After an early arrival of winter in Southern Ontario I thought I’d escape it for a few hours by taking David (my Nikon 1 V2 with CX 70-300mm VR) and Goliath (my D800 with Tamron 150-600mm VC) to Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, Canada.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 159.8mm, ISO 1600, 1/30, f/5.6[/caption]
NIKON 1 V2 + 32mm f/1.2 @ 32mm, ISO 1600, 1/100, f/5.0[/caption]
Bird Kingdom features several display areas, two of which have many free flying birds. The Encounter Room has a number of parrots, cockatoos, and macaws on perches, as well as a small collection of reptiles. There are no free flying birds in this display area. It is not advisable to try and touch any of the perched birds as they have been known to bite visitors.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 70mm, ISO 3200, 1/80, f/6.3[/caption]
Many of the exhibit animals in the Encounter Room are in enclosures which can create a challenge for photographers. Unless your lens has a fairly short minimum focusing distance it is difficult, if not impossible, to capture images without the mesh or bars being visible. This was the case with my D800/Tamron 150-600 VC set-up. Its relatively long minimum focusing distance of 106.3 inches (270cm) would not allow me to obtain focus with my lens hood up tight to the mesh of the enclosures.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 70mm, ISO 1600, 1/320, f/5.6[/caption]
On the other hand, I was able to get some usable images with my Nikon1 V2/CX 70-300 VR set-up due to its comparatively short minimum focusing distance of 3.3 feet (1.0 m) to 5.2 feet (1.6m).
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1600, 1/30, f/5.6[/caption]
The Small Bird Aviary has a range of free flying birds. The lighting can vary from bright sunlight to dark shadows. Unfortunately many of the birds tend to perch on the window sills. This causes harsh backlighting and unattractive image captures. Patience is required to find good shot angles and then waiting for these small, erratic birds to land. Like many species of small birds, most of the specimens in the Small Bird Aviary exhibit nervous, jumpy behavior. Shooting in the shadow areas requires sound hand-holding technique coupled with good timing.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 85.9mm, ISO 1600, 1/60, f/5.6[/caption]
The Main Bird Aviary is an expansive area and features a range of roaming and free flying birds. The display area has extensive tropical foliage. This can add some quite pleasant foregrounds and backgrounds to images, as well as creating shooting challenges when trying to photograph perched or foraging birds.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1600, 1/125, f/5.6[/caption]
There is an enclosed area that houses Green-Naped Lorikeets and visitors are allowed to go into this area. You do enter at your own risk as there are posted warnings that some of the birds may bite if approached.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1600, 1/200, f/5.6[/caption]
There is also a small Nocturnal area that features some owls, bats, spiders and other critters behind glass partitions. Without a fast telephoto lens it is difficult to get any useable images in this display area, although I did get an acceptable image of a Nile Monitor.
NIKON D800 + 150-600mm f/5-6.3 @ 600mm, ISO 6400, 1/15, f/6.3[/caption]
On my next visit I’ll likely take my Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G and FT-1 adapter and give it a whirl with my Nikon 1 V2 in the Nocturnal display area.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1600, 1/320, f/5.6[/caption]
If you are going to the Niagara Falls Canada area a visit to Bird Kingdom is worth considering. Plan at least an hour long visit, and if you have the time 2-3 hours can be quite enjoyable.
NIKON D800 + 150-600mm f/5-6.3 @ 600mm, ISO 6400, 1/80, f/6.3[/caption]
There is parking on-site, as well as a restaurant and gift shop. Annual memberships to Bird Kingdom make sense if you are planning even two visits per year. At the time of writing of this article the annual membership fee was $28.00 CDN plus HST, which also includes on-site parking. The regular parking fee is $3.00 per hour. A single day pass is priced in the $15.00 to $17.00 CDN range (depending on age) plus HST.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 291.4mm, ISO 3200, 1/60, f/5.6[/caption]
NIKON D800 + 150-600mm f/5-6.3 @ 600mm, ISO 3200, 1/160, f/6.3[/caption]
All of the images in this article were captured hand-held in available light.
NIKON D800 + 150-600mm f/5-6.3 @ 600mm, ISO 1250, 1/250, f/6.3[/caption]
NIKON D800 + 150-600mm f/5-6.3 @ 600mm, ISO 6400, 1/80, f/6.3[/caption]
All images were processed using DxO OpticsPro 10, with a DGN file then exported into CS6 for some minor adjustments, then into Nik Suite as needed.
NIKON 1 V2 + 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, ISO 1600, 1/80, f/5.6[/caption]
After spending a couple of hours at Bird Kingdom with ‘David and Goliath’ I came to the conclusion that either set-up can deliver very good results for owners. For small size and portability my Nikon 1 V2 coupled with the 1 Nikon CX 70-300 VR is really hard to beat. From a pure resolving power standpoint and low light capability, my D800 with the Tamron 150-600 VC also brings some unique capabilities to the table that I enjoy.
