{"id":93675,"date":"2025-03-29T04:59:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T08:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/?p=93675"},"modified":"2025-04-05T19:05:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T23:05:32","slug":"unexpectedly-the-sony-400-800-does-stick-marsh-well-slow-a-bit-on-the-heavy-side-but-with-spectacular-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2025\/03\/29\/unexpectedly-the-sony-400-800-does-stick-marsh-well-slow-a-bit-on-the-heavy-side-but-with-spectacular-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpectedly, the Sony 400-800 Does Stick Marsh Well — Slow, a Bit on the Heavy Side: But With Spectacular Results!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your Call? <\/h3>\n

Which two of today’s seven featured images are you favorites? Please be so kind as to let us know why you made your choices. <\/p>\n

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

We’ve had two straight excellent mornings with the spoonbills on the Extended Stick Marsh IPT. On Friday, San Diego IPT veteran Colleen (Irish Lass) O’Connor joined multiple IPT vets Judy Stepenaskie, Vasili Chernishof, Anita North and me for a great morning session. I continued to experiment with the new Sony FE 400-800mm f\/6.3-8 G OSS lens,<\/a> learned a lot more, and made some very fine images. <\/p>\n

I was glad to learn that Used Gear Page veteran Robert Hollyer sold his Sony FE 400mm f\/2.8 GM OSS lens in Like-New condition for a BAA record low $8998.00! (was $9,998.00) I late March. BAA friend Kevin Hice purchased my last used Induro GIT 304 L by phone on Friday. <\/p>\n

Today is Saturday 29 March 2025. The five of us will be up early to head over to Indian Lake Estates to check on the baby Sandhill Cranes and lots more. Whatever you plan on doing, I hope that you too opt to have a wonderful day. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com<\/a>. <\/p>\n

If an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head \u2014 for example, that is available from B&H and\/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and\/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.<\/p>\n

The Sony 400-800mm G Zoom Lens — Slow, a Bit on the Heavy Side: But With Spectacular Results!<\/h3>\n

I used the new 4-8 a good deal on both of our Stick Marsh mornings. After a while, I felt the weight. Sitting on a milk crate allowed me to support my left forearm and the weight of the lens in a rest position. Working in Manual mode, I needed to be at f\/8 to avoid any exposure screw-ups. As there was a lot more sun on Thursday, I found the lens a lot more useful for flight than on Friday when we had some early clouds come in. It goes without saying, however, that the relatively low maximum aperture of f\/8 is a handicap in cloudy conditions. But the images are the payoff. <\/p>\n

Huge thanks to Anita North, Larry Master, and Pamela Viale who each used A BAA affiliate link to order their Sony FE 400-800mm f\/6.3-8 G OSS lenses.<\/a> Pam is pairing her 4-8 with her 300mm f\/2.8 (plus both TCs); that seems like a perfect marriage to me. Each and them and everyone else who uses either my B&H link or the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout with Bedfords to purchase their 400-800, will receive a free lens guide in approximately three weeks. If you are confused as to using the links, please e-mail<\/a> for details. <\/p>\n

Those who do not use a BAA affiliate link to purchase their 400-800s will be able to purchase the 400-800 lens guide for $101.43.<\/p>\n

Supporting My Efforts Here<\/h3>\n

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, are all set for gear, or live overseas, consider leaving a BAA Blog Thank You Gift here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here.<\/a> Or, click here<\/a>, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thanking me for the previous 4395 educational blog posts by using one of my two affiliate links could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your e-mail receipts for major purchases. <\/p>\n

In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And\/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear from the wrong shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This image was created on 26 March 2025 at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere, FL. Crouching, I used the hand held Sony FE 400-800mm f\/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E)<\/a> at 800mm and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera<\/a>. The exposure was determined by Zebras with exposure compensation (EC) on the thumb dial. Multi-metering +2.3 stops. AUTO ISO set ISO 20,000 (yes, 20,000 is not a typo): 1\/200 sec. at f\/8 (wide open) in Shutter Priority mode. RawDigger<\/a> showed that the exposure was about one stop under. AWB at 7:47:11pm right about the time of sunset. <\/p>\n

Wide\/AF-C with Bird-Eye\/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version.<\/p>\n

Image #1: Anhinga calling
\nImage copyright 2025: Arthur Morris\/BIRDS AS ART\n