another pileated!

[big baldo]

Julsoph, I think it must be that time of year! My wife and I were in our car, just about to back down the driveway when I saw this fella. I jumped out of the car, ran back inside to get my cameraI and took around 120 photos.(wife thinks I'm crazy!) he was really getting down on some "breakfast". After reading Loupeys thread on manual focusing, I experimented around with that for a while.
Loupey, I've read that you recommend the I.S or VR lenses for handheld. While using manual focus does the IS/VR still work the same?
Thanks in advance and thanks for looking.

[julsoph]

Oh, very awesome! I like the second one especially.

I actually think it does have something to do with the time of year...last time I saw one was also when it had just snowed.

Emily

[Knight]

Have never seen one taken so close , well Captured

[paulnj]

Great job! I too would have filled my card if given a chance at a cooperative pileated.

[Loupey]

Wow! What an excellent opportunity and wonderful that you were still able to get a camera.

The IS/VR: yes, manual focusing and stabilization are two separate switches. You can turn on one or the other or both. Do I recommend IS/VR? YES YES YES! It has revolutionized the way I shoot. I've always been a strict tripod user until I bought these things. Then all the rules changed. I can handhold a 300mm + 2x (with a further 1.6x crop factor) down to 1/125s regularly. The brown thrasher was 1/60s.

The most I've used with an IS combo is a monopod (which I highly recommend - more because it makes toting camera/lens easier and takes the weight off your arms when shooting). A tripod is simply too cumbersome to make quick composition changes on the fly.

[big baldo]

thanks for the replies!
They are still not as sharp as I would like(compared to the pros!) but that just means more practice.

[OBie]

Wow! I'd give anything to see one of these in the wild - thanks for the great pictures!

[big baldo]

thanks for your kind words Obie. Yes, out of all the birds I get to see here these are by far my favorite. They are absolutely stunning in the wild. There were actually two together, so I think they must be a pair.