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Saturday 5th. I walked to the Grebe lake to capture the grebe family. As usual they were hovering near the far shore at ~120 yards. Just too far away to make much impact at 400mm.
So I tried the in-camera x2 and x4 Digital Zoom and the onboard 1.4x Teleconverter. The problem with 1600mm focal length is supporting the camera steadily enough.
The IS works incredibly well but needs just a bit of extra stability to function at such extreme focal lengths. 1600mm = 3200mm in FF 35mm terms! [See image right.]
This is serious digiscoping territory but in a compact, zoom telephoto lens. One only 170mm/7" long. Which can be carried for miles on a standard camera strap! An absolutely amazing performance!
Interestingly [?] the Lumix G9 doesn't record use of the onboard zoom and TC. I can usually read every detail of an image in Picasa3 but it only records 400mm MFT. 800mm FF.
Interestingly [?] the Lumix G9 doesn't record use of the onboard zoom and TC. I can usually read every detail of an image in Picasa3 but it only records 400mm MFT. 800mm FF.
I should have taken the lightweight Sirui monopod just to take the load of the camera and lens. I also had the battery grip fitted. Because the camera battery was low as I left home. This made the camera much more comfortable, where it rested against my stomach, but added a little more weight. Not that I noticed it until I needed to manually support the camera and lens for over quarter of an hour while I snapped away.
For video, a tripod would be absolutely vital at such extreme focal lengths. If only to avoid the viewer becoming sea-sick!
Later I rode to a more distant lake. One where a field is ploughed up to the edges of the water. Making it impossible to approach nearer than the footpath. Gulls were mixed with lapwings at 200 yards. A family of swans drifted at 150 yards. Then there were shots nearby and the birds scattered. I snapped away as the lapwings circled and caught the group below.
When things settled down again I captured the swans. It rained lightly as clouds blew across in the headwind. Then there were more shots and I gave up the struggle.
The Leica 100-400 is proving its value in providing sharp images. I used the onboard teleconverter again for 560mm [MFT] to bring the swans closer. A small convoy of ducks chugged back and forth.
I don't think I'll bother with this lake again. It is just too open, exposed and unfriendly. Particularly when hunters are disturbing the peace!
It could be so much more than it is with a few bushes and reeds around the banks for cover. Perhaps, even a hide for people to enjoy the birds without disturbing them. Though it is rather near to a village. With all the risks that entails. There is a track which ordinary cars can easily manage.
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