This is almost the full frame of the original.
Canon 1Ds mkIII, Canon EF800mm f5.6 + Canon 1.4x + extension tube
1/80th f8 ISO1600
Gitzo 1548 + Wimberley mkII head
SouthEast Brazil inbetween thunderstorms.
Interesting with the combination of lens and extension tubes how depth of field is incredibly shallow. I would have liked more DOF so that all the head was in focus. However nice to see a bird I have never even heard off.
Yes, I would have liked more depth of field but probably would not have been sharp at lower shutter speed. It was already 1/80th second at 1120mm focal length and the ISO was at maximum useful gain. I do have a hummingbird at 1/13th but only because it returned to the same place all day and I was able to get hundreds of attempts. I got just two frames of the puffbird.
If you want to see one of these puffbirds, you will have to go to Brazil - and mainly the south east.
The narrow DOF is completely understandable given the extreme glass, T/C and tube between subject and sensor. What is more, the resolution and detail is well delineated considering the slow shutter. A testament to the Canon glass. Good image.
Beautiful bird, interesting "wet look" between the storms! Looks like focus was more on the breast feathers rather than the eye...not by much, but to me noticeable enough. I understand it may have been difficult considering the conditions and very limited DOF :-) If you focussed on the eye and then recomposed, then this very limited DOF may have caused the eye to fall ever so slightly out of range. Perhaps another round of USM selectively on the eye would be good. Also, if you have it in your original you should add back some room below. I would love to someday visit those rainforests...lucky you!!
Dave, nice job! Puffbirds are not easy to get close to, at least in Costa Rica, and the image looks great. Actually, 1/80th isn't bad for shutter speed for bird photography in rainforests, but it's a challenge, and you handled it well and got great sharpness.
Thanks for all the comments. It would have been focus and recompose because only the center AF point works at F8 and there was no room to get that on the eye. It is also possible the head changed position during this time. The other frame does have sharper eye but the tail is cut off.
Unfortunately there is no additional room at the bottom on the original. I guess I just have to go back to Brazil !
Crescent-chested Puffbird
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