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  1. stevetb

    Recommend me a Scope please

    I agree with what is said about old generation scopes being worth a look, but this is a good example of the value of trying before you buy. The old Leica (APO 77) and Swaro (AT or ST 80HD) scopes are very comparable optically and in terms of weight and size. I use an AT80HD and certainly don't...
  2. stevetb

    Help me choose a lens

    Hi John, It's a tricky situation you describe. A macro lens would be the standard recommendation, but IMO they aren't the easiest tools for getting full body shots of large insects; the narrow DOF even at large f/ numbers makes this task quite difficult in less than perfect lighting. Indeed...
  3. stevetb

    Young Birder

    Hi Rob, To start with I would avoid weighing yourself down with a tripod - rather, spend time developing good handholding technique. Keep your arms tucked in, and both the camera and lens supported. It's a good idea to use autofocus - it's not going to get it right all the time, but certainly...
  4. stevetb

    The 7D has landed!!!

    Nice image Roy, but part of the hawk's beak seems to be missing?
  5. stevetb

    Young Birder

    Differences between similar DSLR models are small - but between bridge and DSLR cameras are far more noticeable.
  6. stevetb

    Young Birder

    Hi, I'm not sure what you mean by a DSLR without 'additional' lenses - you need a lens on a DSLR to focus the light, just like you do on a bridge camera. The difference is that on a bridge camera the lens comes with the camera and is fixed onto it. Even then, amongst other things, the larger...
  7. stevetb

    Sub £200 decent 8X binos?

    An update.... Thanks again for the views. I have to say that whilst the opticron look great, the Vortex bins seem excellent value for under £100 new on ebay, so I'm going to try and find some more views on them.
  8. stevetb

    Sub £200 decent 8X binos?

    Thanks very much for your views. The Vortex and Leupold models sound interesting Martin, although they appear to have a similar field of view to the Opticrons? The Nikon Monarchs look like a good deal, thanks for that Peter.
  9. stevetb

    Sub £200 decent 8X binos?

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone could recommend some decent 8x (32 or 42mm) binoculars for under £200? I don't mind looking at secondhand stuff. I would like the bins to be waterproof with a wide field of view though. I haven't got a problem with porro prisms, provided the bins aren't massive...
  10. stevetb

    Two Cranes

    Hi, I like it a lot! The two poses you have captured are great, and the birds are nicely focussed. I think I might crop it in a bit further though, to get rid of some of the vignetting at the bottom of the picture.
  11. stevetb

    Young Birder

    Nice Kingfisher shot there, they're not easy! I finally managed to get some bird photography done on Saturday, with a great little Grey Phalarope showing very well. Whilst I was about to have my lunch, I was alerted to a Little Auk that had turned up in a flooded puddle in the middle of a...
  12. stevetb

    Hampshire

    Hi all, Had a bit of a shock at Pennington today when I was told there was a Little auk around!!! I managed to see it, plus a slav grebe, peregrine mergansers and great views of the grey phalarope.
  13. stevetb

    Young Birder

    Hi again, I take your point about the general 'excitability' of this thread - but I'm not sure it's really intended as a serious place for young birders to discuss 'stuff'. I do see what you mean, but I think we the variety of ages and maturities, the conversation will almost inevitably break...
  14. stevetb

    Young Birder

    You have read the thread title... right (this one's not rhetorical by the way)? If so, are you actually trying to put young birders off? It's just you're coming across as quite confrontational and sarcastic - although these things are always hard to judge over the internet!
  15. stevetb

    Young Birder

    I know what you mean bill - and more often than not, watching the more common birds regularly will give you a better idea of behavior, traits and little nuances in plumage. In turn, this will probably make you a better birder than someone who dashes around to see rarities, and gives you more...
  16. stevetb

    Hampshire

    Hi Paul, I was up the end towards the lock gates, it's a little more sheltered there. What I meant was that it was easier to view there than my experience of Milford, with the strong wind and salt spray in your face! It was pretty dark though - when that flash of lightening came, I decided to...
  17. stevetb

    Hampshire

    I was very pleased to see one in Southampton Water at about half 3, as well as a peregrine, 2 GN divers and 5 + RB mergansers within the space of half an hour.
  18. stevetb

    Hampshire

    The last three birds being found by the same birder! I tried for the lark, but with no success. David, has the black throat been seen recently? This year could be another productive one for soton water.
  19. stevetb

    understanding ISO among other things..

    Faster shutter speed: Less blur from handshake and the movement of the bird. There are two ways to get a faster shutter speed. Normally, the most desirable way is a faster aperture (i.e. one that lets in more light, so a smaller f/ number), so make sure you keep the lens on it's fastest...
  20. stevetb

    Another one!

    Ah, have you applied blur to the background? The robin background does look a little unusual, and the one on the sedge warbler looks a bit unnatural IMO.
  21. stevetb

    critique and addvice plse

    Unfortunately the bird itself is not actually in focus. Look at the grass in the background and you'll see its sharper than the bird in front of it. It's an incredibly easy thing to do, and unfortunately there's no way of correcting focus on the computer. A faster shutter speed would have made...
  22. stevetb

    Critique - red grouse

    A great shot. The only slight spoiler IMO is that some of the bird is in shadow - I might have moved around slightly (if possible) to get the light at a more co-operative angle.
  23. stevetb

    Another one!

    Hi Jaff, It's a nice shot, and doesn't look to overprocessed IMO. The eye looks a little unnatural though - the strong (possibly oversharpened) catchlight doesn't seem to match the shadow on the front of the body.
  24. stevetb

    understanding ISO among other things..

    Hi Tj, I wrote something about this on my website not so long ago : here Cheers, Steve.
  25. stevetb

    spotting scope/camera

    Probably best to ask this as two different questions in the spotting scope forum and cameras and photography forum (further down the page). An idea of budget will help a lot too.
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