tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

I have been practicing using a new D7500 and Tamron 18-400 (with focus corrections via Tap-In Console) in preparation for a trip to Antarctica. I have read on UHH that Humming birds are considered a major wildlife photography challenge and finding that to be true because they are so small and fast, so I have been focussing on them. But yesterday, i saw something unusual at a greater distance..see first and second pix. My first impression was a flying lobster! It is bigger than a dragonfly and smaller than a humming bird, but likes the butterfly bush which it is pollinating. I would appreciate any comments as to its identity. Thanks

The pix were all taken handheld in direct sunlight at a distance of ~8 feet for Humming birds and ~20 feet for the mystery insect. Settings: Manual exposure, 1/8000, F/8, auto ISO (capped at 9000). Autofocus: C, group or D9. Lens VC on. Post processing, including lots of cropping, done in Aperture 3.6 (i am still investigating replacements).

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Quixdraw Loc: x

Hummingbird Moth, I believe.

relbugman Loc: MD/FL/CA/SC

Sometimes called bumblebee moths due to their small size, clear wings, and commonly yellow and black coloration. Good catch! A type of sphinx moth.

tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

Thanks for the quick replies! Yes, I think it is a hummingbird moth, as featured in this YouTube video i just found:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYLtpqkMSvU

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Consider a slower shutter speed and corresponding lower ISO to achieve less noise and more detail in your results.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

All images are very noisy and lack definition
As suggested by ChG Canon, slower shutter speed and lower iso.

tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

Thanks to both of you for your suggestion.

On future images I will try a slower shutter speed, perhaps 1/2000 sec., but expect to see more motion blur at the wing tips.
The D7500 has "High ISO NR", which is set to "Normal". Would "High" help? I will also try shooting in 14-bit RAW+FINE JPEG, which i have programmed on the Fn1 button. Do you think RAW will help with noise reduction in post, as i read somewhere?

On the existing images, I will try noise reduction in Aperture and back off on sharpening. Attached is the last picture with no post processing. I am trying to decide where to go after Aperture, so I would much appreciate anyone using another app trying it on this image. There are many alternatives. DAM/editing apps under consideration now are: (not in any particular order and excluding Windows-only ones):
- DXO Photolab
- Luminar 3
- Affinity Photo (Not a DAM)
- Alien Skin Exposure
- Capture One
- Blue Marine (LINUX only?)
- ON1 Photo Raw
- Photoscape X
- Raw Therapee
- Elements 2019 (Not a DAM?)
- Lightroom/Photoshop
- Aperture 3.6*
* For reference

Thanks.

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Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Nice photos but appear to be very "noisey." Could you have used a lower ISO? Could you have shot at 1500/2000 instead?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Hey tonyjag, a few clarifications to your comment and questions:

1. High ISO NR makes your camera slower in bursts and applies only to the JPEGs. For both image formats, you can always process noise more effectively in computer-based software tools.

2. RAW files have no noise processing and require you to 'post process' using computer-based software before the RAW even looks 'as good' as the JPEG for noisy images.

3. I don't perceive any benefit of programming a camera button to address file types, but you can configure you camera for your unique needs. I would think you're more likely to make a mistake and change your settings than to benefit from this config setting.

4. Most every image processing software provides a trial download. You should take this good-looking hummingbird example and process the file over and over in all the candidate software, performing this evaluation:

a) ease of use
b) effectiveness of noise processing
c) effectiveness of edits

5. Use utube for basic and detailed training of each package.

6. The benefit of RAW is the 'completeness' of the data presented to the processing software. You can enhance JPEGs, but much of the NR processing was completed in camera, taking away both noise and image detail.

BAcanonSHOOTER

Hummingbird Moth is a common name for these, but I think this is a variety of a Sphinx Moth.

falcnheart7 Loc: RI

Nice pix. I've also heard them called hummingbird imposters.