Birdies in my front yard.

[griffljg]

Late yesterday afternoon (Saturday) I heard this mad cacophony of bird noises (I hesitate to call them songs) coming from outside. I rushed outside with camera (full frame Canon) and long lens (100-400mm zoom) to see that some rainbow lorikeets and noisy miners were having a fine old feast on the banksia blooms on the tree in my front yard. I took a few photos, before running back inside to get my OM-D E-M1 Mk II with Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH (Pana/Leica 100-400mm) lens because it has about double the reach and the photos would require less cropping.

As it was, it made no difference as there were "keepers" out of both cameras, but the micro 4/3 combination was far easier to wield, weighing about half as much as the Canon.

Here are some out of the Olympus:

Firstly the rainbow lorikeets:

And then the noisy miner:

For comparative purposes, here are two heavily cropped photo from the Canon:

All photos were post processed using Capture One Pro 11.3 and, as expected, I needed to crop the Canon photos far more than those from the Olympus.

What am I trying to prove? - I am not getting any younger and am trying to determine whether the advantages of the full frame camera are sufficient to outweigh their bulkiness and substantial weight disadvantages.

Two years ago, on a trip to the WWI battlefields of northern France and Belgium (and a few other places too), I was easily able to carry the Canon EOS 6D with 24-70mm F2.8 II around, saving the Olympus OM-D E-M1 with either 12-40mm F2.8 PRO or 14-150mm for those occasions when I knew the light would not be challenging.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk II with 12-100mm F4 IS PRO attached has proven to be a total game changer. Also, for wild game or bird photography, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS lens is excellent quality, but BIIIIG (in terms of weight) when compared to the Pana/Leica 100-400mm f4-6.3, which has twice the reach.

I guess I have now answered the question for myself. As the saying goes: "The best camera in the world is the one you have with you." As I get older, I am less able to lug the Canon and its big, bulky and heavy lenses around and find myself preferring to take my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk II because:

1. I can!
2. It's easier and more fun to use.
3. Although the sensor is not quite as good in challenging lighting conditions, it is good enough for me.

If Olympus were ever to go full-frame, I think that I can safely say I wouldn't get one.

Enough of a ramble from me.

Cheers

[Guest]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

You sure did a number on convincing yourself there, Larry. Superb birdie shots too, btw.

[Phill D]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

I agree excellent shots whatever camera and lens combination. And certainly a lot more colourful than the sparrows in my back garden

[griffljg]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

I agree excellent shots whatever camera and lens combination. And certainly a lot more colourful than the sparrows in my back garden

Thanks! I just wish that those beautiful, colourful little rainbow lorikeets had a song (?) to match their beauty. Instead, all they do is make one hell of a noise.

[Olybirder]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

You have some very exotic looking birds in your front yard Larry. Lovely colourful shots in great light. I especially like the first Miner but they are all good. I, too, have no desire to carry anything heavier than my Olympus gear. I can't believe some of the massive lenses that I see being trundled about by other photographers.

Ron

[Dave in Wales]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

Bah....You're spoilt you are....!

Birds like paint pallets and gorgeous wall to wall sunshine.

Come up here to the 'gloom' and try and do similar with a sparrow on a dull rainy day.....I just dare ya.

Beautiful shots, I'm green with envy.

Dave

[griffljg]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

You have some very exotic looking birds in your front yard Larry. Lovely colourful shots in great light. I especially like the first Miner but they are all good. I, too, have no desire to carry anything heavier than my Olympus gear. I can't believe some of the massive lenses that I see being trundled about by other photographers.

Ron

Ron, I know what you mean.- Take a look at the equipment this guy was carrying at an airshow just west of Brisbane earlier this year:

That is a relatively new Canon 100-400mm zoom lens. I think that the camera may be a Canon EOS 5D Mk IV. He must visit the gym regularly for some weight training.

[griffljg]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

Bah....You're spoilt you are....!

Birds like paint pallets and gorgeous wall to wall sunshine.

Come up here to the 'gloom' and try and do similar with a sparrow on a dull rainy day.....I just dare ya.

Beautiful shots, I'm green with envy.

Dave

Yes,we may well be a bit spoilt. But if you want to meet a bunch of seriously spoilt photographers, pay a visit to New Zealand. As is to be expected of a green, lush country situated right in the middle of the "Roaring 40s", it rains a lot...... But the sun also shines a lot..... Through a sky that has had all the dust washed out of it by the rain. Take a good pair of sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and loads of sun block cream.

Be prepared for naturally saturated blues and greens with grand snow-capped mountains. Sands from volcanic black on the west coast to creamy white on the east coast.

A total photographic sensory overload!

[OM USer]

Re: Birdies in my front yard.

Sounds like the lorikeets are as noisy as our green parakeets. Still, they make a nice photo, especially in your hands.