BIF #1 - Ring-Billed Gull in Flight

I've always tried to find the best camera for BIF's. I had a D70, D90, D300, D700, D7000 and most of them, except the D300, never really gave me what I wanted, "fast locking on to subject", no matter, what the lens. Well last week I made the plunge and bought a lightly used (25K activations) Nikon D3S.

After careful consideration and research, I decided that this was the best Nikon camera "FOR ME" :bg3: to take flight images. I could have picked up the D4 for more money but the 16 megapixils or 102,000 ISO (I know there's a lot more) was something, I didn't think, warranted the extra money right now.

The main problem I had was getting any of the cameras to lock on focus at subjects coming at you or going away...the focus on any of the above just wasn't fast enough.

The image below was my first image using the D3s..coupled with my 300mm f4 lens, hand held, a very maneuverable, light, quick lens.

The original is very sharp, I cropped the original by 50%..used Topaz spicify, added frame.

Over the next few weeks I'll submit images of BIF all with the Spicify effect.....working my way to 500 posts.......Thanks for looking

Nice resolution at the big crop, Paul. I like the effect of your process. D3s, D4 D800......sigh, I wish.......

Paul,

Thanks for posting your reactions to the d3s tracking. With birds, that is always an issue. While I am not considering an upgrade any time soon, I like to keep up with what is going on. Do you find that for birds, the lack of the DX focal length boost (or crop) limiting? I guess I am waiting for a D400 if that ever comes about.

Dan, I hear ya....

Mitch..I use the 500mm, 70-200 and 300 f4. On my D7000 I use them bare. When I had the D700 I used my 1.4 TC, and depending on the range I was shooting at, with no noticable difference in quality. So I really won't miss the crop factor.

Of the 629 species of ABA Birds, I've photographed, while the 1.5 crop factor, gets you closer but it's not necessarily a better image. What a mouthful!

Many will contradict what I said and I can live with that...I use my D7000, when I want a photo for my files (again depending on the range, up close its deadly sharp) but the full frame D700 and now the D3s rocks for macro, landscape, portraits and birds in flight. Please remember "I only handhold, I own a tripod but seldom use it".

I may not have the training and experience of many in BPN, but I've been doing this since 2004....so I do bring something to the table and know what works and doesn't for me. Having a 1.5 crop factor camera and a full frame camera really helps....now that the D4 is out, there will be lots of D3's and D3s's out there for sale. If its in your price range and has a low shutter count, they are both well worth the money.

I do tend to ramble on....hope this helps

Paul, nice capture and congrats on the new camera. I see some kind of haloing around parts of the bird-not sure if it's the filter applied or just my tired eyes :)

Nice flight pose, Paul. Love the lighting and sharpness of the gull. I can see some noise in the sky. Good luck with your new camera! :S3:

Thanks allDenise and Christopher...I imagine that the halo and noise is created by the Topaz filter Spicify, I have been working from my laptop and its not the best of screens....:eek3:

Hi Paul, congrats on the D3s...and the nice capture too!