mikey12654 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Greetings,
I'm new to the R5 and have watched many YouTube vids about the wildlife settings people have chosen with their own R5. For those of you who use the R5 I'm curious what your own settings are for wildlife and birds in flight.
I'm using the 100-400L ii lens mainly but will also use the RF 800 f/11 lens too. Thanks so much!

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Good morning Mikey. I would be happy to discuss how I have my R5 set up and what I found that works best for me. Email me when you have time and we can discuss further.
tjkraemer1@gmail.com

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I have been using Case 3 with facial and eye tracking enabled and can say that the facial and eye tracking is amazing on the R5. I am not sure that these would be the settings I would use for other birds or wildlife but because the Hummers dart around quickly it seems to be the best for them. I am able to track Hummers with some success using a 600mm f/5.6 setup, a 300 f/2.8 with a 2X extender and the camera does lock on the eye.... I am interesting in how well the f/11 800mm works out for BIF, seems that you are going to have to jack up the ISO to freeze the bird in flight, also wondering how well the camera will track at f/11.

hdfilmnoir Loc: New Mexico

I shoot manually on my r5 with a canon 400mm. My setting for hummingbirds are a 2000/1 f 5.6 auto ISO and tracking +2
my second setting is 1000/1 f8 auto ISO tacking default. I'm still playing around with it but the tracking is fantastic.

I would also like to here from people with the setting they like.
Best hdfilmnoir

Best of luck

mikey12654 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Hi Blurryeyed,
Thanks so much for replying, I see that I have 3 of the same Canon lenses as you! I took a look at your pics with the R5 and they're awesome, I hope to someday shoot pics like that but don't have PS or any other post editing software except for Canon's DPP. After watching so many YouTube vids I'm becoming a little more confident in the operation of the R5 but have noticed from those vids that peoples choice of their settings for wildlife & BIF varies! So far I've only taken test shots around my yard and haven't yet been out in the field to find out which settings works best for me. Oh, regarding the RF 800 lens for BIF, I've seen some great BIF shots taken with that lens but I would think it's not an easy thing to do because of the fixed f/11. It has limitations but it's a sharp lens and has a great price for what you get I think. I love how you can assign different functions to different buttons on the R5, that's amazing! I've set up back button focus on the AF-ON button and have set up the * star button so I can cycle between single point AF and face/eye detection. I'm thinking I can use single point AF on the persons/animals eye then toggle over to face/eye detection....do you think that's a good setup?? Also, a question, once I've switched over to face/eye detection and the camera has detected the targets eye....do I have to keep the focus button pressed down while I'm in that face/eye detection AF mode?? Or, does the camera automatically focus & track the targets eye on it's own without me holding down the button?? Do you use a UV or clear protection filter on your lenses and if so, do you shoot through them?? Thank you in advance!!

mikey12654 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Yeah, I've noticed a lot of folks use manual mode, are you using the electronic shutter?? You have to tap the back screen to shoot don't you? If so, do you hold the camera with one hand and use the other to tap the screen? Sorry for the noob questions lol.

Arizona Art Loc: SE Florida

Hi Mike,

Congrats on the R5 & RF800. I have been shooting birds with that combo since December 2020. It is a super combo to do just that.

Here are a few examples of BIF's with that combo:
https://flic.kr/p/2m4JgQx
https://flic.kr/p/2kLiNs1
https://flic.kr/p/2kBomo6
https://flic.kr/p/2khXB5J

The settings I use are:
I use dual back button focus. For BIF's, the AF-ON button is for Large Zone AF: Vertical (page 139 of the R5 manual). The astericks button next to it I use for Face Tracking / Eye Detect (page 137 of the R5 manual). I switch between them as the need arises. I have used each of those buttons for BIF photos and I do not see a difference.

But, there's more about quick selecting the AF Method. I have programmed the Quick Control Dial 1, on the back of the camera, to scroll thru the AF Methods so I can select which mode works best for a given situation. Then I use the back button focus (AF-ON) with the selected AF Method. This works excellent if I'm trying to point focus on a subject in a crowded environment (a single bird in a tree or bush).

