch tree at Leipzig Zoological Garden.
R6m2, RF100-400 @400mm, FF, f/8-10, 1/1000, ISO1000-1600

 

[Dragon]

"The R5 with the 200-800 is a little faster than the R7, but then I still lose magnification." - the magnification of the lens should be the same, no? With R7 you just have the detail spread on more pixels and you can crop more. I have no idea where you are taking these photos but if it's your backyard (I think you have a feeder there?) I would sacrifice my old tent to make a hide at closer distance (I mean I would cut a window on the site looking at the birds, the entrance should be on the opposite site). Let it stay until the birds get familiar with it's presence and enjoy?! Of course instead of tent you may use other means but you got the idea.
For luxury you may add there a chair and even a small table for the coffee and snack...
Well, here I got over the top ROFLMAO but to dream is not a sin!

I see "magnification" as measured by how big I can make an image of a 3 inch long bird with a given IQ, so if the lens will support more pixel density, then the R7 will allow more magnification (82 MP FF eq vs 45 MP FF). The lens isn't quite up to the R7 sensor, so the real gain over the R5 is about 1.2 in linear terms.
Actually, we have 6 feeders in the back yard and the are often all fully occupied to overflowing (i.e. 5 to 8 birds on every feeder). The birds are not very shy and actually more shy of the camera lens than of people. When you refill a feeder and bring it back out, they will swarm you and the feeder even before you get it hung up. I like to get the most pixels on the bird and the difference between the R5 and R7 is pretty small in good light. I generally prefer the 200-800, because the birds also hang out in the bushes down the hill from the feeders and I can get decent shots up to about 80 ft away with that lens and the R7. I also have an EF 800 f/5.6 that is a tiny bit sharper and 1 1/3 stops faster but it doesn't focus as close as the RF 200-800 and it needs a tripod (unless you are on a body building kick). The EF 100-400 is the fastest to focus with either body, but is almost as heavy as the 200-800 and again doesn't have as much reach.

 

[jmeyer]

A Black-tailed Gull showed up on a beach in Illinois, which was only an hour south of me. Knowing it was an Asian species, I did not hesitate to go. Heat distortion was terrible! I took over 1700 photos, knowing it was and luckily, I ended up with a few decent ones. 7D mkll / EF600 F4 ll / 1.4x lll

Jeremy

 

[jmeyer]

Kirtland's Warbler is one of the most exclusive warblers in the US. It was federally endangered up until 2019. Global population estimates are under 5000. They breed exclusively in Jack Pine stands that are 7'-15' tall and then abandoned them once they are too big. I'm lucky enough to know where they breed (sensitive species) and have them only 2 hours from my house. The last time I went to see them was 2020, so I figured I would go last weekend. 7d mkll / EF600 F4 ll / 1.4x lll

Jeremy

 

[Click]

Very nice series, Jeremy.

 

[ISv]

I see "magnification" as measured by how big I can make an image of a 3 inch long bird with a given IQ, so if the lens will support more pixel density, than the R7 will allow more magnification (82 MP FF eq vs 45 MP FF). The lens isn't quite up to the R7 sensor, so the real gain is about 1.2 in linear terms.
Actually, we have 6 feeders in the back yard and the are often all fully occupied to overflowing (i.e. 5 to 8 birds on every feeder). The birds are not very shy and actually more shy of the camera lens than of people. When you refill a feeder and bring it back out, they will swarm you and it even before you get it hung up. I like to get the most pixels on the bird and the difference between the R5 and R7 is pretty small in good light. I generally prefer the 200-800, because the birds also hang out in the bushes down the hill from the feeders and I can get decent shots up to about 80 ft away with that lens and the R7. I also have an EF 800 f/5.6 that is a tiny bit sharper and 1 1/3 stops faster but it doesn't focus as close as the RF 200-800 and it needs a tripod (unless you are on a body building kick). The EF 100-400 is the fastest to focus with either body, but is almost as heavy as the 200-800 and again doesn't have as much reach.

"The birds are not very shy and actually more shy of the camera lens than of people". Most probably they have not seen that much people with real camera (=strange thing). Take your cellphone and they will accept you as a "regular human"

 

[ISv]

A Black-tailed Gull showed up on a beach in Illinois, which was only an hour south of me. Knowing it was an Asian species, I did not hesitate to go. Heat distortion was terrible! I took over 1700 photos, knowing it was and luckily, I ended up with a few decent ones. 7D mkll / EF600 F4 ll / 1.4x lll

Jeremy

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The only way to somewhat decrease the negative effect of the heat distortion that I know is to get closer to the bird ... Some days even that is not working well. Still very good photos and most importantly you got your portion of fun!

 

[ISv]

These are from the last weekend - didn't post them.

 

[Click]

Beautiful shots, ISv.

 

[Dragon]

"The birds are not very shy and actually more shy of the camera lens than of people". Most probably they have not seen that much people with real camera (=strange thing). Take your cellphone and they will accept you as a "regular human"

I use a flip phone. The camera is pretty marginal. . Phones are used for way too many things that they are either not very good at (e.g. processing photos) or dangerously bad at (e.g. giving you directions in rural areas). I am of the mind that a phone is phone, a camera is a camera, and a computer is a computer and am equipped accordingly.

 

[Dragon]

More hummers. R7 + RF 200-800

Such a dainty start




But then it was really good, so to heck with dainty




Platypus beak, but seems healthy.




MY FLOWER!!!!




Noisy one

 

[ISv]

Beautiful shots, ISv.

Thanks Click!

I use a flip phone. The camera is pretty marginal. . Phones are used for way too many things that they are either not very good at (e.g. processing photos) or dangerously bad at (e.g. giving you directions in rural areas). I am of the mind that a phone is phone, a camera is a camera, and a computer is a computer and am equipped accordingly.

You are using a flip phone?! Where did you find it? I know some people who are frustrated with the smart phones (tons of advertising that you don't need even to look at!!!)!
Well, are you sure the birds are afraid from your lens, or may be they do not recognize you as a regular human with that flip-phone??!

 

[Noreaster]

 

[Click]

I really like your pictures, Noreaster. Keep posting.

 

[Dragon]

You are using a flip phone?! Where did you find it? I know some people who are frustrated with the smart phones (tons of advertising that you don't need even to look at!!!)!
Well, are you sure the birds are afraid from your lens, or may be they do not recognize you as a regular human with that flip-phone??!

I have the Kyocera ruggedized phone. It is not quite as waterproof as the Olympus TG6, but close. A lot of the birds are new this year, so they are just taking a while to get used to the friendly smorgasbord. They settle down a little more each day.

 

[Maximilian]

A try for a good exposure on a coot. That white and black contrast is always tricky, esp. in sunlight.