Hello Alpha Shooters!

[rōken]

Just joined this forum on the occasion of my first Sony camera which is also my first mirrorless camera. A barrage of stupid questions coming soon . . .

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Welcome and bring on the questions Chuck!
But first: What camera did you get?
Also: what genre of photography do you like, or see yourself pursuing?

 

[Brownie]

Welcome!

 

[rōken]

Welcome and bring on the questions Chuck!
But first: What camera did you get?
Also: what genre of photography do you like, or see yourself pursuing?

Thanks for the welcome.
α1 body and just one lens (200 - 600)
We spend the most time shooting birds (raptors) but also sports and outdoors. I've been trying to improve my scenic and landscape photos.

 

[Spiderx1]

Welcome fellow A1 shooter!

 

[rōken]

It’s been foggy where we live and we finally got to get out and shoot with the new cameras. Wife used Canon EOS R3 for the first time and I shot Sony for the first time ever. The tech is pretty amazing, with OSS working together with IBIS and autofocus locking on tiny bird eyes.

Make - SONY
Model - ILCE-1
Software - ILCE-1 v1.20
Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
Lens Info - 280.00 840.00 8.00 9.00
Focal Length - 340.00 mm
Date Time - 2021:12:02 15:47:18
Exposure Time - 1/1600 seconds
F Number - 9.00
Exposure Program - Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings - 2000
Exposure Bias Value - 0.70
Max Aperture Value - F 8.00
Metering Mode - Center weighted average
Custom Rendered - Normal process
Exposure Mode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
Scene Capture Type - Standard
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal

 

[Brownie]

Nice shot!

 

[rōken]

Nice shot!

Thanks! Beginner's luck!

 

[Brownie]

Thanks! Beginner's luck!

Well, if you're really a beginner, then it's a really nice shot!

 

[rōken]

Well, if you're really a beginner, then it's a really nice shot!

Thanks! I'm very old but new to Sony and new to mirrorless.

 

[Jeff A]

Thanks! Beginner's luck!

Yea, right!

 

[rōken]

Took the Sony out for the second time today and tried to make some adjustments based on the results from yesterday. In yesterday’s shots there were too many photos with motion blur and many with eyes that weren’t sharp. Stopped down to f10 in the hopes of increasing depth of field to get sharp focus on the eyes and increased ISO in order to increase shutter speed. Unfortunately, the photos from today were a little worse. The best opportunity was a young harrier that was hunting near us and her diving and twisting motion was too much for 1/2000 shutter speed plus her dark eyes were lost in the dark markings on her head. If I had it to do over again, I would use manual exposure with 1/3200 shutter to freeze action, f9 and ISO 2000.

Make - SONY
Model - ILCE-1
Software - ILCE-1 v1.20
Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
Lens Info - 280.00 840.00 8.00 9.00
Focal Length - 840.00 mm
Date Time - 2021:12:03 15:37:31
Exposure Time - 1/2000 seconds
F Number - 10.00
Exposure Program - Aperture priority
ISO Speed Ratings – 1250
Exposure Bias Value - 0.70
Max Aperture Value - F 8.99
Metering Mode - Center weighted average
Custom Rendered - Normal process
Exposure Mode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
Scene Capture Type - Standard
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal

 

[Tim Mayo]

Welcome Chuck and thanks for joining and sharing your first shots! I'd try increasing the shutter speed before stopping down the aperture. I don't know what distance you were from the bird but let's just say you were 30 maters away. With the 600mm at f6.3 this gives you a depth of field of 0.93 m, which typically means providing the focus lands on the bird then it will normally all be in focus. I'd also try without the teleconverter, then with the teleconverter. This would help to rule out any issues with the 1.4x.

 

[rōken]

. . . I'd try increasing the shutter speed before stopping down the aperture. I don't know what distance you were from the bird but let's just say you were 30 maters away. With the 600mm at f6.3 this gives you a depth of field of 0.93 m, which typically means providing the focus lands on the bird then it will normally all be in focus. I'd also try without the teleconverter, then with the teleconverter. This would help to rule out any issues with the 1.4x.

Thanks for the feedback, Timothy. We're waiting for the sun to come out so we can get back at it!

 

[Tim Mayo]

Thanks for the feedback, Timothy. We're waiting for the sun to come out so we can get back at it!

It doesn't look like the sun will be coming out here all week!

 

[Brownie]

Keep in mind though the 1.4 makes it 840mm, which effectively cuts the DOF @ 30 meters in half.

 

[rōken]

. . . I'd try increasing the shutter speed before stopping down the aperture. I don't know what distance you were from the bird but let's just say you were 30 maters away. With the 600mm at f6.3 this gives you a depth of field of 0.93 m, which typically means providing the focus lands on the bird then it will normally all be in focus . . .

Make – SONY

Model - ILCE-1

Software - ILCE-1 v1.20

Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter

Focal Length - 570 mm

Date Time - 2021:12:08 08:08:21

Exposure Time - 1/3200 seconds

F Number - 9.00

Exposure Program - Manual control

ISO Speed Ratings - 5000

Make – SONY

Model - ILCE-1

Software - ILCE-1 v1.20

Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter

Focal Length - 840 mm

Date Time - 2021:12:08 09:31:11

Exposure Time - 1/3200 seconds

F Number - 9.00

Exposure Program - Manual control

ISO Speed Ratings - 2500

Make – SONY

Model - ILCE-1

Software - ILCE-1 v1.20

Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter

Focal Length - 840 mm

Date Time - 2021:12:08 09:44:07

Exposure Time - 1/3200 seconds

F Number - 9.00

Exposure Program - Manual control

ISO Speed Ratings - 1600

 

[Woodstock69]

Welcome to the forum !

 

[Brownie]

View attachment 15118

Make – SONY

Model - ILCE-1

Software - ILCE-1 v1.20

Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter

Focal Length - 570 mm

Date Time - 2021:12:08 08:08:21

Exposure Time - 1/3200 seconds

F Number - 9.00

Exposure Program - Manual control

ISO Speed Ratings - 5000

View attachment 15119

Make – SONY

Model - ILCE-1

Software - ILCE-1 v1.20

Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter

Focal Length - 840 mm

Date Time - 2021:12:08 09:31:11

Exposure Time - 1/3200 seconds

F Number - 9.00

Exposure Program - Manual control

ISO Speed Ratings - 2500

View attachment 15120

Make – SONY

Model - ILCE-1

Software - ILCE-1 v1.20

Lens Model - FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter

Focal Length - 840 mm

Date Time - 2021:12:08 09:44:07

Exposure Time - 1/3200 seconds

F Number - 9.00

Exposure Program - Manual control

ISO Speed Ratings - 1600

Well I'd say you got that sorted!