Tag Archives: Mirrorless

Bird Photography with the Sony 70-200mm GM II Lens

June 8, 2022 by Joe Colson | 0 Comments

I have continued to photograph birds that frequent our bird feeders. Since early 2022, I have used the new Sony FE 70-200mm GM II lens and the Sony FE 2x teleconverter to see how that combo performs. I’m impressed with the results so far.


Photos framed using the FrameShop script.

Equipment
Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens
Sony FE 2x Teleconverter
Sirui L-10 Aluminium Tilt Monopod Head
AmazonBasics Carbon Fiber Monopod
General Brand 77mm Collapsible Rubber Lens Hood
Kirk LP-65 Replacement Lens Foot
SanDisk 128GB Extreme Pro SD Card

Setup
See a previous post for a photo of the feeder setup. All photos were taken from indoors, shooting through a double-pane window, using a black cloth to conceal my location. The rubber lens hood allows the front of the lens to be close to the window and helps reduce/eliminate reflections.

Settings
P-S-A-M mode: Manual
Aperture: f/8-10
Shutter speed: 1/400 – 1/500 sec.
ISO: Auto ISO (Maximum 6400)
White balance: Auto: White
Focus mode: AF-C
Focus area: Wide
Face/Eye Priority in AF: On
Face/Eye Subject: Bird
Shutter type: Electronic Shutter
Metering mode: Multi
Drive mode: Continuous: Mid (10 images/sec.)
SteadyShot: On

Processing
Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop
Topaz DeNoise AI
FrameShop script

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Bird Photography During the Pandemic – Part 5

October 20, 2021 by Joe Colson | 0 Comments

I have continued to photograph birds that frequent our bird feeders. This will probably be my last post of the season because fewer birds are visiting the feeders as temperatures drop and the sun is very low in the sky during the day. The feeders will remain during the fall and winter for those birds that do not migrate.
Continue reading »

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Bird Photography During the Pandemic – Part 4

September 15, 2021 by Joe Colson | 0 Comments

I have continued, during the seemingly endless COVID-19 pandemic, to photograph birds that frequent our bird feeders. I’m now shooting with a Sony Alpha 1 (a1) mirrorless digital camera. One of the compelling features of this camera is Eye AF which enables the camera to detect and focus on the subject’s eye(s). In addition, the subject of Eye AF can be selected between Human, Animal or Bird. Obviously for these photos, I’ve selected Bird. Once the bird lands on the perch or feeder, I can half-press the shutter release, enable AF, and then shoot frames at a fast frame rate with the bird’s eye perfectly in focus. It’s almost too easy.
Continue reading »

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Photographing the Canadian Rockies with the Hasselblad X1D 50C

May 31, 2020 by Joe Colson | 0 Comments

Photos framed using the FrameShop script.

Equipment
Hasselblad X1D Digital Camera
Hasselblad XCD 30mm Lens
Hasselblad XCD 45mm Lens
Hasselblad XCD 90mm Lens
Hasselblad HC 210mm Lens
Novoflex Tripod (TrioBalance with 3-section Legs)
Arca-Swiss L60 Leveler Head
SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro SD Cards
Accessories (the usual suspects; more details here)

Where and When
The province of Alberta, Canada, centered near Calgary in Okotoks, exploring south to Crowsnest Pass and west to Lake Louise in June 2018.

This “first for me” trip to Alberta was a success, thanks to our gracious host, good friend, and fellow photographer David Duffin, who acted as our guide and expert source of information on everything about Alberta. David is a true gentleman and his photographs of the Canadian landscape, particularly of Canadian railroads, are truly stunning. Thanks also to my long time friend and frequent photo trip companion, Ron Basinger, for joining me on this trip and for helping me point the lens in the right direction.

The Canadian Rockies are in a word, breathtaking. I found myself in awe at every bend in the road. Photos don’t do the scenery justice. The photos in this post and in my Gallery are just a sample of what one can see through the viewfinder. When you step from behind the camera, your jaw drops. Stunning!

Processing
Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop
FrameShop script

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Bird Photography During the Pandemic – Part 2

May 24, 2020 by Joe Colson | 0 Comments

More photos of birds frequenting my feeder setup. A few new species, different “poses”, and a new “stage” (woodpecker feeder) have been added.

Photos framed using the FrameShop script.

Equipment
Leica SL2 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4 Lens
Sirui L-10 Aluminium Tilt Monopod Head
AmazonBasics Carbon Fiber Monopod
General Brand 82mm Collapsible Rubber Lens Hood
Really Right Stuff MPR-73 Multi-Purpose Rail (for lens foot)
SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro SD Card

Setup
A woodpecker feeder has been added to the feeder and perch setup.


All photos were taken from indoors, shooting through a double-pane window, using a black cloth to conceal my location. The rubber lens hood allows the front of the lens to be close to the window and helps reduce/eliminate reflections.

Settings
P-S-A-M mode: Manual
Aperture: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec.
ISO: Auto ISO (Maximum 6400)
White balance: Auto
Focus mode: AF-S
AF mode: Spot
Exposure metering: Multi-Field
Drive mode: Continuous-Medium Speed
Image stabilization: On

Processing
Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop
FrameShop script

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