Birding with FZ30 in the evening

[calvinlo]

Saw the Long-tailed Shrike again when I was at the park with my family in the evening. Managed to capture a few shots using the SB800 as my external flash.

Every thing seems to work fine...I was firing away until suddenly...couldn't get the subject in focus Then realised it was getting too dark for the FZ30 to AF properly. thank God managed to switched to MF in time . Gota few more shots before the bird flew to another location. By that time, it was also too dark already.

For pictures, see link below:

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=179369

My only complaint with the FZ30 is that the EVf turned dark when I shot in M mode. Tried using Aperture priority, but the shutter speed got stuck at 1/30 when an external flash is used...

[elcap]

Just a suggestion. you can switch to Manual Mode or shutter priority Mode to shoot at higher shutter speed. I try it quite successfully with Starblitz 3600DFC flash, GN 30 to up to 1/250 F 2.8 and is quite pleased with the results. But you will need to experiment to roughly gauge how high a shutter speed you can use.
Have fun trying
Cheers

[calvinlo]

Originally Posted by elcap Just a suggestion. you can switch to Manual Mode or shutter priority Mode to shoot at higher shutter speed. I try it quite successfully with Starblitz 3600DFC flash, GN 30 to up to 1/250 F 2.8 and is quite pleased with the results. But you will need to experiment to roughly gauge how high a shutter speed you can use. Have fun trying Cheers

Thanks for the suggestions but actually, I am already shooting in Manual Mode. Already tried Shutter priority too. Both gives me a dark EVF under the lighting condition that I was shooting.

Unfortunately, the only time the EVF remains viewable is when I used Aperture Mode, but as I said, my shutter speed got stuck at 1/30, which is too low without the aid of a monopod.

I guess this is the real weak point of the FZ30...