old man 88 Loc: Palmview, TX when not on road

Nikon D750, lens 150-600 mm
1/160 at f / 8.0
ISO 2200
600 mm
tripod

All C & C greatly appreciated.

Just trying to improve.

Thanks in advance for looking and any reply.

C M

Northern Cardinal

(Download)

ggttc Loc: TN

Very nice shot...

chaman

This is a nice image and my only thought is just how much sharper and clean this pic would have been if instead of going with AUTO ISO you would have controlled it. An ISO of 2200 is completely ridiculous with the amount of light that was available. Folks, try and control these parameters and you will see a noticeable improvement in your images. This image could have gone from a good one to an awesome one in a second.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

Ok Chaman, tell us what settings you would have used had you been in the same position with the same equipment!

chaman

Any other setting besides AUTO ISO, like bigger aperture (lower f/stop) for starters. It would be impossible to say exact settings but I have been in countless similar situations and have always stayed away from any AUTO ISO settings with clean and sharp results. The equipment in this case is secondary...its a matter of basic knowledge of manual exposure.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Here here!
Old film guy- I go with 100 ISO in sunny weather and when using a flash, and 400 in low light. Very low light and using a flash is not possible, I edge up the ISO until a usable Aperture is available. I only set AUTO ISO in fast-paced situations, when the conditions are changing rapidly. A rare occurrence for me... :thumbup:

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

We assume Goldwinger was using Auto ISO, so with that assumption in mind and since Goldfinger is using 600mm on either a Sigma or Tamron lens which at 600mm will only open up to f6.3, I do not see how Goldwinger had much choice in his other two setting variables. At 600mm f6.3 is inclined to be soft so my guess is that Goldwinger chose f8 to improve sharpness. Yes, he could have dropped his shutter speed to 1/80 or 1/60th and that would help to drop his ISO but the D750 has excellent resolution even at his chosen (automatic) ISO selection. We do not have cardinals in my part of the world so maybe there is some room to move on the shutter speed but certainly not for the song birds I shoot. They are all fast moving critters that need high shutter speeds to capture clean portrait shots. IMHO, Goldwinger did an excellent capture and now that he has that shot "in the can" he can experiment on his next "cardinal capture"

old man 88 Loc: Palmview, TX when not on road

The morning was over cast at 8:21 AM

I attaching the RAW file to comparing

cardinal-raw

(Download)

chaman

You can try and worded anyway you want. The fact is even at an overcast day, around 8:00am an ISO of 2200 IS too high and unnecessary. I firmly believe this was indeed AUTO ISO since that type of "funny" ISOs are chosen by the cameras. I shoot birds, a lot, I know how fast they are. I have a Sigma 150-500 lens which is a f/8 lens and the higher in ISO i have ever gotten to has been 1600. And that was some BIF. The image is a good one but it could have been a better one if it was taken at a lower ISO, which was EVIDENTLY possible in this case. Leaving the choice to the camera will give you a good image sometimes but the real great ones are usually obtained when the photographer decides to step up and really control the basic parameters of exposure.

I try to give honest feedback and stay away from the usual hypocritical, empty praises some just LOVE to give away. The end result is usually in detriment of the possibility of improvement that I bet a lot desire. Unless HONEST feedback is given such improvement can be missed.

I have a few examples of overcast situations with my Sigma, the higher ISO I ever got was 800...2200 is more than double that, something to think about. I will not post examples here since its not my thread and will not like to feed the trolls but could do it if the OP is interested.

merrytexan Loc: georgia

he is a prince for sure goldwinger. i like his perch, the composition, and sparkle in his eye...very nice shot.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

What a beautiful shot, CM! Looks like he's posing for you!