Manfrotto gear arrived.

[DrEntropy]

None of it appears to have even been used! The feet on the 'pod are nearly pristine, the included ball head feels as if it was never used, still has some of the factory oil traces. All QR plates fit all 'pods, pan-tilt head on the tripod is silk smooth, ball head on the monopod has a drag adjustment that needs "breaking in" it's so snug. I'm CHUFFED!

 

[GregW]

Those turtles don't have a chance now.

 

[Basil]

Looks like you got yourself a quad-pod!

 

[DrEntropy]

The monopod with the Manfrotto ball head made the "fourth leg".

Those turtles don't have a chance now.

Been overcast and rainy yesterday, too much goin' on today. But tomorrow I have to see a client in the AM and will be close to the "hunting ground" so will go try again.

 

[DrEntropy]

The 80~400mm ∱4.5~5.6D is not as sharp as I'd hoped at 400mm. Tripod mounted, all possible camera movement accounted for, focused both with AF and manually, same result. Just not all that crisp. A bunch of exposures changing f-stop, ISO and shutter speed made no difference. I did make all exposures through a PL filter, but doubt that to be the problem.

May try tomorrow sans filter and mirror locked up, remotely trip the shutter.

 

[DrEntropy]

Did not lock the mirror up, this shot was at 1/160th sec. ∱7.1 and seems to show some camera movement.
Three turtles. Honestly!

 

[DrEntropy]

This at 1/400 sec. ∱8 and ISO 1600, full frame. Tried some Darktable sharpening:



Still seeing what must be camera shake: