Some Dickie Birds

As promised - here's my first 'dickie' or garden bird shots. I seem to be getting a right old selection visiting the garden since building the feeders but as I've not really set myself up any means of 'hiding' yet so these shots really just are limited to those birds happy enough to stay put when I'm out there with them.

Anyway - I've thrown it open to critique as it's all new to me. I'm not bothered about feedback on composition or twigs or anything as I've just shot them 'as they were' but any tips on camera settings would be good. I've included some basic details on the deliberately different combinations of aperture/shutter speed/ISOsettings used as I was trying out a few different methods.

1
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 400


2 (similar)
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 400


3
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 400


4
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 100


5
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 250


6
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 330 mm
ISO Speed: 100


7
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 100


8
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Some good shots there Phil

Phil we use dried Sunflower heart seeds in some of our feeders, the birds go crazy for them. Even goldfinches which we never saw before eat them. We added up the variety of birds and named 25 that come here.

Bazza

I bet you are thrilled with those Phil. They are great.
It seems to be (on my teeny laptop screen) that the clarity is better on the ones with the higher shutter speeds. Did you find that? Were you shooting on manual or shutter priority?

Cracking set Phil,bet you are loving that lens

Those are super Phil, lens is performing a treat!

Great shots Phil. I was about to throw the 7D and 100-400 lens in the bin, but I am determand to crack the probs I am having with soft images.
With DJs help and some of the other sugestions, I wont throw it away just yet. The Exif is a great help.

Goggs...

Don't throw it away - post it to me! I'm desperate for a 7D!!!!
Seriously though, you'll get there! You have had some great advice to work through. I bet you'll see a difference soon!

Thanks Azz

Thanks for the tip Bazza. I actually picked some up today at the animal park shop (day out with the family not the camera) so I'll see what comes of it.

I'd agree about the shutter speeds. As for the shooting mode - I can't recall which of the above shots were done on what settings but it was half an hour of mix and match settings as it was all about experimenting.

So far so good Moon but yes I'm enjoying it.

Thanks Dawn - still not managed a good full days shooting with it yet but no regrets.

I think we all frustrated Goggs - as long as you're enjoying yourself trying - I'm sure your efforts will pay off.

Those are good captures, Phil. I'd certainly stick with the higher shutter speeds for those smaller birds and adjust your ISO for smaller or larger apertures.

Another thing you might like to try, is seperating focus from the shutter button and/or
metering ( back button auto focus). I use it all the time and have Metering start / Meter + AF start setup in my custom functions.

Here is a link to explain how it works and it's many uses http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/control...articleID=2286