This is a super-entertaining video, not just for the terrific shots and footage of the wildlife, but for the enthusiastic and personal account of discovering what looks like an extremely rewarding hobby. From the sheer number of examples, it is clear that you are always aware of shooting opportunities and how to integrate those into your practice. Thank you for sharing your path and process.
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, that's exactly it. A personal and rewarding hobby. Every outing is like a treasure hunt. I haven't had too many finds lately. Hoping with spring approaching, that changes. Cheers!
Wonderful video Marlene! You're totally right, birding is meditation. I was severely depressed in college when one of my ornithologist friends invited me to go birdwatching. I'm also a biology student like him, but my focus was more on aquatic invertebrates, so birding was pretty new to me. He shared with me his binoculars, took my under-exercised depressed butt outdoor to a national park, and... wow. Birding became a lifelong passion for me, and it was Instrumental in helping me overcome depression.
Very kind of you to share your story Kha. Thank you so much. I still go out birding 3-4 times a week and it keeps me balanced. My photos aren't always spectacular, but that doesn't really matter as it takes my mind of the stresses of my life. Cheers and happy birding!
@@ImageMaven thank you!! And from your review, I'll start saving up for this lens and one of the entry to mid-price Olympus MFT bodies. Right now all I have is my Canon SX430 and my binoculars, but you're right, birding is less about the photos and more about being out there and witnessing these incredible animals, so until I can upgrade to micro 4/3, this is enough for me. Cheers!
I’m so pleased you are hooked on birding photography, great photos. It looks like you have a great variety there. Like you I find it very meditative. For various reasons I’ve not been out there for a few weeks and have started to feel quite low, your video is the kick start I need to grab my camera and get out there, thank you 👍📷🦉
Hi Sue, You have been very encouraging along my birding journey, with your comments on my videos. I hope you get a chance to get out birding soon, and that it will lift your spirits. Hugs.
Birding is very meditative. I upgraded to the 100-400 Leica for birds. Soon the Snow Geese and the Tundra swan will show up by the thousands here in eastern NC for a few months which is a blast to watch non stop. Glad you're enjoying it. And as a sienote, you will LOVe that 12-60 2.8. Its a wonderful lens for many options. Thanks for all of your G9 videos. You help sell me on going with this camera.
Ooh, now lovely. I can't wait for the migrating birds to fly through on their way south. We are definitely in a dry spell right now, as many have left my area of the continent. So I thought it would be a good time for some reflection on my craft. Enjoy your large birds! Thank you for stopping to chat.
Hi Marlene this was the reason why I bought a g9 with 100-400 lens and living in the west coast of Scotland iam not short of birds and wildlife keep up the good work your pictures look amazing.
Sounds wonderful David. Any coastal location is usually great for birding. I am heading to the east coast of Canada soon, and I hope I get to see some new and interesting species. Thank you for watching.
I too, like to photograph birds. I love the way you see the world, always with the curiosity and wonder of a child. Animals have this magic power over folks like us.
An inspiring video! I learned a lot about birding, something I never thought I could be interested in. I have a newfound appreciation for it, and why folk can find it addicting. Big birding community here in Seattle, now I know why!
Glad you enjoyed it! To be honest, I never thought much of it before I got this lens either. So I'm still quite a newbie. Bodies of water, even small bird baths, definitely attract the birds. You are fortunate to live by the ocean. Hopefully you can get out and try your hand at birding soon. Thanks for watching and leaving your thoughtful comments.
Really enjoyed seeing your story. It's step by step evolution, revealing discovery of what's all around - wright underneath your feet so to speak. Being there = possibility's = surprises. The suns coming up over Mather Lake, I'm facing the water as a Blue Heron fly's over my shoulder with a " swish of it's wings ", my finger pressing the shutter. It skims the water and ascends with a fish - the sun highlighting the scene for me & the camera. Click click. Magical ! I'll look forward to your future adventures.
Just listening to you brings peace of mind. I love the philosophy of this video. Let alone the marvelous bird photographs. Congratulations and thank you for this. I am presently waiting for the Lumix G9 I have just bought, hope it brings me the joy it seems to bring you.
Great video Marlene and thanks for sharing. I've always enjoyed taking photo's but never had a "niche" until I discovered bird photography a few months ago. I have a Lumix G9 and 100-300 which came to me in a roundabout way (long story) and like yourself, I find peace in being out alone watching and photographing wildlife. I don't even mind if I come back without any images but I always return home feeling energised.
It's great to hear from you Marcus. Thank you for sharing. I agree, even if we don't get anything spectacular every time we go out, it's still great to be out in nature. My photos are just for me, and I don't have to show anyone if I don't want to. So it's very relaxing. And with that in mind I don't need the longest or the fastest lens out there either. Cheers! And happy birding to you!
Very inspiring and intriguing story of your bird photography journey. I can relate to everything you shared. Birding and bird photography is a form of meditation for me as well, it's the purest form of zen that I can describe. It took us many years for our birding passion to evolve - my mother is an avid birder with an impressive life list who shared her love of birding with us. Adding the element of learning bird photography was a turning point for me several years ago. Congrats on your new camera lens - I look forward to hearing all about it! Thank you Marlene, Happy Birding! -Jody
INSPIRING! Your videos are always informative and help develop our skills using our cameras. Anytime I Google for information about a way to use a function on my Lumix G9, you always show up with a guide to point me in the right direction. This video really steps beyond the technical guide to demonstrate how you can make photography a meaningful part of your life. You are inspiring!
Awesome, thank you Jason. Yes, this video is a departure from my usual technical style of teaching. And I'm really happy that it resonated with you as well. Cheers.
Another great Marlene vblog addition 👏 Keep up the excellent work. I haven't taken my new Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens off my G9 since I bought it a few weeks ago and sold my 100-300v2. The 100-400 has far better IQ and yields better stabilization with the G9 but it also weighs almost double the 100-300 which isn't great. I have found the Panasonic Leica lenses I own, 8-18, 12-60 and now 100-400, are much better than the regular Panasonic lenses. They should be given how much more they cost.
Hi Marko, Sounds like a great upgrade for you. You have a fantastic kit of gear there. One of these days I'll try out the 100-400mm. But first I need to get my rotator cuff healed up. I've had issues with both shoulders, so I may never be able to hold that big lens for long periods of time. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the lens, and for watching. I look forward to getting to know the 12-60mm soon. Cheers!
I stumbled across your video researching the Lumix 100-300mm. I have a G9 that came with a 12 - 60mm at a very reduced price here in Australia, I think they were trying to clear stock to make way for the G9 II. Anyway we have a whale migration here at Shellharbour in Australia every year from September to November and they can come very close to rocky headlands. I do have have a Full Frame Nikon, but any telephoto for that camera is a ridiculous price. Looks like the 100-300mm could be what I need, the Leica 100-400mm is out of my $$ range. So thanks for your video. Should note I live 2 mins walk from salt water lake so lots of water birds too !
