A few Australian birds

[Ziggy]

The first is our apex raptor and largest bird, the Wedge-tailed Eagle that gets up to 2.5m wingspan ...

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 445.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 800

A9 + 100-400mm + 1.4 TC

This little cutie is a male Cockatiel ...

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 320

A7R III + FE 400/2.8

Brown Thornbill - a tiny bird the size of a golf ball but with a big call ...

• ILCE-9
• FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 2X Teleconverter
• 800.0 mm
• ƒ/6.7
• 1/1000 sec
• ISO 4000

A9 + FE 400/2.8 + 2x TC

 

[Pat_M]

Nice work! Looks like you have some killer gear for birding!

 

[Ziggy]

Thanks Pat.
Yes, but it's like the 80-20 rule. Spend another 80% for 20% improvement lol.

 

[Mike Renny]

I hired the 400 f2.8 GM to photograph kingfishers here in the UK a couple of weeks ago and it truly is a magnificent lens. The only problem now of course is having used it I now know that I NEED to have this lens in my life but at £10, 500 it's not something that most of us are able to simply go out and buy! Some significant saving and probably dare I say the sale of a lens or two will be required.

Keep an eye out on the Marketplace section everyone as I'm sure that at some point in the future you will see a lens or two of mine posted there for sale and you can always rest assured that any lens posted for sale will have had one careful owner and be in minty as mint can be condition!

 

[Ziggy]

Yes, it's like having a bottle of outstanding wine. It spoils the palate for the old stuff.

It's not all roses though. Despite OSS camera movement is quickly picked up and a big rig is hard to move smoothly for us opportunistic hand-holders. For BIF I use 1/4000 with the 2x TC while the FE 100-400 works with one stop less.