Focus and high speed shutter? Hi all, I was out taking bif yesterday I have a 7d m2. I had it to hss 10fps.i was reading in the past that the focus is blind when shutter is up possibly...

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Hi all, I was out taking bif yesterday I have a 7d m2. I had it to hss 10fps.i was reading in the past that the focus is blind when shutter is up possibly having more out of focus frames . Question is, are more pics better with possibility more out of focus pics or using a slower fps and having more time between shutter openings to gain more in focus pics? Am I over thinking this or is this really an issue thanks for the clarity bill

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

In my experience, getting BIF in focus is a combination of many things. Proper light, Proper Panning technic from photographer, shutter speed, is vr on or off, cameras ability to lock focus and or to continuously focus as the subject moves, amount of focusing points used, full manual settings or shooting in aperture or shutter priority, ect........ If you practice a lot, to the point of capturing the majority of BIF in focus, then your at the point of figuring out what best works for you.. I use a Nikon and shoot lots of BIF. My camera will capture almost all of the frames now, that I'm experienced.. Not at all in the beginning......

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Hi Martin,i used to canon 100/400 mm and had it on, in bif should that have be off?

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

There are a couple of settings in your camera that deal with this. Check out AI Servo 1st image priority and AI Servo 2nd image priority. If you set each of those to Focus, you will get a higher percentage of in focus shots at the camera's highest shutter speed.

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Thanks anvil already have both set to focus

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I would check out the BIF section of the site and post your question over there.. Birdpix the host uses canon equipment and will steer you right. http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html

wer224 wrote:

Hi Martin,i used to canon 100/400 mm and had it on, in bif should that have be off?

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Thanx martinfish

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Steve from backcountry gallery (who is a UHH member) shows in his E-book on wildlife photography that he gets more keepers at the highest frame rate (I think he uses 10 per second in his example). I used his E-book to improve my BIF shots and I was not disappointed. He gives many tips on technique and settings that you just don't find in other posts or publications. Thanks Steve!!!

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

The 7D mark II has so problem maintaining focus at 10 fps. As Martin has already noted, proper technique and camera set up contribute to success. My usual camera settings are: AI Servo AF (continuous tracking focus), center point expansion (the central focus point plus the adjacent 4 points), AF Case 2 ( makes the camera hesitate before refocusing if the focus distance suddenly changes a great amount as when something comes through the field of view or the AF points move off the target momentarily).
I will use all 57 points and case 6 when shooting small, erratic birds like swallows. Case 6 allows for a faster "hand off" of AF from point to point for when birds refuse to cooperate and fly in a nice straight line!

Come visit us on the BIF/BOW forum where you will find much info on proper technique!

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Thanks revert and birdpix I will definitely look into the other forums. I never realized how huge this topic is till I started checking and getting out taking pics.i have been out a couple of times in the past few years, but this summer it has become habit forming😁 thanks again all

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

wer224 wrote:

Hi all, I was out taking bif yesterday I have a 7d m2. I had it to hss 10fps.i was reading in the past that the focus is blind when shutter is up possibly having more out of focus frames . Question is, are more pics better with possibility more out of focus pics or using a slower fps and having more time between shutter openings to gain more in focus pics? Am I over thinking this or is this really an issue thanks for the clarity bill

If you are shooting high speed with a fast shutter speed have you tried turning off IS?

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

I'm shooting with 100/400 version 1,i had is on and 1/1200 and hss most were ok lost some . my focus point was center and four surrounding points which I probably missed bird. The old saying how do you get to Carnegie Hall practice practice practice 😁😁😁 thanks I'll try with is off