Avian experiments

[Fangman]

A series of images taken with the space of a few minutes - all full frame as out of camera. Converted in Photoshop from RAW at auto setting NO POST PROCESSING WHATEVER just added the exif data and resized and saved. All using fill-in flash - 0.3 stop
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Birds/iso1600f9.jpg
1 iso 1600
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Birds/sparrow1600.jpg
2 Sparrow iso 1600
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Birds/iso800f8.jpg
3. chaffinch again iso 800
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Birds/robiniso400.jpg
4. iso 400
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Birds/iso200.3.jpg
5. iso 200
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/Exfangman/Birds/robinwaving.jpg
6. 1so 400 Taken about an hour later about 6.20pm this evening. The robin checking its deodourant or waving good bye!

[Sharkey]

What are you up to Fangman?

Not your usual stuff. May I ask what the goal was?

[Fangman]

What are you up to Fangman?

Not your usual stuff. May I ask what the goal was?

I suffer from noise at anything above iso 400 on the 350D and it shows on cropping images ever shot at iso 200. I find that with small birds that ideally 200th is required as they are twitchy little beasts and I would like to get usable images from feeders under my birch tree. Advice on the forum suggested increasing the exposure bias could help so made use of a willing chaffinch to take a series. I thought putting some of the exif on and posting full frame - un processed would give others a chance to see the results and judge for themselves.
From playing with one or two of the images in Photoshop, a reasonable result can be obtained at iso 1600 - at least as most get used as postcards for grandchildren and aged RSPB member relations who can no longer get out.

[Sharkey]

OK.

The exposure changes seem to have had a positive effect (to my eye).

However somthing else has struck me that I haven't noticed before, probably because birdy shots are usually cropped or framed quite tightly.

I get the distinct impression that your setup is not focussing on your subject correctly:shrug:.
I may be wrong!

If you look at the image with the starling head 'blhc' it is remarkably in focus:thinking:

Obviously at the larger apps. this can happen more sasily but I just get the impression that the forground in each image is the focal area with the subject (even with the smaller apps.) just being in focus at its nearest point to the camera.

I would be interested in comments from other birders, well anyone really.

To clear my mind!:thumbs: