Forest Birds

[Madcat II]

I told some CSers (CSBF members) that I'll be going into Forest Birds... here's my 1st attempt... pls forgive me if I miss label these...all pics taken handheld with Poorman's IS technic, thus not very clear (until I can afford the richman's IS) Plus the fact that forest birds are kind of high up on the trees...

Common Golden Backed Woodpecker


Greater Racket-tailed Drongo


Hill Myna


Lesser Coucal


Now this beautiful I can't figure out... pls help... my guess=Baza (pls don't kill me for this guess)

[skfoo]

Jason,

Good try on your first attempt. Very good catch indeed!

The last bird is a Black Baza, a winter visitor.

Cheers!

[Madcat II]

Thanks SK. So my guess was correct, that's a Baza. I should bring you guys to the few places that I capture these, with your Big Mamas, surely can get better pic than mine...

Originally Posted by skfoo Jason, Good try on your first attempt. Very good catch indeed! The last bird is a Black Baza, a winter visitor. Cheers!

[Garion]

Wow...amazing variety of birds u have captured. Well done on your first try at forest birds. Most of these I have yet to encounter in the field. Thumbsup for your attempt and hope u get even better shots next time!

[Madcat II]

Thanks, bring your Big Mama & I am sure you'll do better...

Originally Posted by Garion Wow...amazing variety of birds u have captured. Well done on your first try at forest birds. Most of these I have yet to encounter in the field. Thumbsup for your attempt and hope u get even better shots next time!

[Wolfgang]

I have a question though...

How long a lense does one need? I am thinking of getting a long lense and start out in shooting birds and i was wondering.. for a Canon body, what are the lenses that all you bird shooters would recommand?

3rd party lenses would be good, since i am on a budget of something less than a $1000?

Kindly advise.

[Avatar]

Jason, these are good attempts for a start. Hope we can discover even more varieties in time to come

[Avatar]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang I have a question though... How long a lense does one need? I am thinking of getting a long lense and start out in shooting birds and i was wondering.. for a Canon body, what are the lenses that all you bird shooters would recommand? 3rd party lenses would be good, since i am on a budget of something less than a $1000? Kindly advise.

Wolf, I think you best bet lies with the Sigma 50-500, arguably one of the best super telephoto zoom lens in its price range. Performance is pretty decent, and definitely good enough for a start. A 2nd hand one normally cost between $1000 - $1200 depending on condition, new ones cost around $1500. A little off your budget but it has my highest recommendation.

You may wanna get yourself a reasonably good tripod to go with it too since it will be quite difficult to handhold such a lens under some conditions.

Welcome to the CSBF aka ClubSNAP "no-cure" Bird-Flu club!

[Garion]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang I have a question though... How long a lense does one need? I am thinking of getting a long lense and start out in shooting birds and i was wondering.. for a Canon body, what are the lenses that all you bird shooters would recommand? 3rd party lenses would be good, since i am on a budget of something less than a $1000? Kindly advise.

Wolfie,

I am definitely no expert in this field (still learning ) and I am sure there are many others much more experienced who can give excellent tips/advice but I'll share what I have picked up so far. Most nature/bird shooters start off with 70-200 f2.8 or its equivalents and use 1.4x/2x TCs to extend the range. This is an excellent option for budget nature shooters but in some cases the range covered might not be enough. Image quality also degrades somewhat when using zoom lenses with converters.

The more popular lenses recommended for nature shooters starting out and looking to step up to something better than 70-200mm w/ converters include the EF 300mm f/4 IS prime, the EF 100-400mm f4-f5.6 IS and the Sigma 50-500mm. Given your budget of less than $1,000, which rules out the first two lenses (both cost above $2k new) I would highly recommend the Sigma 50-500mm, which costs slightly over a grand used. rncw, Madcat, tomshen among others are using this lens and the results speak for themselves. Its a little on the heavy side (ard 2kg) but when coupled to a sturdy tripod, gives excellent results. You can compare the pics from this lens and a expensive Nikon super tele prime and there is very little to tell them apart (look at SniperD and rncw's pics in this thread). An absolute value for money lens.

Hope this helps and welcome to the CS "Birdflu Club"! (membership for life!)

