The Hawk Conservancy Trust

Had a fantastic day at this place the other week, well worth a visit, great day out! My Sigma 150-500 did ok but it didn't seem up to tracking the birds, which left me wanting more... Anyway, Here are a few images i managed to get. Enjoy

1.

Barn owl by Paul Webster, on Flickr

2.

Barn owl-3 by Paul Webster, on Flickr

3.

Great Grey Owl-2 by Paul Webster, on Flickr

4.

Hawk by Paul Webster, on Flickr

5.

Owl by Paul Webster, on Flickr

6.

Owl-3 by Paul Webster, on Flickr

7.

Owl-2 by Paul Webster, on Flickr

8.

Red Kite by Paul Webster, on Flickr

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Pentax K5ii / Tammy 17-50 / Pentax-F 50 1.7 / Siggy 70-300 / Siggy 150-500 / and my favourite Pentax-A 70-210.

Superbly done, #2's excellent, I use a K5iis and found back button focussing works a treat, only tried it last year and my hit rate got 75% better, i.e keep your thumb on the AF button on the back of the camera whilst also your trigger finger on the shutter button.

Takes a little getting used to but may improve your hit rate.

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Chris

www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk

" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".

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K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8

Sigma 100-300 F4, Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8

K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM

Some pretty good shots all the same, the pose and look of pic 5 appeals to me.

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C&C welcome.
Don.

2 and 4 for me - but they are all wonderful, whatever

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Both the *istDS and the K5 are incurably addicted to old glass

My page on Photocrowd - link

You must've had a good day - I always struggle there...

well done

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AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff

Thanks for the feedback guys Just left me wondering how the back af button makes a difference? What is it doing different? Not sure I understand :s

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Pentax K5ii / Tammy 17-50 / Pentax-F 50 1.7 / Siggy 70-300 / Siggy 150-500 / and my favourite Pentax-A 70-210.

Great pics PJ. however I'm with you on the AF button use? Do you think anyone out there can enlighten us? To me it does the same as the half press on the shutter release?
CHEERS Vic.

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Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.

Opening two images are really nice, but then again the set as a whole is lovely.

This is the same set up as mine. In the menu change the shutter release button to fire the shutter only and not half depress focus. Then just use the AF button on the rear to focus. Massively increases your hit rate and shooting/tracking is so much easier.

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Gareth
Welsh Photographer

My outfit: K1 gripped - Pentax D FA 24-70mm - Sigma 70-200mm OS HSM - Pentax modified DA* 60-250mm f4 - Irix 15mm Firefly - Pentax FA 35mm - FA 50mm - Tamron SP 90mm macro - Pentax AF 540 FGZ II

My Flickr
My PPG
My 500px

Well, went and had a go with back button focus today. Love it, I don't know what it is but it seems more responsive and somehow and just easier to get shots in focus. Get tip Chris, Cheers!

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Pentax K5ii / Tammy 17-50 / Pentax-F 50 1.7 / Siggy 70-300 / Siggy 150-500 / and my favourite Pentax-A 70-210.

Another great set, and clearly the techniques have worked. The back button AF is one of those things we all should discover as soon as possible ... It seems so much more logical to divide the focusing, metering and capture actions.

Sometimes I have to put focusing back into the shutter button for someone else to use the K7, and when I use it again like that it just seems crazy to keep focusing and refocusing every time you need another frame.

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My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

Great shots and useful advice