Now, I have settled on these AF parameters. I get the best keeper rate for perched, swimming or flying birds using:
AF Menu 3, Servo AF Case 2. Tracking sensitivity -2, Accel / Decel 0. I did use Case 1 for thousands of photos and wasn't impressed so I switched to Case 2 and find that works much better.

Shutter speed is 1/4000 when I turn ON the camera (I set ALL of this up on Custom2 (C2) Mode). I use the lens ring to adjust shutter speed. I find best success when shooting at least 1/3200. I thought 1/2000 was OK but I get way more keepers at 1/4000.

I have now used eye detect for BIF photos as well as Large Zone AF: Vertical and both work well.

Stay a little in front of the bird when you view it thru the view finder. I don't photograph small birds in flight. It's too hard for me. Never had any success at it. I much prefer larger birds. Raptors like hawks, falcons and eagles are my faves. They are highly intelligent and will often circle around you to check you out. That's when you can get some awesome pics. Position yourself so that the sun will illuminate their face.

If you have anymore questions, just let me know. Glad to help.

I also use the 100-400 II with the R5 with an adapter, for wildlife picture and get superb results:
https://flic.kr/p/2kXD98i
https://flic.kr/p/2kXDLFR

Feel free to PM me with any questions. Glad to help.

mikey12654 Loc: Vancouver, WA

Hi Art,

Thank you for your very informative reply, it’s pretty much what I was looking for! You have some great shots with both of those lenses, they’re very encouraging to see because I have the same lenses! I have a few questions, are you shooting in manual mode or a different mode?? Also, do you ever shoot using the electronic shutter or do you prefer the mechanical shutter?? Also again, do you use UV or clear filters on your lenses for protection and if so, do you shoot through them?? Geez, I’m really loving this camera and how my high-end L-series EF lenses work on it, those RF lenses are crazy expensive!

Based on your info, I’m gonna increase my SS to 1/4000 and will add a Zone AF to my other 2 AF methods. I’ve assigned my AF modes to the star button so I can cycle through them without taking my eye off the view finder, I have single point, face detect and now zone AF. Are you using auto ISO or??

You’ve been a huge help Art and I thank you, tomorrow I think I’ll do a little recon of my area to find a good place where the birds are!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Here you go, free of charge. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAH-T6ii5m0

pauldh Loc: Melbourne, Australia

This is worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vyq304j4wE

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

For BIF with the 100-400 EF I use manual shutter about 2000 and aperture 5.6 with Auto ISO. I have found with BIF the light can change during tracking so Auto ISO works best to keep up. I use eye focus and it works very well unless the background is very busy and then it can get lost. For convenience I use two Back Button focus' with one set specifically for birds and the other for landscape. Slight move of my finger to go from one to the other.

Arizona Art Loc: SE Florida

Hi Mikey, I usually shoot in shutter priority mode. Lately I have been also experimenting with Fv mode too.

For shutter, I use Elec. 1st -curtain. If I need high speed, I use Electronic shutter.

I use an UV[0] lens protective filter on all of my lenses.

Also, I encourage you to experiment with the SERVO AF modes 1, 2 and 3. See which modes give you better keeper rates. For instance try Case 2 with -2 tracking sensitivity and 0 Accel./decel tracking. I find that Case works real well too.

Ed D Loc: Virginia

I shoot with the R5 and my primary focus is on wildlife. For camera setup check Whistling Wings. He has a great tutorial for the R5 setup and he uses the R5 for birding. As for the lens it’s a matter of opinion. Some like it, I don’t. Being a prime lens at F11 I feel it’s worthless in low light conditions. As for shooting with an 800mm I say bravo if it’s good light and the birds are at a distance. Unfortunately birds don’t always cooperate and some great shots are close by. It would be difficult at best to focus quickly. My lens is the Sigma 150-600 C and it’s served me well. I am considering an F4 500mm prime lens when I can afford it.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I actually had a 500/4 and went to a 300/2.8 with the 2X extender, found it a lot easier to handle with no compromise in quality.

Ed D Loc: Virginia

Good to know. I’ve always been leery of a 2x extender. I already use an adapter for my R5 to use EF lenses. I would be concerned that adding an extender to that would place the lens too far out and impact quality, especially a 2x. I’d probably step it back a little and use a 1.6 if I went the extender route.