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D500 with 80-400mm Nikon AF-SOwle shoot Malcolm & Graham

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 05:21

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We had our owl shoot yesterday both using our D500s and 80-400mm Lenses in 6 hours we shot over 400 images each with hardly a failure in focus sharpness or exposure! Rain came at end of day so we wqill go back again soon to get some flight pixs. We can not fault the way our equipment worked.
Malcolm will report later. Light was dull with showers so most of my pixs were 1250ISO 1/400 sec F5.6-F8

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 05:22

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Little Owls were super and very tame!

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 05:23

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They were very happy in the rain too!

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 05:26

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The Tawney owles posed well too and a lot of time I was using 135-200mm so was very glad to have the zoom lens nither of us needed the x1.4 converters and my 500mm lens and D810 stayed in the car.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 06:24

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Had great day with Graham photographing Owls and testing new 80-400 lens on D500 body. Cant fault quality ,sharpness and ease of use, super quick lock on focus.

Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 06:24

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Had great day with Graham photographing Owls and testing new 80-400 lens on D500 body. Cant fault quality ,sharpness and ease of use, super quick lock on focus.

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Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 06:35

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European eagle owl

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Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 06:45

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Little Owls at bath time

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Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 07:01

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Tawny Owls in Old Oak Tree

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Posted by jk: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 10:17

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Looks like you had a fine day out and got some fine images. Shame about the rain, it lookslike the pair of owls got fairly drenched.

What AF settings are you using.
I have found that I am using AFC/S with Group, most successfully. This seems to work as well for me as AFS with single spot in most of my other Nikons.

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 10:45

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Auto focus is on C and 25 Points. As stated hardly any un-sharp pixs even with flight shots.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 11:53

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I was using aperture priority d 25-point AF-area for nearly all pics.

Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 16:35

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Another 2 pics at owl shoot with graham, using D500 with 80-400 4.5-5.6 G ED VR lens. Camera settings iso 640; f6.3; 1/1250sec; focal length in 35mm - 120mm; with -0.33 compensation.

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Posted by malcolmsowdon: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 16:40

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iso 750; f5.6; 1/640sec; -0.67 compensation; focal length in 35mm - 405mm.

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Posted by jk: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 17:11

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malcolmsowdon wrote:
Another 2 pics at owl shoot with graham, using D500 with 80-400 4.5-5.6 G ED VR lens. Camera settings iso 640; f6.3; 1/1250sec; focal length in 35mm - 120mm; with -0.33 compensation.
Superb shot Malcolm.

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 29th, 2016 18:26

16^th Post

This is the Eagle Owle also in failing light and rain! 1/400 sec f6.3 ISO 1000 lens at 200mm and still pin sharp. We both hand held all our shots as we needed to be mobile.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by jk: Sat Jul 30th, 2016 07:43

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All very sharp but then again you are expert users (professional)!

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jul 30th, 2016 13:16

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This is the Eagle Owl in the reflecting pool.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Eric: Sun Jul 31st, 2016 10:06

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Some lovely work their guys...well done.

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Eric

Posted by Robert: Sun Jul 31st, 2016 10:16

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Love these images, esp the Owls with the pink flowers, it provides a lovely natural contrast.

Thanks for posting.

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Robert.

Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jul 31st, 2016 12:31

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This was the other Eagle Owl. We were going to do flight pixs of the Barn Owls but the rain came and put stop to that so we will go back again in a few days time. This chap was very large!!!

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Graham Whistler

Posted by jk: Sun Jul 31st, 2016 14:17

22^nd Post

That image is Post#16 is very good.
Post#21 is excellent as well but Post#16 image a lot more unusual.

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Posted by Robert: Sun Jul 31st, 2016 18:13

23^rd Post

jk wrote:
That image is Post#16 is very good.
Post#21 is excellent as well but Post#16 image a lot more unusual.

Plus one.

All these images are excellent, at this level they need that little extra 'WOW' factor and that's what I was referring to in my last post. Post 16 image is exceptional, I also love the two little Owlets in the rain.

Thank you both for sharing these excellent images, I feel it gives me something to aspire to, may never get there but at least I can try.

We have a 'World Owl Centre' at Muncaster Castle, not far from here, I have tried taking photographs there but nothing like a nice as these.

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Robert.

Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jul 31st, 2016 19:42

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Got a few of the Indian Eagle Owl in flight but light was poor so would have liked to push shutter a bit faster. We will have another go at flight pixs on next trip.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Aug 14th, 2016 14:23

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Todays pix is a Common Sandpiper at Farlington Marshes D500 with 80-400mm AF-S Lens + x1.4.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Iain: Tue Aug 16th, 2016 13:09

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A nice set of images Graham.

Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Aug 16th, 2016 19:13

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My error this wader is in fact a Green Shank! Another view from further away. Much more noise as it is just centre of frame.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 17th, 2016 03:50

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Graham Whistler wrote:
Much more noise as it is just centre of frame.
Graham...excuse be being a bit thick.....

Do you mean it's more obvious because it's a sectional enlargement or have you actually noticed there is more noise in the centre of the D500 sensor than the edges???

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Eric

Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Aug 17th, 2016 05:29

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No Just because it's a very big blow-up from small section of the pix. The bird was just a bit larger in viewfinder than the focus spot. It was more than twice the distance from me than the previous pix. Lens at 400mm plus x1.4. Noise is same across pix but blow up of whole image area would be a print 4ft wide!

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Eric: Wed Aug 17th, 2016 13:22

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Graham Whistler wrote:
No Just because it's a very big blow-up from small section of the pix. The bird was just a bit larger in viewfinder than the focus spot. It was more than twice the distance from me than the previous pix. Lens at 400mm plus x1.4. Noise is same across pix but blow up of whole image area would be a print 4ft wide!
Ok thanks, that's what I thought you meant but I just had a thought you might have discovered variable noise across the sensor. I suppose that's a bit daft really but strange things do happen. o.O

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Eric

Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Dec 21st, 2017 09:10

31^st Post

Turnstones in Titchfield Haven Dec 2017. Still my kit of choice Nikon D500 with 80-400 AF-S and x1.4 converter. It is light enough for long walks in bird reserves quick to get into action, great for birds in air and long enough reach for most shots. High ISO works well up to 3200 ISO. This shot was at 1000 ISO fast enough to use 1/1000 sec for these small waders moving all the time and stop down for good depth of field.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Bob Bowen: Sat Dec 23rd, 2017 11:59

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Great pics both.

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Bob Bowen

Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jun 2nd, 2018 11:21

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Gave the D500 an outing this morning in the garden with the Nikon DX 18-140mm AF-S lens.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Jun 2nd, 2018 11:22

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Another for Robert as he likes flowers!

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Eric: Sat Jun 2nd, 2018 15:24

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Point well made Graham!!!

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Eric

Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 13:17

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Another flower for Bob with D500 and the very sharp 18-140mm AF-S DX Lens.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by jk: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 15:09

37^th Post

Graham Whistler wrote:
Another flower for Bob with D500 and the very sharp 18-140mm AF-S DX Lens. Gorgeous shot Graham. It looks alive!

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Posted by Robert: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 15:34

38^th Post

Graham Whistler wrote:
Another for Robert as he likes flowers!
Thank you Graham, lovely flowers. I don't know how I missed these, the forum software doesn't always flag new posts on the 'Recent Posts' page. I have been popping in regularly but didn't realise there were new posts.

Lovely flowers, I should be out photographing flowers myself, my modest back yard is ablaze with colour mainly from one rose tree, Rose Louisa, in honour for my daughter Louise and in memory of my grandmother Louisa.

Lonicera Henryi is on the verge of flowering and the Weigela is past it's best.

I don't think my son Michael's scooter is ever going to flower so it will have to go, and soon!

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Robert.

Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 16:23

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When my wife saw your photo she said "its Clivia Miniata".

I, on the other hand, said "it's bl**dy lovely"

Well done, Graham

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Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 16:58

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My efforts today were thwarted by a strong breeze here in France. But my botanist missus said she hadn't seen this 'Heart's Ease' growing wild since she was a child in the UK.
I am too much of gentleman to say how long ago that was....but rationing was still in place. :sssshh:

The actual flower was only 1/2" hidden in the middle of grass. I did a bit of gardening to clear the area around it but just as I took the shot a blade of grass (yes that thick green line is a thin blade of grass) blew into the frame. Grrrr!

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Eric

Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 17:03

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Managed to grab this Painted Lady as she swayed in the breeze. Thank God for AFC :applause:

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Eric

Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jun 11th, 2018 18:16

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Nice one, as always with these shots bit more DOF?

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Graham Whistler

Posted by Eric: Tue Jun 12th, 2018 08:01

43^rd Post

Graham Whistler wrote:
Nice one, as always with these shots bit more DOF?
My wife's Panasonic FZ2000 has focus stacking on board! It takes a 4K 2sec burst changing focus around the screen ...you can then manually select the fields to be stacked by touching the parts of the screen or you can tell it to do all ie auto. The images from static subjects (and camera!) are superb. Sadly when she tried to do roses they were moving too much in the breeze and she got a rim effect not dissimilar to slow speed flash halos!

I would have faired as poorly on my two shots if I had tried! :thumbsdown:

Aparantly the best way to control dof on bugs and butterflies is to capture them, pop them in the fridge for a while and when you release them they take several minutes to warm up enough to move! Sadly that doesn't work for flowers or when there is a wind on release. :needsahug:

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Eric

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