Calvin, the song sparrow has much detail, especially given this very large distance. I also like the 230 meter kite with the mouse.
Thank you!
To be honest, I just use settings for my camera I found online (Coolpix 4500). I wish I could say I had a firm handle on ISO, f-stops, etc. like most of you do, but it always makes my head implode. I'm rather thankful the 4500 was such a popular digiscoping camera and was "all figured out" before I got started.
I do alot of "shotgun" photography: I have the camera set so if I hold the remote release down I can catch 4-5 shots as fast as the camera can manage before the buffer fills and I have to wait an eternity for them to save. I average 150 shots during my 1.5-2.0 hour Saturday morning outings, and on a good day I get 1-5 "decent" shots. Shots like the sparrow are 1-per-2000 shots or worse.
So if I even THINK the subject is going to move, I push, hold, and pray. That song sparrow was as much luck as "skill." I think the only real skill involved is manually focusing the C90 (quickly!) and trying to second-guess the behavior of my subject to capture a shot (to maximize focusing time). That sparrow is my best photo to date...luck, skill, or otherwise.
Yeah, the kite shot isn't world-class quality, but catching him with prey was pretty cool. I tried to take shots of him actually eating it, but they were too blurry. Was interesting, in a gruesome sort of way, to just watch.
Thanks again, you're too kind!