Metering question
Jul 31, 2012 06:41:41 #
icanimagine
Loc: Sacramento, Ca
I have a Canon 7d and would like to know if I should use spot metering when shooting birds in flight against a bright sky?
Jul 31, 2012 07:13:37 #
That would be your best bet. But still going to be a tough shot. The bird is a small target for the auto exsposer to grab.
Erv
Erv
Jul 31, 2012 08:57:55 #
icanimagine
Loc: Sacramento, Ca
I am fortunate to live near the wintering grounds of some sandhill cranes. They are large birds, up to 4 ft tall when standing and a 7 ft wing span in flight.
Jul 31, 2012 10:34:25 #
docrob
Loc: Durango, Colorado
icanimagine wrote:
I have a Canon 7d and would like to know if I should use spot metering when shooting birds in flight against a bright sky?
i wouldn't.
Jul 31, 2012 11:48:28 #
Jul 31, 2012 12:08:50 #
Wacotim
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
I would take an ambient light reading, set my exposure manually and concentrate on the birds.
Jul 31, 2012 12:12:03 #
Jul 31, 2012 12:18:38 #
Jul 31, 2012 12:21:39 #
Wacotim wrote:
I wouldn't.
I've never tried to capture birds in flight, and I think I'll leave it that way. Landscapes don't move very much.
Jul 31, 2012 12:32:38 #
Wacotim
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
I live in Phoenix, Arizona. My wife and I traveled south to Tucson and visited the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. They have raptor shows several times a year. It's a great way to see these beautiful birds in action and close up. It is also a way to practice bird photography. I found that when I know the proper exposure via a ambient light approach (I use my trusty and old Sekonic L-507 hand-held lights meter.), I then can concentrate on the birds. I use the maximum number of focus points to try and get them in focus. