Details, details...

[NorthernFocus]

High ISO, lens wide open, who cares? Modern glass/coatings, VR technology, high rez sensors, and PP software are pretty amazing.

Nikon D500, Nikkor 300mm f4E
1/500, f4, ISO5000, handheld
full frame vertical crop from original horizontal orientation

[John 2]

That's just gorgeous. Lovely capture.

[ST1]

Nice work Dan, plenty of detail in the feathers. In the UK I would recognise the bird as a Tree Creeper.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, guys. What, no mention of the clipped tail?

... In the UK I would recognise the bird as a Tree Creeper.

Interesting that most North American species were identified and named by European naturalists yet they named the birds something different than what they are called in Europe. Maybe it was the whole "new world" state of mind. Of course nowadays many are in fact found to be slightly different through DNA testing. But those early naturalists chose different names without the benefit of that knowledge. Go figure.

Now the serious birders can let me have it

[Dave A]

Sharp for sure. No tail required in this image as attention is Up

Dave

[Shadowman]

Nice shot.

[Mike Buckley]

Nice pose and details in the feathers!

As for the high ISO, it's often discussed here at CiC that the more the ISO is increased from the base ISO, the more the dynamic range is decreased. I've never displayed a photo that has ISO when someone has said, "Gee, Mike, that would have been a lot nicer if the original file would have had more dynamic range." I really do wonder when (or indeed if) a relatively low amount of dynamic range is perceived by the viewer.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the additional comments, guys. I've enjoyed shooting these little guys the past couple of days. They are quite the spunky little critters.

[billtils]

Lovely composition, colour and detail Dan. Ignore the "theory" about high ISO - the proof is in the pudding and this one has the exposure triangle spot on.

[NorthernFocus]

...Ignore the "theory" about high ISO ...

Let's not ignore it completely, Bill. Theory makes for lively discussion on rainy days.

Considering the weather conditions here in Alaska and the ISO values that I frequently shoot, I'm utterly amazed when I see old wildlife photos shot with ASA64 slide film. They must have spent a lot of time in the field sitting in their tents waiting for the sun to come out.

[Donald]

On the question of ISO. I don't know anything about Nikon and in particular how the D500 is adjudged to be handle high ISO and, also, what software are you processing from RAW.

They're both working well together. The photographer did okay as well! Get the exposure right and the noise doesn't become a problem.

[RandyRFJP]

Beautiful photograph, Dan!

[JBW]

and the more someone practices the more amazing the tech is

[IzzieK]

Nice shot, Dan...I am still on the fence on whether to buy the D500 or wait for the rumoured D810 replacement. Others had already mentioned the merits of your birdie so I am not going to echo them. This got me more interested in your camera choice.

[JohnRostron]

Nice work Dan, plenty of detail in the feathers. In the UK I would recognise the bird as a Tree Creeper.

I don't know about Yorkshire, but in the rest of the UK we would call it a Nuthatch.

John

[NorthernFocus]

... This got me more interested in your camera choice.

I like the D500 for the frame rate, focus module, and customization options. Frankly IQ is better in the D7200. For much of what you shoot(or at least what you share on CIC) full frame probably makes better sense. Plus you already have FF lenses. I thought I'd be content indefinitely with the D810. But if the D850 will shoot 8fps as rumored I may upgrade. I'm not too crazy about even bigger files than the D810 already makes but the frame rate will probably lure me in. That could finally be a single camera body that fits all my needs. One camera to rule them all....

[Wavelength]

Superb image; wonderful