VTMatwood Loc: Displaced Vermonta in Central New Hampsha

Post some example pics (with "store original" checked) and we can assess what is going on. There may be many factors at play.

MJKilpatrick Loc: Cape May, NJ

Hi Royal Dog 1,

Yes I use a tripod, but not always. Whenever possible I prefer to have the camera and lens, regardless of focal length, on a support platform. It does more for you than just provide stability from camera shake. Once you have it on that platform and out of you hands you can control it to a greater degree and it helps keep you focus and attention on the bird, particularly keeping the focal point on the head and eye, versus it floating around a bit when hand holding. Plus if you do not need to worry as much about holding the camera on the subject, you give yourself much more of you concentration on watching the subject and what is around/in the scene. Ask yourself this question: how long could you stand there holding that focal point on the bird? With a tripod you can hold it there for hours if needed. A tripod is also a composition tool for once you have that camera and lens set on the subject and out of hands you can concentrate more on other elements in your photos. So, yes, I prefer a tripod whenever possible.........only exception is a bird in flight which I find better to hand hold. With My Best

will47 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

NormanTheGr8 Loc: Racine, Wisconsin

I rarely use a tripod in the field occasionally (if I have the 1.4 extension on my 100_400LII) I will use a monopod for extra support

saltwaterphil Loc: va beach, va

Be sure to keep your shutter speed above 400 to avoid camera shake. The lack of shutter speed is one of the main reasons for soft photos using zoom lenses.

Bill_de Loc: US

I use a tripod whenever I can when shooting birds. Most times birds require longer lenses and the older I get the more I need the extra support for the camera. I prefer a Gimbal head for it's ease of use.

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davyboy Loc: Anoka Mn.

Nope I do not, but I do use my window opening In my blind to help stabilization

JPringle Loc: Australia

Hi ROYAL DOG 1

For me, it just depends on the lens and body I'm using. My favourite for BIF is my 80D with an EF 400 5.6 - hand held. More generally I use the EF 100-400 II and 80D, sometimes with a x1.4 TC and take advantage of the extended AF spread with that combination, again mostly hand held. When I take out the 1DIV and EF 300 f2.8 with the x2 TC, I can use it hand held, but its much less fatiguing with a tripod. I use a Manfrotto 393 with that combination.

So I mostly shoot birdies hand held, but am happy to use a tripod to keep me out there shooting.

Phil

ROYAL DOG 1

Thank you I will give it a try

ROYAL DOG 1

Thank you

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

I shoot in Florida Wetlands every day for 6 months. I have never used a tripod, you will miss too many shots, same goes with a mono pod. For me, they are too restrictive. Birds are unpredictable and too fast for a tripod or mono pod. I all you want to shoot is sitting birds or birds on a nest then you could use a tripod or mono pod.
That said, I shoot hand held at the highest shutter speed I can get. My minimum is 1/2500 sec. I use a Nikon D500 with a 200-500 lens attached. I use group auto focus, continuous auto focus, center weighted metering, f6.3, aperture priority. The shot below was taken hand held, had I been on a tripod, I would not have gotten the shot. Juvenile Night Heron.

ROYAL DOG 1

Very nice shot thank you for information

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Available light most important factor with focal length (weight and size of lens) a close second. If you are serious about bird photography you are going to need to spend some time in the early morning (dawn) and evening (pre dusk) in "birdy" areas. While open areas, like golf courses, contain birds, by and large, tree or brush areas contain more. Hence, low light is the "norm" here. Shutter speeds of 1/1000-1/4000 would surely be nice, but are tough to get in many circumstances.
I use Canon gear and have used a 400mm f/5.6, 100-400II, 500mm f/4.0 lenses and find that no matter what the lens, while it is easier and possible to get good hand held shots, my percentage of sharp, well focused pictures goes way up if I use a tripod.

saltwaterphil Loc: va beach, va

Beautiful shot inspiring .... if you don't mind, what was your EV on that shot.

ROYAL DOG 1

Thank you