Wildlife Photography

HappyClucker7 · Jul 7, 2022

mdees88 said:
Everything on page 76 and prior posted by me was taken with an 80D. It is a great camera (90D is a good one too). I would recommend buying used to save some $$$. Honestly I think it would better to learn on 80D before going to a R7. The eye tracking AF on the R7 is like cheating and you will be a more well rounded photographer if you learn to shoot with a single AF point or a small cluster like what you will use on an 80D instead of starting off with eye tracking. Eye tracking does not work all the time even on my R5 and I have to switch back to modes I used on the 80D.

Here are some 80D images......

While there is a slight difference in overall "quality" between these images and what I'm posting currently, that has a LOT more to do with me getting better at photography over the last couple years than the camera I'm using. I can take just as good of images with my 80D as my R5. But it requires more effort on my part with 80D and the R5 gives me more opportunities to get good images... if that makes sense.

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Those are all great! Thanks for all the information!

mdees88 · Jul 7, 2022

Bakbuk said:
@HappyClucker7
Okay so said friend above actually shoots with the 70D, but still.
Here's some of his bird photos. They're spectacular.
https://media.ebird.org/catalog?mediaType=photo&userId=USER1824290&sort=rating_rank_desc

I think the 70D was the first Canon that used their new dual pixel autofocus system.

70D, 80D, or 90D would be good options. I haven't used a 70D so I always lean towards recommending an 80D, plus the 24mp let's you crop a little more. I think a used 80D is a pretty good bang for your buck canon camera. I dedinitely wouldn’t consider buying a new 90D, instead I would save a few hundred more and get an R7....

mdees88 · Jul 7, 2022

Wishing4Wings said:
You can see the sunrise reflected in the spider's eyes.
Macro magic!

That sunrise is actually some real "magic"

. I use a flash and a diffuser for most all of my insect macro. Besides adding more light so I can use smaller apertures and get more of the insect in focus.... when it reflects in the eye it looks very much like a sunrise which makes the image look even better... win-win...

Bakbuk · Jul 7, 2022

mdees88 said:
That sunrise is actually some real "magic". I use a flash and a diffuser for most all of my insect macro. Besides adding more light so I can use smaller apertures and get more of the insect in focus.... when it reflects in the eye it looks very much like a sunrise which makes the image look even better... win-win...

Yeesh, what is your macro setup?!? Honestly, I'm blown away.

mdees88 · Jul 7, 2022

So I have been using a regular 50mm IS STM lens (~$80 used) and a set of extension tubes (~$50) which let the lens focus very close. Then I use a godox tt350c flash ($85) and an angler pfsd-100 flash diffuser ($10). This combination can yield some very nice results. The extension tubes work with pretty much any kit lens you have so you do not have to buy a dedicated macro lens to get started in macro, you just use what you have. Normal settings are 1/100-1/250th shutter speed, aperture F8-F11, ISO 100-400, Flash set on 1/16-1/8 power.

I just recently sold my EF 70-200 2.8 IS II portrait lens and replaced it with an RF 100mm 2.8 macro prime lens. This lens not only does macro but it doubles as a very nice portrait lens too. So the last few images were taken with this lens and my flash and diffuser.

Here is the 50mm lens, 36mm extension tube, flash, and diffuser. It's a pretty straightforward setup.

This is a great video for anyone looking to get into macro photography. I've watched pretty much all of his macro videos. I ordered the meike mk320 flash he uses and I'm going to test it and see if I like it better than my tt350c. I think I will and it's a little cheaper.