[nigelblake]

Further to the review I have added to the reviews section here are two images, the first is the full frame and the second is a 1-1 crop of that frame showing just the Barn Owls face, I have had to compress them considerably to make them a workable size to show on here.

Canon EOS1Ds + 100-400mm IS lens and Canon EX550 flash

1/200th at f11 with auto flash

in camera sharpening was restricted to fine pattern and standard

[Geoff Brown]

Superb detail still has been kept on the Owl's face Nigel even after the big blow up involved to achieve this photo.Excellent.

[nigelblake]

Originally Posted by Geoff Brown

Superb detail still has been kept on the Owl's face Nigel even after the big blow up involved to achieve this photo.Excellent.

This image has not been blown up at all, it has not had any post process sharpening either, it is a 1to1 crop of the first image straight from camera, accept for the compression otherwise it would have been 1.84 Mb the full image shot as a large fine jpeg is 5.91 Mb from camera.

[peteh]

WOWZERS!!!

that is an amazing camera..
If I win the lottery I will have one. :)

[Steve G]

Hi Nigel. Are you having any problems keeping the sensor clean? I've managed to accumulate about a ton of crap on the CMOS which I'm struggling to clean off. I recently used specially produced (manufactured in lab conditions using a laminar airflow unit) cleaning pads & highly purified methanol with rather poor success. I have now tracked down a product from the States that may be the answer. It is the width of the sensor & is designed to hold a mounting Pecpad. It is reusable & only the Pecpads are discarded. Again refined methanol is used with it. I have yet to try it but will post my results if you're interested.
Cheers,
Steve

[nigelblake]

I do have some sensor dust problems, but I use a mini vacuum cleaner that I got from the camera department stores at Pinewood studios, and cans of Kenair, these need the utmost caution to avoid getting the liquid gas on the sensor, but so far I have not had any real problems. I am in the habit of cleaning the sensor after each outing.

Nigel

[Geoff Brown]

Nigel,
Now you know how little I have grasped about digital photo work. Still it is a treat to see the efforts of someone who knows what they are doing. Hopefully when this present gloomy overcast weather lifts in Eastern England I can get my 10D out and start trying to emulate your skills on the local reserve. Thanks for advice re keeping sensor clean but up to now I don't think I have any problems regarding this, but I will give camera body a blow out more fequently as a precaution.

[Pops_uk]

Hi Nigel, the kit that your using isn’t’ no shoot and go, so what we are seeing is your skill
Thank you for sharing your time and talent.
Regards Glyn

[Dave Sherry]

Hi Nigel,

I that a particularly highly powered flash? Your photos are superb and very bright for what looks like a night shot. How do you get the focusing so accurate when its difficult to see?

[nigelblake]

I use a250,000 candle power lamp for illumination and focusing

[Dave Sherry]

Aaah!!

Cheers for that Nigel. My brother has one of these lamps. I may be able to give it a go. My cp4500 doesn't use a focus assist lamp and so focussing in the dark is nigh on impossible.

Regards,

Dave

[bcurrie]

Nigel,

Do you diffuse the light? I am just imagining, that given the situation, that could over power the subject (photography lighting wise). If you do, what do you use to diffuse that? Or do you find for the distance from which you take the shots the natural surroundings are sufficient to diffuse it? Mind you of course, then there is shooting with full moons, no moons, etc. Some "enlightenment" would be appreciated.

[nigelblake]

I do not use any diffusion on the flash, it measures its own output via the camera during exposure and is therefore extremely accurate. The lamp is focusable and is left defocused, this means it can be slowly(ish) panned across the bird allowing the birds iris' to close, this saves the bird from any ill effects from the flash, and also stops 'red-eye' from affecting the picture.