Chestnut Headed Bee Eater

These are back in season. I went up north to Penang to try out some new kit and hope the picture does justice to it.

5D Mk2 + EF 800mm 1/100s f/8.0 ISO50

http://www.pbase.com/image/108109928.jpg

Je!
My compliments! what a great looking bird you have here!
First time I see the 5D and 800mm combination. They together deliver wonderful images! Congrats.

This is superb with great detail Phil. I cant wait to get my 5D II

nice colourful bird,great shot,sharp,nice BG,nice head angle.thanks.

Gorgeous bird. I like the subtle complimentary background.

I am amazed at the sharpness and detail considering your ISO and shutter speed selection.

I agree with Mike. Sharp image at 1/100s is a challenge. Why did you go for ISO 50?

Lovely pose with the open bill. BG is perfect. ISO and shutter speed seem a little unusual considering the focal length. The feathers on the back look a little oversharpened. I assume you're happy with your new kit, Phil :D

Beautiful bird and well-captured. I like the soft light, eye contact, open bill and BG. I agree that the back plumage looks oversharpened. Why ISO 50? ISO 200 would have given you higher shutter speed.

No doubt about it, the picture does the kit justice in spades, stunning would be an understatement, but I have to agree with Axel and the other, who ISO 50 and 1/100, but am amazed at the bill sharpness considering these settings. Colours are stunning and lovely light.

Thanks all for your comments.

The image was taken with the lens resting on a bean bag on a car door.

The image was sharp as is when out of the camera and I am sure many are aware lots of birds have a slight reflective sheen to the plumage and this is where I just love the lighting that brings it out if fill flash is not used. It does appear a touched over sharpened when USM was applied for the other parts.

ISO 50 and 1/100s - The image was taken in Av mode with evaluative metering. I was testing out the IS which is a claimed 4 stops (I think it is proven here) and have actually handheld 1/200s shots but more of that later in other posts. As for ISO 50, well I wanted to see if this camera still had the dynamic range at lower ISOs.

Phil, I think this is outstanding! Was this full-frame? If so, I congratulate on the composition as well. I have a new 5D the old version, and I too have been enjoying ISO 50. It's amazing the shutter speeds that you can get away with. I think shooting in the tropics leads one to realize that slower shutter speeds will still give you good sharpness with good technique.

Cheers from Costa Rica,
Greg

Beautiful bird and image.