Pat, Like Chris, I've used a long air release some 20 years ago on some Baltimore Orioles at the feeder. I don't remember if I used a 50mm or 135mm, but you can get really close and fill the frame with the feed tray & bird. I've still got the shots around somewhere... Regards, Bob S.
On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 13:02:07 +0000 (GMT), Chris Stoddart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Pat, > > I tried something like this once about 20 years ago with an ME Super + > winder, a 135/2.8 (not Pentax), tripod and a great long air release. The > objective was to photograph siskins (Carduelis pinus, about the size of a > fat sparrow) on a feeder whilst I was hiding in the house. > > Although technically fine, the results weren't very pretty, maybe because > judging the 'decisive moment' from 30 feet away behind glass was bloody > hard. Also, even with a 135mm the click of the shutter and/or whirr of > the winder scared the birds away EVERY time, so it took about 2 hours to > get 1/2 doz pictures. I think this also contributed to the birds looking > a bit freaked out in the photos too :-) I'm afraid I haven't repeated the > experiment since. > > The 15mm might be a fun idea right up close (a 'birds-eye view', hah!), > but I suspect it will be very hit and miss and you'll get a lot of waste > shots. It may be possible to desensitize the birds to the camera by > placing a similar box it the same position and piping 'click-whirr' sounds > through it. Other than that it's almost certainly going to scare them off > each shot. > > Good luck with it though and you'll have to let us see any good pics? > > Chris > > > > > On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Pat Curran wrote: > > > I plan an attempt at bird table photography during the holidays using one of > > my Super A bodies / Motor Drive A and a 15mm f3.5 A lens. > > > > The plan is to bait a pre-focused area for song birds and then fire the > > tripod mounted Super A via a newly acquired infrared trigger from the > > comfort of the kitchen window. > > > > Anyone any experience of this type of bird photography? > > > > My other lenses are a 50mm f1.4 A and a 200mm f4 A. (- also ordered a used > > 28mm f2.8 A from KEH tonight so I will have a choice of four lenses - ) Any > > suggestions on the best lens to use on this project or other tips would be > > very much appreciated. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Pat > > > >
