Canadian Birder

Redtail55

Senior Member
Hi Guys , I'm new here and like the post says I like to shoot (photowise) birds up here up in the great white north .So far this winter I've taken photos of Bald eagles, a Snowy Owl ,a lot of Redtail Hawks (favourite) and many varities of Ducks (Bufflehead,Merganser,Wood ).So far i've had a lot of fun with capturing some nice photos on my D3200 but overall I'm not really happy with the performance of the D3200 especially with BIF ,the A/F isn't fast enough !I've missed a lot of good photos cuz it couldn't focus quick enough , also when I compare my photos with others with higher end Nikons (D300,D7000,D7100) there is quite a big difference in the quality of the details in the pictures. I shoot mostly in Aperture Priority and ISO 200-400 to get my shutter speeds up ,and it's still not sharp . So i'd like to add either a D300s or D7000 model (both
most likely used ) , what do you guys think ?




DSC_3540.jpgDSC_3537.jpg
 
Last edited:
I have a D5100, D7000 and just got the D7100 last week. The D7100 is the much faster than either of the others. I have been trying to work on my BIF shots and was out doing it again today. I just got the 70-300 for wildlife and still need some practice with it.
Here is one from today.
d71_0955-frameshop.jpg


You may be able to do better with your D3200. What focusing mode are you using? I can't speak for the D300 but my D7000 is faster than my D5100 but the D7100 blows them both out of the water.
 

Redtail55

Senior Member
I've been using AF-S and or AF-C depending on if the birds are in motion or not (most of the time they friggin' move !) Matrix metering plus I use the back AE/AL button for focusing .
There seems to be a lot of different views on the advantages of the D7100 over the D7000 on the good ole net , as always ,but for me a used D7000 is more accessible than the D7100 especially since I've only owned this D3200 since Nov 2013 , and trading it back in at Henry's Camera shop is a loss cause cuz ya get nothing close back in money than what ya paid !
 
I've been using AF-S and or AF-C depending on if the birds are in motion or not (most of the time they friggin' move !) Matrix metering plus I use the back AE/AL button for focusing .
There seems to be a lot of different views on the advantages of the D7100 over the D7000 on the good ole net , as always ,but for me a used D7000 is more accessible than the D7100 especially since I've only owned this D3200 since Nov 2013 , and trading it back in at Henry's Camera shop is a loss cause cuz ya get nothing close back in money than what ya paid !

There are some good deals out there on the D7000. I am listing mine here as soon as I get a photograph of it so I can.

Here are the photos shot with it.
http://nikonites.com/project-365-daily-photos/17730-dons-d7000-daily-dabblings.html#axzz2jR3z2Zj2
 

snaphappy

Senior Member
Someone had a post in here awhile ago something like my bird shots suck or something along those lines. There was great info in the thread that you may find helpful. Don might know which one I'm thinking of it had quite a few pages of great responses. I'd think if you aren't shooting manual (which would be best) then shutter would be better than aperture so you can stop motion and make sure your shutter speed is fast enough for your long lens so you don't get lens shake and to stop bird motion. I find the hardest part is finding birds close enough and when I do I have trees in the way or a lame background of some sort birds just don't pose well for me or come close :) Good luck I'm sure you'll lots of great info in old threads to get you pointed in the right direction and get you saving for that 7000/7100 :)
 

Redtail55

Senior Member
Yes I've been going back and forth between A and S lately and M on occasion too , each has it's own merits. Lots to learn , both of those shots above I used the same F stop but i got two different shutter speeds from the camera , I guess it has to do with the lighting and my ISO being at 200. I'm going to up the ISO tomorrow to 400 and see what results I get , it's gonna be sunny out.
 
I have been working on BiF photos for a couple of weeks now preparing for a vacation later this month. This is what I have been trying. Set the camera on Manual 1/1250 sec F8 if there is enough light if not then back down to what you have to. Set the ISO on AUTO and let it handle the exposure for you. So far I have gotten pretty good results with this. Most of my shots are in the ISO 400 to ISO 800 range. You will have to see if your D3200 can handle that without to much noise.

This is the Bird in Flight thread

These are the ones I shot this morning using the method above. http://nikonites.com/wild-life/10573-bird-flight-100.html#post277306
 

snaphappy

Senior Member
Redtail this is the thread I was thinking of looks like it got a new title :)
http://nikonites.com/wild-life/18709-mike-d90s-birds-flight-learning-thread.html#axzz2vu5tOO4I
I wouldn't use less than 1/800 shutter with 300mm lens and moving birds. I found with hummingbirds I needed at least 1/1600 and you may find differently in the thread above but I like single point focus myself. I started by using auto and P but then learned exposure triangle and I just can't let my camera make those choices for me anymore hahah I'm too controlling I guess but I shoot only in manual and I have auto iso turned off. This may be harder for you to change on the fly with a menu based camera though. Look for a 7000 or 7100 those extra dials make shooting M easy :)
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Welcome, I had some luck this morning getting some bird shots using my D800E :)

Here are two birds in a fight

Settings were, 1/1000sec f/7.1, 400mm. ISO was varying.

77239d1394763089-bird-flight-shm_1282.jpg
 

Deezey

Senior Member
Welcome to Nikonites! The 3200 will produce good results up to roughly ISO 1200. So don't be to afraid to get the ISO up a little bit more. Also the lens plays a big part in the equation too.

And of your choices...I would look for a used D7000. Or, save for a D7100 body only.
 

Redtail55

Senior Member
Thanks everybody for the advice , I guess you have to find the best solution for your own technique. Now with D7000 I've seen plenty of them on Kijiji from anywhere around $550-780 and up for just a body , not bad but a couple of them are very high shutter counts in the 30,000 + range , so when i'm ready I'll have to go and check the conditions out and shoot a bunch of pics.
 

Sambr

Senior Member
Hello & welcome
If you want to shoot birds & get any sort of detail you going to need a 300mm lens and 300mm is the minimum, secondly you will need to keep your shutter speed at 1/1000 minimum the higher the better. Shoot in aperture & set your ISO to "auto" with practice this is the result:
AND_6288.jpg
Aug28hawk.jpg
 

Sambr

Senior Member
From now on all my photos will have the "big watermark" I am tired of assholes stealing my photos and using them in contests, small watermarks are useless they can be cropped out. Anyone using a small watermark is just inviting a jerk to steal it.
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
From now on all my photos will have the "big watermark" I am tired of assholes stealing my photos and using them in contests, small watermarks are useless they can be cropped out. Anyone using a small watermark is just inviting a jerk to steal it.
How can you tell if your image has been used/stolen?
 
Top