This could have been my best Red Tail Hawk shot ...

[BillM]

... but the stupid controls on the 7100 rolled off of Manual and into the next setting. It does this at least once on every walk. So instead of a beautiful Red Tail flying right at me within 35 feet right at eye level i get this. I swear I could see him laughing at me while I was trying to get a shot off

I really wish they would come out with a DX body with D800 controls.

 

[coastalconn]

Is your lock switch broken? I'm not a fan of the dial either, but mine doesn't move unless you press the button on top down. Nikon came out with a DX body with the D800 layout about 7 years ago.. it's called the D300

 

[BillM]

Good point on the 300 Kris, I think the way it hangs at my side it can hit that button just enough to allow the dial to roll off of manual. I had the same thing happen a few times when i was using a D600 too. I think I'll spend some time today adjusting my strap, i have it in a nice comfortable position for walking but if it going to prevent me from getting shots something will have to change.

 

[Braineack]

Weird. I have trouble trying to move the dial due to the lock button on the top...

 

[BillM]

I shortened the strap by 3 inches and walked 4 miles today and it didn't happen once. Not as comfortable as it hanging at my hip but i'll just have to get used to it. Signs of life are picking up but I didn't get any good shots. I saw my first Hoodie an Eastern Bluebird and a few Swans and Harriers. And now the cold weather is coming back





And another bad picture, no idea what it is but I had fun following it around for awhile today.

 

[sm4him]

I may be about to really show my ignorance, but...lock switch??? If my D7000 has that feature, that would keep the dial set on Manual unless I *mean* to change it to A or S or U1 or U2, that would be awesome. Mine constantly ends up getting switched, usually either to A or U1, while I'm walking and suddenly, I try to shoot with it and just get CR*P. The first time it happened, it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure it out; I thought the thing had broken.

Those last two shots are pretty nice. The last one is a Shrike, by the way. Northern Shrike, I'd guess. Shrikes are still on my list of birds I haven't found yet.

 

[BillM]

There is a little button on the top you have to push down to turn the dial and there is a small chance that the way I was resting my thumb on the button :blushing:

And thanks for the identification, I just looked it up and I'm sure that's it :thumbup:

And to round out the trifecta of bad shots here is the bluebird. It just wasn't my day lol