For the best part of three months, Cassia—of Cinnamon, and her mate have been working on their annual nesting project.
Best I can determine, she took just over a month for incubation, and then another 30-35 days for the young to start to move about the nest and branches and then a few more days to fly. We checked on Friday, and they were clambering about, then on Monday, the secrets are out.
How confident is this bird. She was relaxed enough to do close flybys without aggression.Still in baby down, but wanting to see the wide worldStarting to get a few real feathersJust starting to see the Apricot wash coming onThat famous Brown Falcon stare starts earlyAnd then there were two. I’ve no way of knowing, but based on previous experiences, I would predict the older, larger is a female.Out and about. Probably second day on the wingNow let’s see if I remember. Tail up, head down, wings out and… Tail up, head down, wings out, … Oh, yes, Tail down, head up, wings up, Let Go.! Yah!
OK you go me our here, how do I stop this thing. Landing skills need a bit more practiceStudy in concentration as it goes through the landing routine.
Her response to the question “Where?” was, “Down there along the beach”.
Now truth be told, I reckoned the beach to be at near enough to one kilometre to the south of us.
Don’t ask how EE can see that far, its inherit in her name.
About 1/10th of a second later, a brown shadow rushed past us just overhead. Cassia, who’d been sitting on a branch behind us, too, had spotted said Sea-eagle.
Now you know. EE is faster on the eyeball than a Brown Falcon. By at least 1/10th of a second. Explains it all really.
Cassia hauled across the paddock not gaining height, just rocketing along toward the beach. Her mate was on a diagonal line from further down the paddock bent on the same target. I don’t know how this works in Falcon speak, but there was no cackling, just pure energy converted to motion.
The line they were on would get them both to the same tall tree on the beach line at roughly the same time. Without any foto-finish cameras and the like, I be putting my money on Cassia arriving just a wing flap ahead of the male.
Brown Falcon surveillance time. Both sat watching.
The Sea Eagle had slipped behind a line of trees on the beach, and had no doubt gone to invite some duck or gull home for lunch. A plethora of ducks, coots, gulls, cormorants and several white-faced herons darkened the sky as they rose in one squawking mass.
“We need to be down there”, she said. Fleet of foot we’re not, so it was going to a few minutes before we appeared on the scene.
In the meantime both falcons had made a noisy run down along the beach and back.
Then as we approached, they both made another swing along the beach, but the trees blocked our view.
We made it to the scrub along the beach and now had to work out, was the action to the left or right. The bird groups on our left seem quite settled so the guess would be “To the Right”. Good guess.
But look along the beach, and our view (and coincidentally of course for anything further along the beach—think big white-bellied…. ) the beach curved around and our view was blocked by the saltbush and other scrub.
Not to worry, Cassia and the male had made another screeching run down to the beach, and in response, all the ducks, swans, coots, gulls and two white-faced herons, took to the air.
“That was impressive for two falcons,” I thought.
Then with long slow deliberate wing flaps, the juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle pulled up over the scrub, followed by two very vocal Brown Falcons.
I’d not be able to get any pictures of the falcon/sea eagle confrontation, because there really wasn’t one.The falcons kept a safe distance, and the eagle just stuck to its job of getting some height and then sailed away up the beach.
The male falcon went back to hunting, Cassia went to check on the kids.
And here is what all the fuss is about.
Number One child, all fledged and learning of Brown Falcon ways.
Enjoy
Out to meet the challenge. Cassia gains speed on a downward runIf its too big to scare off at least give it a lectureShe did not risk a close pass but rather turned over the quickly rising Sea EagleThe interloperGiven the bulk of the Sea Eagle, there was little the small falcons could do for a direct confrontation.Number One Child. Fledged since Friday.
Animals live simple lives close to Tao. They do not need to think or reason: They never doubt themselves. When they are hungry, they eat. When they are tired, they sleep. They respond to the cycles of the day according to their intuition.
They mate in the proper season, and the nurture their young according to their understanding.
+===========+
Now I might disagee somewhat with their ‘need to think or reason’, but I think he means its more about calculated risk and designing to be something other than a falcon.
Stop the Presses!
The day has arrived.
Cassia has been hunting further and further out among the paddocks and tree lines, the past couple of visits.
She was almost out of sight way down the paddock, and EE and I took the moment to cross the patio, and have a closer look at her nesting sight. Half-expecting to be challenged, but she seemed more interested in avoiding the local magpie flotilla and picking small prey from along the edges of the paddock.
And
There it stood.
Big, Bold, Brown and Black.
Perhaps not quite ready to fly, but only days away from stepping off the only place it has known, and moving out into the much wider world.
It sat, perfectly Brown Falcon still, and watched the goings on around the paddock. A vehicle track runs quite close to the nesting area, and at one stage a local fox management vehicle drove past. It was thoroughly scanned onto the scene, and off again. I can’t imagine what the young falcon thought of such an event.
Clever Cassia has infact two of these little bundles of joy in the nest it seems but we didn’t get a good look at it.
Eventually tiring of all this learning, it must have rocked back into the nest, settled down and disappeared.
Soon Cassia appeared with a prize meal.
In the next few days, or so, all the theory of flight will come into one small black and buff package as it steps into its own unknown, and is instantly freed from the constraints of doubt. Ready to write its own story of wonder.
