Thanks everyone. Sorry for the late reply, I didn't get the email notifications that you'd commented!
I feel I know what I'm doing with composition, rule of thirds etc. I don't know why I didn't apply it in these shots haha.
I am doing an online photography course - we've gone on to different types of photography, but personally I think I would have benefitted with more of the basics.
It's exposure/ sharpness that is bugging me at the moment. (I'm not too fussed at the artistically stunning stuff at the moment, I just want some nice quality record shots so I know what I have seen). I have a heart condition which makes my hands shake more than normal, so I think I'm fighting an uphill battle!
I am hoping the weather cheers up soon and I can get out and practice soon. I have played around with MF and Av and Sv a bit, but need to get better.
Thanks for all your comments.
A monopod could go a long way to overcoming this. Cheap, light and portable.
I expect it is the cheap one, I got it as a bundle with my camera body and a wide angle canon lensIf its the cheap 70-300 Tamron (around £ 100) then its not great, and sharpness / focus would immediately crease with a better lens.
I'm on the upgrade side of the fence.I expect it is the cheap one, I got it as a bundle with my camera body and a wide angle canon lens
You can rent lenses? What a fab idea! I'll definitely look into that. Thanks so much.If you have access to other lenses within your family or friends circle, maybe borrow, in a safe socially distanced way. Otherwise when people are allowed to meet up, maybe someone on TP would like a day out with the camera and you could try their lens. Or rent one for a weekend from Lensesforhire.
You can, but depending on how long you plan on renting one out for it can be cheaper to buy a lens and then sell again, if bought wisely in the first place.You can rent lenses? What a fab idea! I'll definitely look into that. Thanks so much.
If this is not too personal, whereabouts are you? I'm assuming the UK.You can rent lenses? What a fab idea! I'll definitely look into that. Thanks so much.
You can rent lenses? What a fab idea! I'll definitely look into that. Thanks so much.
And this is a good place to check used pricesIt's up to you of course, but personally I would just spend £99 and get the nifty fifty 50mm f/1.8. LINK It's such a good and versatile lens which opens up lots of creativity and can encourage further development into photography. You'll then be in a good position to know what lenses (and camera) to properly invest in.
Camera Price Buster is a good place to check out all the available gear on the market.
Canon Camera Price Comparison From Camera Price Buster
Compare Canon New & Used prices. Genuine UK Stock.www.camerapricebuster.co.uk
I agree, a nifty fifty on a crop sensor is too long for ‘general’ photography imo and borders into being more of a portrait lens.Nifty fifties are IMO a totally different proposition on APS-C due to the crop factor. A nifty fifty equivalent on APS-C would be a 35mm (or there abouts) and these tend to be a little more expensive than the bargain 50mm's. But of course with lenses like this shots like the ones in the OP would be extremely difficult as they just don't have the reach and good long lenses can be expensive.
I am always a bit phased when people recommend nifty fifties to APS-C users but if the op or anyone else thinks this is a good way to go then so be it.
Agreed, I’d even say 300mm on a crop body is probably the shortest you want to go for wildlife. YMMVGiven the OP has stated "Mainly Wildlife" I'm not sure anything less than 200mm is going to be any use.
Admittedly it would be an easy lens to learn how to set and use the camera with but largely redundant after that.
The other likely problem will be the cameras ISO performance.
Yes, practice will help - but shooting small, flitty birds, in British woodland in February is technically challenging for your camera.
Good advice, the only thing I would say is that the OP has health issues that means they struggle to hold lenses steady. Fast primes are heavy and more difficult to holdLots of good advice in here already - but my thoughts:
You've arguably chosen the most gear-centric type of photography - wildlife is tricky, small wildlife even more so, small wildlife in the UK, ooof!
Yes, practice will help - but shooting small, flitty birds, in British woodland in February is technically challenging for your camera.
You really need a fast lens to get as much of the limited light in as possible, longer mm to fill the frame better (those birds are small!). They also tend to focus faster.
The body is fine for now; there's always better, but a top-of-the-line body with a bargain basement lens will fare much worse than a good lens on a decent body.
I'd look at a second-hand 400mm f/5.6. It's not ideal - f/2.8 would be perfect (but ££££) - but it will give you more reach, and the wider aperture will help.
Hiring lenses is great, I tend to limit it to holidays, but be prepared to reluctantly hand it back at the end of the hire period and instantly looking on eBay and on here for second-hand ones!
Thankfully, brighter weather is coming - so wait for some better light, and ideally find some bigger birds/animals
I’d have thought that combo would have had no issue?You got that right.
Small flitty birds in woodland would be a challenge for my R5 and a 400mm 2.8.
Ouch!Good advice, the only thing I would say is that the OP has health issues that means they struggle to hold lenses steady. Fast primes are heavy and more difficult to hold
I’d have thought that combo would have had no issue?
I got sick of carrying the 150-600mm and went to M4/3 with the EM1-II and 100-400mm (200-800mm eq) and it was a great combo, AF and Iq was very good. I’ve now gone sony with the 100-400mm and whilst IQ is better (the GM lens is a cracker) weight is starting to creep up and you know when you’ve been hand holding the lens for a while. I don’t have the patience to have a ‘proper’ setup with tripod and gimbalSome folk might disagree but when I had the 1100D Canon, my most used lens was the EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS STM. It was a great lens and light on my camera, my biggest mistake getting a lens for my wildlife was a 150-600mm for me ONLY it was to heavy to carry about.
I got sick of carrying the 150-600mm and went to M4/3 with the EM1-II and 100-400mm (200-800mm eq) and it was a great combo, AF and Iq was very good. I’ve now gone sony with the 100-400mm and whilst IQ is better (the GM lens is a cracker) weight is starting to creep up and you know when you’ve been hand holding the lens for a while. I don’t have the patience to have a ‘proper’ setup with tripod and gimbal
I wish I could get that close. I was taking shots of Robins and Long tailed tits in my garden and the closest I could get was about 12-15ft away and with a 100-400mm I was still having to crop VERY heavily. I’ve bought a 1.4x TC now so hoping to give that a go this week.My biggest lens I'll use for wildlife will be my FE70-200 f4, as when I start to get back out I know just where to go for good wildlife shots.
You got that right.
Small flitty birds in woodland would be a challenge for my R5 and a 400mm 2.8.
LOL. Not exactly Small flirty birds in woodland but that is impressive.Easily remedied LINK
The R5 should be capable of that tooEasily remedied LINK
The R5 should be capable of that too
South West - Just outside of BathIf this is not too personal, whereabouts are you? I'm assuming the UK.