End of 1st week as a Nikon owner! (Owl & Swan Pics..)

Tooks · 17 Oct 2008 at 23:12

Well, I took the plunge recently and changed my Pentax K10d and K20d and lenses for a Nikon D200 and D90. I've got a Nikon 70-300 VR and Sigma 120-400 OS and I've been having a play for the last week with them.

It's a big change from what I'm used to, but I'm getting there, and I'm finding the FPS and AF performance very useful for wildlife photography.

I still need to learn how to process the Nikon files to my liking, but meantime here are 3 that I've taken since owning the cameras that I quite like. I don't think I've nailed the focus or sharpness yet, but time will hopefully get me there! Shame there is no background/point of reference with the owls, but I don't see them all that often so that's all I could get!

Both owl pics are with the D90/Sigma 120-400, and the swan with the D200/Nikon 70-300 VR.

A.N.Other · 17 Oct 2008 at 23:24

Tooks said:
I don't think I've nailed the focus or sharpness yet, but time will hopefully get me there!

Well, though we can't see the detail, it doesn't look like you're far off! Congratulations on the upgrade. Look forward to seeing more from it

Tooks · 17 Oct 2008 at 23:29

Cheers! I must admit, and with hindsight, I've been a bit stubborn in taking so long to move from Pentax kit to something else! I did like the Pentax kit, and for weddings/portraits/landscapes they are very capable.

But, they just didn't cut it in the action/wildlife arena, and after using a friends D200 for a while, I just had to get myself one! I had planned to hang on to one of the Pentax bodies because I had so much other kit, but I bit the bullet and sold the whole lot and purchased a D90, two flashes, and a couple of lenses with the proceeds. It was either that, or a D300/D700 but next to nothing left for any lenses, but the bodies can be upgraded when they're worn out.

I just NEED a 600mm F4 now...

V-Spec · 18 Oct 2008 at 08:34

Yikes, not bad... SEO's are the best Owl ever aren't they? they look at you like they want you dead!

Get some blue sky and light on them and it'll transform the shots.

I'll be checking out my areas later this afternoon to see if they're back...

Tooks · 18 Oct 2008 at 09:16

They are, I love Barn Owls, but these guys are something else!

They seem to be looking at you and thinking 'Mm, now if you were only a little bit smaller...'!

There were 4 at my location yesterday, but it's a wonder they get any hunting done at all what with the hassle they get from the crows!

V-Spec · 18 Oct 2008 at 11:31

Tooks said:
There were 4 at my location yesterday, but it's a wonder they get any hunting done at all what with the hassle they get from the crows!

Interesting... Very interesting... :cool:

sounds like they've either come back from down south, or from across the channel as some of them are European birds.

Tooks · 18 Oct 2008 at 11:44

V-Spec said:
Interesting... Very interesting... sounds like they've either come back from down south, or from across the channel as some of them are European birds.

Yep, definately arrived from somewhere as I've been out in that location since this time last year, and they've just suddenly turned up.