“I’m an idiot,” I said to my wife as I examined the missed shot on the LCD panel. To my surprise, she did not appear as shocked at this revelation as I had imagined. I decided she must not have heard me the first time, so I repeated it at a higher volume.
With just a touch of exasperation, she sighed, “What happened dear?”
I showed her this little gem on the screen, clipped wings and all.
It was a stupid mistake. Normally, I’d see this little wing flap coming and create a composition to anticipate this type of shot. Yet I missed it like a guy who doesn’t quite grasp the way birds work.
These little mistakes continued to pile up over the next few days of our most recent trip, threatening to turn my Lightroom catalog into little more than an outhouse overflowing with my photographic crap. Sometimes it was a compositional error, sometimes I’d leave my shutter speed at 1/80th of a second for bird in flight shots, and still other times I’d neglect my exposure compensation.
The truth was, I found myself making all the same mistakes I often warn my students about at the beginning of a workshop. What was going on?
It was simple – I was rusty.
You see, this trip was the first “real” outing I’d had with a camera in nearly five months (I was working seven days a week, 12+ hours a day on the new Lightroom video workshop) and as the saying goes, if you don’t use it, you lose it.
And while I hadn’t completely lost it (OK, opinions vary), I lost enough of it to blow my share of shots – at least at the beginning of the trip!
However, as the days passed, these little blunders were fewer and further between as I continued to put photons on the sensor.
In addition, these mistakes were compounded since I was learning a new camera (the Sony a9ii). I had used the camera a bit at home and at a local park a few months back, but since then it just sat on a shelf looking mildly depressed. So, not only was I missing obvious stuff, but I was also trying to manage a new system (although, as you’ll discover soon, that was on purpose in this case).
So, that brings us to the point of this article – how to avoid these pitfalls.
First, use your gear! Even if it’s just a few times a month at a local park. Get out and shoot a bit. I normally follow this advice myself and it stems off little errors once you’re back out and on a serious shoot. Plus, as of this publication, many of us are “travel limited” due to COVID-19. It’s a good time to keep up your skill set at the local park (assuming it’s not crowded of course – ours have been empty around here).
Also, I think it’s especially important to really go out and use your gear at least a few times the week before a major trip. The truth is, I see people struggle with simple, forehead-slapping mistakes all the time in my workshops. I think that most of it can be avoided with a good refresher a week or so before embarking on a major photo excursion.
Think of it this way – if you haven’t been shooting regularly, you’ll need to put in the time (and make a few mistakes) no matter what. Might as well get that out of the way before your next trip, right?
Second, never buy new gear just before a major trip! I mention this all the time in my books and I often witness catastrophic results in the field when people don’t heed the advice.
One of the reasons I was using my new Sony in Florida was because I wanted to really learn how to use it. I decided to shoot subjects I was both familiar with and had plenty of experience with in the past. Basically, I wanted test subjects.
The reason? I was planning to go back to Africa again at the end of the month (canceled of course) and I want to use this new Sony there. No way was I going without first getting accustomed to the camera! So, although I was fumbling a bit here and there in Florida, those problems rapidly became extinct. By the time I would have been in Africa, the gear would simply be an extension of my body (my wife claims my 600 F/4 is part of my arm).
So, two very simple bottom lines – use your gear and never take unfamiliar gear with you on a major photo trip. I know it seems incredibly basic, but there’s nothing that will make your next photo trip more successful!
~Steve
NOTE – I’m only adding Sony to my bag, I’m not switching. However, I do have to use it to learn it, that’s why the images above are 100% Sony.
PS – If you enjoyed this post, I think you’ll REALLY like my e-books and video workshops! Thousands of pages and hours of videos filled with tips, tricks, and techniques – all my best content! Check ’em out – click here (hey, it’s free to look).