The past couple of weeks, EE and I have been working with a pair of Brown Falcons.
Took about three weeks to really track down where they had a nest, and then another couple of weeks, to be able to have the birds’ confidence to move about in the area.
Well, it seems that she has hatched her brood, and now she has a bit of ‘time’ to do her own hunting. A shame at one level, as the male was not only reliable, but almost worked his wings off keeping up a steady stream.
Along one line of the paddock is a line of trees, that seem to provide plenty of food for a hunting Brown Falcon, and we’ve noted she’s been sitting in the tops of the trees to hunt, and also keep a ‘falcon’s eye’ on her nest area.
But the same line of trees holds similar opportunities for other species as well. And now as the younger Australian Magpies from the first clutch of the season are pretty much independant, and more footloose teenagers in a shopping mall, anything that flys past or near is fair game to stretch out the wings in rage and show off flying prowess.
Cassia- named for her rich colour, —of Cinnamon— , decided that some good food opportunities lay just under the low branches, and dropped down to the ground to wander about and see what she might find.
Seriously bad career move!
The local magpies came from four quarters, like screaming banshees. (not that I’ve heard banshees, screaming or otherwise)
Hard for Cassia to get out of the tree line and extend a wing, so they had her pressed against the tree line for a few seconds in the encounter.
Then out across the open paddock with the hoard in full cry behind. Several managed to keep up, and just at the last moment, one made a very close approach, and then she was over the demarcation line and they sailed away back to the trees to caroll to each other about their brave deeds.
She’ll be back over there again I’m sure. A few magpies seem pretty harmless in her quest for food.
Sneak Attack. She must have decided to land on a branch to avoid the onslaught, but they cut her off at every turn.Out into the open, she can gain some speed to keep them at bay. The magpies have to use a lot of energy to keep up. Cassia is really just at cruising speed, so is not using anywhere near as much energy.Maggie in hot pursuitTrying to swing in to put her off her fast straight lineEach wing stroke gains speed.Coming out of the sun! An attack from a high position. This is just about the end of the territory and they’ve made their point.I’d like to think she flew by with a “I was in control of that” look, but it was time to check on the baby(s).
She had come out to meet her mate for a food exchange. Where this is actually taking place, and where she is dining is a bit of a mystery to me, as the surrounding thick pine trees block any view once they come down to the tree-line.
But once she has fed, she seems to favour a perch near the nest, I guess to keep an eye on what’s happening, and also to preen.
However, the same tree also is close to a Willie Wagtail nursery. And both Willies came out in force to make the point she is not welcome. Gotta give Willies “A” for pluck.
If after the usual flyby chatter doesn’t work, then its time for hands on aggression, as the male found out as he was returning with the food.
Willie attached to his back and proceeded to peck his head as both flew past.
Then when she returned they began in earnest to move her along.
The stakes are high for both birds, so it’s the immovable object verses the irresistible force. And in the end, the Falcon will give ground.
High drama for both birds, the wagtails with their young charges to protect, and the Falcon with her commitment to the yet to be hatched egg.
Here is the moment by moment action.
Willie desperate to attach to the back of the male coming in with a small bird for food.Once attached, the little bird pecks away incessantly at the male’s head. What is important to note is he is carrying a small bird, probably a pipit, so it’s a super bold move by WillieJust when you settle down for a rest, the noisy neighbours start up.
Eventually both of the pair moved in to keep the Falcon unsettled.And just when she might have thought things were settling down, the local Black Kites joined in the forayDefence pose on the Kites. They are likely to rob him of any food he is delivering if they can get a decent run, which maybe why they are secretive in the exchange
Many of my early readers and followers of this blog will recall I am a follower of Jon Young, author of “What the Robin Knows”.
His book is not so much about robins per se as about making connections with birds in their world.
Jon is among other things a skilled tracker and an outdoors trainer. He was taught by some of the best trackers and hunters from his tribe with the Native Americans. His work, and humanitarian activities have taken him around the world and he often tells the story of a Sans Bushman from Africa who said,
“I see a small bird and recognise it, a thin thread is formed between me and the bird. If I just see it no thread is made. If I go again, and again, and recognise the bird, the thread will thicken. Each time I recognise the bird the thread will grow to become a string, a cord and then a rope. We make ropes to all aspects of creation in this way.”
He also tells of the time he was at a meeting in a glass-walled office suite and said to the folk in the room, “You have a cat in your courtyard”. No, no, they replied, there are no animals allowed in the gardens. A minute or so later, a cat strolled nonchalantly across the manicured lawns. How did he know that, they asked. “The birds in the garden were acting in a manner that suggested a cat was nearby,” Jon replied.
Over the years I’ve managed, and its not bragging, just the way I work, of building some fine rope connections with some birds. Perhaps because of their personality, or sheer inquisitiveness, but like Jon, there a several such stories I could tell, a few of them have been subjects of this blog in the past.
EE and I have located a Brown Falcon at nest. Dangerous really, as Browns broach no interference in this serious business, and someone, even with good intentions, sticking a camera in their work space is not taken kindly. So having worked out where the activity was taking place, I’ve made a wide berth of the spot. I also know, from past experience, that if all is well, and I don’t press the boundaries, respect their business and keep to my side of the line, that eventually the line will become narrower, and I’ll be able to see just a little more. Then sometimes the bird graces us with the chance to enter into its world, and while I might not have free access, at least I’m treated benignly.
