New Camera - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Paul · #1 03-20-2010, 11:31 AM

Excellant pics, Ron!

ronaldhanko · #2 03-20-2010, 11:34 AM

Thanks, Paul and Swamper. Been trying to get some good bird pictures, Swamper, even if they're relatively common birds.

Swamper · #3 03-21-2010, 06:13 AM

Hey Ron, what's common to you may not be common in my or someone else's region so keep shooting

. I've gotten more and more into birding than I have time for so I really enjoy those shots and I'm sure so are a lot of other people. I'm amazed by how many bird names I've learned and by how some birding people I've met can I.D. them just by their songs.Take care.

ronaldhanko · #4 03-21-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swamper

Hey Ron, what's common to you may not be common in my or someone else's region so keep shooting

. I've gotten more and more into birding than I have time for so I really enjoy those shots and I'm sure so are a lot of other people. I'm amazed by how many bird names I've learned and by how some birding people I've met can I.D. them just by their songs.Take care.

Years ago I used to go birding with a man who seemed to know every North Maerican bird by its son. Wish I had time for more, but don't often have as much time as I would like for orchids...

Connie Star · #5 03-21-2010, 07:27 PM

Hi Ron,
Congratulations on the new camera! Almost as exciting as a new orchid bloom but more expensive.
I'm sticking with the Rebel series. I have the Xti- will upgrade eventually- a new Rebel was just announced. But, I'm 60, have a bad back smaller hands and do a lot of hiking with camera, lenses, flashes, tripod and there's just so much my husband will carry for me. I shoot birds a lot and usually carry two closeup lenses to photograph plants and sometimes very small invertebrates.
I STILL haven't figured out how to get thumbnails in my posts, despite Chas help.

ronaldhanko · #6 03-21-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Hi Ron,
Congratulations on the new camera! Almost as exciting as a new orchid bloom but more expensive.
I'm sticking with the Rebel series. I have the Xti- will upgrade eventually- a new Rebel was just announced. But, I'm 60, have a bad back smaller hands and do a lot of hiking with camera, lenses, flashes, tripod and there's just so much my husband will carry for me. I shoot birds a lot and usually carry two closeup lenses to photograph plants and sometimes very small invertebrates.
I STILL haven't figured out how to get thumbnails in my posts, despite Chas help.

Hi Connie,
Thanks for the posts. I am very happy with my 7D but seriously considered getting the XSi instead - generally the Rebel XT and XS series have such good reviews that the decision to get the 7D was made only after long thought. I do like it, though - with my large hands it has a much better "feel" to it and I am much more steady with it. And, byt he way, we do a lot of hiking and backpacking as well, so we know what it is to carry a lot of equipment - three of us with three camera bags (plus backpacks) and several tripods. We carry for the two Canons (my 7D and my old XT) two telephotos and one macro, plus two standard lenses. An excellent tripod that we use for hiking is the Manfrotto 785SHB. It packs down to about a foot, is very light and gets you within about 3 inches of the ground.

Connie Star · #7 03-22-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Hi Connie,
Thanks for the posts. I am very happy with my 7D but seriously considered getting the XSi instead - generally the Rebel XT and XS series have such good reviews that the decision to get the 7D was made only after long thought. I do like it, though - with my large hands it has a much better "feel" to it and I am much more steady with it. And, byt he way, we do a lot of hiking and backpacking as well, so we know what it is to carry a lot of equipment - three of us with three camera bags (plus backpacks) and several tripods. We carry for the two Canons (my 7D and my old XT) two telephotos and one macro, plus two standard lenses. An excellent tripod that we use for hiking is the Manfrotto 785SHB. It packs down to about a foot, is very light and gets you within about 3 inches of the ground.

Hi Ron,
I checked out that tripod on-line and it seems a bit lightweight for my main photo passion which is birds and for which I have some long heavy lenses. What type of photography are you doing with it? It does look nice for work on the ground. I also use a 100mm macro lens with a ringlight type flash which is heavy.
Just goes to show that there is no perfect camera for everybody- it's all a trade off.

tropterrarium · #8 08-13-2010, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Hi Ron,
I checked out that tripod on-line and it seems a bit lightweight for my main photo passion which is birds and for which I have some long heavy lenses. What type of photography are you doing with it? It does look nice for work on the ground. I also use a 100mm macro lens with a ringlight type flash which is heavy.
Just goes to show that there is no perfect camera for everybody- it's all a trade off.

To chime in on tripods, I use a Gitzo CF 1200 series 4 section pod for SLR. Had it about 12 years (was one of the very first CF tripods on the market back then) and its been from the intertidal to the desert and the tropical forest. On top a Linhof profi II ballhead with Arca-style QR. In a pinch it can handle the Canon 300/2.8 IS with 1.4x on a 5DmkII with battery grip and RRS L-plate. It goes down reasonably far, as I use a short column. On occasions I invert the column for belly shots.

My main lens is the Zeiss 100/2.0 ZE, and that one can be put on the smaller pod no problem, even with flash, extension ring etc.

My other pod is a 3 section 1300 Gitzo CF with Arca B1 ballhead and Arca QR. This one handles the 300/2.8 no problem, main use is for 4x5 LF (ArcaSwiss F-line). This one, too, with short column, and I occasionally invert it. A lot of fun with 4x5: everything upside-down, and upside down and backwards.

Connie Star · #9 03-21-2010, 07:31 PM

Great bird photos Ron!

ChasWG · #10 03-22-2010, 12:32 AM

What lenses are you using Ron? Everytime I even think about shooting birds, unless it's sitting on my fence or in one of my trees, I don't even bother. My 70-200 f4L just doesn't have the reach in most cases. So I don't bother. I really would love to get a 300mm f2.8L, but they aren't exactly cheap and I have a lot of other things I want to get as well.

My current stable of lenses, that I keep in my bag at all times is as follows:

Primes - Canon 28mm f2.8 and 50mm f1.8
Zooms - Tamron 10-24 f3.5-4.5 SP, Canon 24-70 f2.8L, Canon 70-200 f4L

Wish List: Canon 7D or 5D MkII (not really sure yet),300mm f2.8L, Canon 50mm f1.4, Sigma 30mm f1.4, Canon Extender 1.4 TC, a new tripod with ball type head and a bunch of other crap that cost a lot of money.