Great tip, mid 2020 I decided to upgrade my equipment having used Nikon for many yrs since film days. My D3s and D810 needed upgrade and my 300f2.8 constantly sitting on a TC 1.4 or 2.0. Fantastic lens but limited in reach for the African bush. I did not want to invest in a 600prime and wanted to go Mirrorless. Nikon was limited vit the Z series. So sold the lot and rented an Mirrorless system that I will not mention. Limited experience with it 18days in KNP. Shot 6 great images. The rest.. not to be repeated. Came back… Read more »
Possibly – I don’t do a ton of reviews though. I prefer more technique-related material, but I may put something out about the a1 eventually after I use it for a few months.
A good reminder but I’m really glad that you put the time into the LR course. As a teacher, I can see the professionalism in the product.
Mr. Steve, this article is right-on-target! I recently went out on a day-long shoot in Central Florida after not using my gear for nearly a year. I did, however, get my camera out for a backyard shoot three days beforehand. But the shooting I was doing in either instance was different. The first was a static shoot in my backyard, used to get reacquainted with my gear, which I used a tripod.. The second shoot, the one that really counted, was a more dynamic situation that had me ditch the tripod and struggle with the gear all day. What I… Read more »
Evening Steve and I trust that you are well. I decided that our lock-down was not going to jeopardise the little skill I have attained since switching to bird photography. We run a little WhatsApp group and we shoot all the birds that come for water and a bite to eat for a month. I have my N 7200 permanently on a tripod at the one lounge window facing the birdbath and I have managed quite a few good shots. We live in a bird paradise with huge wetlands so it was only obvious that I stated dabbling in the… Read more »
My wife and I were just talking about how much we miss Africa the other day. We were supposed to be in Tanzania last week, but obviously that was cancelled. Heading to your neck of the woods (well, Botswana – flying into SA though), this fall if things get better. Fingers crossed!
In the mean time, I have so many projects (books / videos) this lockdown is pretty much business as usual for me.
Thanks Steve, you folks are really going to visit another stunning part of Africa. Let me know when you are heading out and we might even meet up somewhere. It will be good to meet you as you have taught me so much via YouTube and my personal best is that I now am perfectly comfortable with BBAF to name but one aspect. Take care and I’ll be in touch. Warm regards from the SA West Coast. Conrad
Steve, The egret in flight shot is exquisite. Is it my imagination, or is there a little more depth of field in shots 2 and 3 than I usually see with my Nikon 600 f4 + the 1.4 TC when shot at 5.6? What do you think? It just seems there is more in focus front and back. Thanks
Thanks 🙂 The background was pretty close to the raccoon, so even the smallest of F/stops can’t completely knock it out. The egret was cropped in a little, so it was farther out than it would have been for a frame filler, leading to more DoF. I normally would blur out the background a little more in post to make up for it, but was in a hurry to get the article out 🙂 BTW – DoF is the same form brand to brand on lenses – you won’t see any difference in side-by-side comparisons. The DoF of a given… Read more »
Steve, You hit the nail on the head. You said you have not been in the field for five months. The reason is technology. This is the problem with most photographers, they spend too much time behind the computer. I your case the videos you spent so much time putting together in a year will be obsolete if not all ready. My point is : time spent in the field is always time well spent. Get to know a camera system and keep it for a couple of years. I still use the Nikon D 300s for travel and it… Read more »
Please be aware that your comment section gets increasingly overspammed by Sony fanboys that want to bash Nikon. You should make registration of user profiles mandatory here because anonymous profiles can post anything. I have seen this style of posts on various photography forums and websites that i get to the conclusion this must be an agenda by paid Sony shills. PS: How to detect this scam is by asking those members about bringing up any evidence. I have asked for a portfolio and all i got was another answer how they praise the Sony stuff and downtalking the Nikon… Read more »
In looking through the comments, it seems that you are instigating more trouble than the Sony shooters – I’m not seeing any of the Sony people calling your gear “toys” for instance. And I seriously doubt any paid Sony “shills” are spending time in the comments section of my website trying to spawn discord around Nikon shooters. As for which camera brand – honestly – who cares? I’ve been shooting since the early 80s and I’ve used Pentax, Nikon, Canon, Pentax medium format, Sony and probably a few that I’ve forgotten along the way. And, what I’ve discovered is pretty… Read more »
That Sony A9ii is a beast for fast action and wildlife. I currently shoot with the A9 and 400mm 2.8
what you’re go to focus set up on the A9ii ? Also do you plan on in the future making a a9ii review?
