Donna these are taken at about 20-25 feet with the 500mm through the open kitchen window. About 15 feet is minimum focusing distance with the 500mm so it's pretty close.
It ain't all about glass though (although it obviously helps a lot) I've been using the 500mm without the 1.4 converter a lot more since I got the 40D for about the same reach, and I'm expecting to gain significantly more reach when I shell out for a 50D body very shortly. Sensor size and pixel count is playing a bigger role in this now with the choices open to us of late.
Well if you can get close enough you don't need the long glass anyway. :shrug: I have pulled off bird shots with the 180 macro, but they get a bit skittish when you're working that close.
300mm and the converter options should get you in the ball park.
Thanks, I will give it a go. We get lots of Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers in the garden during winter and I would like to do them justice.
that will be what it is ( hope i did'nt offend you mate i would still be over the moon with them )I think they're sharp enough. It's perhaps that I ran NR on the bg in No1, not the other two, and they are quite noisy at 1600 ISO?
Thanks but I take loads - I just don't post 'em.