Options when a bird is too far.

[Copernicron]

I frequently don't bother shooting birds that are too far away. Where I am there are a lot of conservation areas where you need to stay on the trails so it's often impossible to get closer. There are a few exceptions where I'll take the shot even if I know it's not going to be very good. For example, there was a black-bellied whistling duck not far away in southern Ontario a couple years ago. They're not normally found north of the Gulf of Mexico and that might have been the only chance I ever had to see one. So I packed up my camera and hopped in the car. The shots weren't very good but I have proof I saw it.

 

[macwalter]

My take is unless the bird in question is of special interest I would hesitate these days to take the shot far off as I can wait for a better opportunity later. However if it’s a rare and likely only time I will see the bird I will take the shot and hope to get something. With a bird in flight you won’t have time to put on a TC in most cases so just use what you have the sooner the better. And accept the shot will likely not be good.

 

[Larry S.]

Best to know the limitations of your setup and expectations. Been there. Finding a way to close the distance is usually the best plan. If you see this bird frequently you can try again. You can waste time at the computer cropping and editing only to realize your image has lost the sharpness you thought was there. On the other hand, if you’ve spotted the “extinct” blue legged double crested cockeyed waladoo in breeding plumage by all means reel off the frames… The laws of diminishing returns creeps in as the distance grows…..

 

[Doug Herr]

If you see this bird frequently you can try again.

+1

Observe the bird and its habits, find a spot where it comes regularly, sit quietly at a reasonable distance and let the bird come to you. Cover yourself with camo-print mesh netting if the bird appears spooked by your presence, or if the bird is still wary back off and enjoy the bird from a distance & let your neurons record your observations.

 

[Flyboy]

Just curious what is the best option when a bird is too far.
Use full frame and crop.
Use full frame with TC
Use crop sensor

As has been said, sometimes too far is too far. I have DX cameras, and use the 1.3X crop option when I can't get closer. Used properly, the MP rating for a 24 MP DX camera in 1.3X crop mode will be~12-15 MP. My D 90 had a 12 MP sensor, and I never felt undergunned all the years I used it.

 

[Anjin San]

Yep..Getting closer is the best answer…but sometimes you just can’t. So…either crop or use a TC or shoot a more environmental shot. For me with Z gear…adding the TC is preferred solution because it gives you more POD (pixels on duck) and thus better sharpness potential. Yes, a little less IQ at 2:1 in LR but we don’t look at final images at 2:1 in LR and whatever downsampling happens for output diminishes the potential IQ reduction at 2:1 somewhat. Sometimes though…even with the RC or crop…too far is just too far so either skip it or environmental image…unless it’s a ypu will never see this again thing then take it anyway and accept less than optimum.