Monday, January 23, 2023

Cardinal Points

Nikon D2X & 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II @200mm, 1/160th, f/5.6, ISO400

I've always had such a hard time getting a photo of a cardinal. I'll spot that flash of red in a tree out of the corner of my eye, but as soon as I turn towards it, it sees those two forward-facing eyes pointing at it and flutters off somewhere safer.

The one above was interested in something on the side of the Monon Trail. It fluttered off as a jogger passed, but immediately returned to its object of curiosity. I was able to sidle along with the Nikon held in front of my face and get a half-assed shot or three before it fluttered off. 

It was overcast and the 2004-vintage Nikon D2X sensor is kinda noisy at ISO 400. (The image is slightly cropped.)

I should try the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR on the D2X.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV & EF 70-200mm f/4L IS @ 200mm,  1/125th, f/5.0, ISO200

Both photos were shot in Aperture Priority mode, with the Nikon using Area Metering (or what Nikon calls "3D Color Matrix Metering II") mode and the Canon in Center Weighted Average.