1/8000 of a second, rare winter speed: In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to shoot this speed. It takes a very bright sunny day and I finally got one after three weeks.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to shoot this speed. It takes a very bright sunny day and I finally got one after three weeks. This speed is what is required to get the wings of a black capped Chickadee. This is a very small bird with extremely fast wings! Not one I get to shoot very often taking off. It's about four and half inches long and short can move! You can tell that by the blur in these photos even though they were taken at 1/8000 of a second

However I did get lucky today and got a few half decent shots. I'm showing them below:

Jim D

(Download)

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Excellent shots Jim.

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

oldtool2 wrote:

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to ... (show quote)

Very nice Jim D, very well done, hope you are getting better and staying warm. I hope you haven't forgotten me again

fosgood11 Loc: oil city, La.

oldtool2 wrote:

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to shoot this speed. It takes a very bright sunny day and I finally got one after three weeks. This speed is what is required to get the wings of a black capped Chickadee. This is a very small bird with extremely fast wings! Not one I get to shoot very often taking off.

However I did get lucky today and got a few half decent shots. I'm showing them below:

Jim D

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The EXIF data says 1/5000, not 1/8000 sec. If you had used f/5 instead of f/10, you could have increased shutter speed a bit more.

A very nice photo regardless.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

oldtool2 wrote:

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to ... (show quote)

All the pictures show heavy noise and out of focus, it's not the motion blur! The noise and softness may be due to the high ISO6400and the cropping of the image. The 150mm lens you used won't get the bird filling up the frame with out cropping!

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

rook2c4 wrote:

The EXIF data says 1/5000, not 1/8000 sec. If you had used f/5 instead of f/10, you could have increased shutter speed a bit more.

A very nice photo regardless.

The first two are 1/5000, the last three are 1/8000 after I changed my settings. If I used F5 I wouldn't of had any DOF, the shots were taken at about 10 or 12 feet. So I chose to try F10 and see what I can get.

Jim D

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

A nice series Jim!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

oldtool2 wrote:

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to ... (show quote)

Interesting shots, but with the use of such high ISO they images are not very usable. If you want to attain sharp high-speed captures, you could invest in some flashes. In that way, the ISO is kept manageable and you can have the DOF you desire as well.

Since you are working from a feeder, you should be able to get some very nice images and you have the captive audience to shoot all the test images you desire as you figure out the settings that work best.

Good timing with the shots though. You did well. Most small birds are extremely difficult subjects and require lots of shots to get one right. The only ones I find easiest to shoot are the hummingbirds because they are so predictable at a feeder.

The setup most pros use includes an electric eye that sets the camera off when the bird flies through the beam.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Bozsik wrote:

Interesting shots, but with the use of such high I... (show quote)

Unfortunately I can't afford to use a set up the pros use. I do agree that a very powerful flash might help. I don't have anything that strong I don't think. I'm not sure that a flash could keep up with that faster shutter speed either.

I did set the range differently from my ISO, giving it a max of 3200. That should help with the noise, if it doesn't mess with everything else too much. I will keep shooting, I'm having fun.

Jim D

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

oldtool2 wrote:

Unfortunately I can't afford to use a set up the pros use. I do agree that a very powerful flash might help. I don't have anything that strong I don't think. I'm not sure that a flash could keep up with that faster shutter speed either.

I did set the range differently from my ISO, giving it a max of 3200. That should help with the noise, if it doesn't mess with everything else too much. I will keep shooting, I'm having fun.

Jim D

You don't need a powerful flash setup. You can place the flashes closer to the subject. With an electronic flash, the flash intensity at full power is the same intensity as the lower power. The flash duration, however, is longer. This means, if you want a 1/30,000 of a second duration, you need to have the flashes set closer to the subject to have the light you require, but the duration will be incredibly fast.

The reason pros use an electric eye is that it saves them time and wasted shots. You can certainly do the same thing without it. Your timing is excellent with the images you have.

Here is something you might consider as well. If you can block the number of directions that the birds come to the feeder, or place a small perch that they would fly to before getting to the feeder, this will enable you to better guess where to focus and gather your captures. it's all about eliminating the variables when shooting anything high speed.

Hope this helps you a bit more. I can't wait to see more images. You are getting there.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Bozsik wrote:

You don't need a powerful flash setup. You can pla... (show quote)

Thank you for your suggestions. Unfortunately because of the amputation I had I can't get out that table to clean it off and put a couple branches on it. I'll have to get somebody to do it for me when they come to visit.

I changed my focus points and am now using all 65 point. This is something I've never done before so I will see if that helps a little. I checked the focus points using DPP and they still aren't on where I think they should be, or where I want. It appears the autofocus can't keep up with the birds, LOL!

Here's a couple shots I took earlier today. I am also showing the original photos before I cropped them. Feel free to work with them if you want.

Jim D

After cropping

(Download)

Before

(Download)

Tresed47 Loc: Pennsylvania USA

oldtool2 wrote:

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to ... (show quote)

Incredible timing to capture a chickadee in flight - very well done

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

oldtool2 wrote:

In the middle winter it is rare that I can get to ... (show quote)

They look attractive with their wings fanned out.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

oldtool2 wrote:

Here's a couple shots I took earlier today. I am also showing the original photos before I cropped them. Feel free to work with them if you want.

Jim D

I think you have the timing down well. These are very informative shots with the frozen action.

I tried to eliminate some of the distracting background, but the noise was also an issue. Didn't have the time to spend working on it, but you can see the possibilities are there for some stunning shots.