Out of 'lurk mode' and into the sunlight

[Harv]

I've been lurking for a while and decided it was time to come out of the dark and into the light. The following is a thread I have posted earlier on another forum so some members here may have already seen it.

I hooked up with a few friends to shoot at the Second Marsh in Oshawa as I wanted to test drive my new 400 f/5.6L on something I could not shoot from my deck. :D I was very pleased with the results and am convinced I made the right choice with this lens.

All shots taken with my 1D MkIIn, 400 f/5.6L, shooting manual at ISO800, f/8, 1/2000 sec.

http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/156993693-O.jpg

http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/156993673-O.jpg

http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/156993620-O.jpg

http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/156994038-O.jpg

http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/156993653-O.jpg

Thanks for looking in. C&C is always welcomed.

[Harryb]

Congrats on delurking Harv. :lynnma That's a very impressive set of shots especially the green heron in flight. :thumb

Don't go back into those shadows. :deal

[JohnDC]

I wanted to test drive my new 400 f/5.6L on something I could not shoot from my deck. :D I was very pleased with the results and am convinced I made the right choice with this lens.
All shots taken with my 1D MkIIn, 400 f/5.6L, shooting manual at ISO800, f/8, 1/2000 sec.
Nice shots. I have been polling other local wildlife photographers, and this seems to be their favorite combo for hand-held shots. The Canon sensor can do the higher ISOs to get the faster shutter speeds and smaller apertures without a noise problem, and the Canon 400s perform better than the 100-400 zoom. Your photos bear that out.

[Rhuarc]

Wow, two Harry's, and both of them with BIF's... WHat is this world coming too!! :D

Edit: Oh, nm, it is Harv, not Hary. Sorry about that! I knew I shouldn't have skipped out of grade school!

[Dick on Aruba]

Well Harvey, your series are awesome!, especially the first two.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

[GonzoBernelli]

Oh my! A "Greenie" in flight! Excellent!

[Ric Grupe]

The green heron is nice to be sure...but, I think the RWBB is the best shot...:thumb

[Harv]

Congrats on delurking Harv. :lynnma That's a very impressive set of shots especially the green heron in flight. :thumb

Don't go back into those shadows. :deal

Thanks a lot, Harry. I appreciate the kind words. Now if I can only get close to your level of ability, I will have arrived. :D

[Harv]

Nice shots. I have been polling other local wildlife photographers, and this seems to be their favorite combo for hand-held shots. The Canon sensor can do the higher ISOs to get the faster shutter speeds and smaller apertures without a noise problem, and the Canon 400s perform better than the 100-400 zoom. Your photos bear that out.

Thanks a lot.

Yes, I've been pleased with this setup and it does handle the higher ISO settings well.

I looked closely at the 100-400 and tried a couple of copies and although it's possible to get a really good one, the risk is there that you could end up with one that is not to sharp at the long end, wide open. I had been using a 300 f/4 for handheld but wanted more reach. I have never seen or heard of a soft copy of the 400 f/5.6 so I went ahead and ordered one. I'm very happy with it.

The only lens I have that is sharper is my 300 f/2.8L IS but it's a bit of a brute to lug around all day and I pretty much use it on the tripod only.

Thanks for looking in.

[Harv]

Wow, two Harry's, and both of them with BIF's... WHat is this world coming too!! :D

Edit: Oh, nm, it is Harv, not Hary. Sorry about that! I knew I shouldn't have skipped out of grade school!

Two Harrys you could probably deal with but one Harv may prove to be more than you want. :wink

[Harv]

Well Harvey, your series are awesome!, especially the first two.

Thanks for sharing,

Dick.

Thanks a lot for looking in and commenting, Dick.

[Harv]

Oh my! A "Greenie" in flight! Excellent!

Thanks a lot, Gonzo. Appreciated.

[Harv]

The green heron is nice to be sure...but, I think the RWBB is the best shot...:thumb

Thanks a lot, Ric. Much appreciated.

[Rhuarc]

Two Harrys you could probably deal with but one Harv may prove to be more than you want. :wink

I don't know, wait till you get to know Harry before you say that! :rofl

[Harv]

I don't know, wait till you get to know Harry before you say that! :rofl

Uh..... I already know harry from elsewhere. :D

[Rhuarc]

Yikes, well then I guess you do know enough to say that, and it makes me sacred! :huh

[ShepsMom]

Outstanding shots, i shall bow to you :bow Harry likes rodents, so bring on some mice!! :rofl

[Harv]

Outstanding shots, i shall bow to you :bow Harry likes rodents, so bring on some mice!! :rofl

Thanks a lot, Marina.

Do you mean like this?

http://harveyg.smugmug.com/photos/131828076-M.jpg

[kdog]

Stunning shots, Harvey. :thumb Great clarity and focus on those, and nice comps.

I think the bad-copy problem on the 100-400s has been solved over time. I haven't heard of anybody getting a bad one in a long time. A few of us on dpreview did some extensive comparisons of the 100-400 versus the 400. The results were that wide-open the 400 is indeed a bit sharper. However, once you stop down a bit, the two lenses are pretty much indistinguishable. And of course the 100-400 is much better at shorter focal lengths. :deal It takes a pretty mean portrait and is great for panos. I bought the 400 just to compare to my 100-400 and ended up keeping both of them.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
-joel

[Harv]

Stunning shots, Harvey. :thumb Great clarity and focus on those, and nice comps.

I think the bad-copy problem on the 100-400s has been solved over time. I haven't heard of anybody getting a bad one in a long time. A few of us on dpreview did some extensive comparisons of the 100-400 versus the 400. The results were that wide-open the 400 is indeed a bit sharper. However, once you stop down a bit, the two lenses are pretty much indistinguishable. And of course the 100-400 is much better at shorter focal lengths. :deal It takes a pretty mean portrait and is great for panos. I bought the 400 just to compare to my 100-400 and ended up keeping both of them.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
-joel

Thanks a lot, Joel. I appreciate you looking and commenting.

I looked long and hard at the 100-400 because of the versatility but as you know, opted for the 400. I wanted it primarily for birds in flight and it does focus a lot faster. I have a 70-200 2.8 and a 300 2.8 to cover the lower ranges so it made the most sense for me.

[Maestro]

What the heck took you so long? You have captured some great action and details in those shots. :thumb

[gluwater]

Uh-oh. There goes the neighborhood. Hey Harv :wave.

[Harv]

What the heck took you so long? You have captured some great action and details in those shots. :thumb

Thanks a lot. Your kind words are very much appreciated.

[Harv]

Uh-oh. There goes the neighborhood. Hey Harv :wave.

Hiya, Nick. Yep, I'm here. You had to know I'd catch up to you sooner or later. :wink