Very very impressed with my D300 performance now!

NicolaB · #1 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 06:34 PM

I took my new camera out again this afternoon for another test drive at a good woodland feeding site near me, and I'm so impressed with the results. Considering the light was fading, and most of the shots were taken at ISO 1600 I'm blown away by the quality! I'm also friends with my Bigma again

I was especially pleased to see the treecreeper. As usual, any further advice is very welcome!

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 06:50 PM

These are excellent images Nic, well done. It just proves that a few good shots can really motivate you to get back in touch with your gear. If you can do this in poor light, I can't wait to see what you'll get in spring when we can all use f/11 at an ISO of 200. BLISS!!!

Well done, lovely stuff (Starling is my fave!)

Nick

Ollie · #3 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 07:22 PM

Well done Nicola that Treecreeper is excellent.

Doesn't look like you need much advice, if you can take shots like this in fading light you aren't going to have any problems in good light.

Pleased to hear you are friends with your Bigma again. It's a fine lens that with good technique and the right condtions can produce excellent images, in fact you have proved this with these today.

Chukie · #4 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Some really stunning shots keep up the hard work and it will all come together ( or so i'm told )

pressld2 · #5 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 08:09 PM

Excellent work Nicola! I'm with Nick - the starling's my favourite too, although I do like the chaffinch doing the Long John Silver impersonation!

Are you shooting raw or JPEG? I'm still reluctant to push my D300 above ISO 400 because of the noise but it seems pretty well controlled in these shots with just a bit in the background of the treecreeper shot.

Dave P.

colincurry · #6 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 08:14 PM

No wonder you are impressed....

Very very nice indeed.

Colin

NicolaB · #7 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 08:16 PM

These were all JPEG, I've not yet got to grips with shooting in RAW, but definitely intend to pretty soon once I've got hold of a copy of photoshop. I'm just using GIMP at the moment for any processing, and didn't really need to do anything to the shots from this afternoon.

I must admit I was really surprised at how well it did under such a high ISO setting, it beats my D60 hands down. The Starling was shot at ISO 1000 (it was a bit earlier on!) but most of the others were at 1600, including the treecreeper. All they needed was a tiny bit of sharpening which was more to do with the lens than the camera (and probably a bit of me using my car door sill with a wheat bag to rest the Bigma on!).

welsh.lensman · #8 (**permalink**) 18-02-2009, 08:33 PM

Excellent images Nicola especially with such a high ISO, I use the 150-500mm on my D300and I must admit I'm quite pleased with the results I get, look forward to seeing your images when taken in good light conditions, well done.

Bruce Williams · #9 (**permalink**) 23-02-2009, 12:58 PM

Hi Nicola - You have some really nice shots there and your recent red kite images are very impressive to (I particularly liked the kite with its beak wide open).

I have been using the D300 with the 105mm VR macro lens for macro "work" and with the 18-200mm VR zoom for shooting 360 degree panoramas - and I am REALLY REALLY pleased with the results. It beats my old D80 hands down.

So I guess we can both congratulate ourselves on our choice of upgrade (smug icon).

Bruce