ducks!

[Doug Herr]

I've recently added a 600mm f/4 lens to my toybox toolbox. It's a beast and it attracts too much attention, but having said this I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

​

 

[nicolas claris]

Superb series Doug!
I really don't know why but I do love ducks!
We have some wild ones (and thousands in farms…) close to the office and I adore watching them flying in groups of six over the Garonne river next to my window…
But these shown here are beautifully captured. Cool!

 

[Asher Kelman]

​

Simply beautiful to behold and so enjoyable as it’s real but a treasure to be able to experience so close in flight with the reach of your new lens!

1/4000 second is really serious stopping power. But when there's less light, or the wings back lit, in shadow, do you use a Better Beamer or similar fresnel long distance flash supplemental lighting?

Is this a Sony A7RIII with the Canon lens?

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

High quality images.

 

[Doug Herr]

​

1/4000 second is really serious stopping power. But when there's less light, or the wings back lit, in shadow, do you use a Better Beamer or similar fresnel long distance flash supplemental lighting?

Is this a Sony A7RIII with the Canon lens?

I don't use flash. When the light is too dim for this kind of photograph I look for other photographs. The lens is the Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master, with the Sony a7rIII.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I don't use flash. When the light is too dim for this kind of photograph I look for other photographs. The lens is the Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master, with the Sony a7rIII.

Wow! I hadn’t realized that Sony had G-mastered all the way to 600 f4.0!

So is The IS in the lens too?

The 100-400 is also fabulous and apparently in DXO better than the Canon version, but appears to have a potential major structural weakness in the front and back halves of the outer barrel so one needs long term insurance.

I am not sure where I read it, perhaps “Borrowlenses.com”.

As far as flash is concerned, in Costa Rica, reaching into trees for birds I could see in the foliage was difficult and a lightweight flash would have saved the day and paid off handsomely.

With family waiting, one can’t simply hang out until a light beam penetrates the deep cover above.

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

Doug,

I just read up on the lens, it seems like a gem!

What did you think of the The Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens available for $1998?

Seems like a bargain. But if you havectge 100-400 and the extra $$$$ the 600mm f4.0 can allow you to work in dim light too!

The zoom has interesting “hold focus” buttons!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

I've recently added a 600mm f/4 lens to my toybox toolbox. It's a beast and it attracts too much attention, but having said this I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

​

Doug,

I have never seen better bird pictures! These are remarkable.

On special feature of photographing with natural overhead light, here is the reflection on the unusually shiny surface of duck bills/beaks.

For some reason these birds seem to all have extraordinarily emotive looks. Some look simply happy and glowing in enjoyment!

 

[Doug Herr]

Doug,

I just read up on the lens, it seems like a gem!

What did you think of the The Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens available for $1998?

Seems like a bargain. But if you havectge 100-400 and the extra $$$$ the 600mm f4.0 can allow you to work in dim light too!

The zoom has interesting “hold focus” buttons!

Asher

I didn't seriously consider the 200-600 because I wanted the extra light-gathering of the f/4 lens, especially with an extender attached.

One thing I like about the light in these photos is the reflected light from the water's surface below the birds; it's like a fill light for the shadows.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I didn't seriously consider the 200-600 because I wanted the extra light-gathering of the f/4 lens, especially with an extender attached.

One thing I like about the light in these photos is the reflected light from the water's surface below the birds; it's like a fill light for the shadows.

Doug,

That reflection off the water is very good to have pointed out! I admit that it didn’t occur to me!

I am always brightening the undersides of birds in flight against a bright sky!

How much correction do you still need, or are the birds that close to the water?

Asher

 

[Doug Herr]

Doug,

That reflection off the water is very good to have pointed out! I admit that it didn’t occur to me!

I am always brightening the undersides of birds in flight against a bright sky!

How much correction do you still need, or are the birds that close to the water?

Asher

The reflection of the sky on the water is like a huge soft box, they don't need to be especially close.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Have you noticed that your ducks seem to be smiling to themselves?

Asher

 

[Andy brown]

Magical stuff Doug, these are absolutely awesome!

 

[Asher Kelman]

I didn't seriously consider the 200-600 because I wanted the extra light-gathering of the f/4 lens, especially with an extender attached.

Doug,

I was surprised to read that Arthur Morris has been successfully using that bargain 200-600 lens with an A9!

“I have been walking early with the 200-600/a9 combo trying to create some pleasing blurs, most with the vultures. And at sunset, I have been experimenting with the 200-600 with the a9 and both the 1.4X and the 2X TC. I have been astounded by the results. Images here soon …” Birds as Art

 

[Doug Herr]

Doug,

I was surprised to read that Arthur Morris has been successfully using that bargain 200-600 lens with an A9!

“I have been walking early with the 200-600/a9 combo trying to create some pleasing blurs, most with the vultures. And at sunset, I have been experimenting with the 200-600 with the a9 and both the 1.4X and the 2X TC. I have been astounded by the results. Images here soon …” Birds as Art

Art Morris is trying to create some pleasing blurs. I want the option of creating sharp, detailed photos in more lighting conditions. Different approaches.