First bird shots with Tamron 150-600: None of these are very good but I felt the need to put something out here for comments and help. Most of them are handheld since I did not get my...

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

None of these are very good but I felt the need to put something out here for comments and help. Most of them are handheld since I did not get my monopod for nearly a week after the lens. I have just started to be able to download and process again although still not on my own computer. All are at 600mm. 7 pics total.

1. ISO 800, 1/80 sec

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2. ISO 400, 1/200 sec

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3. ISO 400, 1/500 sec

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4. ISO 400, 1/250 sec

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5. ISO 200, 1/160 sec

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6. ISO 200, 1/200 sec

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7. ISO 200, 1/125 sec

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Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

Andrea.Jarrell wrote:

None of these are very good but I felt the need to put something out here for comments and help. Most of them are handheld since I did not get my monopod for nearly a week after the lens. I have just started to be able to download and process again although still not on my own computer. All are at 600mm. 7 pics total.

These are pretty nice captures, but they are all soft - save the one of the towhee, which is getting there. The shutter speed, especially for hand-held is way too slow. Hope you get that monopod soon, and boost the shutter speed. I think you are on your way to some good captures in the near future.

If you can handle it, and have the patience, use a tripod. I think you will be much happier with the results.

Thanks for sharing these. It is a great start. The fun is just beginning.

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

Bozsik wrote:

These are pretty nice captures, but they are all soft - save the one of the towhee, which is getting there. The shutter speed, especially for hand-held is way too slow. Hope you get that monopod soon, and boost the shutter speed. I think you are on your way to some good captures in the near future.

If you can handle it, and have the patience, use a tripod. I think you will be much happier with the results.

Thanks for sharing these. It is a great start. The fun is just beginning.

I knew they were all too soft when I got the chance to review them. I do have the monopod and when I can afford to get it I will be getting a tripod. The head I got for the monopod is also a tripod head so I may be able to get just legs to begin with. I am hoping to get out some more and try to get the shutter speed up to sharpen the focus. Thank you so much for looking and the constructive comments.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd suggest increasing your shutter speed and ISO as needed to get that faster speed. I'd also read the reviews on the 150-600 and find the aperture where it's rated sharpest at the max zoom. I then would use that aperture. Some of the shots appear to have the focus off just a bit such as number 4 where the branch and the tree seem better than the bird. This shot would be called front-focus. You might check your focus setting or you may need to adjust the camera to the lens. Or again, a specific and smaller aperture may be more appropriate. You mention only speed and ISO and there's a 3rd side to the triangle ....

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

CHG_CANON wrote:

I'd suggest increasing your shutter speed and ISO ... (show quote)

They were all at the same aperture of 6.3. I meant to mention that but I guess I forgot. I knew they were not likely to be well focused on the appropriate subject as I was experiencing a lot of camera shake due to the weight of my setup. That lens is heavy. I am starting to get a handle on it but fully intend to put it on my new monopod and eventually a tripod so I can steady it and get the shutter speed up. Thank you for looking and commenting. I am taking in every ones critiques and will work to get better captures to post.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Andrea.Jarrell wrote:

None of these are very good but I felt the need to put something out here for comments and help. Most of them are handheld since I did not get my monopod for nearly a week after the lens. I have just started to be able to download and process again although still not on my own computer. All are at 600mm. 7 pics total.

When I shoot surfing shots I use a tripod even though I shoot on Manual mode at 1000th of a sec at F8 and allow the ISO to fluxuate depending upon the light. I use a tripod not because to steady the lens, but because it's so heavy to hold for long periods of time. When you use a tripod, the suggestion is to turn off the image stabilization system. Only use that if you are hand holding it. I have tried it both ways and found no difference.
Good luck! Have fun!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

This is the first review I found from a site I respect. Their suggestion is f/8 at 600mm. I'd try 800 to 1000 on shutter speed, handheld or on support. Your EOS should easily handle up to ISO-3200 to give the confidence to work at higher ISOs and faster speed. The light on these examples I'd say support the 1/800 to 1/1000 speeds around ISO 1000.
http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tamron-150-600-5-6p3

A nice crisp shot with some noise can be cleaned up. A soft blurred shot has no real use unless it's a yeti ...

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

BrentHarder wrote:

When I shoot surfing shots I use a tripod even though I shoot on Manual mode at 1000th of a sec at F8 and allow the ISO to fluxuate depending upon the light. I use a tripod not because to steady the lens, but because it's so heavy to hold for long periods of time. When you use a tripod, the suggestion is to turn off the image stabilization system. Only use that if you are hand holding it. I have tried it both ways and found no difference.
Good luck! Have fun!

Thank you for looking and the comments. I have been using aperture priority but I might just try going into manual and setting the shutter speed higher. I have to be careful with my ISO due to the cameras I have (T3i and T4i). They tend to get noisy much above 800 ISO.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Andrea.Jarrell wrote:

Thank you for looking and the comments. I have been using aperture priority but I might just try going into manual and setting the shutter speed higher. I have to be careful with my ISO due to the cameras I have (T3i and T4i). They tend to get noisy much above 800 ISO.

Time to upgrade to a full frame sensor camera. You will be a happy camper then! If you have the bucks, I'd suggest the Canon 5D Mark III. If that is to much of a strain, go with the Canon 6D at about $1000 less.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Very nice shots.

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

BrentHarder wrote:

Time to upgrade to a full frame sensor camera. You will be a happy camper then! If you have the bucks, I'd suggest the Canon 5D Mark III. If that is to much of a strain, go with the Canon 6D at about $1000 less.

I want a 5D Mark III but for now I cannot shell out the bucks. Maybe I will be able to find a refurb now that Canon is putting out the two new 5D models.

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

Very nice shots.

Thank you Jerry for looking in and commenting. I have a lot of work to do but looking forward to it.

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

CHG_CANON wrote:

This is the first review I found from a site I res... (show quote)

I am going to give this a try. I do have noise reduction in my pp program.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Nice shots, but you will get much sharper results when you use a tripod.

Andrea.Jarrell Loc: Mount Airy, NC

nimbushopper wrote:

Nice shots, but you will get much sharper results when you use a tripod.

Thank you for looking and commenting. I really appreciate every ones assistance. I knew these early shots would not be focused well because I could feel and see the movement. I just got a monopod to work with it and have plans to get a tripod as well.