Not sure on doing a review – I don’t know enough about Sony to do it at the moment. As for focus settings, I go between single point (small and medium) and the small tracking area. However, I’ve used most of the other options as well – it depends on the circumstances.
Thanks Steve! Words well spoken!!!!
I know this too well. Last time i was visiting the animal park i made similar mistakes. I got the wrong picture control settings, the wrong white balance, the wrong AF and metering mode, VR was off on my 200-500 mm lens and of course pictures got a little blurry when you view it on the computer screen. It was not because i didn’t knew my camera (i use my D600 since 2013) but rather that i forgot to check my settings before starting to make photos on a entirely differenct location, an entirely different day, entirely different light and… Read more »
I seem to do that constantly. Sorta like forgetting my sd cards. which obviously is painful. I have now made a quick checklist of things before I leave. Like bring extra sd cards:-)
Thanks for your advice, as always. Looking forward to the new video.
Steve; great info. It’s good to know the pros can make mistakes too. And it was good advice to know your equipment before a trip. keep up the good work.
Beautiful panning shot! I was surprised to see f20 1/20. Why those settings?
Thanks 🙂 1/20th was about as slow as I could go and still get at least an occasional image with sharp eyes – plus I like how the backgrounds look at that speed. I had to go to F/20 in order to get a proper exposure – the a9ii only goes down to ISO 100. If I opened up from F/20, I’d overexpose. (I don’t worry about diffraction in a case like this).
Thanks for your advises Steve. It’s always a pleasure to read your posts. I’m relearning Lightroom thanks to your very good video and I can tell you that if I believe I knew pretty well this app, I’m so happy to discover so much new tricks that will be very useful for me. Thanks again Steve.
Thanks!
Once again a great article Steve & thanks for the same.We were lucky to see few Peregrine falcons at a lake inHyderbad@India during the past few months & had a great time shooting them close from a lying position .They allowed us to get really close while feeding (mostly pigeons ,parrots & and an occasional crow) )on the ground .We all used to crawl & shoot from a lying position.While shooting, it struck me that I should try portrait shooting too with my D 850 & 500 PF.I then ordered a vertical grip & was able to take some portrait… Read more »
As always practical real world advice, many thanks Steve!
I totally agree with you. You reminded again that don’t take new gear just before going to photography tour but if I’m using only Nikon 200-500mm with Nikon D500 and thinking to use Nikon 500mm prime for my next tour. Should I practice a month before going to photography with 500mm prime lens?
You probably don’t need a month, but I’d sure want a week.
Glad to hear you’re not switching from NIkon, Had me worried there for a minute. Not the time to have to sell all my gear. LOL
I totally agree with you. Especially coming from a professional like you it is a further endorsement….practice makes it perfect.
I agree with you that practice should be the best way to keep your skill
So true
I’m a musician as well as wildlife photographer. I tore a rotator cuff and had to take almost a year off from guitar and banjo playing. I understand all about the rusty part. Yes, any skill is easily lost if not used. Keep your head up.
No worries – I wasn’t upset about it, I was still having a good time on the trip 🙂
Love your web videos. My question is I’m currently with a D850 which as you know is 45mp. I print up to 24×36. How do you think this will affect my sharpness if I go down to 24mp?
It won’t affect “sharpness” exactly, you just don’t have an ideal number of pixels per inch. A 24MP image is 6000 pixels on the wide side. Divide that by 36 inches and you only have about 167 (rounded) pixels for every inch. My minimum is 200 for printing, preferably more like 240 or 300. However, I have made 24×36 prints before from a 24MP image – BUT – the image has to be perfectly sharp. If it is, you can get good results from up-sizing (Topaz makes a program called Gigapixel AI that’s good) and you should be alright. (Note… Read more »
Very interesting! I find this subject very tricky each time I want to get prints of my best pictures taken with my D500; I limit myself to 12 x 18, sometimes lightly cropped, which adds some confusion according to what we want as a result.
