First week with new 20D & bigma has been quite an experience. I got the EF-S17-85 f/4-5.6 IS USM
for general purpose and the bigma for birds. Sad part is the AF went out second outing and I've had
to use manual focus, tough for BIF's.

Got in some practice BIF's before AF malfunction. Local pigeons were
accommodating. These guys were low and fast.


First outing found Barred owl at about 80yds. f8/0 1/1600 iso1600 big crop


This Bluebird landed about 20 ft away. AF f8/0 1/8000 iso 1600
Hey I'm new at this, better settings come with practice I hope.


Eastern Phoebe f/11 1/500 iso1600 AF


f/8.0 1/500 iso 200 manual focus


Turkey at about 200 yds. f/11 1/500 iso400 manual focus big crop


Before malfunction


Manual focus got lucky


What a week, received lens last Tue., first outing Wed., DW to emergency Wed.
night (pancreatitis), AF out Sat. on way to hospital (stopped to shoot birds) called
B&H today and new one on way. So I'm a happy camper again.
AL

Ecellent shots Al. Looks like you will have fun with your new set-up. Was the AF problem with the lens or the 30D?

It was a good thing you bought it from B&H. They are great with these problems. When my first D2X developed problems I had a replacement camera in my hands a few days after I returned the defective camera to them.

You posted a great serie here, well done.

I hope that the malfunction will belong to history soon.

Dick.

Great first outing, I really like the phoebe.

Originally Posted by Harryb Ecellent shots Al. Looks like you will have fun with your new set-up. Was the AF problem with the lens or the 30D? It was a good thing you bought it from B&H. They are great with these problems. When my first D2X developed problems I had a replacement camera in my hands a few days after I returned the defective camera to them.

Thanks Harry,
One thing I noticed is I won't hesitate shooting at iso 1600 if I hafta, the little bit of noise
is easy to clean up. Coming from an 828 I've developed all kinds of editing skills.I am
disappointed in the sharpness though, no where near the sharpness of the 828 right out of
the camera.

B&H was really nice, new one coming 2nd day air. I went ahead and ordered a new one seeing
they are closed 4/12-20. Couldn't wait that long.

I first noticed it when the lens wouldn't lock in AI servo on the bif's. I put the 20D in one-shot
and each time I half pressed the focus would move a slight bit. If I kept half-pressing it
would evently get there. Yesterday it wouldn't move at all so evey shot was manually focused.
Try holding a 4 lb lens + 20D zoomed to 500mm to the sky or tree top, finding the bird and
focusing with left thumb. Not a prety site.
Thanks again
AL

Originally Posted by D200-D70 You posted a great serie here, well done. I hope that the malfunction will belong to history soon. Dick.

Thanks Dick for kind compliment.
New one be here Wed. I hope.
Al

Originally Posted by Rohirrim Great first outing, I really like the phoebe.

Thanks Steve, now what is the sparrow? I had answers of Song, Fox and Lincoln's. Other views here.
AL

Awsome shots Al, especialy with a new set up. You really have a nice variety of animals near you. Hope to see lots more when the new lens arrives, especially some more owl shots.

Originally Posted by gluwater Awsome shots Al, especialy with a new set up. You really have a nice variety of animals near you. Hope to see lots more when the new lens arrives, especially some more owl shots.

Ah the owl, the DW and I were creaping thru the woods when she said is that a hornets
nest over there? Duh, it's an owl at about 40 yards looking the other way. I got a few
shots (see here) with the 828 before it flew about 35 yds and got a few more. Then last
weekend we spotted it again, this time I had my new camera although it was farther away.
Thanks, I'd love to find some more but around here they're very weerie.
AL