...since I got the Bigma!

Well, day before yesterday I braved the awful weather and went out to Ross Lagoon to take pics - just to practice with the Bigma - to take it out for its test drive so to speak. Considering the unspeakable conditions - I'm not too displeased with the results so here are a few of the good pics



























I did take some pics of the Goldeneye we saw there - but none of them came out. The Wigeon seem to have gone now - to my dismay... but there were some gorgeous birds there anyway.

Here are some other random photos too

*dipper!* ;D (pre bigma - i'm hoping i'll see them again now i have the long lens... )


Lapwing
















thanks for looking

xx

Good range of subjects but that looks soft on image quality?

Wow you have been busy Laura

So many different types of birds, love the gull shots and the big white birdsorry don't know what it is.

your pictures are definitely soft Zoundz - how are you setting up and taking your shots?

Nice captures Z, here's me fave:

hmm... i don't know what's wrong there... perhaps it was partly the lighting conditions, and that most were handheld. it's a really awkward lens to get the hang of. :/ meh... I thought a few were good! never mind, keep practicing I guess!

Not sure what I could be doing wrong? I am using a tripod where possible and using autofocus rather than manual for 99% of the shots... :/ any advice appreciated.

thanks for the encouragement though - and the white birds are little egret MS!

xx

I think you've answered your own question. Plus it's an unfamiliar lens to you - it follows that you will become far more proficient with it the more you use it and experiment with it. You have some brilliant subject matter - I'm quite envious.

A couple of things I do when shooting at the extent of a long lens is, set my camera 'mirror up' to avoid slap (which can be pronounced and distinguishable on a long lens), and secondly, I would use a remote, or, cable release for long-end shots.

Keep them coming - you have some fab bird species there.

Can you tell us what focal length you shot at for these (was it 500?) and what shutter speed you used? Your exif data isn't embedded

I probably can tell you - but not right now... being as I'm on a computer i really cannot understand (my parents mac) and I can't actually access the pictures here! *sigh* most were shot at 500mm and on program mode, so pretty much auto - I didn't want to get too flashy with the lens as it was awkward enough anyway *blush*

thank you all!

xx

Laura, it seems silly to call a biggish bird a little egret, very pretty tho. Fantastic birds you have there, the one with the curly beak, is that a Curlew? I am useless with birds.

Can't wait to see what you are going to produce once you have got used the lens. They do look massive LOL.

Enjoy your new lens xx