I think you’ll switch. The Sony offers features the competition can’t match. BTW, the egret in flight shot is spectacular!
Thanks!
Which features should that be? I mean I own a 7RIII but sorry, handling is more like a toy than a real camera that you can operate without taking it from your eye! You can program every sh…t but those things which are really necessary.
I would never ever switch from Nikon to Sony. I have 8 Nikkor lenses and i am still not finished to buy additional ones, multiple speedlight flashes, studio flashes with commander units. People think switching is like changing your underwear. No it’s not. And Sony cameras aren’t a great tool. The EVF and back display is of lower quality, it is not even a touchscreen, they have less sophisticated weather sealing, usability and ergonomics are far behind Nikon.
Let me quote Thom Hogan on the Sony A9: >> Sony’s introduction of the A9 trumpeted a number of technologies and features, but the ones that really put the camera in a new class compared to Sony’s previous offerings are these: *20 fps continuous shooting with 241 shot raw buffer *Electronic shutter for silent shooting *Uninterrupted viewfinder (no blackout) *All this with a 24mp full frame sensor sitting on a five-axis image stabilization platform. And yes, autofocus at 20 fps. *To put that in perspective, the Canon 1Dx Mark II and Nikon D5 are both 20mp full frame, top out… Read more »
You sound like a Sony marketing guy that has only knowledge about reading spec sheets and making spec sheet comparisons. I can assure you that anybody having a D500, D5 or D850 don’t care because great photos are made if you have skills and know of how to use your camera.
To bring you back to reality: The A9 does only 5 FPS with mechanical shutter…
Steve,
I am in Florida now. Any area, park, zone, etc that you may want to share forwildlife photo opportunities?
When we were there, our best places were Circle-B Bar Reserve and Orlando Wetlands.
I live about 40 minutes from circle B, love that place, just don’t shoot on the weekend, way to many people there. If you are interested in Snail kites, pm me. I really appreciate all the info you have made available to us mere mortals. 🙂
Oh so true! Like my Salt Water Fly Fishing in Far North Queensland, I usually travel there May – late September, (dodge our winter in the south) Then realised I should have at least had some practise in the park before I left! As for the camera, your right, we have to be the “Mario Andretti” of the controls and need to do that without taking our eyes away from the view finder, like faded muscle memory of the above, the brain needs practise as well keep safe, and hope all you guys dodge the Covid19 bullet ! Stuck indoors… Read more »
Yup, staying inside. The funny thing is, I work from home all the time, so this is pretty much normal for me! Heck, I’ve been practicing social distancing for decides now!
I cannot agree more with your comment about new gear; I took a new Nikkor 20mm f/1.8 to the Pac North Wet around New Years….MISTAKE!!! Should have just kept the 24-70 f/2.8 on the D850. I was not happy with the shots from the Mount St Helens area; glad I used the 24-70 in Seattle when I was up there. 2014, my first trip ever to Crater Lake in Oregon; left my 18-200 DX VR home, had a Tamron 18-270 on my D7100 instead. I am still kicking myself because of how soft the pics were from my copy of… Read more »
Yup – sadly, I see people with new, untested gear all the time in the field and at my workshops.
I know what you mean Steve, I hope this does not happen to me but I pre-ordered a D6 that was supposed to be delivered in April which would have given me plenty of time to get used to the new camera but as it turns out Nikon says now it will be May before they start shipping it due to this crazy virus that is going around the world. That means that if the Costa Rica workshop that I am scheduled to go on May 29 still happens I may be bringing a camera body with me that I… Read more »
The good thing is the D850 is pretty close the the D6 – but as you know, it’s not a perfect match. Still, some of the skills are not camera specific so any practice with any camera will help.
Boy do I know what you are talking about. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt but never wear it. Before I go on a big shoot like Bosque, a safari, or travel to other wildlife hot spots I go to my local National Wildlife Refuge and practice, practice, practice until everything becomes second nature again. If I still have some issues I go back to refuge and work some more. In a way I don’t find this work as I always enjoy a good NWR.
I’m fortunate that I usually shoot on a very regular basis. However, man, it kicks you in the teeth when you wait too long!
Yes you are clearly completely crap Steve…wink is that what you’re saying? No, seriously I found the big improvements I made last year were to make a habit of taking my D500 and 300PF out with me every day to our local river. So helpful to see what was about and practise BiF skills and settings from your excellent books and vids. Love the pan shot, too. Keep up the good work and education! Thanks
Only crappy on the first shot in the article – I like to think the rest are OK 🙂
I totally relate to your article even between my two Nikon bodies. Purchased a Z6 three months ago and I really love it. While the autofocus is slower on the mirrorless, I tend to select it over the excellent D500 only to find I fumble with settings when I do take it out once in a while.
It’s funny – the Z series is what made me add Sony. After using the Z6/7, I fell in love with mirrorless, BUT the performance wasn’t there. I can’t wait to see the next gen Zs.
Well Steve although these I’m sure are frustrating for you as a professional but it is reassuring for the amateurs like myself that even those who we’ve learned so much from can make the same mistakes. There were a couple of adverbs you used to describe yourself that are words I refuse to accept as part of the english language they do not describe anyone no matter the situation. I have been at this hobby on and off for some 60 odd years and am thrilled when one of the lessons you have given me produces a result remotely close… Read more »
Agree – I have a great time when I’m out – even if there’s an occasional mistake 🙂
Please stay with Nikon. You have proven it is mostly the skill of the photographer, not so much the equipment, that results in excellent results!
I have no intention of leaving Nikon. However, I also want a mirrorless system that can keep up – so, I’m shooting both.They each have their advantages (I love my Z7 / 500PF combo for hikes for example – Sony has nothing even close to a PF lens). Besides, I can’t wait to get my hands on that new D6 😀
From what i understand? Nikon d6 has nothing more to offer than the d5 already has?
I’m hoping the AF system is a surprise. Also, one thing I’ve discovered about the single digit pro Nikons is that they are often much better than just the raw specs seem to indicate. The difference is often in their ability to “just get the shot” and that’s one thing you can’t know until you shoot ’em.
Sony has A7RIV and 100400GM…which would still provide 600mm equivalent in crop mode at 26mpx in a light package! And you assign crop mode to a single button and have an instant 1.5 TC! I owned the 500pf at one time and it isn’t that sharp. My sony 200600 is sharper, as was my 100400 (lighter but less reach)
Nelson, please show us your portfolio. Words are nothing without evidence.
Good one there! Even if my work was good you would put it down or find a flaw simply because I use Sony. Lol. I’ve used, owned and tested kits of gear, and happen to be very technical. Read Steve’s comments about the Z series…AF is lagging behind Sony and that’s a FACT. Like it or not. Also, yes both sony lense I mentioned above are SHARPER than the 500pf you mention because I had the 500pf with many NEF Raws I have compared to my sony ARW and they aren’t as crisp. Lastly you mentioned sony had nothing close,… Read more »
You sound like a Sony marketing guy or Sony advertiser. You don’t even have answered my question at all. Where are your images? Or do you want to praise Sony all day here?
Btw: I don’t even use any Nikon Z-series camera. But nice try to bash Nikon or Nikon photographers.
You’ve really taught me a lot with all of your books, but this may be the most important lesson of all. I get so frustrated when I make Kindergarten mistakes, and I know it’s mostly just because my camera has too much dust on it.
Yup – it’s really the #1 problem I see in my workshops. By day 2 or 3, most of the simple mistakes are history.
Great advice, Steve. I’ve done this in the past. Gone out with new equipment without trying-it-out.
Same results. The worst time was with concert photography, i didn’t react well with the low lighting.
Try your equipment first, till the results improve.
Yup, it’s often surprising how much better the gear gets the longer I use it 😀
When you used the Sony was the 600mm f4 a Nikon or Sony lens.
The Sony 600 F/4. My Nikon 600 F/4 doesn’t focus anymore (2.5 years old) and needs to go to the shop.
Had just happened to me on my 600 at four I sent it to the shop got it back last week cost me $1015. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet.
