Couple questions from Panama

Aguadulce

Hello,

Only my second post and I have a couple questions. What is the best way to hand hold the camera? I am getting a lot of oof photos, when the light is low and I have nothing to support the camera. Tried using a mono and tripod, helps on the focus, but they are slow to use. I am using an EF100 f2.8 macro.

Couple shots from today, others aren't worth posting.

Called a Talingo, nasty bird! Needs better focus and a longer lens.
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Was taking some photos for a GPS/Photo program, and met this cart.
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Thank you for looking and all comments are welcome.

JohnDC

Aguadulce wrote:

Hello,

... What is the best way to hand hold the camera? I am getting a lot of oof photos, when the light is low and I have nothing to support the camera. Tried using a mono and tripod, helps on the focus, but they are slow to use. I am using an EF100 f2.8 macro. .... Needs better focus and a longer lens.

Hola Aguadulce,

As a resident of Panama for 16 years, I'm glad to help my fellow Panameños. You are right: you need a longer lens.

However, back in the film days, I took many good photos of the colorful Panamanian tanagers (azulejos, etc.,), using a macro lens. I set up a bird feeder with bananas next to a window and used heavy black cloth to maintain darkness on my side of the window. It would be even better to have the lens shooting through a hole instead of the window glass. Put a nice perch on the bird feeder.

For hand-holding longer lenses, many of us use a Bushhawk ( Bushhawk.com ). This works very well, including for taking photos of flying birds.

You are lucky to be living in a place with so many species of birds.

John

Aguadulce

JohnDC wrote:

Hola Aguadulce,

As a resident of Panama for 16 years, I'm glad to help my fellow Panameños. You are right: you need a longer lens.

However, back in the film days, I took many good photos of the colorful Panamanian tanagers (azulejos, etc.,), using a macro lens. I set up a bird feeder with bananas next to a window and used heavy black cloth to maintain darkness on my side of the window. It would be even better to have the lens shooting through a hole instead of the window glass. Put a nice perch on the bird feeder.

For hand-holding longer lenses, many of us use a Bushhawk ( Bushhawk.com ). This works very well, including for taking photos of flying birds.

You are lucky to be living in a place with so many species of birds.

John

Hola John,


Thank you for the comments and site. I am new to photography and have a lot to learn.

A feeder is a good idea, we have a lot of fruit trees and flowers in the yard, attracts everything from humming birds to fruit bats, but I will need a longer lens. I will check the Bushhawk and keep practicing.

You are right about Panama, I read they have over 300 different species of birds, lots of reptiles, insects and mammals too.

Regards,

Mike