What worries me about sharing this is that some will drag out the ‘Photographers Code of Practice”, or some such and berate me for my impertinence. However if I’m not invited, I don’t go.
Someone will ask ‘How do you know?”
To which I have to respond honestly, “Why don’t you go out and sit with a bird and find out for yourself.” Operative point of that is— ‘sit with the bird’.
Here’s the scoop. She sits the nest. He hunts. A large gleeful cackle brings an instant response from her and she is off the nest and in the air to accept his delivery. She will feed, preen, stretch and then return to the nest. If I’m not wanted, then I don’t see any of that.
Where it gets really exciting is this Brown, feed, then landed on a branch quite close to where we were standing, and sat.
We waited.
She realised no movement from us, and after about 20 minutes, she began the process of putting all her nest crumpled feathers back in place. Then she waited, flew past a few metres out, landed on another tree, and repeated the process. The shots here were taken over about an hour, and neither EE or I moved much more than a metre or so.
Again she preened, rearranged, and then stepped out, and circled to land in the nest.
Now I should also add that I’ve worked with the bird a few seasons before, so we are not complete strangers. In fact over the time she has taught me quite a bit about the world of Brown Falcon. Still so much more to learn.
Enjoy.
Flying out to meet her cackling mate coming in with lunchThis is the male. He has, unusually, a yellow cere and eye ring. I’d guess its a pipit he’s deliveringOff to the ‘secret’ hand over spotThe male on the way out again. Sometimes he’ll return and sit near the nest, just to check things out. Most times, its back out to the paddock for another food run.Well fed she can attend to the business of brightening up her wardrobe. I love to see them zip up all the flight feathers.Sometimes, the one-legged stance is a challenge, but here she is getting ready to line up the feathers.Wing and tail relief all at once. The wing markings are a treat.Time to go. Nesting duty calls. I’m pretty certain the egg is near to hatched or just recently hatched as she did spend a lot of time away.All sails up.Passing by with not even a glance. Every time that happens, the thread is strengthened.
At “The Office”, there are a resident pair of Brown Falcon.
(Called the Office, because we spend a bit of time there as in—Just another day at the office—)
One of Brown’s qualities certainly must be their patience. Happy to sit quietly, seemingly disinterested, they take the scene in, work out where the food is, and then strategies to get to the spot, and return with the least amount of energy dissipation.
Not unusual to see Brown, sitting with its distinct upright stance on a post, branch or roadside sign for what seems hours. Passing traffic has little effect on the bird’s demure stance.
We’ve worked with this pair for a few years, and when they are around, its interesting to see them favour one or another perching locations.
I’ve featured this bird several times on the blog over the years, and have called him “Bernie”. Late evening sunshine ‘burnishes,’ his rich mottled chest, and so the name seemed appropriate. Not that he seems to care it must be said.
He was hunting for small crickets and the like on the edge of the river cliffs. A large melaleuca bush is one of the favoured perches. Gives a great view along the cliffs and he can prop into the branches and so be protected from attacks from the rear. Magpies, mudlarks, other raptors might swing by and attempt to dislodge him, but clever bird that he is, he simply sets back further among the branches and any attack is thwarted by the branches.
We had been working with him for about an hour or so and the light had been good, and as we headed for home, I peeked over the rim and there he was in the bush. But the light had diminished, still it was worth waiting for him to throw as it would have to be toward or at least to the side.
I don’t often shoot multi-burst, but figured that by the time he left the bush and got settled he’d have to stay pretty much in the same focus plane and most of the shots would be sharp (ish). Pity about the light and slow shutter speed.
So EE and I waited. Things happen slowly in Brown Falcon time. But you’ve got to keep your eye on the bird, as they don’t give a lot of warning that they are going to move.
So we waited.
Brown waited.
It’s one of the reasons why with a long lens we invest in a good tripod, and a Wimberley gimbal head. Takes all the weight off the arms. But, who wants to carry all that heavy gear out just on the off chance it might be needed. So, I was shooting handheld with the 500mm PF. Light enough, but after 10 minutes my aching muscles needed a rest. And then there is always the risk that is the moment the bird will throw.
Waiting.
Another round or two of holding until the muscles cramp, and then releasing.
Waiting.
I was just regrabbing focus and had the shutter half-pressed, when with barely a feather ruffle Bernie took to the air, straight toward me, and I ripped off a sequence.
“Oh No,” I heard on my right. And it was just at that moment EE had taken a muscle relief stretch. Sympathy doesn’t cut it. Gloating is not part of the process.
Here are all the frames from the sequence. I thought it was interesting how the wings are deployed to get him out of the bush, and turned for the run along the grass.
{EDIT} It wasn’t until I re-looked at the shots here on the blog that it shows that on the upwing strokes the rocks his legs forward pendulum like, on the more powerful down stroke, the legs go back to close to the body. Just like a kid on a swing. Brown, you always amaze me.
Enjoy
Bernie arriving at the bush. I shot this one earlier in the day, and you can just see the edge of the river cliff in the bottom of the frame.Snug, safe and on the alert
Typical Brown Falcon flight. Ground hugging radar in actionThis is a close flyby from earlier in the afternoon when the light was good. Go Bernie
It is said of famous battle photographer Robert Capa, when asked by a collegue why his photos weren’t good enough, responded, “If your photographs aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.”
