Well this site has cost me more than the membership fee! Today I received my Canon 500F4. I saw so many good posts with this lens that I had to make the move. I've wanted one for years! The benefits of being a member of BPN have been enormous- I have learned so much and I know there is a long way to go.
It is going to take a while to learn how to use the lens but here goes with an image of a Red-winged Blackbird created this evening in Sackville, NB. Spring is still early here and the blackbird males are only just settling into the marsh- and then usually in the evenings and mornings. This male was calling when I took the image- I hadn't realised that they show some bare skin on the throat when they do this.
Comments welcome.
40D, 500mm F4 (I've waited a long time to say that!), 1/1000s, F4, ISO 640. crop, from RAW. Noise reduction.
Sweet lens for sure...one I will own someday (unfortunately in a DISTANT future!!). The pose looks good, and I like the thin perch. As for the bare patch on its throat, I have never seen one so pronounced...I actually wish is was not there. A couple more points to note would be the blown cattail tip, the badly placed OOF cattail in the BG (I would consider cloning it out, or at least toning it way down) and the rather pinkish epaulette...don't know if it was natural, or a result of post processing. Enjoy the lens, I'm sure you will have a grand 'ol time with it (or is that 5-6 grand??) :-)
You're going to love that lens, John - and from the looks of this image it's not going to take you long to learn how best to use it. Nits were mentioned above by Daniel. I also have not seen a RWBB with a pronounced bare patch like this.
I know Steve, and then there's the Wimberly head, Gitzo tripod, lens covers etc etc. Then I have to insure the whole lot! But as they say, life is short and then you die so my philosophy is don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
Thanks for all the comments. I'll work on the image a bit more. I try to clone as little as possible but can probably tone down the highlights.
first post with 500F4
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