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Posts Made By: Jeff Hapeman

April 28, 2004 03:51 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

OT: My Nikon 80-400VR is up for grabs...

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
Thought I would let the folks in this forum know in case you weren't prowling the ads section. I am getting the new 200-400VR this week, so the old 80-400VR needs to go. It's a great lens that I have used for all of my bird shots and a lot more.

New toys come and old toys must go....

Jeff Hapeman

May 3, 2004 04:28 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Nikon 200-400mm VR and other new toys

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
OK, while I was away, the new beastie came in. Unfortunately, I am off for a work trip for a few days and will not be able to test it out, but it looks like I am going to need a gimbel mount and a monopod to use this thing anyway. The 80-400mm VR was *much* smaller. I am not sure what impact this will have, but I do like the much, much faster autofocus, and larger aperture (f/4 at all focal lengths). I think I will get a 70-200mm VR and the TC to get a smaller lens, and then I can use the TC on this lens and get a super-duper telephoto. I also have a D2H on the way, as the D100 was having trouble keeping up with me for bird photography (especially hummingbirds). Anyway, check the two lenses out.

Jeff

May 3, 2004 04:34 AM Forum: Insects - Flowers and Other Small Stuff - Photos

Hazelnut Flowers

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
There is not yet a lot going on at our place up north--spring is just starting to peep out a bit. I got out the macro lens and went hunting, and came across this nice combo of the male and female flowers of the Beaked Hazelnut. The female flowers are the pink ones. This was taken with the Nikon D100 and 200mm macro lens.

Jeff

May 8, 2004 02:17 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

First Light with D2H and 200-400mm VR

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
I had a few minutes tonight after work before the storms rolled in to finally try out my new Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens. The lens is huge, but amazingly fast at focusing and uses a newer VR system than the 80-400 lens. I had it on a monopod to stabilize it, but it was dark, so it was a test of the lens. I also have moved up to a D2H, which is a fabulous camera. This is the first professional-grade Nikon camera that I have owned (besides a used F3HP many years ago). It is fast which is great for bird photography: it focuses fast, it shoots fast, everything is fast (essentially zero shutter lag).

Anyway, as a testament to the VR system, this was shot at 1/80th of a second at 400mm, which is truly remarkable. Hopefully I will be able to get out this weekend and get some better shots; this one suffered from poor lighting and was not the best composition.

Jeff

May 8, 2004 08:29 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Northern Oriole

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
I got an hour this afternoon with the new D2H and 200-400mm VR lens. I am using a monopod with a ball head, which steadies the camera, but allows me to swivel quickly to shoot. More importantly, it helps support the weight of this lens, which is very heavy.

My main goal was the orioles, which have returned in force. There is one very brilliant male, almost red, but I did not get him, but this male is nearly as brilliant.

Jeff

May 8, 2004 08:32 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

House Wren

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
Same setup as the oriole shot. I actually liked the way he was screened by the pine needles. He had just finished struggling to get a twig into the nest box, and failed.

Jeff

May 8, 2004 08:33 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Chipping Sparrow

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
Same setup as other shots.

Jeff

May 8, 2004 08:36 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

American Robin

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
Final shot.

Jeff

May 10, 2004 02:58 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Jim: Female Scarlet Tanager

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
Jim,

While Scarlet Tanagers are not resident year-round in your area, they do migrate through. Your picture was dim enough that it was hard to tell, but the darker wings made me lean toward the scarlet tanager. Interestingly enough, today I had this female scarlet tanager come through my back yard today. Not the best of shots, but thought you might want to see it.

Jeff

May 10, 2004 03:09 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Another Robin

Posted By Jeff Hapeman
But I liked this pose. I was out playing with the settings on the D2H today. There a *lot* of settings to tweak on this camera, and I also found the Photoshop CS RAW importer was messing up the images (so I am using the Nikon software for now). I think I am getting better color and sharpness today. So much to learn...

Jeff

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