CAMPING & BIRDING at WALKERVILLE | NEW SONY KIT

[@CowboyJojosAdventures]

A great welcoming party, how awesome. Some great bird capture. I am impressed! Dinner by the sea and what a perfect location. Nimal, thats how I feel when I have to get up.....Help Must be the joys of getting older. Great little Camping adventure. Loved it. Have a great week Karen and Nimal.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

It was such a great place! I'm already looking forward to going back again (when it gets a bit warmer) 😀 There's a lot of moans & groans these days getting up & down off the ground with cameras 😅 Wishing you & Peter a great week too! ~ Karen

[@andrewkeir2282]

Love the Bassian Thrush shots

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks! We were so lucky to see him so close

[@andrewkeir2282]

Last time I visited Cape Liptrap I managed to photograph seals surfing in the waves... its a lovely spot and great camping ground

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Wow that would have been very cool to see!! I loved the campground! What a fabulous location & we were surprised how quiet it was on a weekend!! (probably way busier in summer but nice when we were there too) ~ Karen

[@WonderfulWorld316]

Beautiful, curious, friendly birds that came to greet you! The yellow robin was an absolute cutie. "Just switch it into tree removal mode." 🤣What an amazing place to visit! I'm rooting for teleportation to become possible. 😉

[@naturephotographychallenge]

haha!! If only there was a button where sticks & branches would miraculously disappear when there was a bird to photograph 😀 Wouldn't teleportation be the best! I often wish it existed too when I'm sitting at home & thinking of somewhere fun to go ~ Karen

[@haroldhobbs1184]

Just found your channel brilliant love the way you make it so relaxing Harry from the UK 😊

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Hi Harry! 😀 How exciting that you found our channel! Hope you enjoy the videos & hello back from Australia! 😊 ~ Karen

[@moonwolf790]

Thanks for the explanation of the pied stilts, Nimal and Karen. Looking forward to the next video-birding with of course your trademark humour and witty observations! Love it.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

No worries! Happy to help with any identifications any time! 😀 Happy birding!! ~ Karen & Nimal

[@robertvanempel5810]

Great video and congratulations on the new gear. 😊

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks! 😀 The new gear is pretty cool... now we've figured out how to use it! 😅 ~ Karen

[@Nonapaige]

Glad you're enjoying the new Sony kit. When I got my Sony kit (a6500 with 100-400) I also struggled with the focus, I was then told by a friend to check the focus switch on the side of the lens. It has 3 options. You're going to build your muscles up with your kit. Are you participating in the iNaturalist city nature challenge this weekend?

[@Hummingbirder1]

11:36 See, this is why I'll never get into the "Duade-mode" kind of photography... And that (those) Crimson Rosellas!😍Moments I envy most: the Bassian Thrush! And, come to think of it, the Little Wattlebird. Congrats to the new kit, that lens is very very good if Duade & Co is to believed (they are), but a bit on the heavy side. Not as heavy as the Canon 200-800 (which I still haven't gotten hold of), but the difference isn't that big if I remember correctly. I'm a bit surprised you didn't have the tripod, you used it all the time before. Also: good luck getting all the settings in order, it's a bother for every new camera, imo!

[@naturephotographychallenge]

The Bassian Thrush was just such a highlight!! 😀 It's the closest to one we have ever been! In 2021 Nimal searched all year to finally see one from a distance right at the end in December! 😅 Are you getting the Canon 200-800?? I watch all Duade's videos and what worried me about that lens is how many twists it takes to get the lens out to 800. What I liked about the Sony is the very quick effort it takes to zoom. My previous Leica telephoto was so stiff I used to miss so many shots so I didn't want to have to deal with that again. Now Nimal is deciding whether he's going to join in on the Sony system (so we can share lenses as I already have another lens I want to get!) or he goes a different direction to Canon or Nikon. I have been using the camera with the tripod now. I was so new to holding the camera this weekend that I was too scared to attach it to something 🤣

[@Hummingbirder1]

@@naturephotographychallenge I plan to get my mitts on the 200-800 as soon as it's available without pre-order/pre-pay. That won't happen anytime soon, maybe not ever? Who knows? Even if I get it before the Aussie-trip, it might have to stay home due to the weight and place all the photo equipment takes already (will be a problem on our numerous domestic flights). Either that, OR the 100-500 would have to stay home, and I wouldn't like that. Third world problems, to be sure🙄

[@naturephotographychallenge]

@@Hummingbirder1 Yes I wouldn't leave the 100-500 at home! That lens sounds like it is amazing!!

[@duncanwallace7760]

What a great spot!

[@naturephotographychallenge]

it really was such a wonderful surprise! So pretty & we thought it might be really busy but it was lovely & quiet!! And the birdlife was fabulous! ~ Karen

[@kimmaree5701]

Congrats on your nee gear Karen 😊 Walkerville looks like a very special place

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks! I'm loving the new Sony kit!! It's so fun to use and it's given me a new lease on life when it comes to photography. I'm back having fun again! 😀

[@kimmaree5701]

@@naturephotographychallenge so happy to hear that 😁😍 It's sad when we lose our mojo.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

@@kimmaree5701 too true! 🙂

[@terryroth2855]

You guys have some great, enjoyable, outings. Thanks for sharing.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks so much for watching! ❤️ We really enjoy making these videos & it gives us a good excuse to get out there 😁

[@RogersBirdingHotspots]

Congrats on the new gear. Some of my favourite birds in this one.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks! Been fun learning a new system! Some of my favourite birds too!! 😀 ~ Karen

[@laurelb8372]

Loved the little one arguing with itself in the car mirror. Lots of variety there. Just been up NE Vic and trying out Fuji Xt5 vs Z50 with a 100-400. Got a few good keepers but a lot of soft images as I try & get used to lighter kit. Weight vs image quality is a conundrum. Great video

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Yes weight is a big issue isn't it! Our micro 4/3 camera gear is light but I had issues with soft shots & my zoom was too tight so I missed loads of shots. The new Sony gear is way heavier but I get far better results (well I hope so as I haven't checked my latest stuff) but I also seem to have a bit of a bad back after lugging it (and a heavy tripod around) for a number of days! Which Fujifilm did you like better? ~ Karen

[@laurelb8372]

@@naturephotographychallenge I feel for you with back issues. Though I’d love a Nikon Z and a big lens, just can’t handle the weight. Settled on Xt5 , has bird detect AF, with 70-300 & 1.4 TC to give around 500mm reach, images good but AF not as sticky as the bigger brands. Happy to be able to get out into nature and not suffer later. Love your videos, keep them coming 👏🦅

[@naturephotographychallenge]

@@laurelb8372 Sounds like a great compromise & you still get great reach! Thanks so much for watching our videos & commenting!! 😀 So nice to talk to you!!

[@bradwilliams7212]

I have the Sony 200-600mm lens and have no problems with focus. I am using the Sony Alpha 7R IV with 61mp. Once you get the lens sorted out, you will love it. Wish all the birdies were as friendly as you found.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

I really LOVE the lens!!! I picked the lens before I picked the camera 🤣 It's so smooth and easy to use. Fortunately I've figured out all the settings now and it's superb!!!! What do you think of the A7R IV?? Nimal is thinking whether he's going to get a Sony full frame but there are so many options it's hard to choose!! 😀

[@bradwilliams7212]

@@naturephotographychallenge The A7 IV gives me everything I want. It's small, but the controls (lots of them) are all in the right place for me, and it is a very easy camera to use. I would have preferred the A7 V, but the cost was just too high for me. More than happy with the A7 IV.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

@@bradwilliams7212 As far I have seen, all the Sony products are amazing!!

[@zonabrown9241]

❤❤some of your best work❤❤

[@naturephotographychallenge]

thank you so much! ❤

[@janeparkhill4828]

Loved the vid! Thank you.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thank you so much for watching! ❤

[@zonabrown9241]

❤super friendly

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Yes very!

[@moonwolf790]

Great video-sony looks sharp. Question for Nimal- I saw a flock of pied stilts at my local park Karkarook this morning, some had white head and some were black headed. Could this have been a combo of Black Winged stilts and Pied stilts? Thanks.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks for watching the video. You might have seen a mix of adult and juvenile Pied Stilts? The adults have black on the hindneck and back of the head. Juveniles have a white hindneck, but the crown is usually greyish. "Pied Stilt" and "Black-winged Stilt" have both been used as common names for the same bird, Himantopus leucocephalus. The only other species of stilt that occurs in Australia is the Banded Stilt, which has an entirely white head and neck, but adults have a distinctive reddish band across the lower chest. Our next video may have footage of both Pied and Banded Stilts which we saw last weekend at the Western Treatment Plant. But that will be up to Karen - she edits the videos and I never know what she'll decide to include! :) - Nimal

[@andrewkeir2282]

Did you go to the Bird Photography Conference in Hahndorf?

[@naturephotographychallenge]

No we didn’t. Sounds like an interesting conference though. Did you go?

[@andrewkeir2282]

I am sure you know this, but have you set up back button focus? On my Canon R7, I have one button for spot focus and another for eye detect, so I can switch between each mode. There are rumours of a R7 Mark 2 which will hopefully fix some of the R7 rolling shutter and auto focus issues.

[@naturephotographychallenge]

sorry for the late reply!! Those settings sound quite interesting. I'll have to look into that. I haven't set up back button focus on this Sony camera as yet. I do have it set for my G9 but that was because the shutter button was extremely sensitive. The Sony seems okay without it so far. One big annoyance I do find about this Sony camera is the video button which is too flat & I can't feel it when trying to turn it on. I think the R7 Mark 2 should be a really fabulous camera. Would you upgrade if it fixes those issuse?

[@andrewkeir2282]

@naturephotographychallenge I love the R7 , I would consider very seriously the Mark 2, also considering a second hand R5 when the R5 Mark 2 comes out, but.... I really love the reach of the crop sensor. The RF100-500 is a forever lens for me. I really encourage you to use BBF , it has been a game changer, especially if you are trying to photograph small bids in the foliage. The dual BBF with the eye detect is extra good, it gives you so much more control

[@srilankanwhistlingthrush2006]

Great to see both of you are having a good time-A short drive to Wilson’s Promontory would have added few more to your collection of birds

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Yes Wilsons Prom is an absolutely gorgeous spot. Unfortunately we only had a very short time in Walkerville so it was fun to see the local birds and sights nearby. We'll have to get back to WP one of these days though! I love seeing Emus!! 😀 ~ Karen

[@kapilakarunajeewa8647]

🇨🇦🇱🇰🤗😇😍💯👌❤️🥰👍🙏

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks! This was a fun trip! I'm looking forward to getting back there & camping again this summer ~ K

[@zonabrown9241]

😮 I suspect stupid people fees them bread😮😢😢😢😢

[@naturephotographychallenge]

You are completely correct!! As soon as we arrived, the birds all flew in to see what food we had. We don't encourage feeding wildlife as we want them to stay safely away from humans. 😊

[@shanebailey9128]

Yes I Totally agree, to Charge these birds monetarily or to use your vernacular “bread” just for living where they do IS Stupid!

[@shanebailey9128]

Yes I Totally agree, to Charge these birds monetarily or to use your vernacular “bread” just for living where they do IS Stupid!

[@AndyandRachel]

nice! We quite enjoy our sony camera and extra fun to take footage in nature. You got some really cool shots of beautiful birds here

[@naturephotographychallenge]

Thanks!! I'm really enjoying what I chose! I've watched lots of videos about settings after this trip and that really helped! I really like the Sony system!! Brilliant auto focus (now I know what I'm doing 🤣) ~ Karen