[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Cyruz

dc, i agree with you 100%. my biggest complaint with the 40D is noise and iso with low light.

side note, great shot of the BIF at sunset the other day.

Thanks. I've really gotten into BIF lately. It's quite a challenge.

Even with the improved ISO performance of the 7D, the 5D2 still blows it away in that respect, performing as well at 3200 as the 7D does at 1600. (The 40D is probably at ISO 800, or lower, when it hits the same noise wall).

Dave

[immiketoo]

OK, whats the BIF?

[digi_pixx]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

I want a 5D so badly

x 2

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by immiketoo

OK, whats the BIF?

Bird in Flight.

[immiketoo]

Like this?

[immiketoo]

Or this...

[dcstep]

Yeah, like that and like this:



and this:



or this:



Easier said than done, but worth the effort.

[UdubBadger]

jesus... they look like mini f-14's

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

jesus... they look like mini f-14's

Mallards seem like F-14s when you're trying to photograph them. They're little speed demons, doing 0-60 in about 1-second. One second they're on the pond and in another second they're in the air and flying past you at full speed. Raptors actually seem slow in comparison.

Dave

[vachss]

It's funny but this thread made me go back and look at all my old BIF shots, and realize that I'd taken almost none since I got the 5D2. Even though the pixel density (pixels per duck) is the same as on the 20D with which I did most of my bird shooting, the frame just feels "too big" and the birds too far away.

Maybe I've become too used to the look of high res shots out of the 5D2 and just can't bring myself to crop down to the center 20-30% of the frame. And maybe that means I'm trying to talk myself into a 7D just for the birds....

Hmmm... a 7D would be way cheaper than a long white lens, but my long white lens is worth the same as when I bought it 5 years ago while my 3-4 old camera bodies are basically worthless. Decisions, decisions.

[dcstep]

Vachss, I was considering a longer lens for my 5D2 and may still do it yet, but $6000 and up for 500 and 600mm lenses caused a double-take.

If I'm still heavily into the birds AND get a good year end bonus, then I might spring for a big white lens. Meantime, I wish I could get a 400mm f5.6L with IS. Next spring I may do some bird photography from a boat and the IS would be really handy.

Still, as you say, the size of the subject in the viewfinder is important and makes it easier to get the focus right. My keeper ratio went up dramatically for BIF going from the 5D2 to the 7D, due almost entirely to this factor. For BIF, I DO NOT find the AF superior, because I'm using the single-point spot on both cameras. It's easier to get the spot on the bird with the 7D, but the AF is not superior in the spot mode.

The faster shutter burst rate is very nice however. I can get all wing positions and pick the best, even for very fast flappers.

Dave

[Dr_Jones]

got 40d yesterday...$675 with 5600 clicks.

rapid fire shooting..cant imagine what a 1 or 7d is like.

First shots with 40D...absolutely thrilled as there was very little light

I asked as nice as possible but this guy would not take off...or move into the light. What do you expect...i barged in on his dinner.