Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 DI IF VC USD (1 Viewer)

[hosesbroadbill]

Flycatcher with the Tamron

Here are a few close ups of a bird that we have tons of but are often extremely hard to approach closely. They were all over the barrier beaches today but usually only allow you to get about 30 feet from them before they fly off. For some reason once I put my hood on (I was wearing a green sweat jacket and put the hood up) the birds seemed to pay me no mind. Weird but true.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15392719267/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15576150261/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15579536322/in/photostream/

Processed in DPP and hand held as usual...

 

[cango]

But I was shooting a dark, reflective bird at the edge of the forest and trying to keep good detail.

very good getting so much detail of that dark one. Amazing how the light at the right angle can make an apprently dark bird show off so much colors.

great series of that Eastern Phoebe. Lovely bird

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Tamron

very good getting so much detail of that dark one. Amazing how the light at the right angle can make an apprently dark bird show off so much colors.

great series of that Eastern Phoebe. Lovely bird

Thanks on the pics. It is always a challenge to for me to get color on dark birds and to make sure that white birds are not over exposed. The Eastern Phoebes are interesting subjects because they are everywhere at this time of year but just don't let you get close to them. But once I was able to approach closely that really allowed the Tamron to bring out their beauty. I really like that the shots show so much of the feather detail. But again these are hard birds to photograph for me. Dark backs and light fronts. I had to set the exposure compensation at -1/3 or more to not have blown out whites.

Here is a picture of mine that did not come out great. It is a big crop of this bird. Lighting was not ideal either as I was at ISO 800 and SS was only 1/250th. The combination lead to a decent shot with decent details but certainly it is not really sharp. It is an Eastern Wood Pewee. It was also very windy so holding the camera and lens steady was not easy.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15580925081/in/photostream/


And another that is good but not perfectly sharp. ISO was 1000 and SS was 1/500th hand held at 600mm.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15392917450/in/photostream/

Considering the light I think I did well but there is room for improvement on these.

Sure would like to see some more pics from others and see what results they are getting...

 

[Zackiedawg]

Here are a few recent shots I took this weekend, around the wetlands, all handheld, all JPGs, no post processing other than crop:

Mottled duck flying by:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920189/original

This black-throated blue warbler was VERY challenging - about 35 feet away, under tree cover down low, shooting through branches in low light, 600mm, F6.3, ISO1600 wide open...I rarely get to see this bird:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920197/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920201/original

Young purple gallinule just getting his colors, and iridescent in the sun:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920204/original

Lots of belted kingfisher action here the past few weeks, giving me some in-flight opportunities at 600mm:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920206/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920212/original

Egret flying by close:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920219/original

Double-crested cormorant launched straight out of the water and up to a tree, still dripping water as he flies:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920224/original

Very low light for this grey catbird - he was trying to hide - at F5.6 and ISO1600 I could only muster 1/125 shutter - handheld with stabilization helped:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920228/original

Great egret in flight:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920232/original

They're ugly, but the pose was nice and light was beautiful, so this wood stork actually looks kind of elegant:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920233/original

 

[hosesbroadbill]

post processing

Here are a few recent shots I took this weekend, around the wetlands, all handheld, all JPGs, no post processing other than crop:

Mottled duck flying by:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920189/original

This black-throated blue warbler was VERY challenging - about 35 feet away, under tree cover down low, shooting through branches in low light, 600mm, F6.3, ISO1600 wide open...I rarely get to see this bird:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920197/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920201/original

Young purple gallinule just getting his colors, and iridescent in the sun:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920204/original

Lots of belted kingfisher action here the past few weeks, giving me some in-flight opportunities at 600mm:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920206/original

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920212/original

Egret flying by close:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920219/original

Double-crested cormorant launched straight out of the water and up to a tree, still dripping water as he flies:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920224/original

Very low light for this grey catbird - he was trying to hide - at F5.6 and ISO1600 I could only muster 1/125 shutter - handheld with stabilization helped:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920228/original

Great egret in flight:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920232/original

They're ugly, but the pose was nice and light was beautiful, so this wood stork actually looks kind of elegant:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/157920233/original

Shots look good to me. Would be nice to see then once they have been processed as well.

 

[Zackiedawg]

I tend to not process most birding photos - unless there's one I intend to print large, and want to clean up or touch up. I enjoy getting out and documenting and photographing birds, and the process of taking the photo for me is as much or more fun than viewing them - and I'd rather not spend too much time sitting at the computer with as many photos as I take every weekend. So I generally don't bother with RAW, and just do minor cropping, with occasional dust spot removal or regional noise touch up. That keeps me happy and gives me more time to enjoy shooting and looking, rather than processing.

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Gallinule

I tend to not process most birding photos - unless there's one I intend to print large, and want to clean up or touch up. I enjoy getting out and documenting and photographing birds, and the process of taking the photo for me is as much or more fun than viewing them - and I'd rather not spend too much time sitting at the computer with as many photos as I take every weekend. So I generally don't bother with RAW, and just do minor cropping, with occasional dust spot removal or regional noise touch up. That keeps me happy and gives me more time to enjoy shooting and looking, rather than processing.

