Here to there Kingfisher.

[Knight]

This has got to be one of my hardest subjects to capture apart from Kestrel`s , They are fast and always alert. The inflight ones were at 640 and 800ms with a 400mm Sigma and still i was not able to get a complete freeze. Oh well maybe next time lol .Wish i could have gotten closer.

[Copy_Kot]

Nice shots Knight, I love the in-flights!

[Knight]

Thanks Copy , Hey you have a 170-500mm how is it for in-flight shots ? Can you handhold it and get good captures ?

[mjs1973]

Nice shots Knight. I love kingfishers, but as you said, the are hard to get close too. I have had my best luck with them, by sitting next to their fishing spot, and waiting. Dress in camo, and stay hidden.

I have the Sigma 170-500mm, and I try not to hand hold it if at all possible. Dragging. The max f/6.3 at 500mm makes getting a fast shutterspeed to stop action pretty hard. Add to that that it's kind of soft wide open, so I try to shoot it at f/8 or f/9. If that isn't slow enough, I try not to shoot with my DRebel at anything higher than ISO 200. ISO 400 is really pushing the noise levels a little too high for my taste. Shooting at 500mm, at ISO 200 & f/8 makes for some very slow shutterspeeds, and handholding it pretty much out of the question.

[Knight]

Thanks for the info Michael ,but do you get good sharpness on a tripod at 500mm ? Because i figure i need more reach and the 170-500mm was in my price range , theres quite a few used ones on the market. I was also looking into the new 70-300mm VR Nikon lense with a 1,4 or a 1,7 Tcon . Its hard to make a choice lol . But im snooping around all sorts of forums hoping to find a good lense combo for my D50

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the info Michael ,but do you get good sharpness on a tripod at 500mm ? Because i figure i need more reach and the 170-500mm was in my price range , theres quite a few used ones on the market. I was also looking into the new 70-300mm VR Nikon lense with a 1,4 or a 1,7 Tcon . Its hard to make a choice lol . But im snooping around all sorts of forums hoping to find a good lense combo for my D50

Yes, I'm happy with the sharpness of this lens, when used on a tripod, with cable release, and stopped down to f/8 or f/9. Wide open its kind of soft, but if you have the light, and can stop down, I think it's a very acceptable lenst.

If you go to my website, and look at the Wildlife gallery, I think all of the bird, butterfly, and deer photos were taken with the 170-500mm lens. I have had this lens for 4 or 5 years now. I'm sure the newer ones are a little better.

[Bevb]

I know how hard it is to get a good shot of these birds, i sat for hours creeping inch by inch getting a little closer but it paid off and i got some shots i was very pleased with, i used the 70-200L f2.8 IS USM as i needed the flexibility in speed when it took off, not a great distance lense but it was better than my 100-400L, the Kingfishers on my website were all taken with the 70-200L.

Love the flight shots Knight, and great to see your species and the difference in their colours.