{"id":72498,"date":"2021-03-01T10:14:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T14:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=72498"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:39:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:39:46","slug":"getting-what-i-went-for-in-spades-at-1200mm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2021\/03\/01\/getting-what-i-went-for-in-spades-at-1200mm\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting what I went for, in spades, at 1200mm …"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your Favorite<\/h3>\n

All are invited to leave a comment letting us know which of today’s four featured images they like best. As always, please let us know why you made your choice. Comparative comments are also welcome. I will share my favorites in order from one to four here in a few days. Along with my reasons. <\/p>\n

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

I had a great Sunday morning with R5\/RF 100-500 shooter Steve King. We both learned a ton. We photographed Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls, Brown Pelicans in flight, and several species of shorebirds (including two tame Whimbrels!), and several species of egrets and herons. While it was mostly sunny, we did have a few clouds come over at times. This gave Steve the opportunity learn the differences involved when determining the correct exposures in bright sun as compared to cloudy conditions. Steve also learned about staying on sun angle, keeping his left palm to the sky when hand holding, and about the strategies used when photographing birds flapping after their baths. And I have an idea involving the Lock Button on the R5 to eliminate an annoying problem with the R5; I will be exploring a possible solution soon. I created 1866 still-to-be edited images. <\/p>\n

Steve kindly loaned me his RF 2X teleconverter. I was pretty much astounded by the R5\/RF 100-500\/2RF 2X TC combination. Face Detection plus Tracking AF was fast, responsive, and accurate. And a quick peek at the images revealed that they are astoundingly sharp. I will be sharing some of them with you here soon. While a 600-1000mm zoom lens is nothing to sneeze at, you need to pick your spots carefully; the wide open aperture at 500mm is f\/14. In the bright sun, I worked at ISO 800 and 1000, used shutter speeds ranging from 1\/500 to 1\/1000 second, and apertures ranging from f\/14 to f\/20. Do understand that precise framing while hand holding at 1000mm is a huge challenge,<\/em><\/strong> especially if the birds are moving at all. In low light this combination will require the use of exceedingly high ISOs … All that said, I will almost surely be purchasing a Canon Extender RF 2x<\/a> from Steve Elkins at Bedfords this week. <\/p>\n

I was glad to learn that Anthony Ardito sold his SONY a7r iv body for a BAA record-low $1998.00. The winner of the $25.00 BAA store-credit ID quiz will be revealed tomorrow. <\/p>\n

Today is Monday 1 March 2021; can you believe that it is already March??? The forecast for this morning is “partly cloudy” with south winds. I peeked out the back door at 7:00am to see clear skies everywhere. Though I have a ton of work to do, I will head down to the lake soon for a short session. <\/p>\n

It is now 8:00am and I am sitting in my SUV working on finishing this blog post. I am parked, square to the sun, 60 feet from the long-dead road-killed raccoon, liberated from the fridge for just this occasion. There is a light breeze from the south so all I need is a few interested vultures, or a hungry Bald Eagle …<\/p>\n

8:22am: I missed an incoming Black Vulture. I snapped a few frames of it standing near the raccoon but after a few minutes, it flew off. Back to the blog post. <\/p>\n

8:36am: I saw an adult Bald Eagle flying right at the raccoon. I lowered the exposure (ISO) three clicks from the vulture exposure as I rated the rig to my eye, but as I had been photographing the raccoon alone I had an off-centered single-AF point. By the time I got where I needed to be, the eagle had flown well past sun angle. Had I been a bit more familiar with my Canon gear I would have gotten a few pretty good frames …<\/p>\n

8:50am: a young Bald Eagle flew by at a distance, once having a brief interaction with an Osprey. <\/p>\n

8:56am: a dozen Turkey Vultures circled overhead …<\/p>\n

9:02am: two landed. One took off. <\/p>\n

9:09am: I am about to hit Publish and give up for today. Perhaps I should have brought down some smoked salmon skins and a defrosted fish head or two … Now that would have been cheating!<\/p>\n

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great day. <\/p>\n

I should have mentioned yesterday that my fine dinner at Left Bank Bistro was the first time I had eaten in a restaurant in more than a year. And that the money I spent was more than I had ever spent on a dining-alone meal. <\/p>\n

This blog post took two hours to prepare and makes seventy days in a row with a new one. Please remember …<\/p>\n

