Many thanks all, will explain set up...
50mm on d700 set at f5.6 and manually prefocused on the branch, but with some effort made to try and keep the branch at the 'front' of the focal range, because the ultimate aim is to capture the birds as they come in to land on the branch from beyond it - the shrubs in the background of the robin picture are mainly where the birds take off from to the feeder, so hoping to push apertures further maybe.
the remote is a radio trigger, so I can trigger it easily from indoors, though I have discovered it isn't keen on triggering through double glazing or anything else solid, so I normally have a window or door, in direct line, just marginally ajar to make sure the trigger works.
The bluetit shot was this morning, without flash, and sun behind or camera left, but as soon as we hit late morning here at this time of year, the leylandii at the back of the garden block the sun until early evening, so it was that problem that made me want to use some flash.
The robin was using the onboard as I am trying to get the birds used to it bit by bit, my eventual aim is to use my Nikon compatible Pocket wizards [which allow high speed flash synch] for some OCF over winter and a longer lens to capture a range of 'in-flight' type shots like the robin. However this prime lens challenge means the camera has to be close by and it really is requiring the patience of a saint, but is worth it, for the stuff I am learning from it and the fact the birds are very quickly adapting to the noise and light from the camera. I don't shoot at every bird that lands in 'the zone', I want them to to be comfortable and still get food without being spooked by it. I am hoping to have better pictures to share by the end of the month, but we shall see. The robin shot is by no means perfect, but it is getting towards somewhere near where I want the winter project to be. It does help that I can sit in the conservatory, remote to hand, laptop on knee to carry on working and door ajar.
A bit long winded, but therein lies my winter project, inspired by having to find stuff to do with a 50mm prime and still be able to work
