A New Photographic Strategy...

[Arthur Morris]

White-tailed Eagle looking down

This image was created at the Akan Crane Center on the 2016 Japan in Winter IPT with the Induro (https://www.outdoorphotogear.com/search.php?search_query=indurogrand&rfsn=132487.5cf37.9906) GIT 304L/Mongoose M3.6 (https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=274)-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/754508-REG/Canon_5125B002_EF_600mm_f_4L_IS.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CA6004LIFEF2/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCA6004LIFEF2), and the mega mega-pixel Canon EOS 5DS R. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119027-REG/canon_0582c002_eos_5ds_r_dslr.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE5DSR/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE5DSR) ISO 400: 1/1600 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode. AWB.

Center AF point/AI Servo Expand/Shutter button AF as originally framed was active at the moment of exposure. Click on the image to see a larger version.

I am pretty much sold for now on the Canon EOS 5DS R (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119027-REG/canon_0582c002_eos_5ds_r_dslr.html/BI/6633/KBID/7226/kw/CAE5DSR/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xCAE5DSR): shoot wide when you can't get close,, crop, and wind up with incredibly large, sharp image files. Working wider allows for more d-o-f and super-accurate AF. When you get close the image files are mind-boggling.

See Pane #2 for an even tighter crop of this image.

As for the image, don't be shy: all honest comments are welcome.

For six more examples with the six original image files and six more crazy tight crops see the 600 II/5DS R raptors in flight; is this the sickest blog post ever? blog post here. (http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2016/02/22/600-ii5ds-r-raptors-in-flight-is-this-the-sickest-blog-post-ever/)

[Arthur Morris]

This is an unsharpened 100% crop of the optimized TIFF file. In 32 years of bird photography I have never seen anything like the fine feather detail that comes with the 5DS R...

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous image. Spectacular flight shot.
Love the fine details on 100% crop.
Very informative blog post.
Great show, Arthur sir.

Regards,
Satish.

[keith mitchell]

Arthur where will it end ?agree the image quality is superb without sharping , and a fine picture you took to show us this .

Keith.

[Karl Egressy]

Very impressive image of both the close up and the full size.
Love the head turn and the full wing span pose as well as the fine details.

[Jonathan Ashton]

A very nice image indeed, the details are excellent. I like the pose and the colours. Artie you mentioned a couple of my recent images have been a little dark in the mid range and I think you were right, however I look at this one and wonder if it is a little pale - does it need a little "pop" - maybe I am up the creek and it is the time of year and the plumage is pale or it is a juvenile??

I am not too sure about the strategy - are we really saying that a 5DSR is going to deliver better images with a shorter lens that a 5D III or a 1DX with a longer (L) lens. Wouldn't the longer reach and large pixels beat (optical quality)the smaller though many more pixels - it's a genuine question I am not sure what the answer is but I am sure that an answer would have to be cached in terms of "at this distance or this magnification".

[Arthur Morris]

A very nice image indeed, the details are excellent. I like the pose and the colours. Artie you mentioned a couple of my recent images have been a little dark in the mid range and I think you were right, however I look at this one and wonder if it is a little pale - does it need a little "pop" - maybe I am up the creek and it is the time of year and the plumage is pale or it is a juvenile??

I am not too sure about the strategy - are we really saying that a 5DSR is going to deliver better images with a shorter lens that a 5D III or a 1DX with a longer (L) lens. Wouldn't the longer reach and large pixels beat (optical quality)the smaller though many more pixels - it's a genuine question I am not sure what the answer is but I am sure that an answer would have to be cached in terms of "at this distance or this magnification".

Hi John,

First off I love the soft look and the soft light with the underparts lit by light reflected off the snow. But surely that is a matter of taste.

As for the image quality question, the answer is a resounding no. You need to subscribe to the blog... 5DS R images kill 1D IV, 1DX, and 5D III images. And for IQ alone at the lower ISOs they will kill most 1DX II images. But the 1D X III has tons going for it, at least on paper.

I own two 5DS R bodies and are using them exclusively right now. I have a 1DX II on order. a

[Gerhard Weldhagen]

Great image, especially the large crop version. On your blog it appears that you use the 5dsr / 600 f4 ii combo only tripod mounted for flight shots? How would that compare to handholding this rig?

[Arthur Morris]

Great image, especially the large crop version. On your blog it appears that you use the 5dsr / 600 f4 ii combo only tripod mounted for flight shots? How would that compare to handholding this rig?

Though some of my younger, hand holding studs would disagree, I believe that the images made on a tripod would be just a bit sharper. For me there would be no comparison because I can barely hold the 600 II for a few seconds.... a

ps: thanks!

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Arthur,

the eagles feathers look quite a bit like painted! I have some RAW files of such bird and the feathers really look like painted. Maybe I have a little 'painter' in the camera which I am not aware off.

The eagle in flight looks great looking down.

Have a great day

Ciao Anette