News

Yesterday I noted the release of the new Sony A75 mirrorless camera. It has the same size 33mp sensor as the old A74, but this sensor is now semi-stacked. Other new features include pre-capture, improved image stabilisation, improved autofocus functions and improvements to video features. However, is this a camera to interest bird in flight photographers like me? Well, not really. I say this because the actual readout speed, although much better than the A74, is still only approx 12.0 - 15.0 ms. To put that into context, the OM-1 has a readout speed of approx 7.8 ms, the Sony A1/A1ii has a readout speed of approx 4.2 ms and the Sony A9iii (with its global shutter) has an instant 0 ms readout speed. I understand that the Sony A75 has a frame rate of up to 30 fps, which is impressive, but if, like me, you tend to photograph very fast birds in flight (and insects), you will see the effects of rolling shutter with the Sony A75 on occasion. That is something I cannot live with. To put it beyond doubt, for me at least, my OM-1 has a much faster readout speed of approx 7.8 ms and I get horrible rolling shutter for my insects in flight work. I am hoping that the next OM Systems camera release has a readout speed matching the Sony A1/A1ii or the Nikon Z8/Z9. For general use and slower action work, the Sony A75 is more compelling, given its specification and price point in the UK of approx £2,800.00.

Continuing my life-long quest to photograph the beauty of Short-eared Owls, I stumbled across this bird yesterday. A break in the weather and it was out sunning itself, trying to get dry again, following on from earlier heavy rain. These birds roost on the ground generally and are therefore subjected to all the weather that comes their way.

I've been spending a bit of time recently looking for my beloved Short-eared Owls, birds I've had a passion for since starting bird in flight photography over 20 years' ago. They turn up, around about this time usually, all along the Suffolk coastline. A record shot from yesterday!

Sad news indeed, as the RSPB Images library is due to close in the Spring of 2026.

A commercial library offering high quality bird and other wildlife imagery, the library has been operating for over 43 years and was initially set up by Chris Gomersall, a well-known and respected professional wildlife photographer.

It is particularly sad for me as I have acted as an Agency Bird Photographer for the RSPB, supplying images for over 13 years, often involving some effort, time and determination.

However, I can understand why this has happened, it is not unusual and the number of successful commercial wildlife photographic libraries is dwindling all the time. That situation is only set to get worse imo.