Chaffinch

Well I was hoping for some sunshine when I went for a lunchtime walk with my new lens, but despite the dull drizzly sky I managed to get this little chap to pose for me:




Now, I know the image is not the best: it is a JPG as taken from the camera, no additional processing. However it isn't bad when you consider it was taken handheld with a 500mm lens at 1/60 second, f8 and ISO800!

Just testing out my "new" Tokina reflex lens How do you think it did under the circumstances?

Not bad for starters David, I would have opened up a bit more and lowered the ISO, nice shot for 1/60th though.

You do realise you've now been bitten by the bird shooting bug

Best place to shoot birds is near a feeder (RSPB and wildlife reserves are great for this)Snap them in the branches of nearby trees where they are sure to land before flitting to the feeders, watch out for branches that have a lot of droppings on them, odds on the branches above are regular perches.

The apature on this lens is fixed at f8, it's a mirror lens! Can't imaging hand holding a 'normal' 500mm lensm at this speed!

Well, I have always had that, I was a Young Ornothologist Club member when I was 10! Still have my Swiss 8x40 binoculars!