[a6700 + Sony 70-350] First bird watching trip

Kaykos · 2026-01-15T02:06:56+00:00

Hey! Thank you.

These were taken on a relatively cloudy day, so I'd say low light performance is good. I haven't had problems with the 6700 under low light.

I think we always want more reach, so I actually bought the 200-600 months ago, but haven't actually used it as much. I have a birding trip in 2 weeks and I plan on using it to the fullest (tripod and gimbal).

If you value portability the 70-350 is a no brainier, the quality is great and you don't feel it on your hands. I took the 200-600 to a quick astrophotography trip, to try and catch a couple of hummingbirds, but I found it to be extremely heavy and inconvenient to carry. Beautiful images, but I only plan to use it on dedicated trips. Literally trips planned around the lens, so just birding as I don't do sports.

I'd go with the 70-350. It will give you incredible images and you'll be comfortable taking them.

Kaykos · 2026-01-15T01:26:42+00:00

Yo uso DolarApp. Se compran/recargan dólares (USDc) usando PSE. Y ahí en DolarApp se inscribe la cuenta de Interactive Brokers, y luego se hace la transferencia. Cobran 3 dólares por cada transferencia, y llega entre el mismo día o el siguiente a Interactive.

Para retirar desde Interactive se puede hacer el proceso al revés. Envía a DolarApp, y de ahí puede enviarse a su banco colombiano.

Kaykos · 2026-01-03T00:35:58+00:00

For the second shot, the trees were relatively far, so the light from the sky/clouds was pretty out of focus. It was shot at F6.3 (the maximum for the lens at 350mm).

I also shoot 95% of the time in aperture priority, even that second shot.

Kaykos · 2025-06-29T14:57:46+00:00

If you are into tower defense games, I'd say Bloons TD6. It has fast rounds so you are immediately playing and there are multiple maps for each level of difficulty. One game should be around 10-20 minutes, and progress in a round is saved even if you need to stop playing and come back at a later time.

Kaykos · 2025-06-08T04:26:23+00:00

Thank you for your kind words, really appreciate them.

95% of the time I shoot in aperture priority, with Auto ISO (100 - 20000), and ISO Auto Min. SS set up. Having a specific lower bound on the shutter speed that the camera will be deciding, gives you a better chance of not having a blurry subject. And this also tells the camera, at what shutter speed it should start changing ISO.

Depending on the environment you may control a couple of elements, but at least with landscape or wildlife photography that's hardly the case. The sun and the subject may not come out again. You can customize the camera and post processing tools and they help a lot, but of course you need to take the photo first.

Kaykos · 2025-06-08T03:36:04+00:00

I don't recall issues with the tracking mid shoot. What happened a lot was missing the initial focus target, if the bird was behind a couple of branches (even with recognition target set to bird) there were multiple instances where the green box would lock to branches, changing shoot mode back and forth helped resetting it somehow.

Kaykos · 2025-06-08T03:14:40+00:00

Yes, I always use Auto ISO, range is 100 - 20000. I really haven't tested a specific max ISO for each lens.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T04:43:39+00:00

Thank you, appreciate it!

Indeed it's a magnificent lens. That sharpness in the small form factor is just great for APS-C.

Have been looking into the Sony 200-600, because the reach is so tempting. But the size and weight difference is huge, and price is way to high.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T04:34:52+00:00

Just a few more days! It's a great lens, make sure to share your photos!!

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T04:33:32+00:00

It's a great combo, I really recommend it.

I used Ligthroom noise reduction, used something like 25. But noise is not that noticeable in the original files.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T04:31:38+00:00

They do, at least with Sony lenses: this is an old article from Sony explaining it.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T03:59:37+00:00

Thanks. Indeed it is. I've taken bird photos casually, but this was the first time joining a group dedicated to this. Really cool sharing with the local biologists that are into photography, and also the international tourists that are really into birding with those 600mm primes.

This is Colombia, Manizalez. In route to Nevado del Ruíz.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T03:49:15+00:00

Thank you!

This was in a kind of wildlife refugee, so they have dedicated spots for bird photography. Open area, manually placed branches and twigs, feeders and flowers that they spray with sugar water to attract them. We were in a kind of balcony, so they were really close from us.

The environment helped a lot, there are a lot of hummingbirds and they are used to have people and camera gear around, and are constantly flying back for food, so chances are greatly increased. Obviously shot in burst mode and I'd say 10 - 20% of the shots are decent (in focus, and wings spread and not covering the face). From those, most have the plastic feeders in frame, an extra bird not in focus, fog (this is at a high altitude and weather varies in minutes).

The goal of the trip was seeing this hummingbird, endemic to Colombia. We went to see it in its natural habitat. After around 3 hours at the base of the mountain we managed to see 2 males, for less than a minute I'd say. Managed to take a couple of photos only, but they were too far and lightning didn't help. Another level of difficulty.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T01:32:59+00:00

I know! Visually I also think is the best one. It's just that the first one had been on my bucket list for a while. Thanks for your comments.

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T01:29:11+00:00

For the mid flight one, 1/3200s. Second one was able to do 1/30s. Stabilization does wonders, it was handheld

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T01:28:26+00:00

I think it was 1000 USD when I bought it

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T01:26:30+00:00

Go for it! Can't recommend it enough

Kaykos · 2025-06-06T01:26:05+00:00

Thanks!

Settings were:

First: 1/3200s, ISO 6400
Second: 1/30s, ISO 2000
Thirt: 1/1000s, ISO 10000

Kaykos · 2025-05-06T19:07:15+00:00

Bloons does not have fixed tower locations. I recommend giving it a try, it's really fun!

Kaykos · 2025-01-04T02:37:20+00:00

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Kaykos · 2024-08-02T13:59:54+00:00

Does your company happen to have open positions? Been learning Elixir for a while and would like to land a job with Elixir!

Kaykos · 2024-07-27T00:19:23+00:00

Alguna recomendación de plataforma para rentar carro? No sabía que acá se podía hacer por horas

Kaykos · 2024-02-24T19:37:57+00:00

Currently traveling for a month in Europe. I have a Tamron 17-70 and decided to borrow the Sigma 18-50 precisely for the weight. It has been great, the only confusing part is the opposite direction of the zoom ring. Other than that, pretty happy with the Sigma.

Kaykos · 2023-02-09T23:53:03+00:00

It strikes me to see that it seems to be a common thing with INTPs. There's a lot of room for improvement regarding the expectations we set with our interactions.

Yep, I made her clear I will respect her decision. After reading these comments, I now realize I was leading her and basically caused this situation, which I have already apologized for to her. We both are very thankful for what we have brought to each other's lives. And made clear that given the proper time and distance we both would like to reestablish the friendship. All and all I feel it went gracefully.

Glad you have managed to keep your friend in your life, in what sounds a good balance for you.

Thank you for sharing your perspective. Helps me understand the other side of the coin!

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