House Finch

[Brian]

Hey all. Well, I'm still learning my new 70-200. It's surprising how different it is using this lens versus my older "kit" lens. I actually have to adjust the f stop to get things in focus. Seems like I have always just left the lens full open. Now I actually have to pay attention to get the best detail from the lens.

Anyways, I took this on my back porch and was hoping maybe you folks could give me some more pointers. I'd certainly appreciate it.

 

[Ben Egbert]

You should not need to use aperture to get focus, unless you mean depth of focus. Is this and f2.8 lens? If so, you may need to stop down for DOF. Otherwise, it may need some micro adjust if it is front or back focusing. At f2.8 on a telephoto, the focus has to be dead on.

Anyway, this looks nice and sharp to me.

 

[Brian]

You should not need to use aperture to get focus, unless you mean depth of focus. Is this and f2.8 lens? If so, you may need to stop down for DOF. Otherwise, it may need some micro adjust if it is front or back focusing. At f2.8 on a telephoto, the focus has to be dead on.

Anyway, this looks nice and sharp to me.

Sorry, that is exactly what I meant. To get depth of focus. Actually having to open it up so that everything is in focus instead of just one part of the subject. Thanks.

 

[AlanLichty]

If this is the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8? f/2.8 has an incredibly narrow depth of focus which can be quite handy when you want to isolate something from the background but as you have already observed that doesn't really work for all subjects including this house finch. You do have very good isolation from the background behind the bird with a pleasing bokeh.

What software are you using to process your images?

 

[JimFox]

Hey Brian, this sure looks pretty nice! You are really getting your moneys worth fom the new lens.

This new lens is s f2.8? And the old one was a f4.5 or F5.6?

You also are working with a crop sensor camera?

Your new lens is going to have a shallower DoF, but it shouldn’t be that much difference though it may feel like it’s a lot different.

 

[Brian]

Hey Brian, this sure looks pretty nice! You are really getting your moneys worth fom the new lens.

This new lens is s f2.8? And the old one was a f4.5 or F5.6?

You also are working with a crop sensor camera?

Your new lens is going to have a shallower DoF, but it shouldn’t be that much difference though it may feel like it’s a lot different.

It was the Nikon 4.5-5.6 55-300mm. The new one is a 70-200mm 2.8. I also picked up a Nikon 16-80mm 2.8-4.0 recently. I find that I am having to think a little more with the apertures. It's definitely a learning curve. But I think it'll help. Having new toys makes it fun to get out. Which I'm hopeful will help with the pictures.

Now, if I could just do something about my creativity and composition. I look at all the members pictures and realize that I have a LONG way to go. But it's fun getting there..

 

[Bob Denton]

This is great!

 

[JimFox]

It was the Nikon 4.5-5.6 55-300mm. The new one is a 70-200mm 2.8. I also picked up a Nikon 16-80mm 2.8-4.0 recently. I find that I am having to think a little more with the apertures. It's definitely a learning curve. But I think it'll help. Having new toys makes it fun to get out. Which I'm hopeful will help with the pictures.

Now, if I could just do something about my creativity and composition. I look at all the members pictures and realize that I have a LONG way to go. But it's fun getting there..

Hey Brian,

It looks like you have some great lenses to work with.

So were you just always shooting wide open on your lenses? It sounds like you might have been. And if I recall you are using a DX camera right? A crop body camera has way more DoF, it can be harder to see the difference where your focus falls off until you get into the f2.8 area.

Generally speaking these are aperture settings to use.

Landscape - f13
Portrait - f2.8
Birds - f4
Wildlife - f5.6

That's just in general, if anyone has other suggestions, please add your thoughts. Those settings will vary depending on light and how active a subject might be.

 

[Brian]

Hey Brian,

It looks like you have some great lenses to work with.

So were you just always shooting wide open on your lenses? It sounds like you might have been. And if I recall you are using a DX camera right? A crop body camera has way more DoF, it can be harder to see the difference where your focus falls off until you get into the f2.8 area.

Generally speaking these are aperture settings to use.

Landscape - f13
Portrait - f2.8
Birds - f4
Wildlife - f5.6

That's just in general, if anyone has other suggestions, please add your thoughts. Those settings will vary depending on light and how active a subject might be.

That's great info Jim. I really appreciate it. I just got back from a wildlife area here in Denver. I'm really hoping I got a decent photo or two. I have been pretty much shooting wide open. With junk lens, it seemed almost necessary. I am on a crop sensor. A Nikon D7500. Definitely a learning experience.

 

[Amy Nelson]

Great capture!

 

[Brian]

Great capture!

Thanks Amy. I appreciate it.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Hi Brian,

One of the guidelines you should employ is to fill the frame as much as possible to eliminate space that isn't needed. That makes you subject stand out much more. That is why I cropped this image. I also darkened the background a bit and added a small amount of vibrance and saturation to the bird to help highlight it. The sharpness of this is just fine. You did a good job of capturing this bird.

 

[Brian]

Hi Brian,

One of the guidelines you should employ is to fill the frame as much as possible to eliminate space that isn't needed. That makes you subject stand out much more. That is why I cropped this image. I also darkened the background a bit and added a small amount of vibrance and saturation to the bird to help highlight it. The sharpness of this is just fine. You did a good job of capturing this bird.

View attachment 14623

I really like that. Thanks for the pointers and ideas. I appreciate the suggestions.