Thanks, Marlene, for sharing your journey with us; inspirational!.Here in Oz we have totally different breeds, except the pelicans which we have all year round, along our coast. I was particularly interested in seeing you had so many small birds. I have purchased the 100-400mm Leica as it had just a bit extra reach and I'm just learning to use it. I too have the 12-60mm lens you have just purchased and I'm looking forward to seeing how you use it; it is my 'go to' lens; the lens that stays on my G9 except when I am 'birding'. Thanks as always. Mike in Oz
You are very fortunate because you have many more colourful birds in Oz. I was going to slip a couple parrot photos from my trip to Oz a few years back. But that was pre-Lumix. I was also very intrigued by all the cockatoos in Sydney are area. People keep them in cages here :( Sad to see. I'm heading to a coastal region of Canada tomorrow for a short break so I will be testing out the 12-60mm properly. It is replacing my old broken 12-35mm. Great to hear from you as always, Mike! Cheers!
Since I got into photography roughly 7 months ago and heavy into bird photography, I'm absolutely amazed at how many different species I've encountered just in my backyard! So much fun!
Good for you!! So awesome. If you can park yourself near a bird bath or feeder, duck pond, it's fun to watch. You might not even need this long lens for that scenario. On a good note, it's not that heavy.
Hi Marlene...What a wonderful story. Especially your remarks on going on a photo walk. For me it has always been like being in a cocoon of happiness and a meditation at the same time. All alone like being in the womb again. And as you said...always on your own, to be as focussed as possible. I own the Pannie 45-175, but maybe I should try the 100-300 as well. Thank you for your great philosophical and humble story👏🍀
. Last week I went to Frank Lake, in the area I got some Photo’s of a Chukar, what a wonderful colourful Bird. I was so surprised and thrilled, I had never seen one before. It made up for the lack of Birds at Frank Lake. I did get a long hike in though,lol.
Very cool! I've never seen one of those. They are pretty and pretty rare too! I hear you about Frank Lake. The last time I was there, about the only thing I saw were gulls and a skunk. LOL. It's better viewing in the spring.
I have more news about your Chukar from a birding friends.... They are bred here and released to be hunted. Sometimes a few escape. They are more common in the Okanagan. So you might want to lie low if you see any, just in case you get a load of buckshot in your backside. 😉
Good choice! It works for me! Happy birding. Should be getting interesting again with the fall migration. Hopefully you have some good species coming through.
Great video! Loved all the birds, you've captured quite the range. Photo quality was impressive, the G9 is certainly up to the task. I totally agree with you about the meditative aspects of photography. It cultivates a wonderful sense of mindfulness where you get out of your head and into the environment. I always carry a camera with me when I go on exercise walks. And lastly, I have the Leica 12-60 too. It rarely comes off my G9. I am looking forward to seeing your videos using it.
Hi Steven, Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comments. Yes, that Leica 12-60 was in a kit with the G9 at one point, and at the time I had the 12-35mm so I didn't think I needed it. But I broke the zoom collar on my lens several months ago, so it can't be used outdoors very safely anymore. It's a perfect range for travel. I leave for short trip to the furthermost eastern part of North America in about 15 hours, so I will have new photo walks to test it out on! Take care and thank you for watching. ~M
Thank you for this video. I feel the same, birdwatching is very relaxed and a good meditation to make free your head. I use the the G9 with the lumix-leica 100400 lens and I'am very happy with it. But for fast and little birds in flight I often go not futher than 200mm, to be able to catch them quick in flight.
Yes, the 12-60 is perfect for travel. I spent about a month in Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Finland, and Paris. I don't think the lens came off the camera during the trip. A very good lenses.
Hi Keith, I love the 100-300mm, but having said that, I also purchased the 100-400 earlier this year after renting it for a weekend. It's heavy, more expensive and has a stiff zoom ring, but I do love that extra 100mm reach. But if the 100-300 works for you, then enjoy it. It's a great lens for the price, and at 600mm equivalent, much more reach than the average person has. Cheers!
I really enjoyed your story about how you became a birder. It looks like you live in an area that has a lot of birds, a lot of species. And you have some great shots!
Glad you enjoyed it Lucie. I didn't think there were a lot of species around here until I started paying attention. Hopefully you can find some nice birds in your location too. Thank you for watching.
Marlene, this was a really nice video. You pretty much summed up what I like to do on my photo-walks and the experience of just getting out there. I thought you had many nice images but the baby sparrow images and the hovering tern were outstanding. I know you've had your doubts about the G9 for birding but I'd love to hear more about your experiences with the 2.4 firmware and birds flying straight towards your camera. I hope to see more of your "surprises" on future videos.
Hi Bruce, That tern image is my favourite of the year so far. Very challenging to capture those birds in flight. Thankfully they hover for a few seconds. I did get some slower birds, like hawks flying towards me. I had the most success with the tracking focus on AFC, and the Animal/Bird setting. But to be honest, anything flying fast was super hard to capture in focus, let alone keep in the frame. I spent many hours at the river with the gulls trying to get the perfect shots, but it's nearly impossible with them darting all over. I will keep trying though. Thanks for watching and for your comments. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven I think gulls make excellent tracking practice for a birder. I hope to rent a G9 and 100-400mm lens in the near future. My hope is it will provide a good enough alternative to the very expensive new eye-track cameras and lenses from Canon and Sony, as well as a bit of a weight savings. Both would be a selling point. My Lumix FZ1000 Leica twin does a surprisingly good job for birding but only reaches 800mm in its digital range. An optical 800mm reach and larger sensor would be useful in a world that often sees me using my Canon SX60 to stretch out to 2,000mm's to fill the frame with the often skittish birds along the Florida panhandle.
I'd love to test out a Sony at some point. Just to compare. There's no way I can afford it, and well, I'm a casual birder. But if I lived on a coastline, I would likely feel different. Cheers and let me know how it goes.
Thanks, Marlene. My experience has been about the same. A little slower to evolve than yours, but I use the same equipment (G9 + 100-300). The Merlin app has been an amazing adjunct to the discovery. Can't wait to hear your opinion of the new lens.
Another great video, I am also loving my bird photography, my thoughts practically mirror yours. I took the plunge and got the same lens as you, it’s has been a joy to use. I also have the 12-60 which is a fantastic lens. I look forward to your review. Keep up the great work, I love watching your content and I always learn something new. Best wishes from London (UK not Canada!) lou
This is a great video. I got the Lumix 100-300mm for my G9 for birding too. The lens is sharp and weather sealed. It's Lens IS combined with the G9's IBIS really work great.
Very Nice video and superb snaps of Birds....Interesting to find someone echoing my thoughts on Birding-1.Expect the unexpected 2.Accept the inevitable 3.Live in the present moment 4.Take it as it comes 5.Enjoy being out there whether we got the snaps or not...I have a G85 with the 100-300 mm Version II Lens...I do feel the need for a longer reach (100-400mm ) so that i may not have to crop to get a closer look at small birds...yes, it is indeed akin to meditation .
Many thanks Ravi! I have a feeling if you get the 100-400 lens you may also be tempted to get a larger camera body like the G9. I'm okay with the 100-300mm for now. And I have my new 12-60mm lens to play with now too. Let me know what you decide! Cheers!
looking forward to your review of your new lens. The Lumix version came with mine, curious to see the advantages of that one. I love your bird pictures.
Bird photography is sure difficult and you get far better results than me. Your pictures are gorgeous. btw The 12-60 Leica is an excellent lens. Got my best shots with it. Looking forward for your next vdeo.
Keep working on it Laurent! You will get there. I can’t wait to get shooting seriously with the 12-60mm. Thank you for watching and commenting. Cheers.
beautiful video. please continue making content on this subject as you have so many good insights to share. I just upgraded from an FZ150 to a GH5 with the 100-300mm (mk1 for now) and I'm so excited to get into real wildlife photography.
Thank you Steve. Many of my latest videos use birding and animal photos as examples. So hopefully you can glean some insight into the similar GH5 settings as well. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven Thanks. I have been watching them and taking notes. I'd love it if you could make a video with a separate camera taking video of what you're doing when you are taking good shots, how you pick places to go, how you are holding the camera and so on.
If you haven't already found this RUclips channel, you should check out Duade Paton's channel. He is an accomplished bird photographer and his videos are very informative and entertaining. I greatly enjoyed hearing how bird photography is a form of meditation for you. All the best to you.
I've always been a believer in Auto focus when trying to photograph moving objects especially that of the feathered friends around us... just one less fiddling with the lens. My Also, you mentioned that you just picked up a leica lens... Nice but I didn't know that leica made DSLR lenses. I always thought Leica made their own (lenses) to suite their own equipment brand. Great video too!! 👍
I'm also using the g9 for bird photography. My lens choice slightly differs from yours but I'm using the Leica 100-400mm. Great photos and those owls are adorable. I'm finding that with my 100-400mm and the Leica 12-60, it covers 99% of my focal length uses.
I find your videos very informative. I have a G80 and 100-300mm, and I have some nice pictures but noting like the catalogue you have. Thinking about adding the Leica 100-400mm for another 33% zoom, but also the G9 for the superior camera. I was tempted by DSLR for the bigger sensor and image quality, but the weight is a concern. It's hard to understand if APSC is worth it compared to staying with the system I already know. ATB MMMD
Glad you like them! Yes it’s a big decision and bigger investment to change camera brands or formats. I do love my 100-400mm. No regrets buying it but it is heavy compared to the 100-300mm. If you can rent or borrow gear you’re thinking about prior to purchase, I would go that route. That’s what I did with the 100-400mm. Lumix has some new gear on the market so that might be something to consider as well, especially if you’re loyal to the brand. And if you’re a long term bird and wildlife shooter, that might work for you. In any case you have some thinking to do! Enjoy your research. Thanks for stopping by. 😊
Thanks again Marlene, Noticed that at 6:30 of your video, the chickadee has a band on it's leg. On some of your photos, you may be able to blow them up and get a number from the band and find out more about that little chickadee. Was wondering if you were on high burst when you got the chickadee eating the ant?
Hi Lloyd, I tried looking at the band on that chickadee right after I shot those, but just couldn't get a number. I even looked at other photos from that same bird. As far as the bird + ant photos, they were on High Speed Burst (H), not the SH1, or SH2 modes. By the way, I didn't realize that chickadee was going after that ant until I got home and looked at my photos on the computer! I'm pretty stoked on those. Happy accident. Great to hear from you! Cheers.
what an amazingly talented lady behind the camera, and in front of it! you have a david attenborough-like calmness about you, the way you talk. its inspiring and makes me want to tune in more and more. I am in the market for the Lumix G9, coming up from a TZ80/ZS60 (depending where you're form) and i cant wait to start my proper photography journey. thank s to you and these videos, i have just installed the merlin bird app and will be trying to capture as many photos and checking them off the list :)
Wow, thank you for the kind words. You can probably pick up a G9 for cheap these days. But, If you have the budget consider the G9ii which just came out. All the best with your photo adventures. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven you are totally welcome and deserved of the commendation. i have seen a "like new" G9 on MLB (i think) thats based in the UK, and its up for £512. so thats what i am looking to spend, and then maybe some cheapy chinese smaller lenses for general photography, along with the more expensive 100mm - 400mm, or the 45mm - 150mm for birds and wildlife :)
Hi Marlene thanks for this video! I recall early on how you were disappointed, you said once like "I was out all day and all I saw were some ducks." I got the same lens at more or less the same time but I didn't have birds in mind. But now you feel (and are!) successful this is inspiring for me. 👍 Maybe I will try some more birds... I have the Lumix 12-60 3.5-5.6 the less expensive one with the same range. My G80/G85 has it on most of the time and if I was only allowed one lens that might be it. I have seen some comparisons of the two 12-60 lenses in the past where it seems that the biggest difference kicks in at the longer focal lengths. If you have (had) both lenses perhaps you could compare them?
Hi Joe, I hope you try out some bird photography. It definitely takes a bit of time to get into the groove, but once you do, it's quite rewarding. Sadly I don't have access to the consumer version of the 12-60mm lens, but if that changes I'll definitely do a comparison. Thanks for watching and for leaving your thoughtful comments. Cheers!
I have a Question regarding the half press, first of all I get a enlarged view then it will go to a normal view, it just started doing this I’m puzzled. Any thoughts ? Thanks.
Thanks for your kind video, please could advise me which Lens is very nice for Lumix camera G9, I have one and Iam confused which one to bur for taking portrait Pictures.
Wow, great video, just subscribed, your work is awesome. I am a big birder, I shoot Nikon and Olympus. I keep investigating the G9, do you think it’s still a good way to go in 2022?
Hi Steve! Thanks for stopping by. If your current gear isn't working for you, and it's only birding you're interested in, then I'd look at Sony as well. I've heard from many others that it's a great system for birding, but I've not tested any of their gear myself. Bottom line, Sony is out of my price range and I'm not interested in Full Frame anything as I'm at the end of my photography career. I got the Lumix G9 for skateboard photography and my RUclips videos, and the birding happened by accident when I got the 100-300mm lens last year. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven thanks for the reply, I too am getting near the end of chasing the latest and greatest gear, my main concern is to reduce the weight, while still retaining good quality. The main reason I looked at and purchased Olympus was to get lighter. It just seems that maybe LUMIX might be better suited for birding and at a more favorable price point. At 68, I am more looking to simplify!
I can't seem to get sharp pictures. Using gh5 and 100-300 mkII. Even when shooting handheld at ISO 200 F7.3 shutter around 1000 for stationary sitting birds. When I take 7 pictures of the same sitting pigeon one will come out okeish sharp, re focusing in between the shots or shooting small bursts. I really don't know what I am doing wrong or if its the cameras or lenses problem 😐
I'm not familiar with the GH5 but I expect it has similar focus settings. However it may not have the bird/animal detection. What focus settings are you using? AFS with Multi pattern? Try pinpoint focus with AFS and see if that helps. Also try shooting a stationary object instead of a bird to get some practice. Don't give up!
@@ImageMaven I used afs with a small box to just grab the bird and nothing else. F7.3 should be plenty enough dof to get the whole bird sharp. The pigeon wasn't moving at all that's why I tried to get it. I tested it with some branches with small needles on them aswell. Similar bad results. Its wierd because when I look through the viewfinder the subject looks decent sharp but as soon as I take the picture its back to blurry. And I don't have shaky hands especially with Ibis this shouldnt be a problem. I tried many combinations of af and af settings, backbutton af too. I mean sure I was zooming into the picture x2 and x4 to check the sharpness and contrast but I couldn't manage to get much detail in the feathers. A pictures zoomed in 4 times should still show details since the gh5 has 20 megapixels. I am talking about jpegs, didn't even bother to check the files on the computer.
Well you should always check on the computer because it could be your LCD. Also does this problem happen with all your lenses? That would give you clues as to what's going on. Also if you're viewing through the EVF, could be the diopter is spun out of focus.
Hi Tom, Page 96 in the pdf owners manual (linked in the video description) has all the conditions when Pinpoint doesn't apply, such as when shooting video, shooting 4K/6K photos, and AFF/AFC.
Hi Marlene, your photos look really clear. Using the same kit, G9 and 100-300, I seem to be getting too much noise in my images. Not using a high ISO and normally on a tripod too. Do you get noise and perhaps process it out?
Hi Colin, In very low light I get noise if I’m at 6400 ISO or higher. But on a sunny day no noticeable noise if 3200 ISO or less. On a sunny day I’m likely to be at ISO 200 or 400. But sometimes with ultra fast shutter speed and in a treed area I might have to bump it up. Noise is definitely something I try to avoid. You can remove some noise in software but the trade off is softer images overall. Having said that there is some software for raw files that does a great job on noise but since I don’t shoot raw files, I don’t use it. And sadly the name of that software escapes me at the moment 😬. If I think of it I’ll write another comment. Thank you for watching and for your question.
Very interesting to hear. I made very similar experiences. You enjoy the photos and over time the good ones are surpassed by better ones and suddenly you don't keep all of them. After the firmware update, the rate of better photos increased. But it is always anew trying out of the best camera settings. I use the 100-400mm from Panasonic, sometimes with extended telephoto range. I would much rather have the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm on my G9. What do you think about this combination? Would that be worth a test?
Wonderful intro to Birding, thanks. I have the G9 and your video footage is beautiful as well as the stills. It once again proves the amazing capabilities of the G9 and Panasonic MFT.
Glad you enjoyed it Keith. In good light it's easy to take great photos, even with the cell phone. But of course we push these cameras to formerly unusable, un-shootable conditions. I was out birding yesterday, and just that extra bit of spring light made everything so much easier, and the results were so much better due to lower ISO and faster shutter speeds. We sometimes get bogged down with what our cameras can't do. I'm glad you're looking on the bright side! Enjoy your journey.
This is a super-entertaining video, not just for the terrific shots and footage of the wildlife, but for the enthusiastic and personal account of discovering what looks like an extremely rewarding hobby. From the sheer number of examples, it is clear that you are always aware of shooting opportunities and how to integrate those into your practice. Thank you for sharing your path and process.
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, that's exactly it. A personal and rewarding hobby. Every outing is like a treasure hunt. I haven't had too many finds lately. Hoping with spring approaching, that changes. Cheers!
Wonderful video Marlene! You're totally right, birding is meditation. I was severely depressed in college when one of my ornithologist friends invited me to go birdwatching. I'm also a biology student like him, but my focus was more on aquatic invertebrates, so birding was pretty new to me. He shared with me his binoculars, took my under-exercised depressed butt outdoor to a national park, and... wow. Birding became a lifelong passion for me, and it was Instrumental in helping me overcome depression.
Very kind of you to share your story Kha. Thank you so much. I still go out birding 3-4 times a week and it keeps me balanced. My photos aren't always spectacular, but that doesn't really matter as it takes my mind of the stresses of my life. Cheers and happy birding!
@@ImageMaven thank you!! And from your review, I'll start saving up for this lens and one of the entry to mid-price Olympus MFT bodies. Right now all I have is my Canon SX430 and my binoculars, but you're right, birding is less about the photos and more about being out there and witnessing these incredible animals, so until I can upgrade to micro 4/3, this is enough for me. Cheers!
I've been fascinated by birds for over 50 years, it's the most rewarding of hobbies
Agreed John! Every time I go out birding, is like a treasure hunt.
A very inspiring story. Thanks for sharing. A big LIKE for the video. Greetings from Singapore birder. 👍🔔
Glad to hear this. And a big LIKE to you for watching.
I’m so pleased you are hooked on birding photography, great photos. It looks like you have a great variety there. Like you I find it very meditative. For various reasons I’ve not been out there for a few weeks and have started to feel quite low, your video is the kick start I need to grab my camera and get out there, thank you 👍📷🦉
Hi Sue, You have been very encouraging along my birding journey, with your comments on my videos. I hope you get a chance to get out birding soon, and that it will lift your spirits. Hugs.
Birding is very meditative. I upgraded to the 100-400 Leica for birds. Soon the Snow Geese and the Tundra swan will show up by the thousands here in eastern NC for a few months which is a blast to watch non stop. Glad you're enjoying it. And as a sienote, you will LOVe that 12-60 2.8. Its a wonderful lens for many options. Thanks for all of your G9 videos. You help sell me on going with this camera.
Ooh, now lovely. I can't wait for the migrating birds to fly through on their way south. We are definitely in a dry spell right now, as many have left my area of the continent. So I thought it would be a good time for some reflection on my craft. Enjoy your large birds! Thank you for stopping to chat.
Hi Marlene this was the reason why I bought a g9 with 100-400 lens and living in the west coast of Scotland iam not short of birds and wildlife keep up the good work your pictures look amazing.
Sounds wonderful David. Any coastal location is usually great for birding. I am heading to the east coast of Canada soon, and I hope I get to see some new and interesting species. Thank you for watching.
I too, like to photograph birds. I love the way you see the world, always with the curiosity and wonder of a child. Animals have this magic power over folks like us.
Thank you for stopping by to have a look and leave me a lovely comment. Cheers.
