Having spent many, many hours trying to capture dragonflies in flight, I appreciate what you're doing there. It's a serious challenge. To get that many decent shots in just two days is awesome! I have a tracking tip you might want to try: keep both eyes open, with one looking through the viewfinder, and the other on the dragonfly. This takes some getting used to, but saves zooming, reducing the chance of missing the shot. You can close your eye after getting the dragonfly in the frame, and concentrate on the shot. Finding a small, isolated pond can give better photo opportunities, as it concentrates the dragonflies into a tighter arena. In a more confined space, some dragonflies follow a somewhat recurring flight path. If you can identify that, you can intercept one at a suitable point, so it faces the way you want for the shot. Large aperture lenses are best for this. Some allow you to pre-focus at a set distance, which reduces hunting, and helps prevent focusing on reeds. During my last dragonfly excursion, I spent far too long swinging around a behemoth of a lens, and ended up with serious shoulder and neck strain. I swore that after that, I'd use a gimbal mount on a tripod. Haven't tried that since, but I think it's the way to go. It works well for planes.
Thanks Some good tips there, thanks. I think on reason the Southern Migrant Hawker is easier is because it hangs round smaller ponds/ditches, unlike the Emperors favoured larger ponds/lakes! I do look with the other eye, but at 1000mm equivalent its still hard to find the dragonfly, so zooming help does help :)
Nice one Neil. Some people have "all the gear but no idea" whereas you've got all the gear and know how to exploit it's facilities. I'm more of a "some of the gear, and some idea"! 😆 I just need to find more time to get out and get clicking. Cheers mate. 👍
Excellent presentation, I have had very little luck this year. Congratulations on your images they are very good. I use similar technique but set the focus limiter using Menu settings, I also find zooming out then in hells considerably with focus acquisition.
Super shots! I love the hovering slow motion especially. I've lacked the patience to track dragonflies in flight so have very little video unless they are perched. I use a Sony RX10 iv.
RX10 IV is a super camera. Unfortunately, mine went into Loch Bran, with me still attached to it, back in June and so far there's no sign of life from it. I've bought a Lumix FZ82 for this summer's record shots, but I'll need an RX10 before I go away again.
@@cpa2788 Oh no, you feel into the lake with your camera?!! I am in South Carolina so I am not familiar with Loch Bran but I assume it is a body of water.
Brilliant video about this topic and outstanding pictures! Due to budget constraints I just experiment with my Sigma Apo Macro 2.8/150mm + 2 extenders 2x Canon EF Mark II + Mark III. This equals to 600mm focal length and effective aperture 11. The optical quality is IMHO very good stepped down 2 f-stops. Autofocus is not completely impossible but unreliable with my Canon EOS R5, sometimes it's helpful for static subjects. Autofocus for subjects like a dragon fly that somehow changes it's position is IMHO not usable. What I need with my experiment is good sunlight, otherwise I would have to use too high ISO. So at least with this experimental setup, I need no ND filter :-) I think your equipment is really appropriate for this kind of difficult wildlife. Of course every thing comes at a price, this was the advantage of my experiment.
Thanks When I used to shoot with Pentax, I always manual focused for dragonflies in flight, as it was next to useless on closer by moving subjects, even with a F4 lens. In one of the previous videos (in the description) I talk more about this, as I carried on using it on Olympus despite the better Autofocus. Basically Id wobble the focus back and forth to make sure I got some in focus
Incredible detail in your shots. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Thank you!
Having spent many, many hours trying to capture dragonflies in flight, I appreciate what you're doing there. It's a serious challenge. To get that many decent shots in just two days is awesome!
I have a tracking tip you might want to try: keep both eyes open, with one looking through the viewfinder, and the other on the dragonfly. This takes some getting used to, but saves zooming, reducing the chance of missing the shot. You can close your eye after getting the dragonfly in the frame, and concentrate on the shot.
Finding a small, isolated pond can give better photo opportunities, as it concentrates the dragonflies into a tighter arena.
In a more confined space, some dragonflies follow a somewhat recurring flight path. If you can identify that, you can intercept one at a suitable point, so it faces the way you want for the shot.
Large aperture lenses are best for this. Some allow you to pre-focus at a set distance, which reduces hunting, and helps prevent focusing on reeds.
During my last dragonfly excursion, I spent far too long swinging around a behemoth of a lens, and ended up with serious shoulder and neck strain. I swore that after that, I'd use a gimbal mount on a tripod. Haven't tried that since, but I think it's the way to go. It works well for planes.
Thanks
Some good tips there, thanks. I think on reason the Southern Migrant Hawker is easier is because it hangs round smaller ponds/ditches, unlike the Emperors favoured larger ponds/lakes!
I do look with the other eye, but at 1000mm equivalent its still hard to find the dragonfly, so zooming help does help :)
Amazing shots ! That lens must be really interesting to use.
Nice one Neil. Some people have "all the gear but no idea" whereas you've got all the gear and know how to exploit it's facilities. I'm more of a "some of the gear, and some idea"! 😆 I just need to find more time to get out and get clicking. Cheers mate. 👍
Cheers Graham, you are too kind! I do feel like Im getting the hang of this lens, but still need more practice!
Wonderful shots! Thank you for sharing the information! Look forward to more!
Thanks!
Excellent presentation, I have had very little luck this year. Congratulations on your images they are very good. I use similar technique but set the focus limiter using Menu settings, I also find zooming out then in hells considerably with focus acquisition.
Thanks, yes even after a year Im still getting used to the ability to zoom , but its helping in quite a few situations
Just amazing shots of these stunning and fascinating creatures! My tips for getting great shots of them? Give them your number!
haha! And thank you!
Excellent images and video, thoroughly enjoyed the video.
Thank you :)
Great photos and video sequences, especially the slow-motion shots. Thank you for the tips. We will try them next time out 😊
Thanks - hope they work for you :)
Thanks for another interesting video, and great shots
Thank you
Stunning photos!
Cheers!
Beautiful shots!
Thanks
Super shots! I love the hovering slow motion especially. I've lacked the patience to track dragonflies in flight so have very little video unless they are perched. I use a Sony RX10 iv.
RX10 IV is a super camera. Unfortunately, mine went into Loch Bran, with me still attached to it, back in June and so far there's no sign of life from it. I've bought a Lumix FZ82 for this summer's record shots, but I'll need an RX10 before I go away again.
@@cpa2788 Oh no, you feel into the lake with your camera?!! I am in South Carolina so I am not familiar with Loch Bran but I assume it is a body of water.
Brilliant video about this topic and outstanding pictures! Due to budget constraints I just experiment with my Sigma Apo Macro 2.8/150mm + 2 extenders 2x Canon EF Mark II + Mark III. This equals to 600mm focal length and effective aperture 11. The optical quality is IMHO very good stepped down 2 f-stops. Autofocus is not completely impossible but unreliable with my Canon EOS R5, sometimes it's helpful for static subjects. Autofocus for subjects like a dragon fly that somehow changes it's position is IMHO not usable. What I need with my experiment is good sunlight, otherwise I would have to use too high ISO. So at least with this experimental setup, I need no ND filter :-)
I think your equipment is really appropriate for this kind of difficult wildlife. Of course every thing comes at a price, this was the advantage of my experiment.
Thanks
When I used to shoot with Pentax, I always manual focused for dragonflies in flight, as it was next to useless on closer by moving subjects, even with a F4 lens. In one of the previous videos (in the description) I talk more about this, as I carried on using it on Olympus despite the better Autofocus. Basically Id wobble the focus back and forth to make sure I got some in focus
Excellent!
Brilliant
Thank you
WOW!
Thanks!