It has been a reasonable day today. The sun even popped out for an hour or so.
We enjoyed a gloomy walk first thing, there was nothing much about so we came back for breakfast and after a bowl of cereal I mounted Big Bertha.
Already to go. I spent ages taking snaps of a brick wall to try and get a feel for DOF and range. There were lots of birds around singing their hearts out but the only two I got were these. A Blackbird and a Coal Tit. I couldn’t find the button to spot focus so I’m a bit slow with things at the moment. There are loads of focus locks and stabilizers….the Good Lord knows what else. I have a water pump man calling in the morning but if it’s nice tomorrow afternoon I’ll take it to the river and sit for a while playing.
I could have done with the birds coming closer but at least I managed to catch them before they flew away.
Have a good weekend.
That's looking like a proper birders bit of kit. Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteOooo, I'm dribbling here.
Good luck tomorrow, whilst playing with Bertha.
It is going to take me ages to master it. Be quicker and cheaper to pinch your photos.
DeleteEnjoy playing with your big one Adrian....
ReplyDeleteI will Trevor.
DeleteI know the fly-away-birds. It's really difficult to catch them.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are gorgeous.
What is this for a lens?
Greetings
Angela
Angela another twenty hours of practise and they will be. These were shot stopped down as I couldn't find the spot focus facility.
DeleteHi Adrian, your big Berth is a very impressive lens. Your Canon 5D 11 is tiny with the lens on. Have fun playing around with your camera and lens tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHorst I will if it stays fine.
DeleteBig Bertha, you can do it. Great photo, and you'll get better and better, I promise.
ReplyDeleteBob, I've a long way to go...we will see.
DeleteI'm sure Big Bertha will soon be responding nicely to all your wants and desires Adrian! Keith tells me that one day I might even be allowed to touch her?...oooooh!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend getting the low down on all those buttons...[;o)
Hope the water pump business goes okay!
Trevor anyone can use ti if either I'm around or you are around. caravan man is coming and he can look at the fridge as well.
DeleteOh that is a monster of a lens, 600mm maybe? Only that there is a strap on the camera otherwise i would have asked why you were mounting a lens with no body attached. ;)
ReplyDeleteOnly a 400mm Shaun. Range is less important than speed to me. Drop a polariser in it and it's an f5.6. Pop a 2x teleconverterter on, just the same.I had a 500mm f5.8 Sigma, cheap and good value. Cheap to repair was the Sigma. It fell in the sea. they mended it for a hundred ponds and a bit. I could only use it on sunny days.
ReplyDeleteThis one weighs about 8 to 10 pounds. The tripod is fine with it in calm weather. I may have to get a Machinery Mart theodolite tripod for the moon. Have to TIG weld a mount up. Never buy a bargain. They always cost twice the price.
I have just had the ex round.....She said how much is one of those. Told her £500.00p and my fridge has just broke. I can mend it, I lift it out and tip it upside down. leave it five minutes and it's a good un. Didn't tell her I was a fridge mechanic.
I shot 20 frames at different apertures of a brick wall. It is as sharp wide open as it is closed up.
Not as fast as a Subaru but it doesn't burn fuel
Looks like you are in for some fun learning all about Big Bertha! Very impressive looking lens.. and just think, now you don't even have to go to Scotland for photos ~ just point the camera and lens in the general direction of Scotland, focus in, and shoot! ;)
ReplyDeleteGlo, unfortunately I do as despite it's size it is about 8x magnification.
DeleteThat is an impressive lens,sounds complicated though. Love the blackbird shot, looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteGillian, Having had a few goes it complicated but logical. The image stabilizer is wonderful it only works if it needs to. No need to switch it off when it's on the tripod.
DeleteFiguring stuff out like this keeps a guy from losin' it. Adrian's images will take a great leap forward.
ReplyDeleteThe learning curve is exponential so don't expect any dramatic improvements.
DeleteLooking good Adrian. Can't help feeling you will need a motor golf cart or dog drawn cart to lug it all about.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I have had a carry with it in the rucksack. It's not pleasant and it squashed my snap box so flat sandwiches. It is doable. I was considering one of those carts that fishermen use but suspect it would never get used.
DeleteI wish they were £500, i would get one as soon as the shop opened. great that you have one ...have fun with it.
ReplyDeletepeter
Peter, they are a ridiculous price. I was dithering for months over which way to go. Medium format appeals but one could buy a large house for the price of a camera and a couple of lenses.
Delete