Hummingbird Photo Using a Nikon 55-300 VR

MystrE · Jul 10, 2014

It's been awhile since I've been able to post anything but I've got some post surgery time off from work to play around with my Nikon D5100 and it's lenses. I sat outside on the patio this afternoon and managed to capture this shot of a hummingbird using my Nikon 55-300 VR lens. It's a challenge but it's one I'm enjoying trying to squeeze the best I can out of this lens given it's slower focusing traits. I took this one using RAW, ISO 800, fully manual mode, F8, center spot metering, single point 3D focusing, and 1/1250 second exposure. The lens was set at around 250mm focal length. Minimal processing in Raw was done using IPhoto. In the past, I've used a Canon G12 and Nikon P7700 to try and photograph these beautiful, but speedy birds so this is a new experience for me with this camera. Any comments are welcome.

greybeard · Jul 11, 2014

baturn · Jul 11, 2014

Very nice! I've been trying to catch the little blighters using off camera flash. Do you think they will ever hover where the flash is pointed?

Derrel · Jul 11, 2014

Pretty good result. Made a nice picture--AND right in your own yard too, so it has more meaning!

MystrE · Jul 11, 2014

Here is another shot of the same hummer as it flitted about from flower pot to flower pot. It totally ignored the feeders I have set up on the patio. If there was a way to work around the Nikon D5100's slow max flash sync speed, I sure would love to know. I could flash sync at 1/2000 of a second with the Nikon P7700 I used to have... that froze the wings really nicely if that's what I wanted to accomplish.
I don't know what hinders me more, hoping my 55-300 zoom captures focus quick enough, getting the camera's settings reasonably right, or this confounded cervical neck brace I'm forced to wear for a few weeks.