An inspiring video! I learned a lot about birding, something I never thought I could be interested in. I have a newfound appreciation for it, and why folk can find it addicting. Big birding community here in Seattle, now I know why!
Glad you enjoyed it! To be honest, I never thought much of it before I got this lens either. So I'm still quite a newbie. Bodies of water, even small bird baths, definitely attract the birds. You are fortunate to live by the ocean. Hopefully you can get out and try your hand at birding soon. Thanks for watching and leaving your thoughtful comments.
It's a very beautiful bird photo shoot.
Thank you Nakan!
Really enjoyed seeing your story. It's step by step evolution, revealing discovery of what's all around - wright underneath your feet so to speak. Being there = possibility's = surprises. The suns coming up over Mather Lake, I'm facing the water as a Blue Heron fly's over my shoulder with a " swish of it's wings ", my finger pressing the shutter. It skims the water and ascends with a fish - the sun highlighting the scene for me & the camera. Click click. Magical ! I'll look forward to your future adventures.
Hi Ray, thank you for sharing your story as well. Sounds like a peaceful moment. Cheers.
Thanks Marlene
Thank you very much Jack!
Just listening to you brings peace of mind. I love the philosophy of this video. Let alone the marvelous bird photographs. Congratulations and thank you for this. I am presently waiting for the Lumix G9 I have just bought, hope it brings me the joy it seems to bring you.
Great video Marlene and thanks for sharing. I've always enjoyed taking photo's but never had a "niche" until I discovered bird photography a few months ago. I have a Lumix G9 and 100-300 which came to me in a roundabout way (long story) and like yourself, I find peace in being out alone watching and photographing wildlife. I don't even mind if I come back without any images but I always return home feeling energised.
It's great to hear from you Marcus. Thank you for sharing. I agree, even if we don't get anything spectacular every time we go out, it's still great to be out in nature. My photos are just for me, and I don't have to show anyone if I don't want to. So it's very relaxing. And with that in mind I don't need the longest or the fastest lens out there either. Cheers! And happy birding to you!
Very inspiring and intriguing story of your bird photography journey. I can relate to everything you shared. Birding and bird photography is a form of meditation for me as well, it's the purest form of zen that I can describe. It took us many years for our birding passion to evolve - my mother is an avid birder with an impressive life list who shared her love of birding with us. Adding the element of learning bird photography was a turning point for me several years ago. Congrats on your new camera lens - I look forward to hearing all about it! Thank you Marlene, Happy Birding! -Jody
Hi Jody, so nice to hear about your journey. Purest form of zen - how true. Thank you for sharing.
honestly, if i get anywhere near the quality of your photos, i'll be very happy. super clear, bright and detailed. 🙌📸
Practice practice practice! You will get there. 👌
Nice, thanks for sharing this journey
My pleasure. Thank you for watching.
Thanks Marlene for this intro to bird photography. The lens looks like a great buy.
My pleasure! I really pushed the 100-300mm as much as I could. Totally new type of photography for me too. Cheers!
INSPIRING! Your videos are always informative and help develop our skills using our cameras. Anytime I Google for information about a way to use a function on my Lumix G9, you always show up with a guide to point me in the right direction. This video really steps beyond the technical guide to demonstrate how you can make photography a meaningful part of your life. You are inspiring!
Awesome, thank you Jason. Yes, this video is a departure from my usual technical style of teaching. And I'm really happy that it resonated with you as well. Cheers.
Another great Marlene vblog addition 👏 Keep up the excellent work.
I haven't taken my new Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens off my G9 since I bought it a few weeks ago and sold my 100-300v2. The 100-400 has far better IQ and yields better stabilization with the G9 but it also weighs almost double the 100-300 which isn't great. I have found the Panasonic Leica lenses I own, 8-18, 12-60 and now 100-400, are much better than the regular Panasonic lenses. They should be given how much more they cost.
Hi Marko, Sounds like a great upgrade for you. You have a fantastic kit of gear there. One of these days I'll try out the 100-400mm. But first I need to get my rotator cuff healed up. I've had issues with both shoulders, so I may never be able to hold that big lens for long periods of time. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the lens, and for watching. I look forward to getting to know the 12-60mm soon. Cheers!
I stumbled across your video researching the Lumix 100-300mm. I have a G9 that came with a 12 - 60mm at a very reduced price here in Australia, I think they were trying to clear stock to make way for the G9 II. Anyway we have a whale migration here at Shellharbour in Australia every year from September to November and they can come very close to rocky headlands. I do have have a Full Frame Nikon, but any telephoto for that camera is a ridiculous price. Looks like the 100-300mm could be what I need, the Leica 100-400mm is out of my $$ range. So thanks for your video. Should note I live 2 mins walk from salt water lake so lots of water birds too !
Ooh nice location. I think that combo is perfect for whales. And you will no doubt be inspired to get some bird photos too. Enjoy!
Thanks, Marlene, for sharing your journey with us; inspirational!.Here in Oz we have totally different breeds, except the pelicans which we have all year round, along our coast. I was particularly interested in seeing you had so many small birds. I have purchased the 100-400mm Leica as it had just a bit extra reach and I'm just learning to use it. I too have the 12-60mm lens you have just purchased and I'm looking forward to seeing how you use it; it is my 'go to' lens; the lens that stays on my G9 except when I am 'birding'. Thanks as always.
Mike in Oz
You are very fortunate because you have many more colourful birds in Oz. I was going to slip a couple parrot photos from my trip to Oz a few years back. But that was pre-Lumix. I was also very intrigued by all the cockatoos in Sydney are area. People keep them in cages here :( Sad to see.
I'm heading to a coastal region of Canada tomorrow for a short break so I will be testing out the 12-60mm properly. It is replacing my old broken 12-35mm. Great to hear from you as always, Mike! Cheers!
Since I got into photography roughly 7 months ago and heavy into bird photography, I'm absolutely amazed at how many different species I've encountered just in my backyard! So much fun!
Me too Martin! Especially during the migration seasons. Thanks for checking out my video.
Really enjoyed this video, and agree totally that combining walking and birding, with the aid of a camera and the Merlin app, becomes a meditation.
Yes, and I still feel this way every time I go out birding. Happy meditating to you!
I am tempted to get this lens even though I just had my 92nd birthday and mobility is a big issue! But.....we'll see!
Good for you!! So awesome. If you can park yourself near a bird bath or feeder, duck pond, it's fun to watch. You might not even need this long lens for that scenario. On a good note, it's not that heavy.
Hi Marlene...What a wonderful story. Especially your remarks on going on a photo walk. For me it has always been like being in a cocoon of happiness and a meditation at the same time. All alone like being in the womb again. And as you said...always on your own, to be as focussed as possible. I own the Pannie 45-175, but maybe I should try the 100-300 as well. Thank you for your great philosophical and humble story👏🍀
I love that Gerie - a cocoon of happiness and meditation. That describes it perfectly. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Cheers.
