www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

The weather has not been great for butterflies, of late, in Oxon, so I have been spending my time recently photographing some of the early native Orchid species. The Orchids pages on my website get by far the greatest number of 'hits', so I feel that I really must improve them, since many of the photos are now quite old.

I've also been finding that the weight of my Nikon camera gear seems to increase with my age, so decided that it's time to try one the Lumix FZ-series cameras, which seem to produce such good results for many members of these forums. The following is a somewhat 'techie' summary of my experiences with the Lumix, so far.

The Lumix FZ200 is a remarkable piece of kit, mainly for its 25-600mm (35mm equiv) lens, which maintains a constant f/2.8 aperture across its entire range. I have experienced many SLR lenses with impressive 'headline' specs that simply do not perform at the extremes of their range, so I was somewhat 'gobsmacked' when I found just how well this Leica-badged lens performs, even when set to '600mm' @ f/2.8. I use a neighbour's FM aerial as a target for telephoto lens tests and the following pics compare my Nikon D300s with Nikon 300f4 lens plus 1.4X teleconverter with the FZ200. These pics are enlargements from the centre of the two images:


The large aperture of the Lumix lens allows a lower ISO setting to be used, for a given shutter speed, which compensates, to some degree, for the poorer noise performance of the small sensor. In addition, the greater depth of field that is achieved by the smaller lens/sensor of the Lumix allows the wide aperture to be used successfully on macro subjects, such as butterflies. For example, the Lumix set to 25mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture offers similar field of view and depth of field to the Nikon with my 90mm Tamron macro set to f/11. (see http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori ... r-size.htm for the basis of these caclulations)

My first 'field trial' of the Lumix was at the Alpine Garden Society show in London last Sunday (27th April), when I took the Orchid shown below with settings of 1/80s@f/2.8 ISO125, inside the Linley Hall. To me, this showed that the lens could perform pretty well as a macro, as well as at the telephoto end of its range! This 'trial' also proved the advantages of carrying a compact kit weighing 640g, against the backpack, weighing 7.1kg, that contains my Nikon and all the lenses needed to cover a similar focal length range!
To get back to butterflies - I took the Lumix to my local Dry Sandford Pit reserve, yesterday afternoon. Although it was warm and sunny, there was not a lot to see but I took some shots of a Peacock and Green-veined White. I had inadvertently set the camera to RAW mode, so had to tackle conversion of the images to JPEGs for display, which raised a few interesting points!

The RAW converter included with Photoshop Elements (PSE) v.11 cannot process FZ200 photos but needs an upgrade to v.7.4 of the Adobe RAW converter. This proved hard to find on the web, until I realised that I simply had to select the 'Update' option in the PSE software! I was rather disappointed with the converted images, as they seemed to have a 'gritty' quality that I had not seen in my previous JPEG trials. So, I decided to try the 'Silkypix' software bundled with the Lumix. Again, it was not the latest version, so I downloaded v.4.1 from the web. I had read lukewarm reports of this software and, especially, of its user interface but I got on with it quite well. The manual is a slightly difficult-to-read Japanese-English translation but the basic tasks are clear enough.
I found these results much more pleasing than those from the Adobe converter but, providing the initial exposure is good, I'm not sure whether the RAW format offers many advantages. Whereas, in the case of the Nikon or other larger sensors, there is a lot of dynamic range 'in hand', which can be exploited when processing RAW images, this is not really the case with the tiny sensor in the Lumix.

So my conclusions, after just a few days use, are that the reduced size and weight are extremely welcome and the image quality can be very good, especially when the 'fast' f/2.8 lens can be exploited to keep to a low ISO setting. The versatility of the camera is amazing, covering wide-angle to long telephoto, plus macro, with no need ever to change lenses! The electronic viewfinder is also remarkably good, with 1.3M dots providing a clear, crisp image. On the other hand, there is no doubt that the operation of the camera is much slower than a true DSLR. The AF is pretty good, in good light, but not fast enough for a moving bird (or butterfly) and I have not had much success in my initial attempts to capture any flight shots. Both zoom and manual focus are by means of rocker switches, so there is no manual 'feel', as with a DSLR. The performance of the tiny sensor is remarkable and a huge advance on what could be achieved just a few years ago but there is little reserve 'in hand', so exposure has to be right and the subject needs to fill the frame, since quality degrades rapidly when an image is 'cropped'.

