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Digital Photography Forum | all galleries >> DPF: Over the Years >> 2017: The Year in Review >> "Photos of the Month" 2017 >> Photos of the Month: June 2017 > edit image
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09-JUN-2017 Dale R. Palmer

Week #2 - Gator
by Dale R. Palmer

with Red Dragonfly on its head

It is early in the week, but I don't think I'm going to get a better shot than this gator in the wild with a red dragonfly on its head. This gator was so far off as to not be seen except that I knew about where he'd be... and the P900 can zoom in like crazy. So, this is about 2785mm equivalent. Optical is 2000 and I added some digital zoom so I could make sure it was focused by looking at the LCD. The gator was that far away. Even then, this is a fair crop of the original frame.

Nikon COOLPIX P900
1/250s f/6.5 at 428.4mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
Dale Palmer 16-Jun-2017 19:26
I disagree about "poor quality". We are talking 2800mm and that is almost impossible to get any other way but at great distance with less than perfection. It is a question of whether to get a photo or not, rather than a question of image quality. I prefer to get the photo.
Guest 16-Jun-2017 19:17
I agree with first comment. It looks like you were too far away from the subject to get a clear picture. Not the best. Poor quality.
Laura Milholland09-Jun-2017 21:58
It is amazing to be able to see the dragonfly from the distances you are talking about here, Dale. Yes, the focus looks good on the alligator's eye - and yes, it is easily recognizable as a digital zoom image that was cropped. All-in-all, for what it is, it is well done. I don't know how you handhold out at those distances! :)
Dale Palmer 09-Jun-2017 20:12
I just substituted a somewhat better image taken 3 images before the one that looked so much out of focus. This one still suffers as I explained but I think it is a bit better than the other one.
Dale Palmer 09-Jun-2017 19:52
It is in pretty good focus, but it is a long way away and hand held at nearly 2800mm... and includes digital zoom, all of which makes it a bit less desirable in image quality. I think the focus is ok, but the image quality suffers in digital zoom and I needed digital zoom to see the focus on my LCD. It is one of those circumstances where I either want the photo or don't... and am willing to accept lesser image quality rather than get no shot at all. This animal was invisible to the naked eye from where I was standing.
Guest 09-Jun-2017 19:44
Why out of focus??? Not like other photos.
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