Tripod Help: I like photographing birds in flight. Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod. My question is when using a tripod do you use a remote control shutter release?

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

I like photographing birds in flight.
Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod.
My question is when using a tripod do you use a remote control shutter release?
Does the remote control release also control Auto Focus? As you pan do you firer away holding down the release? If there are any YouTube videos inference to this please include in your response.

For your info, I use BBF.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

avemal wrote:

I like photographing birds in flight.
Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod.
My question is when using a tripod do you use a remote control shutter release?
Does the remote control release also control Auto Focus? As you pan do you firer away holding down the release? If there are any YouTube videos inference to this please include in your response.

For your info, I use BBF.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷

You asked a good question, and you're going to get some good answers. As for the tripod itself, don't take the cheap route. You'll want a gimbal head, but probably not a remote release.

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Tripod, Gimbal head but no remote for BIF's. It would be to much to work with for me, I need all hands on the camera to catch the shot.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

avemal wrote:

Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod.

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I would HIGHLY question this .........most I KNOW would rather hand hold ! - and for very good reasons.

If you are using a 500mm f4 or larger lens, then use with a tripod becomes slightly more profitable.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

imagemeister wrote:

I would HIGHLY question this .........most I KNOW would rather hand hold ! - and for very good reasons.

If you are using a 500mm f4 or larger lens, then use with a tripod becomes slightly more profitable.

Using a bodypod is the next best thing to hand holding for BIF - IMO.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

avemal wrote:

I like photographing birds in flight.
Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod.
My question is when using a tripod do you use a remote control shutter release?
Does the remote control release also control Auto Focus? As you pan do you firer away holding down the release? If there are any YouTube videos inference to this please include in your response.

For your info, I use BBF.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷

I never use a tripod (or any pod) for BIF, I too use BBF. Using any pod for shooting BIF seem very awkward and would cause me to loose (not be able to get) a lot of shots!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

imagemeister wrote:

Using a bodypod is the next best thing to hand holding for BIF - IMO.

Yeah, I heard about that.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

DaveO wrote:

Yeah, I heard about that.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

I use a tripoded gimbal head and in the the other hand an electronic wireless shutter release .. auto focus or set back button .. even the monopod has worked for this set up but without the gimbal head ..you practice and get used to it ..

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

In my opinion only, this tripod v. Handheld boils down to this: do you want to get a shot? Or do you want to get THE shot? Typically, when I see a recognizable by name Pro, he/she is using a tripod with a gimbal-- and that includes BIF. However, they are also using a prime Tele, often the 600mm for birds. They have learned to use both- so it can be done. There are very few pros on UHH. Look at their work, either website or other social media, maybe even UHH. Then decide for yourself who to "listen" to.

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

avemal wrote:

I like photographing birds in flight.
Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod.
My question is when using a tripod do you use a remote control shutter release?
Does the remote control release also control Auto Focus? As you pan do you firer away holding down the release? If there are any YouTube videos inference to this please include in your response.

For your info, I use BBF.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷

For birds in flight - using a tripod is a double-edged sword - there is a benefit to the stability provided by a great tripod and head, but jumping around the back of the camera and tripping over the legs is a real bummer. Try it both ways.

Remote release is not going to help you, nor is mirror lock up, delayed shutter release or any other technique that does not allow you to shoot when you need to shoot - especially for birds flying around.

Depending on your camera, you might find that BBF is not as responsive as shutter actuated AF. Again, you should try it both ways.

If you are trying to do BIF with anything less than a 400 F2.8, 200-400 F4, 500 F4, 600 F4, or a 300 F2.8 with a 1.4 - good luck.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

There are many successful BIF people using 300 f4's natively and/or with 1.4X handheld ....... and they can move around quickly and follow the action !

Haydon

imagemeister wrote:

There are many successful BIF people using 300 f4's natively and/or with 1.4X handheld ....... and they can move around quickly and follow the action !

Larry that maybe true in some cases like Florida where the birds are almost completely acclimated with people and usually sizable, but a 5" hormonal warbler in deep foliage just won't cut it with a 300F4 with or without an extender. Definitely there are exceptions but they are still exceptions.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

avemal wrote:

I like photographing birds in flight.
Most wildlife photographers recommend using a tripod.
My question is when using a tripod do you use a remote control shutter release?
Does the remote control release also control Auto Focus? As you pan do you firer away holding down the release? If there are any YouTube videos inference to this please include in your response.

For your info, I use BBF.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷

Probably the best option today is to handhold a lens with VR/IS. I prefer primes, but the cheaper long zooms are pretty popular.
Take a look here to see what the experts are using: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

Taken yesterday using Nikon D500--150-600 Sigma Contemporary lens 320mm 1/3000-5.6-800 ISO
It was all most impossible to use the tripod. This was hand held. I am thrilled with this.

In the tree for lunch.
300 mm-1/2000-6.3-800 ISO