The Lumix won't displace the Nikon on 'special' trips but, as an 'always at hand' camera, I feel that it can be used with confidence to get good shots of static subjects in favourable light conditions. Perhaps, as I gain more experience with it, I shall discover more of its capabilities!

Finally, a mention that I saw my first Holly Blue in the garden yesterday but it's been pouring down all day, today.

Mike

Hi Mike,
A very interesting read. I particularly like the account of the Speckled Woods from 13th April which I will read several times to try and take in some of what you have said.
Also interesting is your locality to the Farmoor Reservoir. I have done some work on the Farmoor Reservoir in the past where my colleague was using a Leica DNA digital level which measures to 5 decimal places! We had to watch out for the trout fisherman's back cast on our way around the reservoir !
best wishes,
Philip

Interesting read Mike - I was thinking about getting a Lumix for my daughter and then when my neck wears out I could swap it for my Nikon Looks like I'll have to start saving the pennies.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Many thanks for the comments, Philip and Wurzel.

I can confirm that back casts are still a hazard at Farmoor! The grassy banks of the reservoir are good basking areas for butterflies, in addition to the varied bird interest.

Wurzel, your daughter will doubtless feel herself a very lucky girl indeed, if you get her a Lumix. In pre-digital days, we gave our son a Praktica SLR and he never looked back. He's now a professional biologist and no mean photographer!

Mike

I had a Praktica SLR from 1974 (second hand - 25 years old then) until 2004, when it died. The very mention of it brings back good memories, Mike!

Guy

Zenith B for me!!! Seriously though you did learn about photography with cameras such as Zenith and Praktica. Happy memories.

Interesting report on the FZ200 Mike.
I have been using an FZ150 for the past couple of years and it is starting to get a bit knocked about, entirely my fault, slipping down grassy slopes and putting my feet in Rabbit holes and such like. In fact it has proved to be a robust camera considering some of the knocks it has had.
Consequently I have been thinking about replacing it, either with another FZ150 or maybe going for a FZ200.
I must admit that am not at all technically minded about the camera, all my photos are taken on the 'P' setting and the only fiddling that I do is with the exposure, usually switching between -1/3 or -2/3, going to -1 for 'whites' in bright sun. Everything else is set to 'auto' apart from I have the camera set to centre spot focusing which I find I prefer.
Also I only shoot in jpeg and the only software that I use is a free download called PhotoScape for cropping and re-sizing and maybe a bit of basic adjustment to brightness.

Cheers,

Neil.

Hi Neil.

I suggest you try looking through the viewfinder of an FZ200 before making your decision. The 1.3M dot display is much clearer than the earlier models. You may think that it is enough to justify the price difference!

There are some good videos by Graham Houghton on YouTube about the FZ200. I followed his suggestion to choose 'Natural' from the Photo Style menu and then set all of Contrast, Sharpening, Saturation, and Noise Reduction to '-2'. I like the more subdued effect that this produces. Otherwise, I use exposure compensation just as you do.

I'm pleased to hear that your FZ150 has stood up to a fairly tough life. This was an aspect that concerned me coming from the weather-sealed and ruggedised Nikon.

Mike

I too have found your appraisal of this model both interesting and useful Mike. It is always in the back of my mind that one day my camera might just give up the ghost and leave me with the dilemma of what to replace it with - like Neil's model, my camera has also had a few knocks in the field

As many will know, I am a happy FZ150 user. Once that fails, or is dropped one time too many (hasn't been dropped at all - yet!) I will undoubtedly get an FZ200 or whatever is its successor. So I am a convinced bridge camera user.

However ..........

Gary Richardson, aka Gruditch, says that nothing can beat a DSLR. It is hard to argue with that when you see his marvellous landscape pictures:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gruditch/

But you will find in the accompanying notes Gary
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gruditch/ ... 3073069021
admits that a DSLR plus all the kit is a heavy load to cart up mountains. So for likes of us oldies, it has to be a bridge camera.

Jack

Thanks for posting that link, Jack.

Gary's photography is undoubtedly Premier League standard.

Jack Harrison wrote: .... Gary Richardson, aka Gruditch, says that nothing can beat a DSLR. ....

I agree entirely - the combination of through-the-lens viewing, relatively large sensor, and fast operation, makes the DSLR first choice, if practical issues, such as size and weight can be ignored. On the other hand, a modern 'bridge' can run it very close for IQ when working within its limitations.

At present, I stick with my earlier feeling that "The Lumix won't displace my Nikon on 'special' trips but, as an 'always at hand' camera, I feel that it can be used with confidence to get good shots of static subjects in favourable light conditions."