It’s easy at first blush to believe that Capa meant, well, get out of the trench and get close to the action. However it is more than likely that his comment had a much deeper meaning of getting close to the subject in an intimate knowledgeable way.
It’s about a matter of experiencing. And as bird photographers we chase distant subjects with the longest lenses, and its hard to establish a feeling of the intimate from a distance.
For us its a matter of spending time, respecting the subject, and allowing the time to wonder. I really believe one of the great gifts of photography is that it teaches us to see. And not just what we see,
but,
How we see it.
So much so that I can say, with some degree of wonder, that the camera has opened my eyes to the world around me. Not just the natural, but the human. Some of it from the dark side, but also from the beauty. It’s not a perfect world, but I don’t want to discuss that here.
The gift helps us to learn to see. Moments of interaction of shape, light, line colour, slow down.
And we make space for wonder at the world around us and the brillance of the amazing medium we have to share those moments with others.
I know, the think global, act local is all the rage in some politically correct circles.
We have been thinking locally the past week or so. Partly because of the weather— finally getting the rain we desperately need. And also strong winds, which we could do without. 85kph gusts the other day. Seriously, if you can’t stand up in it why go out.
EE and I have had need to visit the local medical area at Werribee Hospital precinct. As it turns out, my Flickr mate David Nice, has several good areas mapped out in the area. With Kestrels, Brown Falcon, and Little Eagles, and ‘alleged’ Black-shouldered Kites.;-)
So after the serious stuff, and the coffee in the cafe area, to recover, we’ve been sitting in the car along a couple of the roads by the local paddocks to see what is happening. Now tis true we don’t have the bird Karma of David N. but I do have EE, and that is about the best advantage I can offer.
Oh, she cries, Black-shouldered Kites, I scan. Nothing. I scan more. Still nothing, I point the Bushnells across the sky. Nothing.
Ok, saith I, Where?
Over there, beyond those trees. What she actually means is in the next suburb! Bushnells finally lock on. Yep, those two insignificant dots, could be Black-shouldered Kites. I retire defeated.
“On the left”, the cry goes up. Turning in my best Tai Chi move, I make a brush knee move to the left, and sure enough, as I swing up the camera, there is David’s friend, ” Georgia” the Kestrel, lining up for a hunt. So we spent the next few minutes in the area, and saw her making a number of catches, crickets or the like, I suspect.
She then lucked out with a mouse, then another, which she stashed near a rock, and as we were geting ready to move, she flashed by with a third one, to land on the buildings in the medical precinct. Not sure where she went with it after that.
We then moved further south, and found a male Kestrel hunting in the paddocks near the Uni. At one point he was about three metres above the median strip on the roadway, with cars ripping past on both sides. My heart was in my mouth. No luck, so he too moved on.
Found Arthur the Brown Falcon at work in the fields again. Every time he got airborne, the local Magpie squadron took him out, so he was contented to hunt mostly among the tall grasses and roadside.
And just as the light was going to be captured by thick dark clouds, a Little Eagle drifted overhead, and it too moved further over the freeway.
So.
Think local does have benefits.
Locked onLift off.What are you doing in MY paddock. Inquisitive Willie Wagtail just has to know.Male, levelling into positionLittle EagleLittle Eagle on a close passNankeen Kestrel, (M), hunting on a roadside verge. He is only a few metres from traffic both ways.Arthur the Brown Flacon. He had been sitting on the fenceline for about 10minutes. Then just dropped the couple of metres.Hard to know what he caught, but after a few minutes contemplation, he moved on.Georgia with a mouse. She will prepare it, then take it across the paddock and tuck it away under some stubble for later on.Her lunch is tucked away for later.
Georgia with a second mouse. She will fly to the buildings on the far side of the road.Georgia with the second mouse. I’m unsure what she was going to do with this one, but she disappeared behind the buldings. And we headed for home.
If you feel history is repeating itself, well done. It is.
Brown Falcon are very active at the Treatment Plant at the moment, as it seems are snakes in the close of the warm weather.
This bird didn’t fool me. I knew it had intentions. That it only moved one or two fence posts at a time was the first clue. When a vehicle drove down the road past EE and I, and then past Brown, and it didn’t even flinch, I knew.
YaJustHaddabeThere.
Settle in for a long wait. My first frame of the encounter was shot a 1:53pm. The last one 2:42pm. And the bird was still in residence at that stage.
Here’s a summary and then we’ll let the images tell the story.
We noted the Falcon on the fence as we drove down. It was not in a hurry to move, and it was apparent that in spite of its seeming casualness, it was hard at work. I’ve written before that I believe Browns map everything only move when its to their advantage.
It flew along the road, and then walked into the grass. At first I missed the movement. But Brown had calculated the snake would move out into the open. Ha! Not this one. Brown reacted but the blanket weed is much too thick. Advantage Snake.
Brown considered a new plan from a small hillock nearby. And that is where there time went. Twenty minutes of more. Then for no apparent reason the bird moved to a higher roadside sign. And I knew an attack was in play.
YaJustHaddabeThere.
It went down behind the small hillock, and we lost sight, but we lost no time in getting up the road to see if we could get a look.
Yes. There it was mantled, wings spread out. Motionless. At the right time, the head moved and it was all over.