You should process that Purple Gallinule. It is a very nice shot.

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Some close ups from today

A White-crowned Sparrow

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/14997517743/in/photostream/

A Song Sparrow

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15431029789/in/photostream/

And another Song Sparrow

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/14996919224/in/photostream/lightbox/

And a Yellow-rumped Warbler in cloudy skies and low SS

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/14997517093/

 

[hosesbroadbill]

More shots from the barrier beach

Group seems to be slowing down. Here are some more shots that I am very happy with. Love my Tamron and the results that it produces. All handheld and processed in DPP.

A Swamp Sparrow

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15008239334/

A Dark-eyed Junco

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15442853378/

A White-throated Sparrow

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15629792852/in/photostream/

And a Brown-headed Cowbird

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15442727647/in/photostream/

 

[cango]

Group seems to be slowing down. Here are some more shots that I am very happy with. Love my Tamron and the results that it produces.

I think one of the main reasons you get so good results, besides of course the lens and your handholding technique and good light - is closeness to the subject - in this case the smaller birds, that one don't usually get that close to (in the field). Very nice details on them all.

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Closeness

I think one of the main reasons you get so good results, besides of course the lens and your handholding technique and good light - is closeness to the subject - in this case the smaller birds, that one don't usually get that close to (in the field). Very nice details on them all.

Getting close is the key. I have plenty of shots that are just OK from far off. For these birds, I know the spot where they feed at the edge of a weedy field. I sat my self down in a shady area and stayed still. Waited for the birds to get used to me and eventually they paid me no mind. Knowing the birds habits and getting close makes all the difference between a decent shot and a really nice shot showing feather detail.

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Flight shots

I think one of the main reasons you get so good results, besides of course the lens and your handholding technique and good light - is closeness to the subject - in this case the smaller birds, that one don't usually get that close to (in the field). Very nice details on them all.

Got some nice shots of a Red-tailed Hawk that flew over my yard today. Lighting was not ideal as it was a bit in the sun. Wind was also blowing very hard and the hawk was going against the wind. I live at the top of a hill just before you get to New York harbor so it was extremely windy today. I saw the bird coming closer and it was almost hovering so quickly switched the VC on to try and make up for the wind shake. I'm thrilled with the results, especially since it is a yard shot! Hand held and processed with DPP. As always, criticism or advice always welcome.

Also curious to hear what those that question how the lens works for BIF think...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15633895391/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/15637508222/in/photostream/

 

[Winterdune]

Fabulous shots but for testing bif you need smaller, faster birds. Any chance you could try with some flypast passerines?
Thanks,
Sean

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Bif

Fabulous shots but for testing bif you need smaller, faster birds. Any chance you could try with some flypast passerines?
Thanks,
Sean

I am happy to try for flyby passerines. But just out of curiosity, why? I have hardly ever seen a good, quality shot of a flyby passerine. Anyone have one that I could use as an example?

I have seen plenty of shots of smaller birds as they were taking off or usually as they were landing, but few if any that I can recall that were flying by.

 

[Winterdune]

I think quite a few birders in the UK, like me, take record shots of migrating passerines, and this sort of photography is where the Canon 400 f5.6 is meant to rule the roost! Would be excellent if you could give it a go...
Sean

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Bif

I think quite a few birders in the UK, like me, take record shots of migrating passerines, and this sort of photography is where the Canon 400 f5.6 is meant to rule the roost! Would be excellent if you could give it a go...
Sean

So do you mean can this lens get small birds flying by to document things? Not good shots, just documentation?

Clearly the 400 5.6 will have an advantage for this. It is smaller, lighter and faster. Could you post the kind of shot you are after. Also at what focal length. Am I trying at 400 or 600?

 

[Winterdune]

Yes exactly. Shots like this. 400mm is the fairest comparison.http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=517593&d=1413111039
Thanks,
Sean

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Bif

Yes exactly. Shots like this. 400mm is the fairest comparison.http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=517593&d=1413111039
Thanks,
Sean

I don't usually try and get shots like this cause I don't do anything with them. They are generally small in frame and not detailed.

Anyhow, here is a shot I took a while ago at 500mm of a grackle. They are not the smallest bird but it gives and idea of what you can get.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/14591977532/in/set-72157644556704359

Also here is a Purple Martin shot I took shortly after getting the lens

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/14011047965/in/set-72157644199443826

And here is a shot with the 400 5.6 on the same day

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/13987918926/in/set-72157644199443826

 

[Tarsiger]

I'm guessing the market for a lens based on record shots of flying passerines is pretty small! Waving a 600mm lens like the tamron would seem pretty futile plus its a big old bit of kit to carry as well as scope bins etc.
But happy to be proved wrong.
Russ

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Bif

I'm guessing the market for a lens based on record shots of flying passerines is pretty small! Waving a 600mm lens like the tamron would seem pretty futile plus its a big old bit of kit to carry as well as scope bins etc.
But happy to be proved wrong.
Russ

Couldn't agree more. It is not what I try and take pics of and how I take pics. The Tamron certainly holds it own when it comes to BIF. Maybe not as good as the best there is but it has many advantages over the 400 5.6. IS, ability to zoom and to get to 600mm as well.