Birds

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

What camera and lens do you use for those photos?

All the pictures in this post were with the Canon R5 + RF 100-500. Some had a 1.4 extender on.

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

It cost me about $27 each for calendars if I order 2 or more. 275 would be nuts.

That’s a story in itself. I Admin a Facebook page for this DNR nest. People had been pestering me for a calendar for the last five years so I figured I’d finally make one. I had no idea what kind of response I’d have. You know how people can be; “I’d buy one!” then you never hear from them again.

My first order from the printer was for 30. They sold out in an hour. So I ordered another 50 and they sold out quickly also. The next order was 75 blah blah blah. What I didn’t want was to get stuck with a bunch of unsold calendars. The more you order the cost per unit drops significantly. The first batch of 30 worked out to about $11.00/calendar. An order of 75 dropped it $4.00/per bringing the cost down to $7.00/per.

I charged $20.00 per which included shipping. What I didn’t anticipate was the orders for multiple calendars. One woman wanted five for example. Another wanted four all shipped to different locations. (WTF. I’m not Amazon lady)

I kept track of all this in Excel and only had one error. I transposed a couple digits for an address.

Also, the printer asked to use one of the photos in their promotional material for 2022.

All and all it was quite a bit more work than I anticipated to be honest but it was for a good cause. The question now is will I do it again. We’ll see.

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

Any left?

Unfortunately no. When the orders slowed down to a trickle in I put up a “20 left! First come first served” post. I finally had to cut off sales. Getting stuck with a box of these things dug into the donation.

[04 commemorative]

nice pics

[LilRedCorvette]

As always, wonderful pics

A cardinal visited me on my fence while I was working outside a while back…not the best photo but just wanted to grab a pic before he took off

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette

As always, wonderful pics

A cardinal visited me on my fence while I was working outside a while back…not the best photo but just wanted to grab a pic before he took off

That's one big ass cardinal.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

That's one big ass cardinal.

They get fat in NoVA. They also hang around in families. We would consistently see the male and female eating at the stand, with one doing lookout for the other. Then in spring, there would be 2 or 3 little brownish birds getting guarded by both parents. There were lots of species back there, but the cardinals really treated us to a show.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

What do you use? I have Nikon mirrorless. I have a couple F mount lenses to sell so I can get Z mount. Guess I need to list them if I am going to sell them.

Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. 200 just won't allow me to get good shots of them unless they're relatively close. Haven't thought about an extender but may look at them.

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

That's one big ass cardinal.

Originally Posted by ZipZap

They get fat in NoVA. They also hang around in families. We would consistently see the male and female eating at the stand, with one doing lookout for the other. Then in spring, there would be 2 or 3 little brownish birds getting guarded by both parents. There were lots of species back there, but the cardinals really treated us to a show.

Our state bird!

Unfortunately it’s not always sunshine and roses here…we have a few raptors that keep things in check. We have a resident red-shouldered hawk (spotted many times around my tall evergreens by my neighbor) as well as some owls in the area (I live surrounded by parks/green space, so we get a ‘show’ just about every day).

Sadly, I have found dead birds in my yard and driveway as a matter of fact, I spotted these cardinal remains recently

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. 200 just won't allow me to get good shots of them unless they're relatively close. Haven't thought about an extender but may look at them.

That lens is wide open at f/5.6 on the 200mm end. Slapping on a 2x extender will cost you two full stops of light putting your aperture at f/11. As a rule extenders work best stopped down one stop which now put's you at f/16 @ 400mm. You'll need a LOT of light.

You also may, *may* lose all your focus points with the exception of the center one - not to mention your autofocus may be iffy or not work at all.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by Giraffe

That lens is wide open at f/5.6 on the 200mm end. Slapping on a 2x extender will cost you two full stops of light putting your aperture at f/11. As a rule extenders work best stopped down one stop which now put's you at f/16 @ 400mm. You'll need a LOT of light.

You also may, *may* lose all your focus points with the exception of the center one - not to mention your autofocus may be iffy or not work at all.

Thanks. I knew extenders cost light as I had a 2x one in the past with a Canon 35mm camera. Worked okay outdoors in sun but not so great in low light. An 80-400mm lens for my camera is $2,300 from Amazon; I don't need one that bad.

[carlton_fritz]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. 200 just won't allow me to get good shots of them unless they're relatively close. Haven't thought about an extender but may look at them.

I wouldn't mess with a tele converter unless made specifically for that lens. The 70-300VR lens is a nice lens. Give you a little more reach and from the reviews, better optics.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

I wouldn't mess with a tele converter unless made specifically for that lens. The 70-300VR lens is a nice lens. Give you a little more reach and from the reviews, better optics.

And at $500 a whole lot cheaper than the 80-400mm lens. I may have to order one.

[carlton_fritz]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

And at $500 a whole lot cheaper than the 80-400mm lens. I may have to order one.

You can find a great condition used one for even less. I'd suggest the Sigma or Tamron 100-400, but I don't think they will work on the D3100.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

You can find a great condition used one for even less. I'd suggest the Sigma or Tamron 100-400, but I don't think they will work on the D3100.

Hadn't thought about used. Is there a site for used camera equipment? I hate the thought of even looking on CL or something similar.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Hadn't thought about used. Is there a site for used camera equipment? I hate the thought of even looking on CL or something similar.

I've bought from both, both good.
https://www.keh.com

https://www.lensauthority.com

[carlton_fritz]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Hadn't thought about used. Is there a site for used camera equipment? I hate the thought of even looking on CL or something similar.

Adorama and B&H both have used. I have seen that lens on FB marketplace too.

[carlton_fritz]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Hadn't thought about used. Is there a site for used camera equipment? I hate the thought of even looking on CL or something similar.

Do not get the AF-P version. It will not work on your camera.

[Steve_R]

Will this one work on my camera body?

I did a lot of 35mm film photography years ago but got out of it for a while and want to get back into it, especially wildlife, with where we live now. Just in our backyard I can photograph lots of different birds, including several raptors, racoons, opossums, and other assorted wildlife.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by carlton_fritz

Adorama and B&H both have used. I have seen that lens on FB marketplace too.

You mention B&H. On one trip to NY I decided I wanted to stop in. It's been probably 10 years, but that place was insane. If you're a camera person, and you happen to find yourself in the city, go there.

[carlton_fritz]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Will this one work on my camera body?

I did a lot of 35mm film photography years ago but got out of it for a while and want to get back into it, especially wildlife, with where we live now. Just in our backyard I can photograph lots of different birds, including several raptors, racoons, opossums, and other assorted wildlife.

That is the one I was talking about. I am finicky though. I would want better condition.


https://www.nikonusa.com/Images/Lear...lity-chart.pdf

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Now THIS is a fat Cardinal.