The next few minutes were dealing with the death throes of the snake, and it eventually got a tail twisted over the Falcon’s wings.
After gorging itself it tried to move the snake out into the open, but for some reason, the snake had twisted itself into the grass. Pretty much exhausted from all the effort, the bird took a break, then flew on to the roadside fence. And sat.
After a few minutes it began to preen, and we decided to move on.
I collected the vehicle from down the road, and we drove by the fence, and normally a bird would take to the air. Not this bird, it was either satisfied we meant no harm, exhausted, or just was not going to give up its ground for its meal.
YaJustHaddabeThere.
Which ever, EE got an eye to eye encounter as we went past about arms-length from the bird.
None of these are cropped as they show both the action, the closeness, and the area of the action. For those that are guessing, I think the
markings are a Tiger Snake.
YaJustHaddabeThere.
Enjoy.
Flying from post to post. A typical Brown Falcon ActivityNow its serious. The time and location are right.Let’s seeHey, look, its over here. At first I couldn’t see the snake through the grass, but its just in front of the bird.Tricky little customer. It should have moved out into the open.Not fair. Come backToo hard to attack in the thick undergrowth.I know its there. We’ll just wait.Taking a height advantage the bird sat for nearly twenty minutes.Then, relocatedAnd a few seconds later dropped.We moved up the road to get a better view, hoping the bird would not be nervous and take off. I should not have been worried. Here it is mantled, wings out over the snake.The snake has been despatched and its time to begin lunchThe size of the snake would have been around 1.5 metre and my guess from the markings its a Tiger Snake. The tail is starting to twirl over the bird.In the death throes, the tail curled around the back of the Falcon.Down to business. The bird tries to move the snake to a more open area, but its somehow caught among the grasses.Here its trying to pull it out with its leg force.That failed, so now its the pull forward with the beak and head, but it can’t get enough purchase to solve the problem.After nearly an hour the bird is I think exhausted and took time out for a rest and to reevaluate its next move.Across the road for a restYep, I can still see it from here thanks.We drove past the bird and this is looking back, a nice rotund tummy.
Tis a well know fact that this blog does not do equipment reports. It’s not as though there aren’t enough opinionated sites to trash the best of hardware. However I’ve had a few enquiries regarding this lens, and rather than rehash what Uncle Google can find in a minute, I thought I’d rather share a few paras and pictures on my use with the lens so far.
If you own Canon gear, don’t proceed any further, you have the wonderful DO 400mm f/4. Be happy!
I hummed and hahed when the lens was first released. The big bikkies involved was probably the first stumbling block. And I was working with the Sigma Sport 150-600mm f/6.3 and it was working well for me.(more to follow below)
But the low weight and small size were an attraction, and in the end, I placed an order with Ross at Camera Exchange in Box Hill, in October 2018. I also planned to trade the Sigma at that time.
Eventually, got a note from Ross. “It’s here!”. March 29 2019. The wait-time worldwide has been astounding. So I motored over to collect the lens. Thanks Ross.
What follows is where it fits with my current work.
Time for the Pixelpeepers to click away now, as there are no charts, no ranking scores, no graphs and definitely no lens test charts to pour over. No dudes riding bicycles, or shots of the building over the road, or some obscure mountain in the distance.
Just how does it work for me.
Also please remember that these are all JPEG images made out of Lightroom to 1600pixels at 90% Qaulity. A few are crops, some almost full frame. Shot on both D810 and D500. I’ll note the data with each shot.
All the ratings are against My Expectations of the lens, coupled with use of previous lenses in the field. 100 % is just that. I’m completely happy with that aspect.
Price: No % Score, but I’d have no hesitation in buying it.
Gotta get that out of the way.
It’s a pro piece of kit, Nikon are asking big bucks. If that doesn’t fit with your bankbalance, then click away now. For those who want to save some money, the Nikon 200-500, Sigma Sport 150-600, and the Sigma Contemporary are all good value for money, and sharp. Canon users have the DO 400mm or a pretty nice 100-400 f/5.6 Zoom and a neat 400mm f/5.6 without image stabilisation. Any one of those lenses would be a reason for me to change to the Canon System.
My reasoning was to amortize the investment over the next 10 years or so, and a couple of bucks a week is a reasonable.
Size: 100% Meets my expectations.
It is about the same size as a 70-200 f/2.8. Which makes it imminently handhold-able.
Weight: 100% Meets my expectations.
Having been using the 300mm f/4 PF from its introduction, I had a definite idea about how the weight would be. I’m confident I could carry it all day in normal use without needing a porter.
Handleability: 100% Meets my expectations.
I’ve thrown around some big lenses in my time, but this one just feels right. The balance on the camera and handholding is very comfortable. Mr An Onymous will tell you I once fell in love with a 10-30mm zoom for the Nikon 1 system, just from picking it up off the benchtop. I ordered one the next day. If it feels right, the chi is working, and it is pointless to fight nature.
Focus AF: Exceeds my expectations. This is such a fast lens to focus, especially on the D500. Sometimes I think it finds the subject before I get it sorted out in the frame. Big plus. And it locks and follows. If I compare it to the 300mm f/2.8 or the 70-200mm f/2.8, which are my go to ‘speedsters’ for action, then it’s right up there as good as, if not better. I can’t compare it to the 400mm f/2.8 as I’ve never owned one, but that is the gold standard in fast focus. I reckon this lens would give it a pretty good run.
