MikWar wrote:
Now that's what I expected! I couldn't have gotten these pictures without your help!
I want to thank all the UHH members who made suggestions on how to improve my pictures using my new 100-400 lens. In particular Imagemeister, Robertjeri, Notorious T.O.D, PHRubin, Cat Marley, gessman, Bobspez, Amfoto1, and Woody4329 were persistent and patient with me. Below are some picts I took in the last two days using some of the suggestions: faster SS, using AI Servo, remove protective filter. Each of the pictures were hand-held. Most of them were tough shots - far away, flying past, in the "crap", poor lighting, jumping around. Yet they are 500% better than any previous pics.
What was the difference? Imagemeister suggested it in the third (of over 150) posts; Amfoto suggested it too; Woody4329 nailed it in his analysis of one of the original pictures of the bird on the ground. I'm 99% sure it was the protective filter. I purchased the lens with a filter package and immediately put on the UV filter. Every picture I took since Day 1 had the filter on it. And I thought just about every one of those pictures could have been better. Took off the filter 2 days ago and, Voila!
This is not to say that I couldn't get better shots (some of the ones below were "tests" to see if I could get the shot (i.e. very long distance, shooting into a mess of "crap"). I noticed how much camera shake I get - got to improve technique. I had to use manual focus in the "crap" - got to get better there. Need to figure out which lens stabilizer setting works best in different situations.
Sorry for the long post but I thought I owed it to everybody who took the time to help figure out the problem should get an explanation and a well-deserved pat on the back.
Mike
PS - I'm having rotator-cuff surgery Friday. I won't be able to lift the camera/lens for a least a month, probably 3 months. Ironic, huh?
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Now that's what I expected! I couldn't have gotte... (
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Very much improved!! The third from top seems to be very sharp. Good luck with your surgery. I hope all goes well and you have a speedy recovery>