As I was driving home from Niagara Falls I thought about all of the gear that I own and what combination would constitute the best overall birding kit for my needs. I decided that ‘David and Goliath’ are a great team and compliment each other very well. All I’d need to add to make up an ‘ideal kit’ would be my Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 and my Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G. I’ll let you know how that works out after my next visit to Bird Kingdom!
Article and all images Copyright 2014, Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, reproduction or duplication including electronic is allowed without written consent.
Thomas, your images always delight me and inspire me — thank you!
Hi Joni,
Always great to hear from you! Glad you enjoyed the images.
Tom
Thomas,
A technical question of sort.. I have just bought a CX 70-300 (to some extent inspired by what you have shown can be done with one) which I had some trouble getting clear focus at the 300mm end. My camera shop helped me realise that it was the polarising filter. When I use it without any filter it is very sharp at 300mm but that leaves in prone to damage
What uv filter have you used for this lens and have you noticed any difference with or without a filter
Thanks
Steve Myles
Hi Steve,
I have a B+W MRC UV filter on my 1 Nikon 70-300 lens. I have not noticed any degradation with the image quality when using this filter.
Tom
Hi Thomas
Good news for DXO V10 user’s , the Tamron SP150-600 F5-6.3 VC DI USD is now corrected for Nikon cameras.
Hi Luc,
That is great news – thanks for letting us know!
Tom
I think i would have to include Thomas Stirr in my birding kit to get the best results.
Hi Michael,
Oh…oh…if that’s the case then I’ll need to go on a very serious diet!
Tom
Lovely shots, all of them! I doff my hat!
Hi Tord55,
Glad you enjoyed the images!
Tom
Hi Tom
Really liked those close up shots of the Pheasant and Cockatoo, visited Niagara in 2012 had no idea that Bird World even existed, ah well next time.
Have to start saving for that Tamron to put onto my D810.
Mike
Hi Michael,
Glad you liked the images! The Golden Pheasant was one of the most difficult captures of the day. It kept chasing the other birds away and barely stood still at all…just pacing back and forth. I had to watch him for a while to try and figure out if it had any pattern to its movements and finally noticed that it had a very slight pause and was motionless just before it turned around to pace in the opposite direction. With a shutter speed of 1/80 I had to wait for that moment since it would have been blurred otherwise.
Tom
You are a talented photographer. You probably will obtain outstanding pics with an inexpensive P&S. On my next trip to Toronto (maybe next summer) I will plan a visit to Bird Kingdom. I live in Los Angeles.
Thanks for the positive comment Don! If you do visit the Niagara Falls area, the Butterfly Conservatory is also an interesting place to visit with your camera.
Tom
Yep, have to echo the crumpled paper and dull pencil comment AGAIN ;-) I too may have to check out DxO software – you do wonderful work with it on the V2 at 800/1600/3200 and D800 @ 6400! I’m in transition from Capture NX2 so I’m more open to options these days. I’ll probably end up with Capture NX-D, Lightroom/PS/CC, and look at getting the DxO too.
On a number of “testing myself” shots during the video I thought the sharper ones had to be the D800, but on balance I was wrong and they were the V2 shots – great work!
Hi KnightPhoto,
Your positive comment is appreciated! You can take advantage of the free trial download of DxO OpticsPro 10 to see if you like it. The software doesn’t allow for any spot adjustments so you’ll need to export a DGN or TIFF for further work at times.
Most of images in the article and the YouTube video were shot with each lens wide open which does put the Tamron at a bit of a disadvantage as the 1 Nikon CX 70-300 is sharper at this setting than is the Tamron. Stopping down to f/8 does improve the results with the Tamron, while using the same setting with the 1 Nikon CX 70-300 would put that lens at a disadvantage due to the effects of diffraction starting to set in.
Tom
In good light and conditions almost any camera including an iPhone can capture a good image. It is in those challenging lights where the better equipment prevails. BTW, I am not impressed with the Tamron. In low light situations where I do most of my photography it simply does not give me the option I need. I can not take anything from any of the images. It is really the wrong venue for comparison.
Hi mahhi cat,
There’s no question that better equipment provides photographer’s with more options and better image quality, especially in challenging conditions as noted in your post. Thanks for sharing your perspectives.
Tom
Beautiful images! It may sound foolish but I work in Niagara Falls and have never thought to visit the Bird Kingdom or Butterfly Conservatory to practice my photography! I am definitely planning a trip soon! Thank you for the inspiration!
Hi fmb8,
Glad you enjoyed the images! I’ve lived in the Niagara region for many years and I have not taken full advantage of the many wonderful spots for photography either.
Tom