[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Diamondblackcars

This is the first time that I have spotted this thread.

This is a couple of photos that I took of a UK Garden Tiger Moth in July 2014.

It landed on the inside of my front room window at midnight when I left the windows and doors open while decorating.

I did not even know that it was laying eggs until I put the photos on my PC.

I placed a piece of A4 paper on the outside of the window to get a clear photo and the Moth let me get within an inch of it to take the photos in macro mode.

Welcome.

Great, sharp images.

You made only one noob mistake, we try to keep each post to one image. Don't edit what I've already done, just a note for the future.

Look forward to seeing many more of your posts.

Dave

[dcstep]

This pink twilight only lasted a minute or two:

Twilight Over Cherry Creek Reservoir by David Stephens, on Flickr

[Terry989]

My first capture of a White-tailed Kite. My longest lens, a 70-200mm just isn't enough for birding. I had to crop deeply just to get enough Kite in the image, sacrificing quality to do it. I hope Sony releases a 300/400/500mm F4 soon:

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Terry989

My first capture of a White-tailed Kite. My longest lens, a 70-200mm just isn't enough for birding. I had to crop deeply just to get enough Kite in the image, sacrificing quality to do it. I hope Sony releases a 300/400/500mm F4 soon:

Great shot, particularly considering the crop.

The FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is an exceptional lens. Combined with the FE 1.4x teleconverter, it'd be great for this kind of shooting.

Of course, the FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS is even better, but that's an investment most aren't willing to make. I'm afraid that f/4 long lenses are a year or two out in the future for Sony. I'd probably buy an f/4 600mm in a flash and sell my 400mm.

Dave

[bosstones]

Haven't posted anything in a long time. In spirit of having to replace a bad processor on my motherboard:

[Itsed65]

Fancy Man by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Ed, handsome pheasant cock, in great light.

[allachie9]

Yesterday was an awful day with heavy rain and dark clouds until shortly before sunset. The rain stopped and the clouds started to clear from the west, so it looked as though we could be in for a good sunset. I went out about 15:00, as sunset was at 15:35 here, a walked down to the river estuary. It was high tide as well.
I have used HDR for sunsets in the past, but usually using only 5, or sometimes 3 shots.
Yesterday I tried 7 shots in my Fuji X-T2 from -2 to +2 stops (at 2/3rds stop intervals).
Below is the result. Bear in mind the camera was hand-held and the shutter speeds were from 1/30th down to 1/3rd second !
So, either I'm not such a doddery old sod after all, or the lens stabiliser system really does it's stuff.


Seatown Sunset_29.11.18 by Alan Butterfield, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Alan, great shot(s).

I'm moving away from HDR and trying to take advantage of my a7RIII's dynamic range. I wanted to stay at this lens' sweet spot of f/8, so I ended up at ISO 200 and 1/15-sec. handheld. I know that the dynamic range of the RAW file exceed the DR of the in-camera preview jpeg by around one stop, so I purposely over expose the highlights, but less than a stop. In post, only a slight adjustment is needed to pull down the highlights. I would have rather shot at ISO 100, or less, but I think that I was near the in-body-stabilization's limit. I raised Contrast in post to show off some of the dark cloud details. This is approximately how the scene looked to my eyes:

Twilight Over Cherry Creek Reservoir by David Stephens, on Flickr

Another stop or so of native dynamic range and I don't think we'll need HDR. Sorry for the repeat image, but this one had the most DR of any of my recent shots.

[allachie9]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Another stop or so of native dynamic range and I don't think we'll need HDR. Sorry for the repeat image, but this one had the most DR of any of my recent shots.

Thanks Dave. I looked closely at your image earlier, so to have you explain in detail your thoughts behind creating that particular image has been really appreciated.

I also agree with your thoughts on native DR, although I suspect we may be a few years before we see another such major advance in sensor / processor capabilities.
Yesterday the light was so extreme that I wasn't even sure that HDR would give me what I wanted.

Incidentally, 2 of my pals here have moved up to Sony a7RIII's. One was already a Sony user and the other Fuji, both are absolutely delighted.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by jmg

Took a photo of Maui from the top of Haleakalā

Very neat.

[MikeF]

Nice looking car

[P1]

Sunday walk...

[dcstep]

Sunset Over Cherry Creek Reservoir by David Stephens, on Flickr

Sony a7RIII, FE 12-24mm f/4 G, at 24mm, f/9, ISO 100, 1/125-sec. handheld.

[shay2nak]

Small tangent here...Best Buy is selling the Sony A7ii for $999. Is this a great price? IIRC, $600 off regular price. I mean, is it worth buying? I'm still using my Canon XTi from 2005. lol I want to be able to use my 15-85 IS lens with the Sony. Thank you

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

Small tangent here...Best Buy is selling the Sony A7ii for $999. Is this a great price? IIRC, $600 off regular price. I mean, is it worth buying? I'm still using my Canon XTi from 2005. lol I want to be able to use my 15-85 IS lens with the Sony. Thank you

There are quite a view improvements from the II to the III, mainly in battery life and AF. The dynamic range of the III is competitive with the RIII, the a9, the Nikon 850, the II is close, but not quite.

It will be a HUGE step up from you XTi. If you're not big into video (battery) and you haven't been frustrated with the focusing of you Canon, then I say, "Go for it." I suspect that you'll be very happy with the II.

Dave

[Itsed65]

Late Afternoon at the Pond by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by dcstep

There are quite a view improvements from the II to the III, mainly in battery life and AF. The dynamic range of the III is competitive with the RIII, the a9, the Nikon 850, the II is close, but not quite.

It will be a HUGE step up from you XTi. If you're not big into video (battery) and you haven't been frustrated with the focusing of you Canon, then I say, "Go for it." I suspect that you'll be very happy with the II.

Dave

Thanks. I forgot to mention I'm also thinking of getting the 80D. Comparing between the A7ii, which sounds more appealing to you? Going for the same price right now.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

Thanks. I forgot to mention I'm also thinking of getting the 80D. Comparing between the A7ii, which sounds more appealing to you? Going for the same price right now.

Oh, the a7II is still winner, due to dynamic range and AF performance. Compared to your old camera, either is a significant improvement. Mirrorless is where everything is headed.

Dave

[Megabrode]

Friendly wood stork in my (former) back yard. Nibbled bread out of my hand.

[Itsed65]

Tis the season...for cookies! (low quality phone pic)

Sweet ans Salty Christmas by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Another cross-fox shot from my trip to Churchill, Canada. A cross-fox is merely a red-fox with dark coloring, such that a cross is formed at the shoulderblades.

Cross Fox Sinks In Snow by David Stephens, on Flickr