Such great photos! I am in awe and not a little envious. I think I need to escape my family more often and take those walks in the Valley.
Yes you do Karin! It’s good for the soul. Great to see you here.
I have been following your channel for years and by far this is the best one you've ever done!
How very kind of you to say Douglass. Thank you.
. Last week I went to Frank Lake, in the area I got some Photo’s of a Chukar, what a wonderful colourful Bird. I was so surprised and thrilled, I had never seen one before. It made up for the lack of Birds at Frank Lake. I did get a long hike in though,lol.
Very cool! I've never seen one of those. They are pretty and pretty rare too! I hear you about Frank Lake. The last time I was there, about the only thing I saw were gulls and a skunk. LOL. It's better viewing in the spring.
@@ImageMaven . Very nice Photo’s, I just reset my Camera Settings and it corrected the issue, so all is well.
@@ImageMaven . I miss a lot by not using Video, Iv’e alway just shoot stills, your video’s are very sharp.
I have more news about your Chukar from a birding friends.... They are bred here and released to be hunted. Sometimes a few escape. They are more common in the Okanagan. So you might want to lie low if you see any, just in case you get a load of buckshot in your backside. 😉
Those are some great photos, i bird as well. Just bought this lens as well, Fun.
Good choice! It works for me! Happy birding. Should be getting interesting again with the fall migration. Hopefully you have some good species coming through.
Great video! Loved all the birds, you've captured quite the range. Photo quality was impressive, the G9 is certainly up to the task. I totally agree with you about the meditative aspects of photography. It cultivates a wonderful sense of mindfulness where you get out of your head and into the environment. I always carry a camera with me when I go on exercise walks. And lastly, I have the Leica 12-60 too. It rarely comes off my G9. I am looking forward to seeing your videos using it.
Hi Steven, Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comments. Yes, that Leica 12-60 was in a kit with the G9 at one point, and at the time I had the 12-35mm so I didn't think I needed it. But I broke the zoom collar on my lens several months ago, so it can't be used outdoors very safely anymore. It's a perfect range for travel. I leave for short trip to the furthermost eastern part of North America in about 15 hours, so I will have new photo walks to test it out on! Take care and thank you for watching. ~M
Thanks!
Wow, thank you John!!!
Lovely post - great shots and really nice birds. That is a good lens, nice and light and good performance, amazing for the price in fact.
Thanks Steve. Yes this lens is great value, especially for the casual birder and someone who doesn't want a super heavy gear bag. I love it!
Thank you for this video. I feel the same, birdwatching is very relaxed and a good meditation to make free your head.
I use the the G9 with the lumix-leica 100400 lens and I'am very happy with it. But for fast and little birds in flight I often go not futher than 200mm, to be able to catch them quick in flight.
Every tip shared is welcomed around here. Thank you. Sounds like you have found your birding zen too. Cheers!
Yes, the 12-60 is perfect for travel. I spent about a month in Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Finland, and Paris. I don't think the lens came off the camera during the trip. A very good lenses.
Wonderful. I recently purchased this same lens as an introduction to wildlife photography. Thanks for your inspiration.
Hi Keith, I love the 100-300mm, but having said that, I also purchased the 100-400 earlier this year after renting it for a weekend. It's heavy, more expensive and has a stiff zoom ring, but I do love that extra 100mm reach. But if the 100-300 works for you, then enjoy it. It's a great lens for the price, and at 600mm equivalent, much more reach than the average person has. Cheers!
Thanks Marlene : Thanks for sharing your explorations with birds. I am thinking of getting a camera as well as I love birding.
Great to hear this. A camera or nice binoculars will do the trick. Finding birds is the challenging part. Enjoy!
The conclusion is: wild nature is great and beautiful!
Yes it sure is. I'm happy to tune into it as much as I can.
I really enjoyed your story about how you became a birder. It looks like you live in an area that has a lot of birds, a lot of species. And you have some great shots!
Glad you enjoyed it Lucie. I didn't think there were a lot of species around here until I started paying attention. Hopefully you can find some nice birds in your location too. Thank you for watching.
Marlene, this was a really nice video. You pretty much summed up what I like to do on my photo-walks and the experience of just getting out there. I thought you had many nice images but the baby sparrow images and the hovering tern were outstanding. I know you've had your doubts about the G9 for birding but I'd love to hear more about your experiences with the 2.4 firmware and birds flying straight towards your camera. I hope to see more of your "surprises" on future videos.
Hi Bruce, That tern image is my favourite of the year so far. Very challenging to capture those birds in flight. Thankfully they hover for a few seconds. I did get some slower birds, like hawks flying towards me. I had the most success with the tracking focus on AFC, and the Animal/Bird setting. But to be honest, anything flying fast was super hard to capture in focus, let alone keep in the frame. I spent many hours at the river with the gulls trying to get the perfect shots, but it's nearly impossible with them darting all over. I will keep trying though. Thanks for watching and for your comments. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven I think gulls make excellent tracking practice for a birder. I hope to rent a G9 and 100-400mm lens in the near future. My hope is it will provide a good enough alternative to the very expensive new eye-track cameras and lenses from Canon and Sony, as well as a bit of a weight savings. Both would be a selling point. My Lumix FZ1000 Leica twin does a surprisingly good job for birding but only reaches 800mm in its digital range. An optical 800mm reach and larger sensor would be useful in a world that often sees me using my Canon SX60 to stretch out to 2,000mm's to fill the frame with the often skittish birds along the Florida panhandle.
I'd love to test out a Sony at some point. Just to compare. There's no way I can afford it, and well, I'm a casual birder. But if I lived on a coastline, I would likely feel different. Cheers and let me know how it goes.
completely agree
Thanks, Marlene. My experience has been about the same. A little slower to evolve than yours, but I use the same equipment (G9 + 100-300). The Merlin app has been an amazing adjunct to the discovery. Can't wait to hear your opinion of the new lens.
Wonderful! Aren't you happy it's not a race! Yes, I do love my Merlin App. Cheers and happy birding.
Nice ending!😊 Used to own that lens too! Enjoy!
I love that lens. Perfect for a casual birder like myself. Thank you for watching!
Another great video, I am also loving my bird photography, my thoughts practically mirror yours. I took the plunge and got the same lens as you, it’s has been a joy to use. I also have the 12-60 which is a fantastic lens. I look forward to your review. Keep up the great work, I love watching your content and I always learn something new. Best wishes from London (UK not Canada!) lou
Hi Lou, That’s fantastic. I am hearing from a lot of folks with the same or similar gear and experiences since publishing this video. Cheers!
This is a great video. I got the Lumix 100-300mm for my G9 for birding too. The lens is sharp and weather sealed. It's Lens IS combined with the G9's IBIS really work great.
