Mark IV Bird actions - Round two

[ttusa]

WOW your shots are just always AMAZING Daniel!

[ldelacruz]

When I grow up I want to shoot like Daniel!

[engstrom]

Impressive shots Daniel. How much did you crop these - I imagine keeping a BIF framed while handholding a 500mm + TC has to involve at least some cropping right?

[Randy Chambers]

Fantastic clarity! Love them all, even #6 with all his "business".

[Shadow]

Amazing series! Almost makes me want to shoot Canon. ;-)
time for an 800mm f5.6?

[slickshooter]

Amazing shots Daniel

[PhotoByLeal]

nice shots sir!

[Glassman]

Daniel, Those really are impressive.

[zeroendless]

Excellent flight shots Daniel. I'd love to have that combo. Looks like the Mark IV is a keeper. Any issues with it so far?

I'm sure the setup would excel even more in capable hand like yours. Tims. Other than failing twice to track scaup in flight, the camera works as advertised.. so far so good.

Just how big a boy are you?

It's heavy if you have to hike with the 500 setup, still, bare hand is much lighter than having to carry tripod and gimbal head.

time for an 800mm f5.6?

Thought about it... but probably not a smart thing to do if u live in the city.

How much did you crop these - I imagine keeping a BIF framed while handholding a 500mm + TC has to involve at least some cropping right?

John,

Most of the mallards are near full frame if not 90%, they are jumpy and dime a dozen during breeding season. I got more but some are too close with clipped wing, but mostly, uninteresting background.

Also, the scaup is full frame but the mallards are with bare lens, not 1.4x. Much rarer migratory birds which are skittish, or the hawk, extender were used.

For reassurance, to nail the rare subjects, one thing i learn about BIF is step back to fill subject only 50-60% of the frame, and when they spread wings, you are looking at 70-80%. Good percentages not to clip wings if you manage to place the subject in center. At the end of the wing, there's still plenty of resolution left.

Take this Green-winged Teal for an example, i just got it yesterday and still excited about it! They are super shy and rare in my neck of wood. Also, there's only one pair in a pool of hundred waterfowls. I opted for bare lens to maximize focus speed and accuracy, and stepped back couple feet more than usual; so it's easier to pinpoint subject from the viewfinder but i misjudged how tiny was the teal. It's about half the size of common mallard, sadly, only filled about 40% of the frame.

Now look at the large crop version of the teal, you can tell a difference with detail and DOF.

[mjdmike]

Again, beautiful work. I see what you're saying, but I'd be happy with both in my book.
Nice BG and great color.

[labmansid]

Impressive shots, Daniel. I need to find a pool like that!

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by zeroendless

John,

Most of the mallards are near full frame if not 90%, they are jumpy and dime a dozen during breeding season. I got more but some are too close with clipped wing, but mostly, uninteresting background.

Also, the scaup is full frame but the mallards are with bare lens, not 1.4x. Much rarer migratory birds which are skittish, or the hawk, extender were used.

For reassurance, to nail the rare subjects, one thing i learn about BIF is step back to fill subject only 50-60% of the frame, and when they spread wings, you are looking at 70-80%. Good percentages not to clip wings if you manage to place the subject in center. At the end of the wing, there's still plenty of resolution left.

Take this Green-winged Teal for an example, i just got it yesterday and still excited about it! They are super shy and rare in my neck of wood. Also, there's only one pair in a pool of hundred waterfowls. I opted for bare lens to maximize focus speed and accuracy, and stepped back couple feet more than usual; so it's easier to pinpoint subject from the viewfinder but i misjudged how tiny was the teal. It's about half the size of common mallard, sadly, only filled about 40% of the frame.

Now look at the large crop version of the teal, you can tell a difference with detail and DOF.

Daniel, thank you very much for sharing this info. It's this kind of information sharing that makes me love both the forum and the kindness of its members.

You're absolutely right about the detail and DOF differences between the mallards and the teal. That example alone makes me want to work on my technique in filling the frame - not just with wildlife but with all pictures (admittedly it's often easier to fill the frame with still life than with wildlife).

[lhdvies]

Great stuff Daniel-that 6th one is awesome!!!