First Day Out With My New Camera

I decided to treat myself recently to a new camera. I’ve had my Canon 20D since 2005 and it is starting to show it’s age in many ways. But especially with the dirt on the sensor. I ended up spending longer removing that in post processing than anything else! And so on Thursday my new Canon 70D arrived, but it was not until yesterday (Friday 13th June) that I actually managed to get out and use it.

This post is basically the results.

First Day Out With My New Camera

I must say it is a real learning curve jumping up to this camera, most buttons are not where I’m used to and some of the features are completely new to me (Video and Live view especially), but I think I am getting the hang of things, at least from a still photos perspective.

Video on my First Day Out With My New Camera

My first moments around the lake I decided to try the video function. I dreamed of being a wildlife cameraman when I was young, even going so far as talking to a local chap that my mum knew who worked for the BBC. But alas as I aged that dream became more distant. Now with the 70D in hand I can achieve my old dream (well I can attempt to take some footage once in a while). Anyway my first effort is now up on Youtube but here is the video:

On to the Stills

One aspect of why I chose the 70D, was the articulated screen combined with live view, I have found quite often that is is tricky to get really low down photos, as getting my eye to the viewfinder becomes tricky (getting down there isn’t easy with my back issues), but I have also found that those tricky to reach insects are within reach now as well!, this Large Red Damselfly was perched just that little too far into the bushes for me to reach it comfortably and still look through the viewfinder, but step up live view and I got this result.

Large Red Damselfly, shot with Live view – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

Sorry this is not a review

I’m not reviewing the camera here, you can read that here: Canon 70D Review. But just wanted to highlight the above two features.

Mallard in dappled light – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

Duckling (Mallard) – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

Long-taiuled Tit (Youngster) – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

Lepidoptera

I was quite amazed today at how little there was in terms of butterflies – Speckled Wood, Large White, Meadow Brown (1) and Brimstone – yet how many day flying moths there were – Yellow Shell, Cinnabar, Burnet Companion, Nettle Moth and various other small micros – I will never understand the flying habits of these creatures I think sometimes.

Burnet Companion – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

Yellow Shell – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

Meadow Brown – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

Odonata on my First Day Out With My New Camera

There were plenty of Odonata around though today, and actually it was Broad-bodied Chaser that made the bulk of the larger dragonflies, but I did also see Migrant Hawker in a few places. In the smaller odonata world of damselflies there were Azure Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly everywhere, numbers were really up and the odd Banded Demoiselle was also flying about, the season doesn’t seemed to have fully kicked into life yet though to me when it comes to the bigger flyers.

Broad-bodied Chaser (Male) – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

Blue-Tailed Damselfly – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

I had to try again

Recently I photographed a Rosemary Leaf Beetle and with the new camera I couldn’t resist having another go at these stunning beetles (I think it helps that I only seem to find them on lavender so the colours really pop), this time they were not sitting a top the flowers but I still like the images produced.

Rosemary Leaf Beetle – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

Rosemary Leaf Beetle – Great Holm, Milton Keynes

Finally Some Flowers

As a final addition to today’s blog post I snapped a few flowers while wandering yesterday and wanted to add them at the end here as I was quite pleased with how these look. I’ve no idea when it comes to plants (I make no excuses just way too many to learn) so please do let me know if you can name them.

photographed next to the lake – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

Cow Parsley? – Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes

No idea – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

some kind of daisy? – Loughton Valley Park, Milton Keynes

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