Please Remember<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

With income from IPTs now at zero, please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times \u2014 I am out at least forty to sixty thousand dollars so far due to COVID 19 (with lots more to come) \u2014 remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here<\/a> to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

134 sold to rave reviews.<\/p>\n

The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The Sony Camera User’s e-Guide (and Videos)<\/h3>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase the guide with one Camera Set-up Video. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here<\/A> to specify your camera body so that we can send you a link for the correct video. <\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase the guide with two Camera Set-up Videos. Be sure to e-mail us by clicking here<\/A> to specify your two camera bodies so that we can send you links for the correct videos.<\/h2>\n

Click here<\/a> to learn more about the SONY e-Guide. <\/p>\n

Folks who have used my B&H affiliate links or purchased their SONY gear are invited to e-mail<\/a> for discount information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos<\/h3>\n

by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files. <\/p>\n

Patrick and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We puzzled as to why the Max G values for different cameras were different. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes. <\/p>\n

The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera\u2019s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.<\/p>\n

We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman \u2014 we teach you a simple way to quickly and easily evaluate your exposures and raw file brightness using an Adapted RawDigger histogram. <\/p>\n

The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text. <\/p>\n

If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. But as this guide will be purchased only by a limited number of serious photographers, we have priced it at $51.00. You can order yours here<\/a> in the BAA Online Store<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Canon EOS R5 Camera User’s e-Guide<\/h3>\n

On Thursday, I sent out about a dozen copies of the almost finished Canon EOS R5 Camera User’s e-Guide for review to folks who had previously gotten free copies of the R5\/R6 AF e-Guide by using my affiliate links to purchase their Canon mirrorless gear. In the same vein, I will be contacting everyone who purchased the R5\/R6 AF e-Guide on Monday.<\/p>\n

Because the camera and the Menus are so complex, this guide has required a ton of research, a lot of time, and a lot of effort (and will continue to do so until it is complete). It should be finished by the first week in March. 2021. The final update of the R5\/R6 AF e-Guide<\/a> has become part of the complete Camera User’s e-Guide; it will be revised if warranted. <\/p>\n

The complete Camera User’s guide will sell for $75.00. Folks who purchased their Canon gear using my links will receive a $65.00 discount; the guide will cost them a nominal $10.00. Folks who spent more than $7500.00 on Canon mirrorless gear using either of my affiliate links (B&H or Bedfords), will receive the User\u2019s Guide for free. Folks who purchased the R5\/R6 AF e-Guide will receive a $10.00 discount on the User\u2019s e-Guide. The best news is that the end is in sight.<\/p>\n

New and Better Bedfords Discount Policy!<\/h3>\n

You can now save 3% on all of your Bedfords photo gear purchases by entering the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout. Your discount will be applied to your pre-tax total. In addition, by using the code you will get 2nd day air shipping via Fed Ex.<\/p>\n

Grab a Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E III and save $14.99. Purchase a Canon EOS R5 and your discount will be $116.97. Purchase a Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens and save a remarkable $389.94! Your Bedford’s purchase no longer needs to be greater than $1,000.00 for you to receive a discount. The more you spend, the more you save. <\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n

Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n

Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would enjoy free second-day air shipping, your best bet is to click here<\/a>, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail<\/a> or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order to save 3% and enjoy free 2nd-day air shipping. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The wait lists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard to get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a9 ii, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please. <\/p>\n


\n<\/a>
\n<\/center><\/p>\n

Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs (remember those?) and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN<\/a>, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail<\/a>. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and\/or lens choices and decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

ngg_shortcode_3_placeholder<\/center><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

This image was created on 27 February 2021 at my back-up morning location at Fort DeSoto Park. I used the Induro<\/a> GIT 304L\/Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro<\/a>-mounted Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a>, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter<\/a>, and the blazingly fast AF King, the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless Digital camera body)<\/a>. ISO 500. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1\/1250 sec. at f\/9 (stopped down 1\/3-stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed this exposure to be less than 1\/3 stop under, i.e., almost perfect. AWB at 8:01:43am on a clear morning. <\/p>\n

Upper Left Zone\/AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to absolute perfection by painting the bird’s eye with AF points. <\/p>\n

Image #1: Laughing Gull — adult breeding plumage display calling\/vertical front-end image design\n