Comments on: More Midway! http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/ The blog of bird photographer Arthur Morris Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:10:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: birdsasart http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 birdsasart Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:58:22 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1079 I feel that the 400 DO is far superior to the older 400 f/5.6 for handheld flight photography for two very obvious reasons: it is a stop faster and the image stabilization makes a big difference in sharpness at least for me. The few times that I have gone back and tried to use my old "toy lens" it seems that the lens is jerking around all over the place as I attempt to frame the image: I am unable to hold the lens as steady as I used to even when tracking moving subjects. I will admit that I have been doing so much flight photography here on Midway that at time my left wrist does hurt! For folks with a steady hand and a smaller budget the 400 f/5.6L lens can be a great flight lens. On the second Midway trip well more than half of the group has both the 400 DO and the 70-200 f/4 L IS and we are all using them ALOT! I feel that the 400 DO is far superior to the older 400 f/5.6 for handheld flight photography for two very obvious reasons: it is a stop faster and the image stabilization makes a big difference in sharpness at least for me. The few times that I have gone back and tried to use my old “toy lens” it seems that the lens is jerking around all over the place as I attempt to frame the image: I am unable to hold the lens as steady as I used to even when tracking moving subjects. I will admit that I have been doing so much flight photography here on Midway that at time my left wrist does hurt! For folks with a steady hand and a smaller budget the 400 f/5.6L lens can be a great flight lens. On the second Midway trip well more than half of the group has both the 400 DO and the 70-200 f/4 L IS and we are all using them ALOT!

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1078 Elliotte Rusty Harold Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:45:37 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1078 Arthur, I notice that these days you seem to be using the 400mm f/4 IS DO lens as your goto lens for handheld and flight photography. Aside from price, how do you think it compares to the 400mm f/5.6L for similar use? Why do you now choose this one instead of that one? Arthur, I notice that these days you seem to be using the 400mm f/4 IS DO lens as your goto lens for handheld and flight photography. Aside from price, how do you think it compares to the 400mm f/5.6L for similar use? Why do you now choose this one instead of that one?

]]> By: birdsasart http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 birdsasart Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:53:52 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1077 Thanks Markus, I agree. Good luck with your songbird set-ups! Thanks Markus, I agree. Good luck with your songbird set-ups!

]]> By: birdsasart http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 birdsasart Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:52:32 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1076 Hi Geurt, Just a brain typo; should have been the 400mm f/4 IS DO. And thanks for your kind words. Hi Geurt, Just a brain typo; should have been the 400mm f/4 IS DO. And thanks for your kind words.

]]> By: Geurt Bloem http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1075 Geurt Bloem Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:53:14 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1075 Artie, In the BAA #319, the technical data for image of the barred Owl mentioned a Canon 840 f4 DO. Is this a typing error or is it possible that Canon has a new lens that you test? Thank also for your absolute unselfish sharing of bird photography information. I am a staunch "Artie" follower. Cheers Geurt Artie,
In the BAA #319, the technical data for image of the barred Owl mentioned a Canon 840 f4 DO. Is this a typing error or is it possible that Canon has a new lens that you test?

Thank also for your absolute unselfish sharing of bird photography information. I am a staunch “Artie” follower.

Cheers
Geurt

]]> By: Markus Jais http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1074 Markus Jais Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:35:29 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1074 Thanks, Artie! BTW: I just finished Alan's e-book on Songbird Photography. This is just so good!!!!! I don't know of anything similar or even remotely as good as Alan's e-book. I will try a lot of his stuff during spring and summer! Markus Thanks, Artie!

BTW: I just finished Alan’s e-book on Songbird Photography. This is just so good!!!!!
I don’t know of anything similar or even remotely as good as Alan’s e-book.

I will try a lot of his stuff during spring and summer!

Markus

]]> By: birdsasart http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1073 birdsasart Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:43:45 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1073 Thanks Markus, Both were with the central sensor only. With the 7D, I like the center point with the ellipses around it. Thanks Markus, Both were with the central sensor only. With the 7D, I like the center point with the ellipses around it.

]]> By: birdsasart http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1072 birdsasart Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:28:45 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1072 Even stranger, they lay a single egg on a bare branch. Even stranger, they lay a single egg on a bare branch.

]]> By: Markus Jais http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1071 Markus Jais Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:31:23 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1071 Those are three beautiful shot. I especially like the two flight shots. It is amazing how long and narrow the wings of the albatrosses are. In the 2nd shot I like the visible ocean and beach. Did you use the central AF sensor only for this shot or more? I am currently testing the AF of the 7D with either the central sensor alone, the central sensor with the surrounding 4 sensors or the Zone AF with the central 9 sensors and found that all deliver a good rate of keepers. Markus Those are three beautiful shot. I especially like the two flight shots. It is amazing how long and narrow the wings of the albatrosses are.
In the 2nd shot I like the visible ocean and beach.

Did you use the central AF sensor only for this shot or more?
I am currently testing the AF of the 7D with either the central sensor alone, the central sensor with the surrounding 4 sensors or the Zone AF with the central 9 sensors and found that all deliver a good rate of keepers.

Markus

]]> By: Gayle Clement http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2010/03/08/more-midway/comment-page-1/#comment-1070 Gayle Clement Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:17:16 +0000 http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/?p=1007#comment-1070 The white terns are such beautiful birds. I would have expected to see these on a beach. The perch makes them look even more exotic. The white terns are such beautiful birds. I would have expected to see these on a beach. The perch makes them look even more exotic.

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