What’s Up?
On Wednesday afternoon a huge thunderstorm hit the puffin island 15 minutes earlier than predicted at 3:45pm. Sideways hail and rain with 40+ mph winds left most folks drenched; the rule in Northumberland is to always have your rain gear along…. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed; our boatman skillfully got us back to port. The storm knocked out internet for about a day and a half. Thus, there was no blog post on Thursday.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog or via a BAA Online Bulletin is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charges a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. The minimum item price here is $500 (or less for a $25 fee). If you are interested please e-mail with the words Items for Sale Info Request cut and pasted into the Subject line :). Stuff that is priced fairly–I offer free pricing advice, usually sells in no time flat. In the past few weeks we have sold nearly everything in sight. Do know that prices on some items like the EOS-1D Mark IV, the old Canon 500mm, the EOS-7D, and the original 400mm IS DO lens have been dropping steadily. You can see the complete listings here.
Recent News
Four more recently-listed lenses sold with the past few days. With the demands of cooking for 12, now 13 folks, and with the internet down for a good bit, I am once again far, far behind in updating the used gear page and answering e-mails. Heck, denise and I have barely had time to breathe…. I may have some time to catch up today. If I missed an important e-mail please re-send it. I will do my best.
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This image was created on the UK Puffins and Gannets IPT with the hand held Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens and the amazing Canon EOS 7D Mark II. ISO 400. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/5000 sec. at f/5.6. AWB. Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Shutter button AF as framed was active at the moment of exposure (as is always best when hand holding). The selected AF point was on the bird’s upper breast just below the black neck band. Click on the image to see a larger version. Atlantic Puffin flapping |
600 II vs 100-400II
Though I have lugged the 600II on every landing, I used it only briefly until Thursday afternoon, and even then the 100-400II proved very valuable. The 100-400 II is lightweight, easily hand holdable, and super-sharp. With the 7D II it offers lots of reach, especially with the 1.4X III TC in place. As shown in today’s image, it is extremely versatile; without being able to zoom out I’d have seriously clipped the puffin’s wings. Lastly it’s ridiculously short minimum focusing distance of less than a meter, or about 3 feet, two inches, allows the creative photographer to envision and create images that simply were not possible before the release of this lens.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens In Stock
For the very first time since its release, B&H has the 100-400 II in stock, ready to be shipped to you. Simply click on the logo link immediately above or use the product-specific text links in any blog post to purchase yours while supporting my efforts here on the blog .
The 100-400 II vs the 200-400 with Internal TC
As expected, I have received several e-mails asking for a comparison of these two great lenses, the Canon EF 100-400mm II and the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender. You should find find my detailed analysis here within a week.
The Single Negative?
What do you think is the biggest negative in this image?
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Typos
In all blog posts and Bulletins, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors. Just be right :).
Your shadow was not pointing directly at the bird as is your preference.
Hi Artie,
So gutted for you about missing a blog and having to start again.
The only negative for this image is the not so preferred sun angle and its consequences.
Looks to me that you are shooting about 90 deg from sun angle.
Still it’s a very nice image.
Loving that 100-400 lens.
Regards
DP
What do you think is the biggest negative in the image ? More of a catch light in the eye
more light needed; underside of wing, nape of neck and on the tail area.
Hi Art, Outstanding image!!
Negatives aside, images of puffins generally make me smile, and this one is especially effective. The same goes for the one in your previous blog. Nice work. 🙂
I like the image ‘though I would have left a slightly bigger margin to the right of the bird and reduced the empty space on the left. But only a little. I agree that poop is poop. You could have cleaned it up in PP (pardon the expression!) but you chose not to – fine with me.
I do have a question about the 7D2, the 100-400II (both of which I have) and the 1.4X converter (which I am considering buying). What’s your experience of the loss of AF functionality other than at the centre focussing point, and how do you work around it?
Thanks, Phil
Great shot. Why -2/3ev? Finally getting to our San Diego IPT images. Will send a few for critique when you get back. Thanks again for passing on your knowledge.
I’d prefer a little more space between the left wing tip and the right edge of the photo.
Hi, Artie. Thanks for this wonderful image and blog post. We’ve had some terrific t-storms here on Nantucket as well. I don’t see anything negative in your puffin image, I like it a lot. I think the head angle is terrific. Maybe if the bird’s left wing were angled differently the image would be a bit better, but I love it as is.
I do have a question about using the 1.4X TC III with the 100-400, though. Although I find the bare lens very sharp on my 7D2, almost none of my images with the 1.4X TC are acceptable. Maybe you can give me some pointers on the upcoming Nickerson IPT.
You are right on the left wing position…. It has to do with the light.
The keys to success with the 100-400 II/1.4X III TC/7D II combo are keeping the lens completely still and having AF both active at the moment of exposure and on a good spot on the bird…. Yes to helping you on the IPT of course. a
What do you think is the biggest negative in this image? I find the poop on the rock distracting, and the head angle could have been a bit better.
The poop is the poop. Part of the ambience. For me for this pose, the HA is perfecto.
a