Kingfisher photos from Fowlmere

[AndyElliott]

Ok, here goes, first post on WAB....

Taken at the Spring Hide at RSPB Fowlmere (the left hand perch as you look out the front from inside). These are cropped to about 50% of the width and height, as I had framed it with the whole of the branch as I didn’t know where he would land!

Using the Olympus E-3, ISO 250, Zuiko OM 350mm f2.8 @f5.6 around 1/100s, remote cable release and 2 second mirror lock up. Lens mounted on a gimbal arm and manfrotto 441 tripod. Manually pre-focussed @f2.8 on the branch and then stopped down. Mild (default) sharpening and very slight tonal adjustment, no other PP. These are all of the 14 shots I got - I have uploaded them at 100% so you can see the full detail when you download the image (the magnify glass doesn't quite do it). The 15th image is a composite of two others, so you can see the front and rear of the bird in a single image.

BTW, I've only waited about 2 months to get shots like these and have spent at least 48 hours in the hide! Thanks to JeffH (who lives very near to me) for various tips and advice.

Andy

Picasa Web Albums - OlympusAndy - Kingfishers -...

[momji1971]

Great shots Andy! Really well done. How do you find the E-3. Thought about swapping over to Olympus. A 600mm focal length at 2.8 seems the business!

cheers.
Stu.

[AndyElliott]

Originally Posted by momji1971

Great shots Andy! Really well done. How do you find the E-3. Thought about swapping over to Olympus. A 600mm focal length at 2.8 seems the business!

cheers.
Stu.

Thanks - I was very happy to get those shots.

The E-3 is great. Excellent build quality, weather sealing (probably the best out there unless you get a 1D or D3), 2x crop factor great for wildlife, built in IS, articulating screen, fast AF, IQ and tonal rendition is very good although ISO 800+ lags behind the 40D and D300 (just - not much in it). The Zuiko lenses are amongst the finest you can get too. I also have an E-1 and will be getting the E-3 mkII when it comes out soon. I also have the Zuiko Digital 9-18, 50, 50-200 SWD, 12-60 SWD, EC-14, EC-20, EX-25 and the Leica D 25mm 1.4. If your wallet can stand it, the top-pro grade lenses are very highly regarded. I couldn't stretch to the 300 f2.8, hence I have the old manual focus OM 350mm f2.8 (which I got for an amazing price a few months ago).

Andy

[momji1971]

mmmm. I'll be looking at the mkII when she's out. Sounds good. Never really go off reviews. Much prefer to talk to people who shoot with the gear often.

Thanks and keep posting your shots

regards.
Stu.