First Photo's From 400d

[humbug]

hi all,
here is the first attempt with the 400d, tried a few settings and took around 40 pics this afternoon, got around 6 descent ones.

a juvenile common buzzard



File Name buzzard1.jpg
Camera Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shooting Date/Time 20/07/2007 13:55:36
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 9.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 400
Lens 55.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 200.0 mm
Image Size 741x933
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Shade
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style User Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness 7
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off

and a female red squirrel taken in the garden




File Name IMG_0156-1.jpg
Camera Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shooting Date/Time 20/07/2007 15:51:01
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/2000
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1600
Lens 55.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 181.0 mm
Image Size 2805x1664
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Shade
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style User Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness 7
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off

[geordie1970]

Very nice liked the Squirrel maybe it's my monitor but the Buzzard looks a bit noisy but then again I'm no expert.

[Ukwildlifeo]

The buzzard is far better than I would get with my Fz7. The squirrel photo is very nice. I wish I got them in my garden as opposed to these grey tree rats

[Ollie]

I think these are very good for a first attempt. Like how you have caught the action with the squirrel. I look forward to seeing more from you
Roger

[kshotton45]

I've took the liberty of severely cropping and PP'ing your photo. It's a good example of what can be achieved with ISO 1600. I think you've caught some real dramatic action.
There's obviously a lot of noise because of the crop, but well done !

Keith.

[lobro punter]

nice pic.

LP

[beckiscott]

Originally Posted by kshotton45

I've took the liberty of severely cropping and PP'ing your photo. It's a good example of what can be achieved with ISO 1600. I think you've caught some real dramatic action.
There's obviously a lot of noise because of the crop, but well done !

Keith.

Not sure i agree with the crop on that one Keith... when an animal is showing any signs of movement you should either have it coming into or going out of the frame... i would have had more grass to the left showing where the 'squig' was about to jump to.

Humbug, I would have got lower down on the floor (with the squig), you are shooting from slightly over it... you should always get eye level with your subjects. Were you shooting into the sun?! Try and get between the sun and your subject. I'm not sure why you were using iso 1600 either - seems very high for a daytime shot?! I would only use 1600 if i was using something like noise ninja to reduce the noise. You should have being able to catpure that shoot at iso 200/400 with a slower shutter speed & without movement blur from the squig.

I think there is a huge learning curve when getting a new dslr, and reading forums and asking questions can only help improve your shots. make yourself a little checklist before you shoot - and add to it as you you go along.

[kshotton45]

[quote=beckiscott;143372]Not sure i agree with the crop on that one Keith... when an animal is showing any signs of movement you should either have it coming into or going out of the frame... i would have had more grass to the left showing where the 'squig' was about to jump to.QUOTE]

Yes, that's fair comment.
I 'dabbled' with the image whilst at work on Saturday! On the works monitor it looked quite decent ! The noise is more apparent on my home computer, if it looked like it's looking now, I probably wouldn't have posted it! It may have already have been cropped or taken at a high ISO.
Anyway, the original is still a cracking photo - especially as its one of the first with a new camera.

Keith.

[islander]

Originally Posted by humbug

hi all,
here is the first attempt with the 400d, tried a few settings and took around 40 pics this afternoon, got around 6 descent ones.

a juvenile common buzzard



File Name buzzard1.jpg
Camera Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shooting Date/Time 20/07/2007 13:55:36
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 9.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 400
Lens 55.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 200.0 mm
Image Size 741x933
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Shade
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style User Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness 7
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off

and a female red squirrel taken in the garden




File Name IMG_0156-1.jpg
Camera Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shooting Date/Time 20/07/2007 15:51:01
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/2000
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1600
Lens 55.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length 181.0 mm
Image Size 2805x1664
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Shade
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style User Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness 7
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off

I'm no photographer Humbug but I think for a first attempt they're cracking little shots.I do agree with the comments of the others and bow to their obvious greater experience. Being an artist I would have put the subjects a little off centre but, cropping achieves the same results also. I do have to congratulate you on you reaction speed with the squirrel though, awesome! (My home village by the way, is the test area for re-introducing the red back into Anglesey, shame they have to eradicate the grey ones though). islander

[humbug]

thanks for the kind comments and the advice it's all been taken onboard, as regards the iso 1600, i was just playing around with the settings when the squirrel ran out in front of me, they're always around so i will try and get a more staged shot.
cheers
brian.