Given the distance, I am reasonably satisfied, but I also feel there is a little less than optimal feather definition. Are there some settings I need to change?
File tells me that the image was taken using:
1/400 f/4.2, Aperture priority
Iso 100 (automatically chosen, camera set at iso-max 400)
Exposure bias 0
focal length 82.8 (maximum, I think -- there was no converter)
Contrast, saturation, sharpness: all standard
I cannot find noise reduction in the data, should be set at -2 (that is where I remember setting it, and camera still reports that setting)
Thanks for any insight
Niels
Looks better than most of mine I've taken with the camera (see my gallery) I've only started using the other setting other than iA function. I've been trying P but have no clue what I'm doing when I change any of the settings
-Matt
Hi Matt,
As Niels suggested, getting a solid grounding in the fundamentals of photography would be helpful. But for bird photography, I have found that aperture mode with the aperture set to its widest point (4.2 on this camera at maximum zoom), works best for most situations. That appears to be what Niels is using as well.
Best,
Jim
I have had the FZ18 for about three month now, and have a question on quality. The attachment is full size, untreated crop of a picture which can alsoo be seen at http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/212415/ppuser/7427 in a version that has been sharpened etc.
Given the distance, I am reasonably satisfied, but I also feel there is a little less than optimal feather definition. Are there some settings I need to change?
[EDIT: Posting at the same time as Neils post above].
I have come up with some more helpful ideas. First, do you have image stabilization set to mode 2? That is supposed to be best for reducing camera shake. Second, you might want to double check to make sure you have image quality at the highest setting. I found that somehow mine got changed to a lower setting at one point. Finally, I just discovered some ways to speed the autofocus, which should be helpful for fast-moving birds or birds in flight:
(i) I enabled "continuous autofocus". (See page 82 of the manual). I am not sure exactly what this does, but the manual says it should increase focusing speed, though it uses a bit more battery power.
(ii)There is also a high-speed one area focusing mode (see page 79 of the manual). This is supposed to increase focusing speed also.
I have not tried it yet, but I also wonder whether the more precise spot focusing mode (see page 79) might be best for birds.
Best,
Jim
Jim and Niels,
I actually used the "A" function today, with isomax at 400 like niels uses but i forget the other settings and got this picture of a house finch which isn't that good but I'm happy with it since its better.
P.S. looks a little blurry though.
With the recent posts about the quality and resolution of FZ18 pictures at full zoom, I thought it might be quite nice to show a set of three pictures illustrating it's versatility for nature photography. The picture of the male gadwall duck was taken from a hide at full zoom with the bird about 30ft away. Light was good enabling 1/500th sec at F5.0. The original picture was cropped by about 25% and had a small amount of sharpening applied in Photoshop. The moth was taken at the opposite end of the zoom range in light shade in macro mode 1/80th sec at F2.8. Cropping and sharpening as before. Finally the siskin was a dot in tree canopy to the naked eye with sun shining through the leaves, it was moving around as well. Full zoom 1/160th sec. F4.2, original picture cropped about 60% and sharpened as before. I think these picture on only my second serious outing away from my back garden with the camera illustrate why I'm pretty happy with it overall. The dSLR kit I would have needed to lug around to get superior pictures of these three subjects is a pretty convincing arguement to someone with a real back problem. :t:
With the recent posts about the quality and resolution of FZ18 pictures at full zoom, I thought it might be quite nice to show a set of three pictures illustrating it's versatility for nature photography.
Hi Matt,
Looking at the image properties for your House Finch photo, I am not sure you understood the strategy Neils and I employ when using aperture priority. The image properties indicate the photo was taken at 1/60th of a second; that is a slow shutter speed likely to result in blur from camera shake or movement of the subject. Moreover, the aperture was set at f5.6. Even at maximum zoom, the aperture can be set open wider -- to f4.2. At this wider aperture, the camera will let in more light and allow a faster shutter speed, and that will decrease the likelihood of blur. When using aperture priority for bird photography, you generally want to set the aperture as wide as possible (which means the lowest number possible). You can toggle it using the joystick.
Best,
Jim
I think you're right in my confusing Jim, I don't really understand the whole "F and then some number thing"
Sorry if I'm sounding stupid or being a bother!!
-Matt
Well, as was discussed above, you need to get a grounding in the fundamentals of photography.
Best,
Jim
I think you're right in my confusing Jim, I don't really understand the whole "F and then some number thing"
-Matt
OK, let us try to make a little inroads:
Shutter speed is given as 1/60, 1/125, or what ever number, and means the fraction of a second that your camera is collecting information.
For the purpose of understanding, I will ask you to imagine something that is actually not true, but anyway: look at the F-number as it is was missing the 1/ part of the fraction, so you only saw the number in the denominator. A larger F number therefore means less light. F8 gives you half the light of f4. With fast moving birds, you want the maximum light and therefore the smallest number possible in F-number. Look in your manual under A (aperture priority) to see how to set the F-number, set it to the smallest possible, and leave it there when you do bird photography.
Hope this helps
Niels
... Don't forget to tell the camera you are using a teleconverter, see page 89 in the manual.
Also which setting have people found is the best for taking 'moving' bird photographs?
I have mentioned this in thread I started about TCON-17 (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=120057) and it was mentioned by Jim that he has not used the converter setting on the camera. I have now got a second-hand TCON-17 and have also found that I get good images without altering the setting at all (check Cormorant pics on my gallery).
I have found that using the Sport - Outdoor setting can get good results (if you're quick enough to keep the bird in the viewfinder)... including managing a Swift and Barn Swallows being fed...
Lisa
That is worth considering. What kind of Iso does the camera choose using that setting?