The other feature is like all pro lenses, its sharp all the way from the closest point to infinity. Unlike most consumer zooms that lose interest in focusing after about 30m. I’m looking at you 18-200mm and 80-400mm.
Sharpness: 100% of my expectations.
Just have a look at the photos below. I don’t do comparisons, but looks equal to the 300mm f/2.8, and has more contrast than the 300mm PF.(My copy. EE’s copy is a little better than mine I think).
Unsharp fuzzy bits.
My photos don’t have bokeh, (never pronounced so a Japanese would know what these people are talking about), mine have fuzzy out of focus bits.
So against a smooth backdrop 100% of expectation. Milky smooth as it should be.
Against busy high contrast backgrounds, 75% of expectation. But then my expectation wasn’t that high. Digital sensors are the real problem here. Most lenses struggle with those clunky blobby bits of branch and bush and the like.
That Removable Foot. 100% meets my expectation.
I’ve seen some remarkable nonsense written about the foot. It’s like “OH wow, something to complain about”. If the only reason not to buy this lens is the foot, then my advice would be trade in the camera gear and buy a set of golf-clubs. It is the same foot used on the 70-200 f/2.8 zoom. I’ve owned three of them over the years, and not once has it worked itself loose, and those lenses travelled lots photographing car events. If the user is so clumsy as to loosen it off then forget to tighten it, I don’t see that as a feature fault, I see that as incompetence!
For my hand the end of the foot rests nicely on the edge of palm of my hand, and my fingers sit well just before the lenshood, near the programmable buttons (coming up soon). A good fit for me. I’ve used it without, and my preference is with the foot. I’ve also had no intention of buying third party Arca mount foots. I simply don’t intend to ever put it on a tripod again. (Coming up soon).{Update Aug 2019} I’ve since taken the foot off and popped a BlackRapid “Fastener Fr-5″, in the 1/4” hole. Not a fan of BR, but I can attach an OP/Tech fastener and that works for me.
I found not much difference with and without the foot, and its just one less thing to get caught up when I’m cradling the lens while sitting down (think driving around the Treatment Plant)
{Update Nov. 2022} I ended up buyng a Henjar Foot. It has ARCA rail and also has a QD (Quick Detach) a standard used for all sorts of weaponry. I added it to a Blackrapid clip with an ebay QD swivel bracket (cheeeep on fleabay)
I am not a Blackrapid fanboy, but in the end, I tolerate it for the convenience of the QD set up. Means I don’t have to pull the confounded strap on an off my shoulder each time I want to put the camera/lens down seperately. Put it down to crabby old person dysfunction.
Programmable Buttons. 95% meet expectations. I use these a lot. Just wish they were a little bigger so my finger doesn’t need to hunt for them. They can be set for a specific distance and the lens will return to that spot. About 30% of my use. Or programmed out of the D810 and D500 menus to do a range of activities. Mine is usually an AF function about 70% of the time.{Update August 2019} I’ve since taken a big black ‘Sharpie’ marker and put a big “X” on the Lens Coat camo, just above each of the buttons. Easy peasy to find now.
Tripod use. Balances well with the D500 on a Wimberley. If you can’t get it to balance on a Wimberley, then read the instructions. On the Markins Q20 that I use a lot, it’s a treat. But now, the problem is you have to take a lightweight lens, and sally forth into the field with a whacking great tripod. Don’t see the point. End of discussion
VR 100% of my expectations. Image stabilisation is so much better implemented than on the 300mm f/4 PF. I found myself handholding at much slower speeds than I anticipated. See below. {edit Aug 2019} For Inflight, I usually turn VR off.
I have a paranoia that the VR interferes with focus acquisition, and while it might only be a microsecond as the VR settles down, it just might be enough to move the focus from the eye, to a wingtip. Besides for inflight, (regardless of the lens I’m using), I want the fastest shutter speed I can get. Give me 1/8000 please. No need for VR there.
Lens Hood. Guess what! 100% meets expectations. It fits, it locks, it’s lightweight. And in my world. It goes on the lens, and is never removed. (except to clean the lens). I use a bag that fits the lens with the hood attached. (and its taped in position so doesn’t go wandering off on its own in the field.) That is the way all my lenses are fitted.
What about Teleconverters. Met my expectations 100%, and perhaps exceeded them.
The results with the TC 1.7, were what I expected. And I won’t be using it again with this lens any time soon, or later.
Haven’t had a need to try the TC 2.0, but I know it will be slow to focus and that won’t work for me too well. {edit Aug 2019} The TC 2.0 is really not workable. Hunts, even in good light. One, two, three strikes. You’re Out!
The TC 1.7 is quite sharp, no problems, but again needs a bit of patience for focus. Won’t see me trying inflights that way any time soon. Or Later!
With the TC 1.4 I found it needed some focus Fine Tune Adjustment. Using the D500 in camera, it gave a result of -6. When I tried it I found the focus position was just not right. So I played around, and hit on +6. Can’t fault that.
I often get asked about Teleconverters as if they will help get a pin-sharp shot of a duck on the far side of the lake.
Nope.
Here are 3 helpful points for that sort of shot. 1/ Learn to Swim, 2/ Buy a kayak, 3/ Develop better bush craft.
