The first ospreys with my new 500 f/4L IS (Large Post)

Harv · July 12, 2007

As some of you already know, my new 500 arrived late yesterday. This morning we were presented with clear blue skies so after running my dogs, we took a spin to an osprey nest nearby. A great opportunity to try out the lens in a real world situation.

I did only minimal post processing of these shots. Some had shadow/highlight adjustments to deal with heavy shadows under the birds. All shots had between 30% and 40% of Intellisharpen's lowest settings. I could have pretty much posted these straight out of camera.

The following flight shots were all taken handheld. Man, that sucker is heavy and I would not want to do that on a regular basis. After a few minutes, my left arm got really tired. I'll leave that to the younger and stronger people out there.

1D MkIIn, 500 f/4L IS

This bird would not let me get very close without leaving the nest. I estimate the distance to have been close to 150 feet. The nest shots were taken from a tripod using the 1.4xTC. Fairly significant crop on the following 3 shots.

1D MkIIn, 500 f/4L IS, 1.4xTC

I think this lens is a keeper. :lust:lust:lust:lust:lust

Maestro · July 12, 2007

I admire the fact that with a prime you able to get these bifs. I have all sorts of problems getting bigs with my prime lens. I usually switch to my telephoto zoom to get bifs, but I would love to use my big prime lens. I just have a hard time tracking them and keeping everything in focus even with a tripod and gimbal.

Harv · July 12, 2007

Maestro wrote:

I admire the fact that with a prime you able to get these bifs. I have all sorts of problems getting bigs with my prime lens. I usually switch to my telephoto zoom to get bifs, but I would love to use my big prime lens. I just have a hard time tracking them and keeping everything in focus even with a tripod and gimbal.

Thanks a lot, Stephen.

I have, and use, a tripod and gimball for my long telephoto lenses. I use it primarily for static shots. The only type of BIF shots that I have any luck with using that rig is ducks and geese. They tend to fly a consistent route and are a lot easier to lock on and track. I don't have alot of luck with other birds who's flight path tends to be erratic. For those I find I have to handhold to have a chance at capturing good shots. My 400/5.6L and my 300/2.8L are manageable for handholding, with the 400 being best as it's lighter. The 500/4 that I used today was handheld as I couldn't track the irregular flight of the ospreys. I don't think I'll be doing that a lot as it's so dang heavy. Having said that, it was the only lens I had with me.

Practice with the long primes helps. Go out to the backyard and practice on acquiring and tracking anything that flies. Eventually, the camera/lens combo will find it's way to the right spot almost automatically.

WildWally · July 12, 2007

Really nice shots , especially with bright sun .
#7 is by far my favorite , very nice .
I bet after hand-holding thatlens you would be able to skip the gym !!!:D

Harv · July 12, 2007

WildWally wrote:

Really nice shots , especially with bright sun .
#7 is by far my favorite , very nice .
I bet after hand-holding thatlens you would be able to skip the gym !!!:D

Thanks, Walt. That's my wife's favourite shot as well. By the way, after handholding that lens, what I really need is an arm transplant. I won't be doing that a lot.

S. Horton · July 12, 2007

Great BIF! Awe-some captures, very nice PP.

Amazing results with the TC.

Sure, that one is a 'keeper' as you said! I may have to sell my arm to obtain one.

Harv · July 12, 2007

S. Horton wrote:

Great BIF! Awe-some captures, very nice PP.

Amazing results with the TC.

Sure, that one is a 'keeper' as you said! I may have to sell my arm to obtain one.

Thanks a lot, Sam. It felt more like I gave an arm and a leg for it.

ShepsMom · July 12, 2007

Congrats on your new toy!! What fun it is! Beautiful shots

Dick on Aruba · July 12, 2007

You must be in heaven with your awesome lens.
Your captures are super!

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Harv · July 12, 2007

ShepsMom wrote:

Congrats on your new toy!! What fun it is! Beautiful shots

Thanks, Marina. Have had it for 24 hours now and been having a ball with it. Just tooks some 1,000mm shots from about 75 feet and can't believe the detail. This is going to be a hoot.

Peter McLaren · July 12, 2007

Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii,

Very nice images and extremely sharp. I really like #5 it almost looks like his/her eye is tracking you!
Would you be so kind as to post the exposure details for that shot,

Mahalo, Peter

Harv · July 12, 2007

Dick on Aruba wrote:

You must be in heaven with your awesome lens.
Your captures are super!

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Thanks for the kind words, Dick. Yep, I feel as if I've died and gone to heaven. I had been fighting the urge to buy this thing for almost a year and finally gave in. Now I'm asking myself why I resisted. This thing rivals my 300/2.8 in the sharpness and resolution it delivers.

Harv · July 12, 2007

Peter McLaren wrote:

Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii,

Very nice images and extremely sharp. I really like #5 it almost looks like his/her eye is tracking you!
Would you be so kind as to post the exposure details for that shot,

Mahalo, Peter

Aloha, Peter.

Thanks for stopping in and commenting. Very much appreciated. The following is the EXIF for that shot...

Camera Model Name
Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
Shooting Date/Time
7/12/2007 08:55:23
Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/1250Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F8.0
Metering Modes
Spot
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
400
Lens
EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Focal Length
500.0 mm
Image size
3504 x 2336
Image Quality
RAW
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF mode
AI Servo AF

I hope this is of some value to you.

Peter McLaren · July 12, 2007

Harv wrote:

Aloha, Peter.

Thanks for stopping in and commenting. Very much appreciated. The following is the EXIF for that shot...

Camera Model Name
Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
Shooting Date/Time
7/12/2007 08:55:23
Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/1250Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F8.0
Metering Modes
Spot
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
400
Lens
EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Focal Length
500.0 mm
Image size
3504 x 2336
Image Quality
RAW
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF mode
AI Servo AF

I hope this is of some value to you.

BIG THANK YOU. Just one question : Why no polorising filter??

Harv · July 12, 2007

Peter McLaren wrote:

BIG THANK YOU. Just one question : Why no polorising filter??

I can live with a natural looking sky and don't want to give up shutter speed when shooting birds in flight.

GonzoBernelli · July 13, 2007

I think you should keep the lens Harv - these are fantastic!

Harv · July 13, 2007

GonzoBernelli wrote:

I think you should keep the lens Harv - these are fantastic!

Thanks very much, Gonzo. I've decided I would give up my first-born before I give up this lens.

I've just processed a couple of shots taken at 1,000mm at a distance of about 70-75 feet. One is a dove and the other a cardinal. I can't believe the detail in the shots. I'm blown away.

raptorcaptor · July 13, 2007

Nice shots Harv! Took my lens out for a spin last night. Will post some pics tonight(no handheld shots though). Just one Osprey shot but he was on a flagpole eating a fish.

Harv · July 13, 2007

raptorcaptor wrote:

Nice shots Harv! Took my lens out for a spin last night. Will post some pics tonight(no handheld shots though). Just one Osprey shot but he was on a flagpole eating a fish.

Thanks, Glenn. I'm looking forward to your post. One can never get too many ospreys.

emmalou · July 13, 2007

They are brilliant~! I love them all.but the third one is striking frorm the back of the falcon......

Harv · July 13, 2007

emmalou wrote:

They are brilliant~! I love them all.but the third one is striking frorm the back of the falcon......

Thanks a lot, Emmalou. You're very kind.

emmalou · July 13, 2007

Harv wrote:

Thanks a lot, Emmalou. You're very kind.

I am very envious

Harryb · July 14, 2007

Welcome to the 500mm club. The lens will open a whole new way of shooting to you. I have shot my 500mm handheld and hope never to do it again.

Excellent captures.

PrescottPhotog · July 14, 2007

Hi Harv,

Great shots. I love shooting Osprey but we don't have many around here except when they are passing through.

I love my 500 also and shot with it for over 6 months attached to my 400D XTI. It was a real struggle for the XTI to keep up with the lens. The AF just couldn't keep up so my keeper rate was low. But the shots that did turn out turned out wonderful. This year I can't wait to shoot with my Mark III and the 500. I'm so excited I can't wait, got the camera, got the lens.. now no birds until it cools down here a bit.

I use mine on a tripod with a full Wimberley and also on a Bogen 680B monopod with a Wimberley Sidekick. The Sidekick and monopod work great because you can pivot around in a full circle and still track the BIF and the Sidekick is rock solid. I have never had a problem with the weight or quick release leg on the 680B and I have been using it for 2 years before I got the 500. It is still as tight as the day I got it.

The 680B has the quick release legs so you can get set up fast if you see something approaching and it is tall enough to be able to pan BIF that pass overhead. The 500 and the 680B monopod work great together plus it is much easier to carry any distance. I just tilt the head down so it is almost flat (as close to the monopod shaft as I can) and carry it over my shoulder.

The monopod is a bit tricky for still shots but the IS takes care of most of the shake. For BIF the monopod and 500 is a great combo.

Harv · July 15, 2007

Harryb wrote:

Welcome to the 500mm club. The lens will open a whole new way of shooting to you. I have shot my 500mm handheld and hope never to do it again.

Excellent captures.

Thanks, Harry. I may shoot it handheld again, but it's not going to be my first choice. I might try to employ the method Chris suggests using a monopod.

Harv · July 15, 2007

PrescottPhotog wrote:

Hi Harv,

Great shots. I love shooting Osprey but we don't have many around here except when they are passing through.

I love my 500 also and shot with it for over 6 months attached to my 400D XTI. It was a real struggle for the XTI to keep up with the lens. The AF just couldn't keep up so my keeper rate was low. But the shots that did turn out turned out wonderful. This year I can't wait to shoot with my Mark III and the 500. I'm so excited I can't wait, got the camera, got the lens.. now no birds until it cools down here a bit.

I use mine on a tripod with a full Wimberley and also on a Bogen 680B monopod with a Wimberley Sidekick. The Sidekick and monopod work great because you can pivot around in a full circle and still track the BIF and the Sidekick is rock solid. I have never had a problem with the weight or quick release leg on the 680B and I have been using it for 2 years before I got the 500. It is still as tight as the day I got it.

The 680B has the quick release legs so you can get set up fast if you see something approaching and it is tall enough to be able to pan BIF that pass overhead. The 500 and the 680B monopod work great together plus it is much easier to carry any distance. I just tilt the head down so it is almost flat (as close to the monopod shaft as I can) and carry it over my shoulder.

The monopod is a bit tricky for still shots but the IS takes care of most of the shake. For BIF the monopod and 500 is a great combo.

Thanks a lot, Chris. I know you're going to love that MkIII. A couple of my friends tool delivery of theirs and are awed by it's capabilities.

Thanks also for the inro on the monopod. I may give that a try.

The first ospreys with my new 500 f/4L IS (Large Post)

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