I didn’t proofread it’s a 600mm f4 Nikon
Honesty, that’s not as expensive as I thought it would be. Still not fun. Hoping they fix it under warranty, but I have a feeling they won’t.
I just came from a trip to South Africa. I never used auto ISO in all my photography except in this trip. I left my Auto Iso on for the exposer and I took care of the rest. I was looking at my photo today and I think all my neighbors heard me streaming. some of my best compositions are badly overexposed. I can feel your pain especially when we miss something in a long planned trip.
Thanks for sharing your mistakes with us so we can think about improvisé the next time
Ouch – something sounds off. Every shot about is with M + Auto ISO and most on the site are. Sorry to hear about the issue – hopefully they weren’t too far gone.
Thanks Steve for your quick reply. I know that you use Auto Iso and your photos are really amazing. I don’t know why it did not work for me. I still have not figure out why. Maybe I will go out here in my city Montreal and try again
Your above meticulous / perfectionist approach is always appreciated/enjoyed! Keep Safe!
Thanks!
Evening Steve, a wonderful article and some of it sounds so familiar! My mistakes I attribute to ‘old age’ as well as getting so carried away with all the beauty of the surroundings! But, it is like riding a bicycle, one never quite loses the touch! Wonder shots, as always Steve. Warm regards from the South African West coast. Conrad.
Thanks!
1) I remember being at an event where Bill Frakes was one of the featured photographs. He said that he would be “Old school” and preferred manual focussing. He told that he does everyday some (manual) focussing practices just to keep fit for the task. (The practicing might be as simple to go out in front of the hotel and try to focus on cars passing by on the street). 2) From a different event, I remember Gregory Heisler talking about an important shooting where disaster stroke and not all (lighting) equipment arrived at the place for the shooting. He… Read more »
Couldn’t agree more.
I am astounded why the general internet forum talk is full of gear and new gear but most of those photographers don’t realize that using the camera is like playing an instrument or learning of how to drive a car. You need to coordiante your actions and learn how and when they get important. This takes time and the willing to learn from mistakes.
Please don’t go all Sony on us☹️
Nope, not going all Sony. Can’t wait to get that D6 🙂
Great post, Steve. I friend was planning to go to Homer, Alaska to photograph eagles. This New York resident spent weeks photographing pigeons in flight in order to prepare for photographing eagles and making the time count.
It’s amazing how much better you get after a week or so of good solid practice. We talk a lot about the percentage of images that are sharp or in focus, the number that are timed right, etc. Practice makes a huge amount of difference and is required to be really sharp.
Hi Eric! Yup, agree 100%. Practice is, in my opinion, the most important thing any photographer can do to improve.
Good points.
May I suggest that you go out specifically for a shoot that’s for learning. Chimp all you need. Take along a laptop for close examination of sample shots and in particular showing where the focus points are.
Maybe just pick one setting pair and test the differences it makes.
Not a bad idea at all – especially if you haven’t been out in awhile.
Hi Steve. I was about to consider myself a lost case …. Thanks a lot!
Anytime 🙂
Hey, Steve. It might sound mean, but I am so glad to read that you struggle occasionally too! I find too little time to shoot and feel like a fool when I come back home to look at my images to see that I took 100 frames of an owl never having changed my settings. Where is that ISO insurance? Why didn’t I change shooting angles? Why did I leave the shutter speed at 1/3200?….etc. So, thank you for making me feel better about myself! Just love your advice which, when I do remember it, has made me a better… Read more »
Thanks! And it doesn’t sound mean at all 🙂
Really enjoyed this post. I can “hear” Rose being silent when you call yourself an Idiot. I feel your pain! NTL, love the photos and the advice.
Hi Jerry! You probably noticed her eyes roll eye roll too LOL!
Steve, I hope you will do some comparisons between your Nikon and Sony gear. Pros and cons from a wildlife photographers perspective.
Planning on it. Both are great though.
Sony’s regular failure to AF on a small perched bird drives me nuts. A9, A7R III. Good light, good contrast, no focus – just infinity by default and no AF point recorded in EXIF.
Interesting. I get that constantly with the Z cameras and haven’t had much of an issue with the Sonys (at least, not yet – I’m still new to the system).
