Eastern Blue Birds

[Ol'coot]

I would like to share a few shot from my back yard today. Janice and I have worked for the past several years to attract the Eastern Bluebirds and this year we are honored to have a pair nesting in one of our boxes. :getdown:

[Ol'coot]

And a couple more shots

[High ISO!]

Tony....and Janice(?)
These are just beautiful! They look like they were shot in a STUDIO! :righton:

On the laptop screen, which ISN'T a very good screen, the first image....The branch looks like it might have been overprocessed a little in H&S???? Don't know for sure though, since I'm NOT on the REAL monitor!

They are ALL beautiful, can't tell ya which I like best! :D

You don't need a D3!:woot:

Alissa

[jhawk1000]

Beautiful work!!!!

Mel

[GaryB]

The first is my favourite, although its just a bit tight in the frame. These look like they used flash as the main light?

[Ol'coot]

Tony....and Janice(?)
These are just beautiful! They look like they were shot in a STUDIO! :righton:

On the laptop screen, which ISN'T a very good screen, the first image....The branch looks like it might have been overprocessed a little in H&S???? Don't know for sure though, since I'm NOT on the REAL monitor!

They are ALL beautiful, can't tell ya which I like best! :D

You don't need a D3!:woot:

Alissa

Thank You Alissa you comments are appreciates, I wish I had waited until this morning to post these as I can see that I over saturated some of them. I was doing the PP late last night in a hurry and tired eyes tend to make me want to over-saturate the colors a bit. I know better and should have waited to review this morning before posting.

The first is my favourite, although its just a bit tight in the frame. These look like they used flash as the main light?

Gary, I was shooting with the SB-600 and a better beamer on the flash as the sky was very overcast and I am still trying to figure out the correct setting when using this setup. I was only trying to add a little fill light and a catch light in the eyes.

Beautiful work!!!!

Mel

Thank Mel, Your comments are always appreciated

[Ross]

what lovely birds :)

Ross

[Ol'coot]

Thanks Ross

[Bill C]

Tony - beautiful captures! Now I know why I don't post my 'amateurish' shots.
With results like this, why are you even considering a D700 :)
Bill

[Ol'coot]

Bill,

Thank you so much for you very generous comments. I do like the D200 as it is a very fine camera, I just wish it had less noise when used at higher ISO setting in low light. One thing that has kept me for upgrading is that going to the FX sensor on the D700 I will loose the 1.5x crop factor that I now enjoy with the DX sensor which is nice when shooting wildlife but I do shoot quite a bit of landscapes as well and the D700 would really shine in that application. I may wait a while to see what Nikon offers in the next release of camera bodies.

[Bill C]

Bill,

Thank you so much for you very generous comments. I do like the D200 as it is a very fine camera, I just wish it had less noise when used at higher ISO setting in low light. One thing that has kept me for upgrading is that going to the FX sensor on the D700 I will loose the 1.5x crop factor that I now enjoy with the DX sensor which is nice when shooting wildlife but I do shoot quite a bit of landscapes as well and the D700 would really shine in that application. I may wait a while to see what Nikon offers in the next release of camera bodies.
I know - the high ISO capabilities is one of the reasons I'm looking at it as well. (I'd also keep the S5). Speculation about a D700x - 24mp plus other 'goodies' that would probably have the price line at somewhere between current D700 price and D3x.
Bill

[ChazR]

Really good stuff, Tony. It's #1 for me. As for the D200, the 1.5 factor is significant to us long-range shooters. Less noise would be great, but if you shoot mainly in bright hours, is the D700 worth the $ ? My lenses would have to "kick it up a notch" for the type of shooting I do. The key is...what are your needs.

[Ol'coot]

Charlie,

I agree with your assumptions about the 1.5 factor and even though I have the 300-800mm lens it is f5.6 wide open and I don't want to give up any of the extra reach that it affords me. I am finding as I have gotten more serious about my nature photography that I am shoot more in the early morning and late evening as that is when the animals are most active and when the light is most pleasing but only for a little while. Then you loose it and the morning light become harsh and then in the evening as the sun starts to get low in the sky the light again is just awesome but again it last a very brief time until the darkness creeps in and the shutter speeds start to slow down dramatically making getting a sharp shot with a long lens even harder but again this is when the animals are most active and when I need to be able to run the ISO up to keep the shutter speed up without adding a lot of noise to the final shot.

I also do have a couple DX lens that would need to be replace if I went with a FX sensor camera, I know the DX lens will work on the D700 but at less than 6 MP this is taking a big step backward and that makes no sense at all.

After doing some research I have talked myself out of the D700 for now and think I will hold off on purchasing anything until the new batch of Nikon camera with Dx sensors is announced and see what is available then.

:baldy: