Bird picture questions

[Alchase]

I have a couple questions for you guys that shoot wildlife especially birds.
I started dabbling in photography recently when I got a great deal on a Canon TXI with a 28 - 200, doubler, for free! 
I added a 18 - 55 for the in house stuff. I have been taking pictures of the birds at my feeders about 20 ft outside my door, but I just can't seem to zoom in enough without getting closer. When I add the doubler I loose my IS at full zoom so I have to focus manually. I suck focusing manually, lol.
My question, is there anything I can do to increase picture quality short of buying a 28 - 200, 2.8 f/s ,
Any setting adjustments? ISO?
I still have allot to learn about F/S, ISO, and how they work together.

 

[grandpawrichard]

Alchase,
No matter what lens you buy, it seems like there is never enough zoom!

Once you take the photo go into your photo editing software and crop the photo to bring him in closer.

I try to shoot at an ISO of 100 for my bird photos and for just about any other photo situation. If the bird is in the shadows I go into the menu on my camera and adjust the exposure up a bit to bring out more colors on the subject. You will loose on the brighter areas of the photo, but I would much rather get the shot of the subject than the surroundings!

I shoot 99% of my photos in TV and let the camera choose the Fstop.

The key to getting bird shots is to just be persistent, Patient and Keep trying. Sooner or later you'll get the shot you want!

A Doubler (or extender) is nice to have and use, but you are right about the Manual Focus! You will also get a softer exposure. It's a trade off.

Dick

[smdave]

Put your camera on a tripod and pre focus on the bird feeder, in a spot the birds normally come to, then shoot when they show up. Crop as needed.

[Snapshot]

My question, is there anything I can do to increase picture quality short of buying a 28 - 200, 2.8 f/s

Have you considered a chair blind?

[popeshawnpaul]

My question, is there anything I can do to increase picture quality short of buying a 28 - 200, 2.8 f/s

Have you considered a chair blind?

Yep, you just need a blind.  You'll need to be about 10 feet and have it on a tripod so it doesn't move.  Put a perch above the feeder and lower the feeder if needed.  The best is to use a small ground feeder about 6 feet off the ground.  I break mine out the day I'm shooting birds.  You should be able to shoot slightly down on the perch before they hit your feeder near the ground or your ground feeder to where you can get a nice green background.  Pick a nice perch as it's the move overlooked thing in picking perches. 

With only 200mm, try and target larger species or ones that readily come in like juncos, sparrows, etc.  Pigeon will come in easily except for band tails as they tend to be spooky.  At 200mm with your camera, the crop factor gives you about 320mm.  I use 500mm so we are a bit off but not a lot.  ISO 200 makes you use too slow of a shutter speed.  Try ISO 400, and your lowest aperture (f5.6).  Shutter speeds of 1/350th or greater will be needed.  Don't pick a bright sunny day as the shadows look bad.  Hazy direct light or overcast is good.  The following shots were all from my backyard out of a blind.  Sometimes it takes time and patience.  You can increase your odds by getting a portable speaker and ipod or phone with bird calls on it.  Put the caller below the perch.  Good luck!

[BOWHUNTER45]

WOW ...Very nice 

[Alchase]

Wow! Thank you for the fantastic advice and examples.
I took about 55 pics of a emerald Hummer the on Sunday, I think I got maybe 10 that you can tell there is a hummer in the picture, and 3 that are in focus enough to make it an obsession, lol.
I will definitely give the F/S and ISO a try and  I am going to play with a tripod and maybe look for a inexpensive remote trigger.

You guys are awesome examples for us newbies 

[brush hunter]

You can find those remotes on ebay get the one with a cable the infered don't work well in sunlight

[Huntbear]

You can start easily enough with a feeder or two where  you can watch in relative secrecy and comfort.  Sometimes from inside the house, with the window open just enough to get a picture.

This photo was actually taken through 2 panes of window glass at my sister's house.

[lokidog]

Some really nice photos there guys!

One thing, if you are using manual focus, make sure you have whatever corrective eyeware you need in place, otherwise the photos will be in focus for you but nooone else.  My dad took photos of my huge bear when I was a kid, of course we did not know that they were all slightly out of focus until we got them back from the developer.  He had not been telling anyone that the world was getting fuzzy...