Craig Miller - Blogography » 40D http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:36:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 New Toys http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/new-toys/ http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/new-toys/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 09:20:26 +0000 Craig Miller http://craig.miller.org.au/blog/?p=288 Well, just as I warned last night I have some news…

Today 9:15am the courier arrived to my shop with a nice box of brand new equiptment, Canon EOS 50D and a BG-E2N Grip. I’ve been reading a LOT over the last few weeks and this camera is by far the best ‘bang for your buck’ on the market right now in my opinion at least.

Specs;

  • 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • 6.3fps continuous shooting, max. burst 90 JPEGs with UDMA card
  • DIGIC 4 processor
  • ISO 100-3200, expandable to 12800
  • 9-point wide area AF
  • 3.0” Clear View VGA LCD with Live View mode & Face Detection Live AF
  • Magnesium alloy body, with environmental protection
  • EOS Integrated Cleaning System
  • HDMI connection for high quality viewing and playback on a High Definition TV
  • Full compatibility with Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D


So, I realise a lot of you will be asking why go from a 40D to a 50D they’re not THAT different.. Well, you’re wrong, they are! Firstly 15.1mp + Digic4 is a massive improvement alone, then there is the upgrade in the preview screen as well as the lens focus correction just to name a few.

I’m heading out shooting robins this weekend so stay tuned for some sample images and a more in depth review.

Craig.

]]> http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/new-toys/feed/ 6 A Beautiful Afternoon http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/a-beautiful-afternoon/ http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/a-beautiful-afternoon/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 09:47:28 +0000 Craig Miller http://craig.miller.org.au/blog/?p=280 Hello again.. Two entries in as many week, aren’t you all spoiled!

After being stuck inside almost the whole week with pouring rain and just all round miserable weather I spotted a glimpse of sunlight though the clouds this afternoon so I grabbed my camera and was on my way. Seeing the weather had been so horrid I wasn’t to keen on heading too far from home in case the heavens opened up again (chances were high) so Kings Tablelands it was seeing it’s about a 5 minute drive from home. :)

Beautiful Firetail

Beautiful Firetail

I’ve been trying for some time now to get myself a good photograph of Beautiful Firetail (Stagonopleura bella) and a good friend of mine let me in on a very good location for them not so long ago. I’ve been there a few times but always found myself interrupted by something be it traffic, people or people walking their dogs (off the lead arrggg) so today’s bad weather gave me some peace and quiet to get ‘the’ shot!

Not long after getting setup in the wet heath my little friends arrived and to my surprise they were quite happy to sit right on the edge of the heath in plain view for me, so I happily snapped away form my natual hide. After a few minutes they were on their way and I could hear Gang Gangs calling form the other side of the valley but their a whole nother story.

I have attached a photo of my Beautiful friend and more can be found in my gallery.

That’s about all I have for now though in the next few days I have some news that I just can’t write about tonight so stay tuned!

Craig.

]]> http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/a-beautiful-afternoon/feed/ 2 Cold Lithgow Outing! http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/cold-lithgow-outing/ http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/cold-lithgow-outing/#comments Sat, 16 May 2009 10:15:37 +0000 Craig Miller http://craig.miller.org.au/blog/?p=237 Hello again to all my loyal followers…

This afternoon I decided it was time to escape the house as I’ve been cooped up inside for the past 3 days sick with a shocking head cold.

The weather was against me no matter where I went, so I thought why not pay Lake Wallace (Wallerawang) a visit, after all it’s been a long time since I was there and I knew of a few interesting species worthy of a photo or two up that way. To make it better it’s only about a half hour drive there from home!!

So, as I drive into Lithgow the weather just gets worse and WORSE, at one point it was raining so heavy my wipers couldn’t keep the winscreen clear and I thought about pulling over. I stopped off at McDonalds for a quick coffee and continued on to the lake. As soon as I pulled up there were a number of Australian White Ibis, White-faced Heron, Australasian Grebe, Black-faced Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant as well as a Musk Duck or two.

I spent roughly three hours around the western bank of the lake, well worth the trip as I managed a few quite nice image for the afternon (see gallery) with a total of 21 species recorded in that time.

I’ll leave you with a photo of todays star; Musk Duck.
musk_duck_blog

]]> http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/05/cold-lithgow-outing/feed/ 2 CANON – IS/NON IS Comparison http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/04/isnon-is-comparison/ http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/04/isnon-is-comparison/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:33:23 +0000 Craig Miller http://craig.miller.org.au/blog/?p=217 I have conducted a a simple test to compare a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens versus the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM and 1.4x converter (Canon’s EF L converter) and how the IS (Image Stabilization) technology aids in successful handheld picture taking.

Click here to see comparison;

]]> http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/04/isnon-is-comparison/feed/ 1 A Good Friday! http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/04/a-good-friday/ http://www.craig.mill3r.info/blog/2009/04/a-good-friday/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:05:54 +0000 Craig Miller http://craig.miller.org.au/blog/?p=141 Well, hello… It’s been a while since I had the time to sit and write something here, my apologies to all my fans LOL!

After quite a long rest from birds and photography for me (not by choice) I managed to put aside the time to get out and take a few images today (Good Friday) in the sensational Megalong Valley. This was my first trip so after reading a great deal of info on locations and species I set off from home at 6:30am; thankfully it’s only a 30 minute drive from home.

Six Foot Track at sunrise; A few clouds in the sky added with the amazing scenery to create an absolutely stunning view to start my day, woha I missed this so much!

After a short walk along the track I took a detour along a fence line and only about 20 meters from the main track there to greet me was a male Scarlet Robin YAY! Typical of most robins this fellow was so brave at times I think I could have actually reached out and touched him, his partner was also there but she was not nearly as brave, though I still managed some images.

From there I continued along the fence until I found a small clearing that was full of bird life, in this small area I saw and photographed the following;

Rufous Whistler
Red-Browed Finch
Brown Thornbill
Yellow-Rumped Thornbill
Eastern Yellow Robin (a lot)
Scarlet Robin
Grey Shrike-thrush
Spotted Pardalote
Superb Fairy Wren
Nankeen Kestrel
Galah

And on the way home a Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Not a bad spot ey!

That’s all I have time for right now so I hope you all have a sensational Easter and be safe if you’re travelling on the roads.

Craig.

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