The Panasonic has arrived!

This is the Camera I purchased! That's a stock photo...Its  Panasonic Lumix DCM FZ70K 60X geeze such a long name! I'm going to sort of review it here. The link takes you direct to the seller on Ebay where I  got this one. It is re-manufactured and I wouldn't even consider that except it comes with a 90 day warranty! So I figure that's a good a deal as any. 

WHY DID I SELL THE CANON REBEL, you ask?

Because...it was too heavy for me to use "out in the field" which is where I wanted to use it...generally I dont' use a tripod unless its a waterfall and if its a long hike I've been known to use a rock for a tripod..so weight is an issue for me...Changing lenses is a P.I.A. If you're in the field snapping shots of a flower and then a bird zooms by you're screwed..so a bridge is the way for me..

WHY I CHOSE THIS OVER THE main competitor in long zooms....the CANON  SX 50? 

Well I watched a few SX's on Ebay and they went to $300.  Even used ones were up to $250  and the megapixel is 12.1 this Lumix is 16.1 megapixels. I've never owned a Panasonic camera before so I have to get familiar with the layout...I've owned Minolta, Kodak, and Canon in the digital line.  So here is my first shot its right out of the window of my bedroom...so thru a pane of glass..

and even closer....

Here is a shot of distance so you can see...here is the back yard (no grass thanks to 2 dogs whose names I won't mention)...see the picket fence line at the back? Look to the right of the open gate there is a bird feeder on a taller post, it looks like a black spot about mid-line here 

standing in exact spot zoomed it in on feeder and a cardinal feeding....its a 60 X Zoom..so pretty good...this is hand held so IF I'm not moving too much I can get a decent shot...

I did notice its slow to focus sometimes in branches...but I found that with the Canon too, so mostly I manual focused that camera which was another drawback due to my wrist function...

So far I'm pleased..I am having trouble with the video it tells me "the card has been formatted by outside sources"...its an old card I've used in a couple of cameras so I will get a new card on my next trip to town...it came with battery (I have to order one more I like to have at least ONE back up ready to go) charger, lens cover, neck strap, booklet and software. 

Its light weight...at 1 lb and 6 oz.  CONS: I am not crazy about the location of the zoom button, I wold prefer it at the right back where you thumb can operate the zoom and the forefinger the release button...but its located on the edge of the release button...

And the Display Icons are scattered everywhere so It will take some time to get used to what all this means...so far I'm only shooting in AUTO mode till I get used to it...so as of today I like it...and plan to keep it if it screws up hopefully it will be within 90 days. I can buy extended warranty... I don't know if I will do that...gotta think it over do y'all do that? So now its time to get out there and photograph!!

Bye for NOW!!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.

The Drummer Boys-WBW

Although Ive noticed a slight downturn in the numbers, woodpeckers seem to be doing well.. near my home is an area I nic-named the 40 Acre Woods-its a large 103 acre tract with a vacant land owner--its used for timber cutting and leased to hunters in season--it is great Red Headed Woodpecker habitat!  With plentiful snags and a low laying area that supports a large insect
population, its the perfect habitat for these beautiful birds! 

They drum quite loudly when they are digging a bug out of the dead wood--but Nothing like the Pileated Woodpecker the cousin to the possibly back from extinction Ivory Billed Woodpecker.  In the field it would be easy to distinguish between the Ivory Billed that has a very large white wing patch....These guys make a very loud jungle type call and the drumming sound can travel for some distance- 

The Downy Woodpecker is a visitor to the suet in the yard on occasion...not as frequently as in the past--these small woodpeckers are quite common though in my area.  They drum really fast and not so loud but you can certainly hear it.  They will drum on the wood of your house!  They have a high pitched little pik call and the faint whinny sound too. The Hairy Woodpecker is sometimes confused with the Downy but I usually check the beak length..the hairy has a longer beak.  (sorry no Hairy Photo) I think its fascinating how the length of the beak means woodpeckers don't compete for the same grubs!  The grubs that live deeper in the wood are eaten by the longer beaked birds!




Another familiar woodpecker in my area is the Red Bellied Woodpecker.  I wish I had a better photo to represent this fellow--I love the dotted white on black of this birds back.  They also drum loudly and have a call that sort of rolllssss out...like a chatter.

This post is a contribution to World Bird Wednesday meme -click the icon to read about birds of the world and see some wonderful photos and meet some interesting bloggers!--