Nikon versus Canon: 1:1

I never thougt it would happen, but I left Nikon.

The 300/2.8VR is the best lens ever, but carrying it around the whole day with a D3, and a second body with landscape-lens, and bins is just too much and almost killed my back recently.

So I need a 300/4.0, stabilised. But not from Nikon, it does not exist. Of course I asked if they are going to make it, but they cannot comment on future products. I did not understand the technical explanation why DX-telelenses are not worth designing, but they did send my request for a VR400/4.0 to Nikon Japan. That lens would be my all time favorite!

So there is Canon, which makes a very fine and affordable 300/4.0 IS (Image Stabilisation!). A quality lens with a minimum focus distance of only 1.5 meters. The problem is that it does not fit on a Nikon camera. So what are the options to replace the excellent Nikon D3 with?

Canon has a lot of problems to control noise on higher iso, and I don't have faith in the 7DmII, as the 7D gets noisy above 200 iso already. I never shoot RAW and I do not want to learn the world of NoiseNinja and Neat Image, so only few options left. The fullframe 1Ds/5D series are just too slow for serious action/flight photography, and I prefer buying a new boat instead of the the 1Dx. So I ended up with the 1DmIV. I haven't tested the combination in daylight yet but the first results of this 1.3- crop camera have not disappointed me. But it is not a D3, and there is no logic in the design of buttons and menu's:-)

Lauwersmeer

Probably one of the last trips this year, the boat will get out of the water soon. Not so many Bewick's Swans and the White-teailed Eagles did not show. But finally had some decent views of the Kingfisher!

note the orange lower mandible; it is a female

Helgoland again

First weekend of November. Although migration season is ending there was much activity: many hundreds of Goldcrest, 2 Little Buntings, Great Grey Shrike, Pomarine Skuas, Woodcock, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Lesser Whitethroat sp, Barred Warbler and Red Phalarope to name a few. We missed the best bird unfortunately; a very confiding Subalpine Warbler was found on Dune while we were packing to leave.

colour-ringed BHGull in Cuxhaven

Chiffchaff in dull light

Goldcrest - at least 400 were ringed, there must have been 1000+ on the island

a late Willow Warbler in last light

another late Willow Warbler enjoying the sun, shelter and kelp flies at NOMole

Blackcap

another Blackcap

Black Redstart

part of the huge flock of Chaffinch, Brambling and Snow Bunting @Aade

same flock (chased by Peregrine)

Red Phalarope - Dune Nordstrand

migrant Wren in typical habitat

Yellowhammers

Goldcrests were everywhere, this one was at Unterland

and now we are getting to the rarer species; Barred Warbler

and one of the 2 Little Buntings at Jugendherberg, a tame but skulking bird

same bird

and again same bird, they are so nice!