Bird Thread

[coldrain]

What lens do you use on your 7D for these bird shots, gracie? Some of your photos are really lovely.

[coldrain]

I have forgotten what kind of bird of prey this is.

[Alnath]

Only Starlings but nice timing i guess

[gracie328]

Coldrain, I actually use a cheapie 75-300mm, f/4.5-5.6 that came with my Maxxum 5 film camera a little over 2 yrs ago. It's not very sharp. I want a better lens... but considering Minolta's crappy selection, the only ones worth getting are REALLY HIGH! Here's the one I want:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

I found it used at KEH for $1800... but less than two hours after they got it in, someone nabbed it. That's happened to me twice. I'd almost sell my boys for that lens! Well, not really... besides they are 15 and 18, so I doubt I'd get that much for them anyway.

[coldrain]

Gracie you should keep your eyes open for a 2nd hand Minolta 70-210 F4. They should not cost a lot, and are very nice optically. The only equivalent to Canon's 70-200 F4 L, and it will be a bit less heavy than a 300mm like that, so even when you get a 300mm f2.8 it will still have its uses.

[penz]

This was at full zoom with my E-500 and Sigma 55-200mm lens.

[gracie328]

Thanks for the suggestion, Coldrain. I have an 85mm, f/1.4, APO G lens that's suppose to be wonderful for portraits. I've used it for some flowers and and few other nature things and MAN is that lens ever sharp! I just really don't want to step down in focal length for the birds.... and I'm really spoiled with the APO G series lenses... I'd love to have the sharpness of this 85mm lens. Believe it or not, I actually took my 85mm lens out to try it on the birds one day. I pulled the blind about 5 feet from the tree branch.... and got some amazingly decent shots considering the focal length. Even after excessive cropping, a couple of them were still pretty darn sharp! I just keep thinking... if the 85mm is this sharp after all the cropping, I can only IMAGINE what one of equal focal length to the one I already have would be! Here's an example of a bird taken with the 85mm APO G-series lens.

[JTL]

I believe it's a Spotted Eagle Owl..please someone verify...

Taken in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharrarput, Rajassthan, India...

I have more birds from India to come and will need help identifying some of them...

Canon S2, ISO 50, f/3.5, 1/200, 839mm (Canon DC-TC58B). USM applied in PSP X 10.3

[JTL]

Some type of harrier or hawk...taken in New Delhi, India...any help with the proper identification appreciated!

Canon S2, ISO 50, f/5, 1/100, 560mm (Canon DC-TC58B), USM applied in PSP X 10.3

[Hill-Groover]

Here's a pesky seagull taken with my acer CE-5330. everything set to auto except the focus which was set to infinity