BIRD IN FLIGHT ONLY -- share your BIF photos here
- Thread starter Dylan777
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I tried the Red-bill Tropic Bird today - it didn't come around (classical problem when you have just one bird present in the area)!
Made some small adjustments in the setting of the camera used by my daughter (D7200) and checked how it will work with fast moving objects (but with the 200-500 zoom!). How it will work with now two macro lenses in her disposition is still under question...
With D500 and the same lens week ago I was using only the "group AF". Today since D7200 has no "group AF" it was only the smallest "area AF". Huge difference: today the AF was turtle speed! I did just a several bursts (waiting for the Red-bill to appear) and only few of them were useful because the AF was not able to "grab" the bird!
On other hand: When it catches the bird it was usually in the point where I was aiming! With the "group" you hardly know where exactly the real focus point will land!
My usual practice with the D500 was to catch the object in "group" (no matter 200-500 or 500PF) and then to try to get the exact point of focus in area mode (mostly successful!).
I have no idea how my experience will translate to the Canon users (Alan - you did use both systems for sure! You are the expert!).
Like first to grab the BIF with "animal" or whatsoever recognition and then to switch to "eye" when the bird is closer and the eye is bigger- if possible, I have no idea?
I'm writing this because we were 4 birders at the same spot -me, one Sony with 200-600G lens (didn't look for the camera model), one Canon R5x100-500 (all "local" guys except with a tourist with camera with no exchangeable lens - no idea what it was. BTW looking in the mirror when I shaved this evening I noticed my face is very red - I hope it's because I didn't apply sunscreen, not because of the camera/lens that I was using next to these guys
) . The guy with the Canon explained to me that if the object is on a background of water splashes or bright spots (see my previous post!) the "Eye recognition" may not work or actually may be very confusing (I did hear the same from a woman flashing Z8 on one of the Oahu's trails)!
First shot is from my previous weekend - I found more informative photo of the Red-billed Tropic bird: all three species of Tropic Birds have barred back when juveniles but only the Red-billed keep it as an adult!
After that photos from two bursts from today!
Made some small adjustments in the setting of the camera used by my daughter (D7200) and checked how it will work with fast moving objects (but with the 200-500 zoom!). How it will work with now two macro lenses in her disposition is still under question...
With D500 and the same lens week ago I was using only the "group AF". Today since D7200 has no "group AF" it was only the smallest "area AF". Huge difference: today the AF was turtle speed! I did just a several bursts (waiting for the Red-bill to appear) and only few of them were useful because the AF was not able to "grab" the bird!
On other hand: When it catches the bird it was usually in the point where I was aiming! With the "group" you hardly know where exactly the real focus point will land!
My usual practice with the D500 was to catch the object in "group" (no matter 200-500 or 500PF) and then to try to get the exact point of focus in area mode (mostly successful!).
I have no idea how my experience will translate to the Canon users (Alan - you did use both systems for sure! You are the expert!).
Like first to grab the BIF with "animal" or whatsoever recognition and then to switch to "eye" when the bird is closer and the eye is bigger- if possible, I have no idea?
I'm writing this because we were 4 birders at the same spot -me, one Sony with 200-600G lens (didn't look for the camera model), one Canon R5x100-500 (all "local" guys except with a tourist with camera with no exchangeable lens - no idea what it was. BTW looking in the mirror when I shaved this evening I noticed my face is very red - I hope it's because I didn't apply sunscreen, not because of the camera/lens that I was using next to these guys
) . The guy with the Canon explained to me that if the object is on a background of water splashes or bright spots (see my previous post!) the "Eye recognition" may not work or actually may be very confusing (I did hear the same from a woman flashing Z8 on one of the Oahu's trails)!First shot is from my previous weekend - I found more informative photo of the Red-billed Tropic bird: all three species of Tropic Birds have barred back when juveniles but only the Red-billed keep it as an adult!
After that photos from two bursts from today!
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For BIF, the R5 and R7 usually act in “group” mode AF and do not find the eye. However, the group functions over the whole sensor and not just the centre. For Nikon, the D500 and D850 are in a different league for BIF from all the other 800 and700 series.I tried the Red-bill Tropic Bird today - it didn't come around (classical problem when you have just one bird present in the area)!
Made some small adjustments in the setting of the camera used by my daughter (D7200) and checked how it will work with fast moving objects (but with the 200-500 zoom!). How it will work with now two macro lenses in her disposition is still under question...
With D500 and the same lens week ago I was using only the "group AF". Today since D7200 has no "group AF" it was only the smallest "area AF". Huge difference: today the AF was turtle speed! I did just a several bursts (waiting for the Red-bill to appear) and only few of them were useful because the AF was not able to "grab" the bird!
On other hand: When it catches the bird it was usually in the point where I was aiming! With the "group" you hardly know where exactly the real focus point will land!
My usual practice with the D500 was to catch the object in "group" (no matter 200-500 or 500PF) and then to try to get the exact point of focus in area mode (mostly successful!).
