Fujifilm 100-400 birdspots at Kasai Rinkai Park
I took my Fujifilm 100-400 mm lens to Kasai Rinkai Park again. The last time I went there, it was a most unsatisfactory experience. At that time, I only got a few shots I was happy with. The rest were average at best. That first time was in April 2022.
The weather was warm and the beach was crowded. But I was in seventh heaven because I was in a great location doing something I dreamed of for a long time. The situation probably got to me. I calmed down after the initial excitement.
I felt improvement. I believe I can see it in these photos. Why? Because I had a plan! I knew what I had done wrong previously. This time I had a higher level of concentration. I ignored all the people, dogs, and kites.
I focused on the birds. My head was locked on the sky. Shapes that headed in my direction interested me. Once I identified them as interesting birds, I got ready. I had more time to raise the camera into position. That resulted in me hitting the shutter button earlier. It also meant more keepers.
There is one thing I need to do. And that is research is focus tracking. So far, I’ve left it in the multi-purpose mode. Might using a different one result in more keepers? Maybe reading the camera manual is a good idea? I promise you I’ll open it, once I finish this article. Let’s hope I can learn something.
I’m happy with the Fujifilm 100-400. Why? It isn’t heavy. Image quality is good. It would be nice if it were faster, but then it wouldn’t be the same lens.
Birds photographed with the Fujifilm 100-400
- Crows (none appearing in this article)
- Ducks
- Great cormorants
- Great egrets
- Grey herons
- Seagulls
- White wagtails
The weather at Kasai Rinkai Park
It was great. Cool and slightly cloudy. Just how I like it.
Will I return to the park?
Most definitely and soon. I took these photos in mid-October 2022. That means winter is coming so sunset will continue to happen earlier. Wouldn’t birds at golden hour be great? I want to make that happen.
That won’t happen in summer as the bridge to Kasai’s island closes at 5 pm. And I’m looking forward to photographing Northern Goshawks. They visit the birdwatching center in the colder months.
Conclusion
Once I thought the Fujifilm 100-400 mm was a long lens. Now I’ve had it for more than one year, it feels short for birdwatching. The 150-600 is my next target. Maybe the Fujifilm X-T5 with its 40mgp sensor would be helpful, too. I could crop images deeper with that.
The 100-400 performs at a good level. The images are good. But to be honest, we always want better, right? So, while I use it, I save my pennies for the next one. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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