TCs are best for giving a little bit of extra magnification closer up, say in the 15-30m range. After that for the birds I work with, both heat haze and tiny size make it impractical.
Acquisition can be a bit ‘iffy’ in lower light. And the tendency to hunt is always likely. But it’s a solid performer once the focus is there. Side by side I doubt I could pick sharp, with and without the TC 1.4
Beginning to sound like a ‘fan boy’, so let’s see if some of this makes sense from my field experience.
This is the first image I made with the lens. 1/320 f5.6 ISO 400 Tai Chi Pigeon Spotted DoveEarly morning overcast. 1/640 @ f/5/6 ISO 400 Superb FairywrenMorning Sunshine, near full frame. 1/800 @ f/5.6 ISO 400 Black Swan1/500 @ f/5.6 Just a hint of sunshine coming through the trees. Eastern Osprey1/200 @ f/6.3 ISO 400 Eastern Yellow RobinLate Evening Sunshine 1/2000 @ f/5.6 ISO 800 White-bellied Sea-eagle1/200 @ f/5.6 ISO 400 Tawny Frogmouth1/400 @ f5.6 ISO 800 Hazy indirect light through overhanging trees Eastern Spinebill
What about the soft out of focus bits
Late evening. 1/640 @f/5.6. Creamy out of focus bits. Juvenile Whiskered Tern1/1600 @ f/5.6 ISO 400 Very late afternoon rich light. Brown Falcon. Messy out of focus bits because of messy backgroundBrown Falcon, messy out of focus bits. This is mostly the result of sesor issues rather than the lens design.
How good is VR. I don’t shoot many in low light but here’s one from the back fence.
Checking VR or Image Stabilisation 1/50 @f/5.6 ISO 400. Handheld. The sun had set, but there was still light in the sky.
Then of course the always asked question.
Oh, but what about Teleconverters. I’ve got to see it with Teleconverters. See my point 13 above.
TC 1.4 700mm 1/3200 @f/9.0 Handheld. Bird worked its way toward me on the water line. Red-kneed DotterelTC 1.4 700mm 1/500 @f/5.6 ISO 400 Soft out of focus bits and plenty of detail on WIllies beak whiskers.TC 1.4 700mm 1/1250 @f/9.0 Handheld, overcast day. Lightened up 1/2 Stop in Lr.TC 1.4 700mm 1/2500 @f/9.0 Full sun. It is no macro lens, but the detail is certainly there.
Accessories.
I was going to really annoy myself and write ‘accessorising’, but restrained. 🙂
I added a B+W UV filter. Not a great believer in UVs as the Sensor already has a UV component, but let’s face it, this an expensive piece of glass. My first B+W UV was with the Sigma Sport, at first I was hesitant, now, I’m a convert. The B+W shows no visible image degredation, I wish I’d come across them years ago.
Added some Lenscoat to protect the lens, I really like the Kevin Kealty ones from the Wildlife Watching Supplies in the UK, they are a bit thicker and don’t seem to shrink like the US based mob.
Also work with a LensWrap, that I had for the 70-200mm, fits like a glove and gives added security for travelling. Simply velcros off when I’m ready to go in the field.
Everybody has opinions on Carry Straps.
The lens does NOT have special strap attachment points, like the bigger pro lenses and the Sigma. Pity, as it would only have been a few dollars more.
I started using a BlackRapid Strap, but find them uncomfortable.
I changed to an OP/TECH Sling Strap Which we’ve used for years on other long lenses, and it does the job well. And doesn’t take over the camera bag when travelling. I’ve snuck on a BlackRapid attachment since, and have one OP/Tech connector on the Lens, and one on an ARCA “L” bracket on the camera. Two attachment points makes me feel more secure.
{Edit Aug 2019} Like camera bags, carry straps will continue to keep me searching. 🙂
{Edit Nov 2022} For full disclosure, I’m now using a Blackrapid Classic Strap and a QD (Quick Detach) on a Henjar bracket See above
Conclusions. I think the price is well justified for the work I am doing. It is indeed my go to lens at the moment.
Alternatives.
The Sigma 150-600 Sport worked well for me. In the end just too heavy for carry around field work. {edit} And, while it was very sharp, the focus was often a little to slow for me for inflight. Once acquired it stayed locked. Even using the Dock to set a faster focus acquire rate, it still left me wishing for a bit more speed.
The Nikon 200-500 Zoom. Is a sharp, well-balanced lens. I would have purchased it if the Sigma had not been on the showroom floor. I do find it a bit bulky to carry as the barrel is nearly twice the diameter of the 500m PF.
The 300mm f/4 PF and a TC 1.4 420mm @/f5.6 EE’s go to lens. Solid performer, I find mine with the TC has a little chromatic aberration in highlights, easy to fix in Lr, but detracts sharpness a little. It is a lovely walk about for hours lens. Sharpness side by side with the 500mm PF would be hard to pick, and as I’ve used it for over three years, it’s a lens I have a high regard for.
Downsides.
Yes, there are a couple.
I tend to take a lot more pictures as it gives me a chance for good framing for inflight birds.
The lens makes my 300mm f/2.8 look a bit redundant. Not sure what I will do with that.
{Update Nov 2022} I traded the lens at Camera Exchange Haven’t really missed it.
