A good week with the D300 + Nikon 80-400 VR

Hi,

last week was a good one for me. I had some good opportunities and the D300 + 80-400mm combo helped me to bring back some good captures. I regularly read bad comment about the 80-400mm IQ. I personally think that it’s a great lens for the money. Like many of us, I think that it’s time for Nikon to replace it with a modern lens who will offer a faster AF, but it will have to offer the same IQ or better.

The D300 high ISO performances always amaze me. Some of the I show today were taken in the forest with not much light to work with (ISO 3200). They will print very well up to 8x12 and maybe 12x18.

Pileated Woodpecker
250mm, F/7,1, 1/160s, ISO 320, Exposure Mode: Manual, EC 0EV

Pileated Woodpecker
400mm, F/7,1 , 1/320s, -0,7EV , ISO 3200, EC 0 EV
Noise reduction at processing: Neat Image (only for the background)

Black-Backed woodpecker. This was a first opportunity for me to see and photography this species. The D300 high ISO performance allowed me to bring back a nice souvenir.

330mm, F/6,3 , 1/320s, ISO 3200, EC +0,3EV
Noise reduction at processing: Neat Image (only for the background)

Two days later, I went back to the same spot hopping to photography the Black-Backed woodpecker in better light and I was able to find it. I had to keep the SS at a decent speed as he never stop to move.

270mm, F/7,1 , 1/400s, ISO 280, EC 0 EV

400mm, F/7,1 , 1/400s, ISO 400, EC 0 EV

Osprey photographed the same day as the black-backed woodpecker

400mm, F/7,1, 1/400s ISO 640. EC 0 EV (50% crop)

White tail photographed the same day as the black-backed woodpecker and the Osprey.

Female
300mm, F/7,1, 1/400s, + 1.0 EV, ISO 1100

Male
260mm, F/8, 1/400s, ISO 450, EC -0,3EV

150mm, F/8, 1/400s, ISO 500, EC -0,3EV

Thanks for looking !

--
Daniel

http://danielbouchard.zenfolio.com/