Recent content by grumpybadger

For me, the strength of #1 is that it isn't cropped too tight. Lovely environmental portrait and the light on the bird makes it shine amongst the reeds.

The light on that female kestrel is sublime and love the water drop on the beak of the blackbird

I've not been active on TP for a very long time (I had an accident in 2011 and it stopped me taking many pictures for about 18 months) but I have managed to make a couple of trips this year. There's some great stuff on here and lots of names I don't recognise - which suggests I need to get more...

When I had 400/5.6 I had no qualms about hanging it off the camera and I don't worry about the 70-200/2.8 either.

For safari I reckon of the order of 8x42 is about spot on. Higher mag are great for birding but too much for general use. I must be proper mad by the definition above as I spent £1200 on Leica 8x42 when I could have got 10x50 for £60! Viking and the RSPB branded range are good value midrange...

I should be able to try the 5dii and 500 combination soon. I've used 5D classic and 1Dsii on the 500 and really like them.

Yup. I've had the 24-105 and I still have the 17-55. Found 24 too long on a crop as the wide end of a standard zoom

It'll be ok but not super stable for slower shutters. I keep finding myself hankering after a Gitzo 5 series for my 500/4 to use in bad weather...

I've left my 7D lying in snow, used it in torrential rain and it hasn't missed a beat. Can't speak for the 5DII as I don't have one but I regularly put my 7D and 1DIV through similar pain and they've both survived

Looks like my mistake. I haven't picked up my camera since I broke my shoulder in February and thought you could do it on both. Checking, its only available on the 1D and not the 7D. Sorry

In good light (except very low contrast) I think the IQ from the 7D is excellent. I regularly do A2 prints from it. If you pixel peep then you can see noise but on large prints it is fine for ISO800 and below and I will sometimes go to 1600. The thing I love about the 7D (especially for...

Canon offer both those features. The taking a picture when in focus has been on the 1-series for a long time and I regularly use auto ISO on my 7D and 1D with a max ISO set. I have my 7D to not go over ISO1600 and my 1DIV at 3200

I guess I'm lucky to have both a 7D and a 1DIV and I have to say, that I still use the 7D a lot. The lighter camera often suits me better (it lives on my 70-200II) and I am very happy with the results I get. I tend to keep the 1DIV for use on long lenses on a tripod or in very poor light.

Strange. I've gone from full frame back to crop and am happy with my decision

Must admit, I am wondering about the new Sigma too. Would be a nice lens to use alongside Canon 400DO and 500/4. Would only be interested in it with a 1.4x so will keep my eye out for further reviews.