Mike

We spent yesterday in the garden; I was taking photos of various plants, while also pursuing a Holly Blue that showed no signs of ever stopping! Later in the day, we visited the BBOWT Meadow at Bernwood, Oxon. Later in the year, the hedgerows around this meadow will be home to Black Hairstreaks but, at present, the meadow has a spectacular carpet of Green-winged Orchids, as well as numbers of Adder's Tongue ferns, in the damp patches between the ridges.
After my lack of success with the Holly Blue yesterday, I was lucky to spot one looping rather lethargically in the chilly morning air, before settling perilously close to the bird feeders in the garden. I found her dozing on a leaf, with antennae turned down, waiting for the sun to warm up a bit.
As soon as the sun broke through the early morning haze, she raised her antennae and slowly opened her wings:
Then she turned slowly on her leaf, before spiralling up into the holly tree in the garden.
Mike

A recent couple of days with warm sunshine provided some good local butterfly trips.

On Tuesday afternoon (13th May), I visited the BBOWT Hartslock reserve, near Goring. This reserve occupies a delightful spot on the South-facing steep slope of the 'Goring Gap', where the River Thames cuts through the chalk downs, North of Reading. As well as offering a wide range of natural history interest, the site provides excellent views across the 'Gap', with Brunel's original line of the Great Western Railway crossing and re-crossing the river below.
Hartslock is notable mainly for its rare orchids, including, uniquely, hybrids between Lady and Monkey orchids, which have arisen naturally at this site.
It has many other chalk downland plants which, in turn, support a good range of butterflies.
My photo of a Dingy Skipper shows it nectaring on Chalk Milkwort, whose deep blue flowers cover the slopes. I also photographed a tiny pyralid moth Pyrausta nigrata, which was on the wing together with the purple Pyrausta purpuralis
During my current visit, I also saw Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, and Orange Tip, as well as several pairs of Brimstones, chasing each other across the slopes. l watched the courtship and mating of one of these pairs, taking many photos throughout the process. As this happened within a cordoned-off area of the reserve, I was only able to record from a distance, using my 300mm telephoto lens.

The following selection of photos shows the initial approach, where the female appears to be upside down, with her antennae held close together. The male fluttered around her for some time until she moved into a more receptive position. After a lot more circling around her, the male eventually moved in for coupling and then the two parted again. (as with all my photos, click on the following image for an enlarged version)
These photos were taken over a period of 6 minutes, though it seemed far longer, and luckily coincided with a bright sunny interval. Soon afterwards, a heavy shower sent me in retreat to the car.

My second trip, on Wednesday afternoon (14th May), took me a little further afield, to Hailey Wood, just to the West of Cirencester off the A419 to Stroud . There is a triangular clearing, South of the Saw Mill, which can be seen quite clearly on Google Earth.
When I arrived at the clearing, there were several Pearl-bordered Fritillaries spiralling in the sunshine. They all seemed to disappear, the moment a cloud passed over, but I was fortunate to find one resting quietly with open wings on some coarse grasses.
Once the sun returned, the males resumed their seemingly endless patrol, searching for females, but, eventually, one paused to 're-fuel', providing an opportunity for a photo showing the underside markings.
Just as I was leaving the site, I saw this rather 'colourless' Speckled Wood, looking rather like a moth at first glance.
Today, the weather has returned to overall cloud, locally, but the forecast looks good for the coming days, so I'm hoping to make more additions to my photo collection.

Mike

Love that first PBF picture! I wish there was somewhere in my neck of the woods for these.

Thank you, Dilettante. I was lucky that the sun went behind a cloud, 'grounding' this individual for a portrait!

Cracking Brimstone sequence Mike I'd liked to have seen a closer view of the Orchid hybrids.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote: I'd liked to have seen a closer view of the Orchid hybrids.

Just for you,Wurzel - and thank you for your comment.
The photo shows the Lady O. near the centre, surrounded by some of her offspring. More information on my web page at http://home.btconnect.com/mike.flemming/hybrid.htm

Mike

Good morning Mike,

I have been following your posts with interest.

I have recently moved near Cirencester and I am hoping to get a couple of hours this afternoon to look for our fluttering friends.

I wondered which sites you would recommend the most in the area?

Flutter on!

CJB

Thank you for commenting CJB.

By far my favourite site in your area is Daneway Banks, just past Sapperton from where you are. A little further on is Strawberry Banks and then Rodborough Common. Look up the first two in the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust website for more info. - they're both exciting places!

Mike