Knepp

 We went to Knepp today, weather was nice and we had a good  walk round. The main business was to try out my new Camera, basically bits were falling off my Canon 7D  Mk2 which I've had for a few years, it had served me well ,  taken well over 2300000 pics. I'd also dropped it twice and it still worked !! I've gone for the Canon R7, because basically I can't afford 5 grand for a new camera and this was the best option for what I do, which is, as both my regular readers will remember is take pictures of Birds!! With  insects and  mammals when available! I'm hoping it will improve the quality of my flight shots! To be honest I was a bit concerned about the electronic viewfinder, this proved groundless and the Autofocus is  incredible! I think the biggest advantage on first use is actually taking pictures of birds in trees and bushes, The 7D Mk2 would focus on every tiny blade of grass or bit of leaf whereas the new one seems to be able to pick out the bird. Obviously it's all a bit new, so hopefully will get better with practice, I had a crack at a Swift over the back garden, the Swift won!! Anyway a few pics below! Margie has decided to give the 7d Mk2 a go, although she only has a cheap 300mm lens at the moment, but still an improvement from the Bridge Camera she usually uses! Some of her pics after mine below.

Linnet 

Common Whitethroat would definitely struggled to get this pic with the old camera as it was behind a lot of undergrowth

Red Kite

Possibly the best flight shot I got, the light was difficult, new camera same old excuses

Seems to be enjoying life despite the wonky horn! A lesson for us all!

Dragonflies remain a work in progress

I was my usual fearless self amongst the big beasts

Great Crested Grebe

White Stork, not to bad as it was miles away

Bit closer, the light etc

Margie's pics below

Obviously she found a castle!

Think Margie's Stork pic is better than mine!

Below are a few pics I took in the garden!

Very pleased to see this Beautiful Demoiselle lurking near the pond, full of Tadpoles and shrimpy things but has been distinctly lacking in the Odonata stakes!

Common Buzzard right over the house had to lighten it but pleased with it!

Mr White-eye, ever photogenic

Blue Tit

you know who!

Would have never have gotten this shot with the old set up, bring on the Groppers!

The 7D mk2 would 100% have focused on the grass stalks!

Swift!

Another bird, buried deep in the bush!

A good start, hopefully will improve as I get used to it, can seem slow to focus and getting use to viewfinder being dark until the button is depressed going to be difficult, I also seemed to struggle to find the birds in flight as opposed to with the old camera, but will hopefully get used to it. It seems to take a while to focus, but may be because I'm using my old lens with an adaptor, so might have to save up to get a proper RF lens. Time will tell!