Getting MORE from your photos !

[Cuppa]

Resizing for forums is problematic because most have a relatively small file size limit. If you reduce the file size you lose clarity. One way around this is to use an online photo host - upload to it & then use a link to it on the forum.

There are heaps of free photo re-sizing programmes for Windows, Others here may be able to advise which they like, otherwise it's just a matter of trying some to find one to suit. On my Mac I just export the photo from my photos app & choose the size as I do it.

Provided the size is acceptable to a forum, saving as a .png file retains more of the photo's information. Often it's a balance between physical size of the image & it's file size.

Is that a Wattle Bird or a spiny cheeked honeyeater?

How do you like the lens. I bought the same lens last year, but struggle with it's weight. Ok on a tripod, but hard work hand held. Wish I'd bought a 400mm zoom for birds, but the one available for my camera was over $4k!

[mudnut]

I have edited the post with the species name.

To be honest, I have had very mixed results with the lens, Cuppa.

I am getting maybe one good pic in 20. The 600 I have is the contemporary style which is supposed to be far lighter than the more rugged sports lens.
And yes, I struggle with the weight. Mrs mudsane has been carrying the equipment in a rucksack for me on field trips.

I bought a cheap Inca tripod to use until I can find a good half ball type with a better camera mount.

I am thinking about building a hard shell case with a collapsing handle, pneumatic wheels and a seat cushion on top, so I can get to good sites alone.

I tried numerous different settings and modes for this shot of a Great Egret at around 70-80 metres away. The pic was the best of a bad bunch and is same settings as above.

And yet the Chest Teal is almost perfect. Same settings, but only 40 metres away.

[Cuppa]

I'm still experimenting with the Sigma lens. A few things have made it focus quicker , but stuffed if I can remember precisely what. I have used the Sigma software to change how some of the functions & switches of the lens work. I also use reasonably fast shutter speed (& consequently larger aperture and/or higher ISO) when hand held. Constant focus helps a lot but drains the battery more quickly. And Back Button Focussing helps a lot too. But yes I get pretty mixed results & know the frustration when the only shots you have turn out to be crap. Particularly frustrating is being unable to focus a clearly as I need to,mbecause in the rush to get the shot have forgotten to change the 3 position switch for the lens' focal range. I also suspect that becoming fluent with such a large lens requires an awful lot of practice/experience. The lens itself is certainly capable of high quality, it's the user input which needs to improve. Shots need to be planned which involves observation & learning about the bird's behaviour & habits - it's favourite perches for example (something I quite enjoy). Spontaneous shots with the big lens can 'get lucky' , but is definitely hit & miss. When going out to try to get shots of a bird which I may never see again, especially in heavy cover like the rainforest I've rather disappointingly learned that it is better to trade the closer close-up shot, for a clearer more distant shot with my 55mm-210mm Sony zoom, with a 1.7x Olympus teleconvertor fitted. Just *much* easier & faster to handle.

[mudnut]

I have tried on numerous occasions to capture a good image of a Tree Creeper. No matter what focus level is chosen, the tree trunk comes out clearer than the bird.

I have used the 18-55, the 75-300 and the 150-600 lens with the same results. Apart from the fact that the it never sits still, I have come to the conclusion the White Throated Tree Creeper emits a camouflage aura.

[Cuppa]

To my eyes both tree trunk & bird are very 'soft'.

Do you have a setting which enables auto focus AND manual focus? It may help to get 'in the ballpark' with auto focus & then try to tweak it manually to improve it. I use this quite a lot when in heavy undergrowth as I found the camera would often focus on a nearby leaf or twig when I thought it was on the bird. Result was 'snaps' which my wife found acceptable but all I could see was a bird which should have been 'pin sharp' but wasn't.

[mudnut]

I had a go at getting some insects, 18-55mm lens, but lost the settings info. Took over a hundred snaps to get these two. The first fly ate a smaller insect after I took the pic.

The lenses all have manual focus. I have tried looking for back button focus, but my model camera doesn't have that extra AF button.

[Cuppa]

The auto/manual focus on mine is called DMF (Digital Manual Focus I think)

[mudnut]

https://www.google.com/search?q=digi...ez7sPxbuBkA039

Some easy tips.

[FNQGU]

Mudnut, coming in late here, so you guys might have already covered this, but have you tried opening your aperture right up to as large as it will go for those sorts of subjects? Or is 6.3 as large as it gets on that Sigma? I routinely shoot on Aperture mode using autofocus but manually place my focus point. With things like birds (and even goats), you don't necessarily need more depth of field than what you would get at your largest aperture and the blurred background keeps your bird as the main subject without any distractions.

Also there is a general rule to always focus on the eye if you can. The human eye is always drawn to the eye of any subject, so images with the eye in crisp focus tend to be viewed as better images. I don't know how your model Cannon works but are you able to select a single focus point and then move that focus point around within your composition to where you need it to be?

Another feature that might be worth considering is to set your exposure to a pinpoint setting, or the smallest circle/area that the camera has. I'm guessing that the goanna shot would have looked quite a lot different if you were able to do this.

Some good advice from Cuppa there on refining your focus manually as well. Your instruction book should tell you if you can do this when your lens is on AF or not. My lenses do and I love the feature, particularly if shooting through a fence or some foliage or some distraction in between you and your subject as well.

Hope this helps a little. Best thing is to get your camera off the Auto setting and into the zones where the creativity starts...and you can get what you are looking for. :-)

[Cuppa]

Or is 6.3 as large as it gets on that Sigma?

The lens is 150mm to 600, & f5-f6.3. I think f5 is only available at 150mm.