The subject of round four is 'Flight', the thread for posting your pics can be found at http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=303899

Hm... not going to be doing this one with a few small props on the dining table then, am I? :D

That's definitely a challenging topic with lots of scope for interpretation. I have a few ideas, but I guess I'm actually going to have to venture out into the cold for this one. Still, I have a nice new engine in the scooby to run in, so a trip or two won't go amiss. Watch this space ;)

picking up the discussion at the end of the 'Winner' thread...

If we vote for indiviual photo's what happens to those votes if the image is then replaced? Does the previous image get withdrawn from the voting, or do we not start voting until the comp is closed? :confused:

Nice topic Daryl, congrats on winning round 3 :D Andy, if you want to stay tucked up indoors you could always try something with champagne corks and a flash ;)

CW

Voting only takes place after topic end so photo's can't be changed :)

Si

CW: Actually I spent yesterday evening with a stroboscopic flash and ping-pong ball. Unfortunately I wasn't able to produce anything even remotely interesting, so this afternoon I've been out in the freezing cold trying to produce something more interesting. Watch this space :D

Actually I spent yesterday evening with a stroboscopic flash and ping-pong ball. Unfortunately I wasn't able to produce anything even remotely interesting

:eek:

stroboscopic flash and ping-pong ball...You missed Thai girl off the end of your list mate;)

lol :D

Ever thought you'd got just the shot you wanted, then discovered somthing that really spoiled it?

http://www.cawte.nildram.co.uk/outtake.jpg

Must try harder :(

LOL@James

Andy that was close to being very :cool: :D

This round seems awfully quiet :( It's not THAT cold out there...

Yeah but i've been workin all weekend/week of tomoz and wednesday so hope to get something done then :D

Si

I want to know where all you people are finding friendly birds of prey that don't mind posing for a photo.

All we have round here are sparrows, which are too small and too bleedin' fast :(

The Hawk Conservancy, Andover - click (http://www.hawk-conservancy.org). They even run their own photo competition :)

Nice pic Andy - yep something always "crops" up to spoil a pic so next time clean your sensor first to get rid of that bit of fluff in the corner ;) :D

Happy snapping

Gareth

lol :)

Actually my sensor is filthy, but before I do anything about that I need to figure out why most of the shots I took on Saturday came out slightly (and consistently) blurred. I've a nasty feeling I'm going to be sending a lot of kit back to Canon for calibration in the not-too-distant future. And as if suffering a blown engine wasn't bad enough :( :(

Perfect thread choice - exactly what I'd have chosen in the unlikely event that I won an earlier one...

This one's too early so exempt but I rather like it:

http://www.schoolboost.com/4Mark/balloon_in_sun.jpg

SB

Ian, have you not submitted that photo (Birds on telephone cable) before? ;)

Darren

And Andy, that is a fooking great picture :D

Darren

Andy- recalibration of the focusing seems to be a regular occurance - mine have been back to Canon three times to be sorted, mainly front focusing. Very common problem with Canons, but its still better than Nikon, thats one of the main reasons why all the sports snappers at Getty (used to be Allsport) changed over.

Gareth

Gareth: is it likely to be the camera or lens that needs adjustment? (The camera is under warranty, but the lens isn't!)

Which service centre did you use? Did they take long?

http://www.cawte.nildram.co.uk/2d2e3719.jpg

Here's a 100% crop from one of Saturday's photos (1/2500 sec, f/5.6) - like many of the others it's come out soft enough that I'm really disappointed with it. A 1D plus 100-400L lens should be able to do better, even on a moving target. Although 1-shot AF was OK, AI servo consistently got it wrong.

Andy - usually the camera, although it is worth telling them with which lenses the problem is greatest. It usually telephotos but there were a lot of problems with the old 17-35 f2.8L, the newer 16-35 is a lot better.

Fixation in London offer the service as do obviously Canon. I get my gear sorted with the Canon Professional Service and they usually turn it around within 2-3 days unless they are particularly busy. Give Fixation a call to see what they can do, I believe they will still honour the warranty, but don't quote me!

I've used Fixation myself on several occasions - I do seem to have a lot of problems with lenses needing repair.

I'll certainly never buy used again, I've had enough. My camera was (I believe) an ex-Canon demo unit, bought in November for £1800 from Jessops, so although it's not new it's got a 12 month Jessops warranty which I figure should cover mis-calibration. At the time, new 1D's were like hens' teeth and it seemed like a pretty good price for a camera that cost five grand just a couple of years ago! Of course, if I'd waited then I could be on the list for a 1D mk II right now, but that's life.

Sorry Andy, just seen the pic - didn't appear before.

Was that shot with One Shot AF or Servo ? ... I can understand why it would appear soft with one shot ( long lens, relatively wide aperture, fast moving subject) but servo should have coped. I'm assuming you are using the center focusing point only, but are you activating the focusing via the shutter release or the "back button". If you are using the back button, I would get the camera checked, if the shutter button, then it may help to separate the focusing action from the shutter release.

With a subject such a bird in flight you would be surprised how far the bird will move in the short time between focus lock and shutter activation, certainly enough to move out of focus.

Ian, have you not submitted that photo (Birds on telephone cable) before? ;)

Darren

Darren,

Yes, I have posted them before. Oh, yeah, oops, they are not my entries, were just something to get the thought process going for everyone, wrong thread. I'll go and take them off before someone thinks they are my actual entries.

Cheers

Ian

It was shot with AI Servo - the whole point of which (I'm led to understand) is that it tracks the subject and can predict where the subject will be at the instant of capture. I have plenty of shots in which I was following the bird for some time and it wasn't actually moving that fast relative to the camera.

I was using all 45 focus points, yet the whole bird is OOF - if at least part of it were in focus then I wouldn't be complaining.

Will try again next weekend - I can play with choice of focus points and smaller apertures. If that doesn't work then I might just bite the bullet and take my whole camera bag into Jessops and leave them to sort it out. What's another big bill anyway? :(

horrgakx, nice pic of the Red Arrows :)

DArren

Well i've got one up :eek: and i didn't have to freeze my butt off for it :D

Cheers
Si

Been messing about on and off all day, trying to get a few ideas to work. All turned out rubbish so far :(

Andy - sorry I haven't got back to you, been working away for two days.

I've never trusted the autofocus with all 45 points . Try limiting your focus points - I only ever use the centre point- and use the custom functions to activate the focusing with the back button.. see if that makes any difference.

j4mou,

You a bit of a RC'er? Nice pic of the copter :D

I hope you did not take the picture at the same time as flying and driving :eek:

Darren

My second entry is now up :)

A return visit gave me another chance at getting a shot of the white-bellied sea eagle snatching food out of the air - he gets to keep his head this time!

Still think my camera needs adjustment, though... no more pics for a few weeks :(