You gotta love math, especially if you are a photographer.
Aug 10, 2019 22:42:28 #
For a long time I have been trying to determine the best lens for photographing hummingbirds in flight. I own a lot of lenses and I have been brute force trying every lens I own to see which one worked best.
This is a very complex issue and I'm convinced almost any lens will work, but some work better than others.
I used an on-line DOF calculator to help decide which of my existing lenses would work best for me. Another important factor is how fast can a given lens focus and track focus. I decided of all the lens I own that the "Sony 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G SSM" set at 135mm, would work the best for me. Your mileage might vary.
Today I took a few photos with that lens and pulled out all the stops in post processing. I like the photo a lot. I hope you also like it.
This is a very complex issue and I'm convinced almost any lens will work, but some work better than others.
I used an on-line DOF calculator to help decide which of my existing lenses would work best for me. Another important factor is how fast can a given lens focus and track focus. I decided of all the lens I own that the "Sony 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G SSM" set at 135mm, would work the best for me. Your mileage might vary.
Today I took a few photos with that lens and pulled out all the stops in post processing. I like the photo a lot. I hope you also like it.
Aug 10, 2019 22:49:25 #
Aug 10, 2019 23:09:54 #
Aug 10, 2019 23:19:51 #
Aug 10, 2019 23:30:23 #
Aug 10, 2019 23:39:49 #
Great detail in the download. Beautiful colors and nice stopping of the wing actions.
Aug 10, 2019 23:40:37 #
RRS
Loc: Not sure
Davethehiker wrote:
For a long time I have been trying to determine th... (show quote)
Very nice, did you use flash for this one? The detail is excellent!
Aug 11, 2019 03:55:14 #
Aug 11, 2019 04:46:51 #
RRS wrote:
Very nice, did you use flash for this one? The detail is excellent!
Yes.
Aug 11, 2019 05:05:55 #
Aug 11, 2019 07:26:30 #
Aug 11, 2019 08:20:39 #
Looks like the right choice to me. Very nice. Would I be right in thinking that using a flash was a bigger factor than the choice of lenses ... I'm asking.
Aug 11, 2019 08:29:10 #
Aug 11, 2019 08:46:09 #
Howard5252 wrote:
Looks like the right choice to me. Very nice. Would I be right in thinking that using a flash was a bigger factor than the choice of lenses ... I'm asking.
I have been working on taking photos like this for years. I'm not sure how to answer that question. Flash photography (duration, number, placement) is import, but also distance to subject, distance between the subject and the the background. The lens determines how the final photo will look. The inner workings of the lens and camera determine if we will be able to focus quickly enough to capture a bird in motion with wings beating at 80 times a second.
It's all important; just one thing wrong and the photo falls apart. That's why most people don't take photos like this, they use PhotoShop, high shutter speed, and long duration flashes. It's not the same thing.
If I lived in central America I would have more beautiful birds coming to my feeder, but I don't.
Aug 11, 2019 09:39:53 #
I don't think I'm ever going to get such a nice, clear, sharp, photo of a hummer. Well done Sir. 
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.