300mm in Bad light

willing to learn · #1 (**permalink**) 23-01-2009, 07:31 PM

Being a beginner I often wondered if I had done the right thing getting the 300mm 2.8 lens. As for small bird photography and the need to get close, and 2.8 is far to shallow. Today the sun broke through the clouds so I nipped out to try some in flight shots. As norm when I got there the sun as normal had been replaced by a dark stormy sky

I waited a while then decided to take the extender off and try the 300mm on its own. I managed a few shots at F2.8 of ducks and geese of which I think are ok. The light was terrible I think perhaps I might be seeing why these len's are expensive. The sky opened and I had left by back pack in the car

so I made by wife take her coat off

and wrap it round the camera

After the down pour I noticed a male kestrel back near the car drying off on a telegraph pole some way off I took a quick snap. The result suprised me when I down loaded the image, Its not Gallery material but to get any sort of pic in the conditions pleased me. The 100% crop I have even blown up 20% or so. On Ideal conditions I wonder if the 300mm can compete with the bigger len's as they might be able to take a hardcrop

Regards
Colin

willing to learn · #2 (**permalink**) 23-01-2009, 07:45 PM

A couple of action shots.
Taken in Dark stormy conditions 100% crop 1/1250 f2.8 spot metering ISO 400

Crop 1/1250 f2.8 spot metering ISO 400

tameblackbirds · #3 (**permalink**) 23-01-2009, 07:54 PM

Don't understand (sadly but willing to learn) all the technology but do know that the photos ,especially the mallard, flying are brill and enjoyed looking at them.

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 23-01-2009, 08:35 PM

Your Kestrel photo is actually better than you think (inspite of it being labelled duck). I 've just had a very quick tweak with Curves then added a tiny bit of Unsharp Mask; after drawing a selection around the bird.

It's always difficult to work on a low resolution image like this so I'm sure you can do better with the original.

Words · #5 (**permalink**) 24-01-2009, 12:03 AM

Nice shots, especially the geese and mallard. No doubt about the quality of the lens in what are dreadful conditions generally for getting anything useful.

PMG · #6 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 08:25 AM

My thoughts too Words - very nice shots in difficult conditions - should be a real sweetie to use in better light

Pauline

willing to learn · #7 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Your Kestrel photo is actually better than you think (inspite of it being labelled duck). I 've just had a very quick tweak with Curves then added a tiny bit of Unsharp Mask; after drawing a selection around the bird.

It's always difficult to work on a low resolution image like this so I'm sure you can do better with the original.

Hello Geoff & all,
All the Photo's got downloaded into a file called Duck's

I have got to get to grips with software, would really like to get the knowledge to use it well. I have elements 2 and a free neat image program which I can auto profile, sometime it works, sometime not. I can see a big improvementin the kestrel, alas the orignal has long gone

Thanks for all the comments and help always much appreciated.
Regards
Colin
Regards
Colin

Geoff F · #8 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 09:27 PM

I think Photoshop do a free ungrade from version 2 to 3 and a few extra plug ins. But this is still well down the list compared with the latest software which can be purchased for around £50. Although you can easily spend £1000. Sometimes older software, but newer than Photoshop 2 is given away with photographic magazines and computer hardware. I noticed that PS 3.2 and Serif 8 was available with the last Computer Shopper mag.

If I remember correctly, Curves isn't available with PS 2 unless you get the upgrade; but you can use Levels instead. This is probably easier to use for a beginner anyway.

There are quite a few free tutorials on the internet and I always recommend this one as being worth a look Using the Photoshop Levels Tool

If you go into the full Tutorial range there is excellent advice ranging from complete novice to rather advanced techniques.

Ollie · #9 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 09:52 PM

Well I think you have done exceptionally well under the circumstances.

In my opinion for what it's worth a 300mm f2.8 lens will always out perform an F5.6 400mm lens in poor light conditions even if you have to crop that bit harder with the 300mm f2.8 than the 400mm.

In good light yes I would always choose the 400mm f5.6 lens but how often do we get that good light.

Roger

willing to learn · #10 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

In my opinion for what it's worth a 300mm f2.8 lens will always out perform an F5.6 400mm lens in poor light conditions even if you have to crop that bit harder with the 300mm f2.8 than the 400mm.

Roger

Yes But is it worth the extra at least (new) £2,600

Regards
Colin