I thought I’d be able to leave my D500 behind by now but overall its AF is still more reliable.
I don’t get photographers today. Why do they want to leave a matured system (D500 + lenses) to get a new toy? It would be a dream to me to buy a professional D500. I am still shooting with my D600.
There are several advantages. As a bird shooter these matter to me:
Mirrorless – lighter, smaller, WYSIWYG VF.
FF – more scope for cropping and exposure adjustment.
10 and 20 fps free of blackout – far better for BIF.
Silent shooting option – doesn’t scare the wildlife.
To talk about other’s choices as being about a toy is disrespectful and only shows your ignorance.
1) Mirrorless is ligher and smaller? Really? By compromising the ergonomics, usability and configuration methods maybe with less buttons and smaller buttons, cramped hands due to less height of the body and no real vertical grip. The lenses in the telephoto range are about the absolut same size so what advantage would give me a small body? 2) I have never really missed WYSIWYG in my viewfinder while shooting my DSLR because i am very familiar with the behavior of the camera and use Manual mode, the correct metering mode (+ Auto ISO) / Exposure Compensation. The OVF has the… Read more »
Since it’s my tool not yours that I’m paying for, excuse me if I’m not interested in what you prefer.
You want to call it a toy? Fine. You have your own sandpit to play in. Go and enjoy it.
I’ve taken over 80,000 bird shots with the Nikon and c. 40,000 with the Sony. Despite its limitations it’s still better for my uses and I’ve put AUD 30,000 into Sony kit.
When you have a similar amount of hands on time with Sony FF I’ll listen to your opinion.
For me the current mirrorless bodies are a toy because they don’t offer the exact same size, ergonomics and usability that is already proven to be right for more than 10 years since DSLRs came to life. Why does someone need to reinvent the wheel when it was already perfect?
The D500 spends 60% of its time in blackout during a burst.
Doesn’t matter if you shoot landscapes, does matter if your discipline is birds in flight.
And how many shots have *you* taken with ‘mirrorless’, as if that’s one thing. Obviously you’ve never shot with the the G9 or Z7.
If you had experience I might listen. As you don’t, this exchange is over.
We have the best technology already available to create outstanding images. Go back 10 years in time and the D850 would be a photographers wet dream. Now we have it and people still aren’t happy. This is not because the cameras aren’t great and can’t deliver but rather a psychological issue with the photographer. People that can’t manage to take great photos with a D5 or D500 aren’t photographers. It is simple as that. You sound elitist at best if you cry about blackout at 10 FPS. I assure you that photographers with only 5 FPS cameras can beat you… Read more »
Works great for me! I think you need to learn tti trust their AF system. I have zero issues with small birds…owned A7Riii and now the A7RIV. I do use Mark Smith’s settings….look up his camera setup videos. Honestly Sonys AF has be nothing short of spectacular
this post made me smile, clipped wings and all! good to see you got it together, digging the panning shot.
Thanks Howard 🙂 That no blackout viewfinder helps (as you know!)
Nice shots Steve….and as always, great advice. thanks!
Thanks!!
You have not lost it even with the wing clipping tack sharp. Good photo.
Thanks 🙂
Great advice and all very relatable. I am glad to see that it’s not just me. Rustiness affects even the pros. I did all the mistakes described here, the first few hours I was in Africa last year, but it got better over the course of the trip. Right before the trip I upgraded my gear from Pentax + Sigma 150-500 to the Nikon D500 + Tamron 150-600. I saw all your videos about the Nikon AF and camera settings. I use most of them. I also decided to put my expensive equipment to good use by photographing birds hanging… Read more »
I’m honestly thinking about putting out a feeder – I’m on 3 acres and it might be an easy way to keep shooting. Plus, my wife loves cardinals and bluejays 🙂
Bluejays love unsalted peanuts in the shell. Only problem is you’ll be finding broken empty peanut hulls all over your 3 acres! Black oil sunflower seeds for the N. Cardinals.
I knew about the sunflower seeds – but not about the peanuts – great info! Thanks so much!!