First attempt

[willing to learn]

[willing to learn]

My first attempt to catch wildlife with my new 400D. the camera was set at av 5.6 and 400 iso. The lens is a canon 100-300 usm 4.5 - 5.6 I brought it as a image stabiiser which it is not, just me being green, I will know next time.The light was not great. I am a little disapointed, and in fully auto the pics was poor no good at all. I hope to get some pics up to, or near to some of the great shots in the galleries. Any advice welcome

[zan]

hey, nice shots
I like your 1st woodpigeon photo - there's nice texture in the feathers. Good luck with your photography!

[Blackbrook Eye]

I dont think these are too bad at all for your first effort with new kit, as you say the light was a bit iffy anyway, I would suggest that you invest in a reasonable tripod and a remote shutter release cable, if you intend taking this kind of picture, IS is alright to a point, but it is no substitute. Keep at it and I am sure you will be less and less dissapointed as you progress,

[Hobjob]

I don't know why you are dissapointed, they are fine photos, especially given the light.

Background is dark of course, but this time of the year it is often v hard not to be.

Often lenses have a "sweet spot" for sharpness at about f8, but of course that forces slower speed, hence need for tripod - I have a remote cable but seldom use it Perhaps I oughta

[Ollie]

I would not be disappointed with these as a first effort in poor light. You are doing the right thing by using AV mode. I would probably have used ISO 800 in poor light to get the shutter speed up a bit more, the 400D is pretty good at keeping noise levels down at 800 ISO.

As mentioned a tripod or monopd is a great help when using slow shutter speeds. The 100-300mm Canon lens although not image stabilised is from what I have seen a very good lens capable of superb images.

Don't know if the images have been edited apart from cropping, but most images from a DSLR benefit from a touch of sharpening in PS Elements or a similar programme. I also routinely run my images through Neat Image, a great noise reduction programme.

Just keep practicing, don't be afraid to ask for advise and it will all come good.
Roger

[glsammy]

As Roger said, considering the poor light, you can't really expect much better. I noticed your shutter speed was very low, i.e. 1/40sec for the pigeon. Even if your using a tripod, at that speed you can expect the bird to be moving, even if your not aware of it, so to ask for razor sharp images in those conditions and those settings, is really expecting too much.
ISO 800 would have doubled your speed to 1/80sec, this is still rather low, but you'd stand a much better chance of getting the image sharper.
Sometimes you just have to accept the conditions just aren't right. I haven't touched my camera for four days now, one reason is I haven't been well, the other is the light is simply not good enough to tempt me out.
So take heart, nothing too much wrong. Wait for better light then have another go.

[glsammy]

I've had a little go at some adjustments on that wood pigeon:
I've loaded it back under your name.


Considering I was working only from the version you uploaded, it didn't work out too badly. I've obviously cropped it differently, I thought the excessive background was in the way.
I balanced the Highlights/Shadows, sharpened it and ran neat image over the background.

Here's your Grey Squirrel.

[big bill]

Hi and welcome to the site ,dont be downheartened your pics for a first attempt with new camera are not to bad but I agree with all thats been said above take it on board and keep practicing anf you will get there in the end but nothing can be a good sturdy tripod or if you find it to cumbersome use a monopod keep at it look forward to your next lot of pics

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I've had a little go at some adjustments on that wood pigeon:
I've loaded it back under your name.


Considering I was working only from the version you uploaded, it didn't work out too badly. I've obviously cropped it differently, I thought the excessive background was in the way.
I balanced the Highlights/Shadows, sharpened it and ran neat image over the background.

Here's your Grey Squirrel.

Thanks all for the input. I wil try 800 next time in a similar light. And have been brought a tripod so I will give that ago as well. I have used a fuji s500 before, with good results in the preset modes. But this is my first real digital slr, and I am trying to take in the basics. I am grateful for all the advice as its a great help. Also the editing Grayham has done has improved the pics and made them good shots This again a place where my knowledge as yet to grasp. Also What is noise . Thanks again I will keep asking and trying.
Regards
Colin