Duck Shootin!

[Gsquared]

Let me preface this post by stating Im a total novice, and the D80 is my first ever SLR, so any feedback, critcal or complimentary, is appreicated.

I wanted to try out my new 70-300mm VR lens so I spent the afternoon at the local duck pond yesterday. Lots of activity thankfully. Most were exposed at the full 300mm focal length under both Auto or Aperture modes. I bounced between color matrix and spot metering. The pix have been cropped and modestly embellished using Picasa freeware.

Ive been inspired by many of you here, especially in the Pic Of The Day thread, so dont be surprised if a few composition look familiar. BTW - I like the lens very much.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0042.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0062.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0072.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0079.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0080.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0088.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0089.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0149.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0153.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0177.jpg

[Gsquared]

a few more...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0206.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0207.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0211.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0221.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0231.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0254.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0271.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/greg84mk2/Water%20Wildlife/DSC_0342.jpg

[tekriter]

OK - every one of your shots is amazingly sharp except the last one. It's good, but suffers a little when compared to the others.

The exposures are great as well. The white backs on a few birds show that you were right at the limit of blowing out the white level but you kept them in the ballpark, and that's hard to do. It looks like these were shot by an experienced shooter, not a novice at all!

[FTO13]

Nice shots! Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to rethink going with the 70-300 VR instead of the 18-200, like my original plan.

Cheers,

[Gsquared]

Thanks for the replies... I was getting a little depressed over the lack of comments compared to thread views.

My choosing the lens had alot to do with shots posts here (wink swgod). Im aware of its shortcomings but its working great for me so far considering the price.

[TNB]

Perhaps, if the title would have been "beaver shots", the thread would have received even more hits. ;) Nice pix.

[Gsquared]

Perhaps, if the title would have been "beaver shots"

LOL duly noted - thnx!!!

[truflip]

i find birds are so hard to shoot.. they fly fast and blah.. good job on these shots! im loving it :D

[swgod98]

Hey, I'm all about the ducks! In fact........did you go to the same duck pond as me?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/386188382_09c857023b_b.jpg

Also with the 70-300VR :)

[Rooz]

Perhaps, if the title would have been "beaver shots", the thread would have received even more hits. ;) Nice pix.

lmao...ditto the whole post.:D

[Rooz]

Hey, I'm all about the ducks! In fact........did you go to the same duck pond as me?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/386188382_09c857023b_b.jpg

Also with the 70-300VR :)

that is outstanding clarity. wow.

[Gsquared]

DOUBLE WOW.... thanks for killing my shots SW :eek: :)

[swgod98]

DOUBLE WOW.... thanks for killing my shots SW :eek: :)

What?!? I posted that one because I thought it was the only one that could compare! :) Besides, I didn't post any beavers shots. You can take all the credit for those :D

The 70-300VR has proved to be a very impressive lens IMO.

[lightinsky]

Gsquared,

Been following this thread.. great shots!!! which duck pond did you go to?? maybe I'll try a copy-duck and go see try my luck... :D :D :D

I assumed it was a pretty bright day right?? what shutter speeds were u using?? or did you use a tripod??

I'm thinking of a 70-300, but the VR is kinda out of my budget now.. So am thinking of the Sigma one. does anyone have experience if the IQ comes close to the VR?

[Gsquared]

Pompton Lakes NJ.... there were a couple Audubon fanatics there that day and they said it was very unusual to have the variety of duck species present... something abt the ice thaw and the migration habits... whatever. I guess I just timed it right.

No tripod... all handheld. I'll have to go back and check the EXIF for shutter details. It was extremely bright and sunny last Sunday when I shot these. Thanks for the interest.

[T06]

Gsquared,
I'm thinking of a 70-300, but the VR is kinda out of my budget now.. So am thinking of the Sigma one. does anyone have experience if the IQ comes close to the VR?

:D :D :D :D :D I can just hear the cavernous vociferous boom of someones reply coming from the northern hemi already.:D :D :D :D

[Prospero]

:D :D :D I can just hear the cavernous vociferous boom of someones reply coming from the northern hemi already.:D :D :D :D

Who might that be?? :D :D

Anyway, I own the Sigma 70-300 and I think it's a great lens for the price. It's reasonably sharp, the macro mode is great, the focussing very slow but accurate.

That said, looking at the pictures posted by GSquared and Swgod, I do think that the Nikkor can deliver a clarity in the pictures that my Sigma has never reached. That has probably more to do with the photographer than the lens, though (I don't use the lens all that much, so I haven't had much practice).

[swgod98]

The thing with the Sigma is that to really get the best out of it, you have to be at F8. I think shooting at 300mm also lowers the quality a bit (ie. noticeable)...

On the Nikon I can shoot at F5.6 and at 300mm without seeing a difference in quality. Supposedly there is a loss, but if there is, it's hardly noticeable (at least to me).