That early morning mist hanging over Lake Blue Cypress, the sun just kissing the tips of the ancient, water-bound cypress trees... there's a magic to it, especially when the air fills with the triumphant cries of Ospreys. One particular moment stands out during my recent "Ospreys Galore & so much more" workshop. Clutching a fresh catch (Black Crappie. Alternate names for the species include calico bass, speck, speckled perch, speckled bass, moonfish, grass bass, strawberry bass, shiner, crawpie, oswego bass, sac-a-lait, and marigane noire). This magnificent bird called out to its mate in the soft, golden light. Our trusty Captain Don maneuvered the pontoon perfectly, allowing us to capture a series of images before letting the Osprey deliver the black crappie to its nest for its chicks to enjoy their breakfast in peace.
Moments like these demand gear that can keep up with the speed and spontaneity of nature, and let me tell you, the new Sony 400-800mm zoom lens paired with the Sony a9 mark III and the Sony 1.4x teleconverter is an absolute game-changer for wildlife photography.
Think about it: a single lens that effortlessly transitions from a generous 400mm reach to a staggering 800mm, and then, with the seamless addition of the 1.4x teleconverter, stretches all the way to 1120mm! This versatility is pure gold in dynamic environments like Blue Cypress. One moment, you're framing a wider scene of the Osprey in its watery habitat; the next, you're zoomed in tight, capturing the intricate details of its plumage or the glint in its eye. No more fumbling with lens swaps and potentially missing that crucial shot.
But reach is only half the story. What truly elevates this combination is the blazing speed and pinpoint accuracy of the a9 III's autofocus system. With its global shutter, the camera locks onto subjects instantaneously, and the Real-time Tracking keeps even erratic flyers like Ospreys locked in focus as they soar and dive. Adding the 1.4x teleconverter introduces more glass into the equation, but I was genuinely impressed by how little it impacted the autofocus performance. The lens and camera communicated flawlessly, delivering sharp, in-focus results even at those extreme focal lengths.
OSPREY in flight with a Black Crappie (Pandion haliaetus, Balbuzard pêcheur, Águila pescadora, OSPR) from my Ospreys Galore Workshop at Lake Blue Cypress near Vero Beach, Florida, USA. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X Teleconverter @1,120mm ISO 8,000, f/13 @ 1/5,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Join me for my Ospreys Galore workshop every April. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
