Test - Rietvlei with the Sony 70-400mm F4-F5.6 G SSM 11

I have been dying to get out there and see how the new Sony 70-400 performs. It's silver predecessor is a stellar performer and is hailed by many as one of the sharpest mid range zoom telephotos available. The updated version sports a new white colour more in line with the rest of the "G" series lenses that Sony has in their line up. It has also been updated with the new nano coatings that were first used in the recently available 500mmF4 prime. The other major improvement that has been bandied about is the fact that this version ll focuses 4 times faster. Well I have used the first version since it was released and it certainly didn't focus that slowly so this must be a major improvement.

I had a cancellation in the studio this morning so I decided that this was the gap that I had been waiting for. I quickly put the kit together and headed out to Rietvlei Nature Reserve. It was already late by my standards (after 9.30am) when I arrived there and I set off to find some targets! I mounted the lens on the Sony A77 which is a crop sensor body making the magnification of the lens effectively 105-600mm. The lens focuses incredibly fast is all I can say. I don't have any way to measure exactly how fast but it locked onto the subjects with phenominal speed. The focus was accurate and even in situations where focus is often confused with bright backgrounds and busy foilage, the lens locked on and was 100% accurate.

The dilemma that now faces me is where do I find the funds to replace my version l lenses with this awesome piece of glass!

Some images from this morning... some shot not for their beauty but more to show the ability of the lens.

The bright branches in the background would often confuse the focus abilities of lessor lenses

This Purple Swamphen would previously of been difficult to accurately lock focus onto because of the thick foliage

This male Stonechat was very nervous and I managed to get only get one shot off before he flew

A Winters Morning Sunrise

Yes, no doubt, winter is here! Whilst most were still warm under their blankets or preparing for work in their warm houses, I had lost my mind. I had risen early, long before the sun had even thought about showing its'self and traveled the 60km to the area that was clear of buildings and power lines so that I might capture the beginning of the day on silicon. 

It was 1 degree celsius when I arrived and the mist was so thick that I couldn't see 5m in front of me. Pfft, looked like it was going to be a waste of time. The sun was far behind the mist and wasn't going to show till much later the morning. Well patience was rewarded and I managed a few images before the magic light was gone. 

The sun just burning through the mist.

A real eery feeling above the water between the trees.

The river running strong.

A Morning at Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Rietvlei is one of my little retreats where I disappear to every now and again. I am normally there when or before the sun rises so that I get to shoot a few sunrise pics (which are generally quite stunning) and I then have some favourite spots which I drive along to shoot some birds or the wildlife if it presents it's self. I am normally done and leave by about 10am when the morning light has gone.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve is located in Pretoria and is about 3,800 hectares (38 km2) in size. Located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam. The Reserve is made up of open grassland with undulating hills with indigenous trees clustered in small groups.

I thought I would share a couple of pics from a recent visit of mine.

The scene that lay in front of me as I entered the reserve

Not more than 2km away, the light had changed.

The river that runs under Otter bridge.. A good place to spend time waiting for birds.

These guys are always around in Otter Pond

The early morning finds the Jackal still out

The Red Backed Shrike

Mom and babe

The one horned Waterbuck deep in the long grass

One Eyed Red Hartebeest

The Rufousnaped Lark singing his song

Just love the flaps in front of the eyes

The Egret fishing in a small stream.

It would not be the same without a pic of the Stonechat

The Giant Kingfisher with a crab

He breaks the pincers off

and then down it goes

The Diederick Cuckoo... a nice surprise