Glad you like the video. Thank you for watching. Yes, I am very pleased with this lens and the results I'm able to get. Glad you like it too!
Very Nice video and superb snaps of Birds....Interesting to find someone echoing my thoughts on Birding-1.Expect the unexpected 2.Accept the inevitable 3.Live in the present moment 4.Take it as it comes 5.Enjoy being out there whether we got the snaps or not...I have a G85 with the 100-300 mm Version II Lens...I do feel the need for a longer reach (100-400mm ) so that i may not have to crop to get a closer look at small birds...yes, it is indeed akin to meditation .
Many thanks Ravi! I have a feeling if you get the 100-400 lens you may also be tempted to get a larger camera body like the G9. I'm okay with the 100-300mm for now. And I have my new 12-60mm lens to play with now too. Let me know what you decide! Cheers!
It is nice to see you active in this segment of photography, pl. share the the camera setting you use for your wonderful phorographs.
Thanks Prashant. I have shared settings in all of my previous birding videos. I wanted this one to be distraction-free.
The images are so attractive. Thanks for the video.
Glad you like them! Thank you for watching.
Keep up the great work on birding.
That's the plan! Thanks for watching!
Inspired once again, thank you so much for the insight and direction.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for letting me know.
looking forward to your review of your new lens. The Lumix version came with mine, curious to see the advantages of that one. I love your bird pictures.
I'm super excited to test it out. Thanks for watching my birding video. Cheers!
Bird photography is sure difficult and you get far better results than me. Your pictures are gorgeous.
btw The 12-60 Leica is an excellent lens. Got my best shots with it. Looking forward for your next vdeo.
Keep working on it Laurent! You will get there. I can’t wait to get shooting seriously with the 12-60mm. Thank you for watching and commenting. Cheers.
Welp, you just sold me on this lens and hobby. Good thing I'm made of money. :p
Thanks! :)
Careful, it’s addictive 😉
beautiful video. please continue making content on this subject as you have so many good insights to share. I just upgraded from an FZ150 to a GH5 with the 100-300mm (mk1 for now) and I'm so excited to get into real wildlife photography.
Thank you Steve. Many of my latest videos use birding and animal photos as examples. So hopefully you can glean some insight into the similar GH5 settings as well. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven Thanks. I have been watching them and taking notes. I'd love it if you could make a video with a separate camera taking video of what you're doing when you are taking good shots, how you pick places to go, how you are holding the camera and so on.
Many thanks for share you experience. Great episode!!
I do have the 12-60, love video on 1080, digital zoom 2x. It’s amazing at 240 mm !!(35 mm equiv)
Thanks for the info! I always forget about that 2x zoom. I look forward to testing out the lens soon. Cheers!
If you haven't already found this RUclips channel, you should check out Duade Paton's channel. He is an accomplished bird photographer and his videos are very informative and entertaining. I greatly enjoyed hearing how bird photography is a form of meditation for you. All the best to you.
Will do. Thanks for watching and for the tip about Duade. Best wishes to you as well.
I've always been a believer in Auto focus when trying to photograph moving objects especially that of the feathered friends around us... just one less fiddling with the lens. My
Also, you mentioned that you just picked up a leica lens... Nice but I didn't know that leica made DSLR lenses. I always thought Leica made their own (lenses) to suite their own equipment brand.
Great video too!! 👍
As it happens Leica makes lenses for Lumix cameras, and probably others as well. I have a couple of them! Very nice lenses. Thanks for watching!
I'm also using the g9 for bird photography. My lens choice slightly differs from yours but I'm using the Leica 100-400mm. Great photos and those owls are adorable. I'm finding that with my 100-400mm and the Leica 12-60, it covers 99% of my focal length uses.
Good choice Karl. It's a perfect combo of focal lengths for most subjects.
@@ImageMaven I think my next lens will be the 8-18mm Leica.
Thank you for the inspiration.
You are so welcome, Kathy.
I find your videos very informative. I have a G80 and 100-300mm, and I have some nice pictures but noting like the catalogue you have. Thinking about adding the Leica 100-400mm for another 33% zoom, but also the G9 for the superior camera. I was tempted by DSLR for the bigger sensor and image quality, but the weight is a concern. It's hard to understand if APSC is worth it compared to staying with the system I already know. ATB MMMD
Glad you like them! Yes it’s a big decision and bigger investment to change camera brands or formats. I do love my 100-400mm. No regrets buying it but it is heavy compared to the 100-300mm. If you can rent or borrow gear you’re thinking about prior to purchase, I would go that route. That’s what I did with the 100-400mm. Lumix has some new gear on the market so that might be something to consider as well, especially if you’re loyal to the brand. And if you’re a long term bird and wildlife shooter, that might work for you. In any case you have some thinking to do! Enjoy your research. Thanks for stopping by. 😊
@@ImageMaven Many thanks
Thanks for the video. The photos are beautifull. Nice colors and very sharp. Did you shoot all photos in JPEG en got it right out of the camera?
All of them are indeed jpgs. Yes, they are edited a bit in Lightroom, but nothing major. And they are cropped to fit the video frame proportions.
Thanks again Marlene, Noticed that at 6:30 of your video, the chickadee has a band on it's leg. On some of your photos, you may be able to blow them up and get a number from the band and find out more about that little chickadee. Was wondering if you were on high burst when you got the chickadee eating the ant?
Hi Lloyd, I tried looking at the band on that chickadee right after I shot those, but just couldn't get a number. I even looked at other photos from that same bird. As far as the bird + ant photos, they were on High Speed Burst (H), not the SH1, or SH2 modes. By the way, I didn't realize that chickadee was going after that ant until I got home and looked at my photos on the computer! I'm pretty stoked on those. Happy accident. Great to hear from you! Cheers.
what an amazingly talented lady behind the camera, and in front of it! you have a david attenborough-like calmness about you, the way you talk. its inspiring and makes me want to tune in more and more. I am in the market for the Lumix G9, coming up from a TZ80/ZS60 (depending where you're form) and i cant wait to start my proper photography journey. thank s to you and these videos, i have just installed the merlin bird app and will be trying to capture as many photos and checking them off the list :)
Wow, thank you for the kind words. You can probably pick up a G9 for cheap these days. But, If you have the budget consider the G9ii which just came out. All the best with your photo adventures. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven you are totally welcome and deserved of the commendation. i have seen a "like new" G9 on MLB (i think) thats based in the UK, and its up for £512. so thats what i am looking to spend, and then maybe some cheapy chinese smaller lenses for general photography, along with the more expensive 100mm - 400mm, or the 45mm - 150mm for birds and wildlife :)
Great kit!
Birds are wonderful to watch, but in the city I have to bribe them with seeds, or they refuse to stay for the photos. Thanks for your views.
I have a bird feeder in my own garden, but the birds are quick there too! I can watch them for hours even without a camera. Cheers!
