Birds in the backyard.

MoonShadow · 9th September 2012, 6:36 PM

Was taking photos out the window behind my computer monitor today of some birds in the blossoming tree. Google says they are Silvereyes. Using my cheapy Yashinon 75-230mm lens (from the 60s or 70s?) which I picked up at Cash Converters for a few bucks. All pictures should be about 230mm @ f/11, but it is easy to change the focal length accidentally whilst focusing. I thought they were attractive birds, and they did look kinda nice with the blossoming tree. I didn't notice until the end of the day that I was shooting at ISO500, which doesn't come out all that well on my E-P1, but it's still OK.

I'm sure they could look nicer cropped and edited, but I was just enjoying watching the birds and happy when I had a picture reasonably in focus. Later in the day the sun came out with blue skies, but the birds had stopped coming around as much by then.

Here's a 100% crop to get a better idea of how the birds look.

MoonShadow · 11th September 2012, 3:57 PM

Ok, turned the ISO down a bit and actually walked outside today instead of getting photos through the window. The birds hung around for about 4 minutes, so I managed to get a few photos in focus.

EDIT:

Ahh! Forgot this one. I liked this one the most. By the time I had focused and taken one photo the bird had flown away. This is the branch I kept waiting for birds to land on since it's at the top of the tree and I can isolate it. Shame I couldn't get a photo off the edge of the frame before the bird flew away.

CrazyNuts · 11th September 2012, 4:52 PM

The outside shots look great. Nice and shap with great colours for a "cheap" lens

Got to say the bokeh on it is quite smooth even at f/11.

9th September 2012, 6:36 PM	#1
MoonShadow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 254	Birds in the backyard. Was taking photos out the window behind my computer monitor today of some birds in the blossoming tree. Google says they are Silvereyes. Using my cheapy Yashinon 75-230mm lens (from the 60s or 70s?) which I picked up at Cash Converters for a few bucks. All pictures should be about 230mm @ f/11, but it is easy to change the focal length accidentally whilst focusing. I thought they were attractive birds, and they did look kinda nice with the blossoming tree. I didn't notice until the end of the day that I was shooting at ISO500, which doesn't come out all that well on my E-P1, but it's still OK. I'm sure they could look nicer cropped and edited, but I was just enjoying watching the birds and happy when I had a picture reasonably in focus. Later in the day the sun came out with blue skies, but the birds had stopped coming around as much by then. Here's a 100% crop to get a better idea of how the birds look.

11th September 2012, 3:57 PM	#2
MoonShadow Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 254	Ok, turned the ISO down a bit and actually walked outside today instead of getting photos through the window. The birds hung around for about 4 minutes, so I managed to get a few photos in focus. EDIT: Ahh! Forgot this one. I liked this one the most. By the time I had focused and taken one photo the bird had flown away. This is the branch I kept waiting for birds to land on since it's at the top of the tree and I can isolate it. Shame I couldn't get a photo off the edge of the frame before the bird flew away. Last edited by MoonShadow; 11th September 2012 at 4:12 PM.

11th September 2012, 4:52 PM	#3
CrazyNuts Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 1,265	The outside shots look great. Nice and shap with great colours for a "cheap" lens Got to say the bokeh on it is quite smooth even at f/11.