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A few random shots with 300mm f4 + MC14

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Denjw

Denjw

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Yesterday was the first chance I had to get out of the backyard for a shoot with the new Oly 300mm f4.

Head shot of a Eastern Water Dragon cropped 1:1
Head shot of a Eastern Water Dragon cropped 1:1

Rufous Fantail cropped 75%
Rufous Fantail cropped 75%

I find this little bird (15-16cm) difficult to photograph as it is a very active ground forager often in the shade.

It is constantly on the move fanning its tail and swinging its body. Saw this one in a gully and managed to get a few shots. This was the best one but had to use ISO 1250 to get 1/100sec shutter speed. Didn't really nail the focus because of the bird's constant movement and the low shutter speed.

The following two images are my first BIFs with the new lens. BIFs are not my forte ( but working at learning this craft). Both heavily cropped.

Swamp Harrier cropped 75%
Swamp Harrier cropped 75%

Swamp Harrier cropped 75%
Swamp Harrier cropped 75%

The last image is from the backyard to a neighbour's tree at about a distance of 35-40 feet.

The bird is a Red Wattlebird (honeyeater) which is about 35cm in size. Don't really like these agressive domineering birds as they chase the little honeyeaters out of the garden. Anyway it was a nice late evening light and shows up the feather detail. You can even see its tongue coming out of the end of the beak.

Red Wattlebird uncropped
Red Wattlebird uncropped

Still getting used to the lens but pleased with it so far.

All images best viewed by clicking on original image and then zoom.

Cheers

Dennis

http://dwehner.zenfolio.com/
 
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Very nice captures.

I just received the 300 F4 this past week and haven't had much time to get familiar with it yet. So far I am really impressed with the lens sharpness, focus speed and accuracy.

I am sure you will enjoy your new lens as much as I enjoy mine.

Looking forward to more of your posts.

Thanks for posting.

Regards
 
Okay, now we are cooking with gas. Been looking forward to these. EXCELLENT !!

What a gorgeous fantail BTW, probably one of the best shots of a Fantail I've seen to be honest, nice rear end display ;-) All great shots though Den and nice details in these.

BIF's might well become your favourite shots at this rate IMO. Great to see.

All the best Dennis and now I'm smiling over this lens :-)

Danny.

--
Birds, macro, motor sports.... http://www.birdsinaction.com
Flickr albums ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/124733969@N06/sets/
The need for speed ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/130646821@N03/
 
Last edited:
cpt kent said:
Nice,

I've never seen a water dragon before - where was it?
Click to expand...
Very common in my neck of the woods, that is SE corner of Australia.

They frequent the waterways but are seen on logs and the ground often.

Good subjects because they stay very still and let you get fairly close. But take off quickly if you take that extra step

This was taken at the local billabong, about 500m from my home.
 
Nice. I'm from Bairnsdale originally. Seen plenty of Goannas but no Dragons. Must not be looking in the right places.
 
The Wattlebird is the best of the lot,

feather detail on the dragon is terrible :-P

as I had expected of you, Very Very nice Dennis!

Thanks for posting

David
 
You have some very nice work there..well done, Also that little 1.4x is amazing I use it all the time on my 40-150 and don't see any loss at all.

Regards John
 
Your images are stunning. Now I am so jelous.
 
Agree with Danny. Now we have photographers shooting with the lens things are looking up.
 
Denjw said:
cpt kent said:
Nice,

I've never seen a water dragon before - where was it?
Click to expand...
Very common in my neck of the woods, that is SE corner of Australia.

They frequent the waterways but are seen on logs and the ground often.

Good subjects because they stay very still and let you get fairly close. But take off quickly if you take that extra step

This was taken at the local billabong, about 500m from my home.

--
http://dwehner.zenfolio.com/
Click to expand...
Great shots with a great lens!

Is it the same as this critter I shot a few months ago?

(Much more humble 50-200 SWD and EC14).



1a6090fb5f904e41931c998185f49137.jpg





--
"You are a long time dead" - credit to my wife
Make the best of your brief time in this world
 
Smashing set :-)
 
It was a drizzly gray afternoon the sort of which I wouldn't be bothered going out birding in.

But took a walk to the billabong with the 300mm f4 to see what was about an came across a Darter very nicely perched. Almost got too close so I had to zoom back with my feet to get the bird in the frame. :-)

c512f2520f82409b940bf4d06affb0eb.jpg

292dad6842594aa9b332bb44997421ea.jpg

44f0417eec864c93bbbe0e403831b45a.jpg



Best viewed in Original size.

Cheers

Dennis

--
http://dwehner.zenfolio.com/
 
Last edited:
Denjw said:
It was a drizzly gray afternoon the sort of which I wouldn't be bothered going out birding in.

But took a walk to the billabong with the 300mm f4 to see what was about an came across a Darter very nicely perched. Almost got too close so I had to zoom back with my feet to get the bird in the frame. :-)

c512f2520f82409b940bf4d06affb0eb.jpg

292dad6842594aa9b332bb44997421ea.jpg

44f0417eec864c93bbbe0e403831b45a.jpg

Best viewed in Original size.

Cheers

Dennis

--
http://dwehner.zenfolio.com/
Click to expand...
Excellent work and shots ...... except for the last one, that's SUPERB darn it ;-) Man you nailed that one Dennis. Oh how I wish that was mine, just need to squeeze that tail end in.

All the best Dennis, showing amazing details, heck.

Danny.

--
Birds, macro, motor sports.... http://www.birdsinaction.com
Flickr albums ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/124733969@N06/sets/
The need for speed ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/130646821@N03/
 
Denjw said:
The following two images are my first BIFs with the new lens. BIFs are not my forte ( but working at learning this craft). Both heavily cropped.

Swamp Harrier cropped 75%
Swamp Harrier cropped 75%

Swamp Harrier cropped 75%
Swamp Harrier cropped 75%

Cheers

Dennis

http://dwehner.zenfolio.com/
Click to expand...
Thanks for these... as I've shot a ton of BIFs with mine this week tho unfortunately all with very poor light (drizzling, heavy overcast, dusk) and had mostly poor results... tho I am shooting with an EM5ii and that may also be a contributing factor... Very glad to see these!
 
Thanks Danny, much appreciated.

As I said I was almost too close. I was going to take the teleconverter off but the bird was getting very twitchy.

So I walked backwards but as I did so the crap in the foreground came into the frame. (See the bottom of the first shot).

But pleased with these and still getting used to no zoom! ;-)

Now waiting to nail one of those kingfishers! :-D

Cheers

Dennis

--
http://dwehner.zenfolio.com/
 
Last edited:
Denjw said:
Thanks Danny, much appreciated.

As I said I was almost too close. I was going to take the teleconverter off but the bird was getting very twitchy.

So I walked backwards but as I did so the crap in the foreground came into the frame. (See the bottom of the first shot).

But pleased with these and still getting used to no zoom! ;-)

Now waiting to nail one of those kingfishers! :-D

Cheers

Dennis
Click to expand...
 
Dennis



I'm starting to develop a healthy lust for the 300 f4, particularly in view of your examples. Currently I'm using my Canon 400 f5.6 on my E-M1 with a Kipon adapter which, because of the IS on the E-M1, allows me to get away with shutter speeds of which I had no chance with a hand-held 7D. The focusing using the Kipon is fairly good but needs a bit of manual assistance in the shadows with lots of foliage around. I'm also awaiting results of the Panasonic 100-400 before deciding on my tele-future. Here's an example with by Olykipnon setup...a Grey Fantail:



 

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