Rich475 Loc: North of San Francsico

I have been trying to learn BBF for about a year now. The biggest problem I'm having is shooting birds in flight. I have a Canon t6s and an 18mm-400mm lens. I'm using Manual but would Aperture or Shutter priority be better?
I always shoot with plenty of light, morning or afternoon, one-shot, 19 pt AF. shutter speed??? I have heard this lens is soft above 300mm and I have not gone higher than that. I have good results on anything not moving. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Rich

User ID

Try AF tracking. Very popular mode amongst action shooters.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I tried it a few times. I determined my remaining dexterity needs all the help it can get. To say nothing of forgetting that I set it and wondering why my focus acts broke.

I’ll leave it for the youngsters (e.g. < 60).

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Manual exposure (or aperture/shutter priority) will have no effect on focus. Using back button focus and one-shot (single servo I imagine you mean), suggests that you are not focusing continuously (continuous servo), so that once you acquire focus it will remain focused until you release the back button and reacquire focus, regardless of what happens with the subject. I suggest you switch from single-shot to continuous and see if that helps. Also try using fewer focus points - for faster and possibly more accurate focus acquisition. I use Nikon, but I am pretty sure at this level things are similar. Focus tracking modes are different, and you may want to explore those as well.

les spencer

Does that mean Big Birds Flying?

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

Agree with Gene51 - try continuous autofocus. You didn’t mention what shutter speed you are using. Posting a photo might help the UHH community see what’s going on and offer the right suggestion.
Switching to aperture or shutter priority wouldn’t help you. I shoot manual for BIF.

ahudina Loc: Browns Point, WA

If you have not checked out Steve Perry at Backcountry Gallery, you should. He has excellent books and videos on this very topic.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I like using one focus point and try for at least 1/2000 sec. Shoot in manual.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

If you have been trying for a year and still have problems, maybe it's not for you. Time to go back to shutter button focus? Is there a reason shutter button focus comes set as a default on ALL cameras? Many many people use shutter button focus with great success. I suggest that you use what works best for you and don't worry about what others are doing.

Larryshuman

I have a bird photography PDF which is 32 pages long that will help you. Send me a email at Larrys@bex.net and I'll send the PDF.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Continuous focus. Start off with higher shutter speeds (at least 800 but 1000, 1250 or higher would be better.)until you get good at it. Using a tripod/ no tripod? If so, rest your left hand on top of the lens above the tripod to help dampen vibrations. It helps me a lot on a tripod. Some say VR should be turned off on a tripod & should be turned off at high shutter speeds. Experiment & see what happens. Practice , practice, practice.

Steve Perry has some vids on you tube that might help as there are others.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

I have been using the Canon Rebel T8i and my kit zoom of 55-250mm on birds in flight and experimenting with as many settings as I can. To really get great shots I tend to go to SS speeds 2000 to 4000 and try and keep a small f stop in good light. My first choice was Av mode Shutter priority for our cameras. This way I could choose my aperture quickly and watch the SS vary to a high number in the viewfinder. I put my focus element on single shot if I could or the next setting for small center focus, rarely all45 points unless the bird was flying in an empty sky. I soon learned that many of my shots were using iso 1600-800 and I got SS’s 2000sec to 4000 and my fstop was generally around f8 + in good light. As the light changed I had to adjust and take what I could get at full zoom of 250 mm I can only open up to f stop of 5.6. Also experiment by setting your ISO to Auto! You might like it very much...many do.

Now I am using Tv setting, shutter speed priority and just set what I want and think will be good for conditions to start. I am trying the Auto ISO setting here because it is so fast changing for different lighting I am getting more keepers. I get more good green lights in the viewfinder saying it is good to go...and I can concentrate on smoothly following the bird in flight. I have gotten 5-7 shots on continuous shooting and all were good keepers.

You NEED to be at least using AIFocus it works like the One Shot Focus does until the bird starts moving then it switches to continuous focus just like AIServo does! After a short while you will like it! Don’t let the youngsters have ALL the good things. Lol... then for birds in flight give a serious try to Continuous Focusing. (AI Servo) that will work best most times for the moving subject. I try and use the small 9 point focus on moving subjects but if there tons of clutter around your subject go back to single point if it doesn’t work for you. I save the 15 and 45 point focus points for clean backgrounds and empty skies, but hey I’m still learning just like you!

I am saving all Manual for last for a serious trial. I’ll know my camera better by then, it will be easier to get around. Good luck and enjoy....my favorite BIF shot so far was on my granddaughter’s t6 so it works wonderful, go for it! Walt

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

Think we understood he meant BIF.

george19

Agreed, except…if you use shutter priority and set a fast enough shutter speed, let the aperture get set, it’s one less thing to deal with while trying to maintain focus.

I think the question has two parts: maintaining focus and managing workload.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Gene is on a roll this morning with great answers for those who choose to learn! Be sure you are in continuos focus and holding the back button down while simultaneously firing the shutter. I ran across a photog new to BBF once who didn't realize releasing the button set the focus plane and the camera held that point until pressed again. This may not be your issue, but your post seems to indicate a slightly flawed technique.