I have no idea how my experience will translate to the Canon users (Alan - you did use both systems for sure! You are the expert!).
Like first to grab the BIF with "animal" or whatsoever recognition and then to switch to "eye" when the bird is closer and the eye is bigger- if possible, I have no idea?
I'm writing this because we were 4 birders at the same spot -me, one Sony with 200-600G lens (didn't look for the camera model), one Canon R5x100-500 (all "local" guys except with a tourist with camera with no exchangeable lens - no idea what it was. BTW looking in the mirror when I shaved this evening I noticed my face is very red - I hope it's because I didn't apply sunscreen, not because of the camera/lens that I was using next to these guys
First shot is from my previous weekend - I found more informative photo of the Red-billed Tropic bird: all three species of Tropic Birds have barred back when juveniles but only the Red-billed keep it as an adult!
After that photos from two bursts from today!
View attachment 214329View attachment 214330View attachment 214331View attachment 214332View attachment 214333
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The other way (and I prefer it!) is to "grab" a fast moving bird! You have to pan fast and if you are able to keep the bird in focus the background is the one that say's "speed/movement"!
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You can only pan fast if the bird is flying fast.
Also you need a background not to close and not to abstract like the sky or water.
And I like if the wings are strongly blurred and the head is sharp.
As another example two shots @ 1/400s using R5 and RF 100-400 5.6-8
Sorry for the ugly BG and unpopular birds but I just waanted to try the shutter speeds.
Also you need a background not to close and not to abstract like the sky or water.
And I like if the wings are strongly blurred and the head is sharp.
As another example two shots @ 1/400s using R5 and RF 100-400 5.6-8
Sorry for the ugly BG and unpopular birds but I just waanted to try the shutter speeds.
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Thanks Click!Nice series, ISv.
At least on my D500 the group works all over the available points of the sensor too? I can move it left, right and up and down?!
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Nice explanation (it's how I see your post!) and it makes sense too! BTW what a hell noise reduction did you use (or didn't useYou can only pan fast if the bird is flying fast.
Also you need a background not to close and not to abstract like the sky or water.
And I like if the wings are strongly blurred and the head is sharp.
As another example two shots @ 1/400s using R5 and RF 100-400 5.6-8
View attachment 214353
View attachment 214354
Sorry for the ugly BG and unpopular birds but I just waanted to try the shutter speeds.
)!?
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You don’t have to move the ”group” on the R5 and other mirrorless, it automatically tracks over the whole sensor during the rapid change of flight position. When I used the D500, I had to preset where the group was and I chose the centre and panned to keep the bird in the detection area. Do you set the group position elsewhere than the centre for BIF?
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I didn't used any. Didn't really edited these pictures as they are just examples what I had in mind. Sorry!what a hell noise reduction did you use (or didn't use
What shutter speeds do you use for this method?
For this starling I had to pan really fast and the BG isn't blurred exept out of focus.
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4 TC @ 1/4000s, f/10, Iso 25 600, DxO pureRAW
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Lovely shots! Where you up on a hill?I didn't used any. Didn't really edited these pictures as they are just examples what I had in mind. Sorry!
What shutter speeds do you use for this method?
For this starling I had to pan really fast and the BG isn't blurred exept out of focus.
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4 TC @ 1/4000s, f/10, Iso 25 600, DxO pureRAW
View attachment 214391
View attachment 214392View attachment 214393
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I move the group on D500 to get the bird in focus before it's in good distance (could be on the left/right side of the frame, after that the group is moving with the bird. I will check this again in first opportunity - may be I'm missing something!!
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Because the background is pretty close to the birds! The relative speed of the background is not enough different from the speed of the birds (and 1/4000s !). The speed that you have to use differs by the difference in the radius to the birds and the background (I don't believe you are running parallel to the birdsI didn't used any. Didn't really edited these pictures as they are just examples what I had in mind. Sorry!
What shutter speeds do you use for this method?
For this starling I had to pan really fast and the BG isn't blurred exept out of focus.
R5 + RF 100-500L + 1.4 TC @ 1/4000s, f/10, Iso 25 600, DxO pureRAW
View attachment 214391
View attachment 214392View attachment 214393
!). Imagine a wheel: what part of the wheel is moving faster: the closer to the center point or the distant one?
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Actually I did: again 1/4000s! Distance to the bird in focus ~33 meters at f10...
And "Date Time Original = 2024-01-05 11:30:47" (from the Exiff file)! Is this 11:30:47 AM or PM
? I'm pretty sure it's not PM!!!On other hand it's a interesting concept: shooting day time and the photos are looking like taken in the twilight!
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So, I was actually doing some moon pics this morning, and a Bald Eagle just happened to fly into frame!
It's blurry as I wasn't trying to be taking birdy pics, but thought it was cool, none the less.
It's blurry as I wasn't trying to be taking birdy pics, but thought it was cool, none the less.
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