A question for BIF shooters: When shooting, what kind of focus do you use? AI servo? Manual? AF? I find it very difficult to focus unless one is able to pre-focus anticipating a birds...

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

When shooting, what kind of focus do you use? AI servo? Manual? AF? I find it very difficult to focus unless one is able to pre-focus anticipating a birds path.

How do you go about it???
Thanks for your anticipated kind responses.

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

One way is to use the back button focus along with AI focus and a fast shutter speed.

That is what works best for me.

FredB Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.

AI Servo, wide open aperture, continuous shooting.

MtnMan Loc: ID

FredB wrote:

AI Servo, wide open aperture, continuous shooting.

And spot focused with the camera set to only fire when focus is achieved. Than pan with the shutter held down. You'll get some bird parts that way but also some good ones. Try to put the spot on the eye.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

What camera and lens are you using?

With a Canon 7D I use AI Servo, auto focus with center point expanded focusing points.
I also use BBF (back button focusing) for the AF.

I put the focus points on the bird, hit the button, and it zips right into focus. No need for any type of pre-focusing as might be required when using a P&S.

I also will often use the 'pump focus' technique where I pump the back button to require and maintain focus as the bird flies out of the original area of focus.

All BIF and other action images on my wildlife photo blog were taken using these methods.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Turbo wrote:

One way is to use the back button focus along with AI focus and a fast shutter speed.

That is what works best for me.

I don't get why back button focus has anything to do with this.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

For Canon - AI servo, highest frames per second. Get your lens pre-focused to the approximate distance you anticipate the bird to be - IF you have time. If you have a zoom, zoom out to find the bird and get AF engaged - then zoom in and trip shutter. Ideally, your exposure will be correct for the existing prevailing INCIDENT light falling on the bird.

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

Swamp Gator wrote:

What camera and lens are you using? br br With a... (show quote)

50D with 100-400. I plan to buy 70D or 7D in near future.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Bubu wrote:

When shooting, what kind of focus do you use? AI servo? Manual? AF? I find it very difficult to focus unless one is able to pre-focus anticipating a birds path.

How do you go about it???
Thanks for your anticipated kind responses.

If you pre focus in anticipation, you will blow it every time. Set your metering to spot focus and have your lens on auto focus. Pick out the bird you want and stay with it, moving with it. Set your aperture according to the lighting conditions with your ISO being as low as you can get having a shutter speed of 1/500 sec or greater. I use single shot, which forces me to concentrate. If your lens has a fast AF motor, then it is alright to shoot in continuous shutter mode, but I find that a lot of the shots will be blurry or out of focus. What is the difference between blurry and out of focus? What I mean by blurry ids that the eyes or body or one wing might be in focus but every other part is not. Out of focus means just that altogether.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

MtnMan wrote:

I don't get why back button focus has anything to do with this.

BBF has no direct effect for BIF ! It is, however useful for when a bird is sitting and you are composing with the bird off center in AI servo. When the bird takes off, you are then ready to follow him with AI servo already engaged.

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

This is what I found for the 50D, for all 50D users out there...

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

I doubt the 50D is a problem in BIF. More likely, it's technique, compounded by using a zoom lens.

I've used a 40D and 50D for the past many years, and AI Servo AF and high burst shutter mode have worked well, but I'm using a prime long lens (300, 400, or 500) for BIF.

Here are two examples - one recent, one from a couple years ago:

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p811251904

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p1046235913

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Bubu wrote:

50D with 100-400. I plan to buy 70D or 7D in near future.

I have a 50D as well, the techniques as I described will work successfully on that camera with your zoom as long as your zooming is not interfering with your tracking and focusing of the moving bird.

One key reason why I prefer a prime lens for wildlife.

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

imagemeister wrote:

For Canon - AI servo, highest frames per second. Get your lens pre-focused to the approximate distance you anticipate the bird to be - IF you have time. If you have a zoom, zoom out to find the bird and get AF engaged - then zoom in and trip shutter. Ideally, your exposure will be correct for the existing prevailing INCIDENT light falling on the bird.

I don't find the AI servo on the 50D... T2i, it's easy to find. Where is it in 50D?

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

Allen Hirsch wrote:

I doubt the 50D is a problem in BIF. More likely, it's technique, compounded by using a zoom lens.

I've used a 40D and 50D for the past many years, and AI Servo AF and high burst shutter mode have worked well, but I'm using a prime long lens (300, 400, or 500) for BIF.

Here are two examples - one recent, one from a couple years ago:

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p811251904

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p1046235913

Your photos are perfect, who wouldn't like to shoot like that? Oh, well, but I have to work with what I have, I don't do wild life all the time, so I don't need a prime. Besides, my pocket is probably not as deep as yours.

BTW, I saved your links to peruse at my leisure. Very beautiful Photography!