Hi all,
yes the Bramblings were taken with my Fuji F31FD and Kowa TS-614 telescope. For comparison look at the Chaffinch shot here, taken with the FZ18 and TCON-17 over the same distance as my Fuji shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/2373577240/
The Sculthorpe moor set has some good comparisons of FZ18 & TCON V F31FD/Scope, as I was digiscoping whilst my other half, Ian was playing with the panny. Compare for example some of the Pheasant shots and the water rails (check the exif data to know which camera took what):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8773601@N03/sets/72157604217422105/
What I will say to you both is that these two set ups compliment each other nicely. In good light and at closer range I can get great shots with the Panny. Its much more portable, easier and quicker to focus and can do birds in flight (although that is stretching the capabilities). However, in overcast conditions, over longer distances and where the birds are cooperative enough to set up my fuji/scope combo I can sometimes get a better shot (and the bramblings are a good example of that). However, I do find I use the Panny a lot more often than the scope these days when the light is good because sometimes I just don't want to be burdened with a telescope.
In any case, I wouldn't have got the attached shot (taken on elephantback in Bandhavgarh, India) with my fuji and scope!
Ian has also just got a Canon 30D and 170-500 sigma lens. We'll be returning to this site soon so stay tuned for more comparisons.
Regards
Jo