Learning at Jurong Bird Park

[logic8482]

A few shots via my new OMD EM-5 with a new Lumix 100-300mm lens. Wanted to test the lens out so took it to Jurong Bird Park for my first time shooting birds!

All shots were hand-held. I thought the lens and camera performed very well but I definitely have much to improve, especially around focusing. The low light owl shots came out decent for not having a tripod, being shot through glass at 100mm, and without much light.

Polite and constructive comments welcome!

All shots are here: Birds - a set on Flickr

300mm, 5.6, 1/200


100mm, 4, 1/6


150mm, 4.5, 1


252mm, 5.4, 1/80


100mm, 4, 1/250

[papajanggo33]

hi there. generally i'd prefer not to crop these beautiful birds off their neck and below. a full portraiture shot would definitely be more nicer. you may have your own preference(in cropping),but these beautiful creatures have their own distinctive physical traits which attracts most if not all birding photographers.
the wings, tail, neck,belly,beak, all these comes in different shapes,sizes,textures and colours from one another. therefore, in this section (world of nature-birds), how often do you see cropped -heads only birds being shot? to me it's a pity that the owl had its lower half cropped. as i myself tried to shoot it manually focus in the dark and handheld as no flash is allowed, but the results wasn't to my satisfactory.
your focussing is there ie. the portion around their eyes. keep on shooting.
just my 2cents worth

[logic8482]

Thanks for your thoughts. Hadn't really considered that approach, so I'll give it a try next time!

hi there. generally i'd prefer not to crop these beautiful birds off their neck and below. a full portraiture shot would definitely be more nicer. you may have your own preference(in cropping),but these beautiful creatures have their own distinctive physical traits which attracts most if not all birding photographers.
the wings, tail, neck,belly,beak, all these comes in different shapes,sizes,textures and colours from one another. therefore, in this section (world of nature-birds), how often do you see cropped -heads only birds being shot? to me it's a pity that the owl had its lower half cropped. as i myself tried to shoot it manually focus in the dark and handheld as no flash is allowed, but the results wasn't to my satisfactory.
your focussing is there ie. the portion around their eyes. keep on shooting.
just my 2cents worth

[chansw]

The exposure , the color , sharpness & the subject looks great . Well done beside on the cropping as mentioned .

[madmartian]

Good job logic!

Nice colors & good sharpness but I agree with papajanggo & chan on their comments

[motionstills]

I have this lens on my GH2, very decent lens for the money IMHO, especially when considering it's a 600mm equivalent in 35mm format. I do find it a bit soft wide open at the long end, close up to around f8 in good light gives best sharpness.

Anyway, nice shots you've got there

[logic8482]

Thanks everyone for their feedback!

[jwi1980]

very sharp......poison!