Heron stalking through lillys

[JohnK]

I got out to a wetlands area yesterday to try out a new 50-500mm lens, more sun and fewer clouds would have been nice, but at least it didn't rain.

It was amazing how long and how still the heron could hold this pose. If I didn't know it was real I would have thought it was a decoy it was so still.

500mm, ISO 900, 1/500th, F/6.3

A 50mm view of the same scene

50mm, ISO 280, 1/500th, F/4.5

500mm, ISO 560, 1/500th, F/6.3

It didn't to do badly tracking the heron in flight, a higher shutter speed would have been nice, but that's not the cameras fault.

500mm, ISO 900, 1/500th, F/6.3

[Dbl]

Its amazing to me how long they can hold a pose waiting for a strike! I watched them extensively in Florida last winter, it was very cool. Congrats on the new lens.

[yakfisher]

I have the 150-500 and I've been happy with ISO over 1600 on my old Nikon D90 and well over 2000 on my D7000. I like to keep that lens above f8 at 500mm. I don't know what camera you have but give bump up your ISO and see what you think. I was surprised when I did with mine.

I like the shot with his one foot sticking out of the water, nice work. And have fun with that lens.

[finnbay]

Well done! Yes, they can hold a pose forever, unless you're trying to get up close for a portrait!

[Canon Guy]

Very nice captures!

[JohnK]

Thanks!

I used to have the 150-500, shot it for a few years, on that copy I didn't notice much difference at F8 - I really enjoyed that lens. I've only had the 50-500 for a couple of weeks now, it does seem to be noticeably sharper at F8 vs F6.3. I was using a D300s for these shots. Depending on the light it does well up well above ISO 2000. ISO 2000 in good light looks much better than ISO 2000 in shade.

For example the same day I took this shot at ISO2500, F/6.3, 1/500th