The 300mm f/4 PF is also going to take a back seat. It sits in the lens cupboard and like a dog waiting to go “Walkies”, sort of quivers at me when I open the door. Perhaps a D7200 or D7500 and use it for wider shots from the vehicle. Certainly can’t take both to the field.
And here are two more from a shot this morning. The White-winged Terns are still around, and I spent the best part of 2 1/2 hours with them, one long session of about 90 minutes.
1/8000@/f5/6 ISO 800 Grab Shot. Got out of vehicle, lens grabbed focus, I framed next. Swamp Harriers do not give second chances.1/2500 @f/5.6 ISO 400 I was working with these terns for about an hour and half, took several hundred frames. Lens didn’t feel tiring to hold. Had I not run out of time, and the birds out of patience, I could have easily done another hour or so, the lens is unbelievably easy to handhold.
So there you go. Thanks for taking the time to read to the end.
It is a keeper for me, and I’ll probably extend myself to get the best from it in the coming weeks.
Keep takin’ pictures we do.
(I’m hoping EE does not read this as I’d hate to have to wait another 5 months for the next lens.:-) )
In the best traditions of exclusive marketing, “Snapshots” has been renamed “Moments”. Same great taste, same great ingredients, just a name that more closely realises the time with a bird(s).
EE and I have been missing our dose of Brown Falcon life for quite awhile. Summer over, nesting behind them, tis time for Browns to come out and play again. Gone are the wary, defensive secretive lives. Now relaxed birds that don’t have a territory nor a growing family to defend.
We were looking along Ryan’s Swamp Rd at the WTP and found a bird sitting just off the road on a bund. Hunting.
Now Browns aren’t like other falcons, lots of flying about looking, here and there, looking busy. Brown’s mostly contemplate. They are clever hunters that have their local territory ‘mapped’. Each flypast simply confirms, or adds to their already massive data bank. A farm ute driving past on the roadway doesn’t even get a glance. They know it’s not a threat.
We managed to get past the bird for some over-the-shoulder front light.
And then. Waited. Browns do that a lot.
This one sat, then lifted off with one wing sweep, and landed on the far side of the bund emerging with a cricket or a beetle snack.
Next it swept across the road. Low down, Brown style. Paused on a white fence post. Then returned to our side of the road landing on a post to contemplate.
Another trip across the road, and more sitting.
A small sweep out to pickup another snack, and back on the white fence post.
Watching it is one thing. Working out the its stratergy something else again.
A dash off the post, a huge sweep up on to a branch and it sat.
Intruiged I walked over the road to get closer.
And it sat.
After a few minutes, it threw off the branch, dropped without a wing flap, straight down on to the ground on top of the bund on the far side of the fence. Straight into some old grass and scrub. Luckily for me, there was an opening in the dried twigs and I managed to see it turn around with its latest meal. A snake. Tiger I think. Your average Brown stands about 50cm so its fair to guess that the snake was at least that longer or a bit longer, perhaps 60-70cm (about 2 Foot in the old real measurement).
Satisfied all was safe, the bird went to work and before too long, turned, licked its beak (Well it can’t do that, but anthropomorphically speaking). Looked about and sailed back up into the tree to let the meal digest.
Bad career move!
The tree was inhabited by a small flock of WIllie Wagtail juveniles, all wanting to show their prowess and bravery. So poor Brown was harassed mercilessly by the team of young guns. Each trying to be a little more enthusiastic than the others. In the end, Brown took the hint and moved on.
Sitting quietly by the side of the road. Taking it all in.Just a hop and a step, and there’s a snackIt looks pretty detached, but its fair to conclude that nothing is getting past that steely gazeA quick fly over the bund, just to see what the options or possibilites are.From this perch, the bird no doubt had a good view of the snake, and kept returning here every 10 minutes or so.A plan is hatched, just need to get the right attack position.Dropping straight down under full controlOn Target!Look what I found.And that is the last little bit.Never underestimate your average Brown Falcon, but also never underestimate a determined Wagtail clan.
A search on the Bureau of Meteorology website, has quite a bit of info on the lack of rain in mid of Australia. See here http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/
At the bottom of the page is a couple of graphs that begin to put it all in perspective.
And as it dries out, it seems, that quite a number of birds are moving south. Or toward the eastern coast.
And we’ve seen quite a change in the numbers of smaller falcons and kites in our area. In the space of a 10 minute drive the other day we saw 14 Nankeen Kestrel.
So we took a trip to the Western Treatment Plant on a sunny morning.
We’d be chatting, Mr An Onymous and I, about the history and development of Greek Drama and Tragedy. And the role of Satyr as a political statement. Among the playwrights were Sophocles, and Euripides, and how they used the stage to create the Spectacle and allow the characters and drama to develop. Anyway, you get the idea.
“The Rise and Rise of the Brown Falcon in Unfamiliar Territory”
All good plays need a title that might throw the unwary viewer in the wrong direction.
Curtain Rises.
Act 1
Scene 1. A roadway somewhere along the Western Treatment Plant. Single treeline along roadway. Magpies embedded in trees carolling among themselves.
Enter Stage Left. Single Brown Falcon, flying about tree height toward the roadway. Point to note. Brown is flying slowly and deliberately.
Scene 2. Brown approaches treeline directly toward Magpies. Still slow and deliberate.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 