Not bad. Not bad...

[Joerg Rockenberger]

...is the Canon 1DMkIV Santa Claus insisted on bringing me. :) Especially considering that this is a pretty large crop (less than 25% in area of the original). I am happy.:D

Photographed yesterday at the Radio Road ponds in Redwood City, CA.

Best, JR

Canon 1DMkIV, 500F4IS, 1.4TC II, 700 mm, 1/2500s, F7.1, ISO 800, Manual Exposure, Gitzo tripod w/ upgraded Mongoose 3.5a

[Randy Stout]

Joerg:

Impressive IQ for such a big crop. Correct exposure always helps!

I would say the sharpening is just a bit much for my personal taste, but it does give the bird strong separation form the BG.

I might consider toning down or eliminating the larger rock right on the lower frame edge.

Have fun with your new present:)

Cheers

Randy

[Alan Murphy]

Nice habitat flight shot with a great head angle.

[stuart wanuck]

great eye contact

[Jeff Parker]

Sharpening looks OK to me. Good details from such a large crop. The background is a bit busy for me.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thank you all for taking the time to comment. Yes, the background is less than ideal and sharpening is at the edge. The latter I may have to adjust in my save-for-web PS action for images from the 1DMkIV. It's a good problem to have IMO. :)

The main point of my post was to illustrate the IQ even of a large crop one can get from this camera, especially considering that it was taken with the 1.4 TC.

JR

[Todd Frost]

IQ has held up well. Nice flight shot showing the habitat well. Exposure, sharpness and HA look good.
TFS
Todd

[Stu Bowie]

Santa was kind to you this year Joerg.:) I like this interesting low angle, good eye contact, and the sharpening looks spot on from here. Maybe blurring the BG a touch more, so as not to make it look unnatural will improve this even more IMHO.

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Thanks Todd & Stuart. JR

[Pieter de Waal]

Hi Joerg, I must say I like this image with the bird being so close to the ground which gives a great and different perspective. I am fine with the background as the bird is sufficiently seperated from it to add to to the image particularly with the low angle.

[Charles Scheffold]

Wonderful harrier shot - I think the color in the background really helps with the separation, even if it is a bit busy. Enjoy the 1D4!! In the right hands it is a lethal weapon :P

Charles

[Doug Brown]

Looks pretty darn good for a large crop at a relatively high ISO. Eye contact is great and sharpness is excellent. You're gonna love the Mark IV!

[Joerg Rockenberger]

Pieter, Charles & Doug, thanks for the kind feedback. JR