Canon is claiming to be the number one in 2024

 According to this article published yesterday at PetaPixel:

"Canon announced that it had solidified number one in interchangeable lens cameras, mirrorless cameras, and full-frame mirrorless cameras in the United States in 2024 thanks to the runaway success of the R6 II, which was the top-selling full-frame camera in the region last year."

The success of the Canon R6 Mark II comes as no surprise. Its fast autofocus, high frame rates, and superior low-light capabilities make it a perfect choice for wildlife photography, especially when capturing dynamic bird shots or fleeting wildlife moments.

EF 1.4x extender performance

I’ve read numerous reviews and opinions about extenders—some people love them, while others hate them. This note focuses on the Canon EF 1.4x Mark III extender, and it’s worth specifying that most of the negative opinions about extenders often refer to other brands.

The reality is that extenders require more light for autofocus to function properly. When it comes to sharpness, if you pair an extender with a high-quality lens and use a full-frame camera with good dynamic range, you likely won’t notice a significant loss in image quality.

A while back, I bought the Canon EF 1.4x Mark III to use with my Canon R7. Unfortunately, my experience with that combination was disappointing. The performance issues were so frustrating that I stashed the extender in my backpack and didn’t touch it for nearly two years.

Recently, after reading some new reviews, I decided to give the extender another chance—this time pairing it with my Canon R6 and EF 100-400mm Mark II lens. WOW! The results were incredible. Not only does this combination work exceptionally well, but it might even deliver sharper results than using the lens alone!

Here are some pictures taken this weekend in a very cloudy day using this setup.

ISO 12800 and after denoising the level of details is great.

The sharpness of this photo is just incredible.

Dade's Battle Event

 Last Saturday I went to the Dade's Battle Event. This is a year re-enactment of this battle that happened in 1835 where the United State Army was ambushed and defeated by approximately 180 Seminole and Black Seminole warriors as they marched from Fort Brooke on Tampa Bay to reinforce Fort King in Ocala.

The whole album can be checked at Flickr. Here are few pictures from the event.

Click To See Details

Click To See Details

Click To See Details

Click To See Details

The story behind this picture

I was out walking the other day, searching for good photo opportunities, when I rounded a tree and suddenly heard a call. Before I knew it, a beautiful Red-Shouldered Hawk was flying right toward me.

Taken using R6 Mark I w/EF100-400L.

;

Normally, I have my R6 set to C1, which I've configured for Aperture Priority. I didn't have time to react and switch it to C3, which is set for Shutter Priority—the best setting for birds in flight. That's why the picture isn't as sharp as it could be.

I've noticed that birds of prey often fly directly toward you when they're disturbed. It's almost like they're telling you to back off!

Luck is something that you always will need

That's right, bird photography is like hunting or fishing. There's no guarantee you'll find the bird you're looking for or capture the shot you’re hoping to take.