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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.
At that time, the weather was warm and many people were on the beach. But I was in seventh heaven because I was working with seabirds. In hindsight, the situation probably got to me. It was hard keeping my concentration. The birds approached and I took photos. I think I got more of them on the ground than in the air! In short, I didn’t have a plan. You might say I was taking snapshots.
This time 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 the last time. This time I would try to keep 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 getting off my shots on each bird. It also resulted in 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.
Still, I’m happy with the Fujifilm 100-400. Why? It isn’t very heavy. The image quality is very good. It would be nice if it were faster, but then it wouldn’t be the same lens. It would probably be heavier and more expensive.
What birds did I photograph with the Fujifilm 100-400?
- Crows (none appearing in this article)
- Ducks
- Great cormorants
- Great egrets
- Grey herons
- Seagulls
- White wagtails
How was the weather at Kasai Rinkai Park for these photos?
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 some birds at golden hour be great? I want to make that happen.
Actually, it’s something you can’t do in summer as the bridge to Kasai’s island closes at 5 pm. And I’m looking forward to photographing Northern Goshawks. Apparently, they visit the birdwatching center in the colder months.
Conclusion
I used to think the Fujifilm 100-400 mm was a long lens. Now I’ve had it for more than one year, it feels short for birdwatching. I need something longer like the 150-600. Maybe even the Fujifilm X-T5 with its 40mgp sensor would be helpful. With the new camera, I crop images.
Still, it performs at a good level. The images are pretty good. But to be honest, we always want better, right? So, while I will continue to use the 100-400 happily, I’m saving my pennies for more camera equipment.
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