Just joined. Shooting birds I use my Canon Mark III with a 100mm-400mm IS II lens. I try to use the best combination of shutter speed and auto ISO. Most pictures are still rather soft. I use a single point to focus. Use back focus button. Settings were 1/640 sec, F 6.3, 371mm
Any general suggestions would be appreciated.
Repost an attachment with download active (store original selected when attaching). The image above is just a thumbnail and impossible to assess sharp or soft nor to access the EXIF data.
I shoot in the Raw. This is a cropped, photo shopped jpeg
To get strong detail, it requires getting closer. Your settings look fine. Micro contrast can be an added benefit and can be easier achieved using flash.
Here's an example of detail that can be achieved by simply getting closer.
It just needs a little post processing. This is from the original post.
Bridges
Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA
Look at the claws of the bird. They are what looks like perfect sharpness. That means your ideal focus point is off by only 3 or 4". A stationary bird like that most likely would not require a shutter speed of 1/640. I would drop the shutter speed to as low as 1/200th since you are using a VR lens and increase the DOF accordingly. That might render the entire subject in perfect focus.
thanks Hayden, Micro adjustment is next. These guys are high in the tree. Not sure I can get any closer
thanks bill. I will try it next
Mike
I think I replied to you as Hayden earlier. My apologies. That reply was to another member
thanks Hayden, Micro adjustment is next. These guys are high in the tree. Not sure I can get any closer
Bill, can you send the pic back downloadable? What did you do in post processing?
garyhile wrote:
Bill, can you send the pic back downloadable? What did you do in post processing?
I did this from your original post, so download will give you the same as what you see on the screen. I lightened it a little, added a little contrast, and used unsharp mask {250 - .2 - 0} twice.
With a little work on the full sized image, I think you will have a more than respectable image. I like this kind of framing much better than extreme close ups. It's nice to see where the subject lives.
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Hey Bill ... Please expand on the Unmask words ...
I lightened in lightroom using the exposure (+), added contrast. Not clear on your unmask wording
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