Hi Marlene thanks for this video! I recall early on how you were disappointed, you said once like "I was out all day and all I saw were some ducks." I got the same lens at more or less the same time but I didn't have birds in mind. But now you feel (and are!) successful this is inspiring for me. 👍 Maybe I will try some more birds...
I have the Lumix 12-60 3.5-5.6 the less expensive one with the same range. My G80/G85 has it on most of the time and if I was only allowed one lens that might be it. I have seen some comparisons of the two 12-60 lenses in the past where it seems that the biggest difference kicks in at the longer focal lengths. If you have (had) both lenses perhaps you could compare them?
Hi Joe, I hope you try out some bird photography. It definitely takes a bit of time to get into the groove, but once you do, it's quite rewarding.
Sadly I don't have access to the consumer version of the 12-60mm lens, but if that changes I'll definitely do a comparison. Thanks for watching and for leaving your thoughtful comments. Cheers!
Can you do a video with the settings and modes used to capture your bird pictures & videos please?
I already have! Look for my previous 5 videos for all that info. I have a playlist with them too!
Hi Marlene! Thank you for your videos!
May i know where you got the red video button? Tried tp search for it for i dunno what to call it! 😅 Thanks!
Hi Shireen, It's called ProDot. You can find it at customslr (dot) com
@@ImageMaven thank u!
I have a Question regarding the half press, first of all I get a enlarged view then it will go to a normal view, it just started doing this I’m puzzled. Any thoughts ? Thanks.
That is the MF assist. Page 3/8 of the tools (under Focus/Release) on the G9. Sounds like you are shooting in Manual focus?
Thanks for your kind video, please could advise me which Lens is very nice for Lumix camera G9, I have one and Iam confused which one to bur for taking portrait Pictures.
Anything from about 40-100mm on a M43 like the Lumix G9 is good for portraits.
Did you get the kit lens with it? 12-60mm. That is good for portraits to start with. It’s a great all-around lens.
Hi Marlene, when you use this lens for Birding or wildlife, do you use a CPL filter?
Hi there. Nope. I don't use any filters at all. I want as much light as possible so I don't want to put anything in between me and the birds.
Wow, great video, just subscribed, your work is awesome. I am a big birder, I shoot Nikon and Olympus. I keep investigating the G9, do you think it’s still a good way to go in 2022?
Hi Steve! Thanks for stopping by. If your current gear isn't working for you, and it's only birding you're interested in, then I'd look at Sony as well. I've heard from many others that it's a great system for birding, but I've not tested any of their gear myself. Bottom line, Sony is out of my price range and I'm not interested in Full Frame anything as I'm at the end of my photography career. I got the Lumix G9 for skateboard photography and my RUclips videos, and the birding happened by accident when I got the 100-300mm lens last year. Cheers!
@@ImageMaven thanks for the reply, I too am getting near the end of chasing the latest and greatest gear, my main concern is to reduce the weight, while still retaining good quality. The main reason I looked at and purchased Olympus was to get lighter. It just seems that maybe LUMIX might be better suited for birding and at a more favorable price point. At 68, I am more looking to simplify!
I can't seem to get sharp pictures. Using gh5 and 100-300 mkII. Even when shooting handheld at ISO 200 F7.3 shutter around 1000 for stationary sitting birds. When I take 7 pictures of the same sitting pigeon one will come out okeish sharp, re focusing in between the shots or shooting small bursts.
I really don't know what I am doing wrong or if its the cameras or lenses problem 😐
I'm not familiar with the GH5 but I expect it has similar focus settings. However it may not have the bird/animal detection. What focus settings are you using? AFS with Multi pattern? Try pinpoint focus with AFS and see if that helps. Also try shooting a stationary object instead of a bird to get some practice. Don't give up!
@@ImageMaven I used afs with a small box to just grab the bird and nothing else. F7.3 should be plenty enough dof to get the whole bird sharp. The pigeon wasn't moving at all that's why I tried to get it. I tested it with some branches with small needles on them aswell. Similar bad results. Its wierd because when I look through the viewfinder the subject looks decent sharp but as soon as I take the picture its back to blurry. And I don't have shaky hands especially with Ibis this shouldnt be a problem. I tried many combinations of af and af settings, backbutton af too. I mean sure I was zooming into the picture x2 and x4 to check the sharpness and contrast but I couldn't manage to get much detail in the feathers. A pictures zoomed in 4 times should still show details since the gh5 has 20 megapixels.
I am talking about jpegs, didn't even bother to check the files on the computer.
Well you should always check on the computer because it could be your LCD. Also does this problem happen with all your lenses? That would give you clues as to what's going on. Also if you're viewing through the EVF, could be the diopter is spun out of focus.
Why can’t I set pinpoint autoFocus it is greyed out?
Hi Tom, Page 96 in the pdf owners manual (linked in the video description) has all the conditions when Pinpoint doesn't apply, such as when shooting video, shooting 4K/6K photos, and AFF/AFC.
@@ImageMaven Thank you so much Marlene. I really appreciate it. 😍👍
Hi Marlene, your photos look really clear. Using the same kit, G9 and 100-300, I seem to be getting too much noise in my images. Not using a high ISO and normally on a tripod too. Do you get noise and perhaps process it out?
Hi Colin, In very low light I get noise if I’m at 6400 ISO or higher. But on a sunny day no noticeable noise if 3200 ISO or less. On a sunny day I’m likely to be at ISO 200 or 400. But sometimes with ultra fast shutter speed and in a treed area I might have to bump it up. Noise is definitely something I try to avoid. You can remove some noise in software but the trade off is softer images overall. Having said that there is some software for raw files that does a great job on noise but since I don’t shoot raw files, I don’t use it. And sadly the name of that software escapes me at the moment 😬. If I think of it I’ll write another comment. Thank you for watching and for your question.
Muito bom!
Very interesting to hear. I made very similar experiences. You enjoy the photos and over time the good ones are surpassed by better ones and suddenly you don't keep all of them. After the firmware update, the rate of better photos increased. But it is always anew trying out of the best camera settings. I use the 100-400mm from Panasonic, sometimes with extended telephoto range. I would much rather have the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm on my G9. What do you think about this combination? Would that be worth a test?
Hello Heini, Any combo is worth a test! Especially if it's your favourite lens. Have fun with it. Hope you are happy with your results.
Wonderful intro to Birding, thanks. I have the G9 and your video footage is beautiful as well as the stills. It once again proves the amazing capabilities of the G9 and Panasonic MFT.
Glad you enjoyed it Keith. In good light it's easy to take great photos, even with the cell phone. But of course we push these cameras to formerly unusable, un-shootable conditions. I was out birding yesterday, and just that extra bit of spring light made everything so much easier, and the results were so much better due to lower ISO and faster shutter speeds. We sometimes get bogged down with what our cameras can't do. I'm glad you're looking on the bright side! Enjoy your journey.