[MaGixShOe]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang I have a question though... How long a lense does one need? I am thinking of getting a long lense and start out in shooting birds and i was wondering.. for a Canon body, what are the lenses that all you bird shooters would recommand? 3rd party lenses would be good, since i am on a budget of something less than a $1000? Kindly advise.

The not so common Sigma 135-400 and the 175-500 is good also, although no HSM, it has got a tripod collar, decent built, and decent price too

the 135-400 cost under $1000

performance is not bad from what i see, u might want to try it out 1st

[Wolfgang]

Originally Posted by MaGixShOe the 135-400 cost under $1000 performance is not bad from what i see, u might want to try it out 1st

135-400mm @ sub $1K? Thats for a new lense, yes?

Is that the lense you let m try the last time we met?

Garion/Avatar;

You 2 are fast... Thanks for all the advise and tip. If i ever catch the "bird flu"... then it's surely your fault! Heh...

[erwinx]

Forest birds are one of the most challenging subjects so its great that you're starting on them too Rather than pure handholding, you might want to consider a super tall monopod as well. Setup time for tripod=forest bird fly away...

I would not use a 70-200 + 2x for birds. the 70-200L IS is relatively soft wide open at 200mm , so adding a 2x will make it worse, and also still not enough focal length as well.. The 300 f/4 is a better balanced lens than the 70-200 for handholding (IMHO).

However, I am surprised by the quality achieved by Sgtpepper using a 100-400+1.4x (with AF somemore). Do a search for his pics.

2 other photogs also use the counterpart 80-400VR+1.4x and post great bird pics as well.

Before deciding to shoot birds, you also have to manage your expectations as to what you intend to achieve, otherwise you'll be frustrated and (i) quit or (ii) constantly upgrade

[waikhong]

A tad of fill flash would make your pictures much better. Good try

[Falcon]

What abt this Sigma 100-300 F4 EX IF HSM? Isit lighter and cheaper than 50-500mm?

Wolfgang, if u decide on anything, do inform me. I am interested to find out more as well.

[Garion]

Originally Posted by Falcon What abt this Sigma 100-300 F4 EX IF HSM? Isit lighter and cheaper than 50-500mm? Wolfgang, if u decide on anything, do inform me. I am interested to find out more as well.

Falcon,

Maybe you can ask BS....I believe he has the Sigma 100-300 f4.

[MaGixShOe]

[quote=Wolfgang]135-400mm @ sub $1K? Thats for a new lense, yes?

Is that the lense you let m try the last time we met?

QUOTE]

no la, i dont have that lens, mine was a tamron.

the 135-400 isnt a new lens, can take a look at it on sigma's webbie

[mphil]

Just a comment, if you really want to get into bird flu mania, dont forget to get a good up to date guide as well. Recommend the Guide to SEA birds, by Craig Robson. By the way, the woodpecker (1st shot) is now known as Common Flameback.

[Madcat II]

I guess Flameback & Golden back meant the same bird and are interchangeable, I prefer to call it golden-backed, (Flame doesn't go well with forest)

Originally Posted by mphil Just a comment, if you really want to get into bird flu mania, dont forget to get a good up to date guide as well. Recommend the Guide to SEA birds, by Craig Robson. By the way, the woodpecker (1st shot) is now known as Common Flameback.

[Madcat II]

Hi Wolfgang,

I am using the Sigma 50-500, bought 2nd hand from fellow CSer around S$1300. Good lens for a start, but very heavy, handheld is a pain to both my arms & pictures ... tripod comes in handy.

Originally Posted by Wolfgang 135-400mm @ sub $1K? Thats for a new lense, yes? Is that the lense you let m try the last time we met? Garion/Avatar; You 2 are fast... Thanks for all the advise and tip. If i ever catch the "bird flu"... then it's surely your fault! Heh...

[Madcat II]

great idea, I have a monopod sitting in my store room... will deploy with immediate effect, thanks.

Originally Posted by erwinx Forest birds are one of the most challenging subjects so its great that you're starting on them too Rather than pure handholding, you might want to consider a super tall monopod as well. Setup time for tripod=forest bird fly away...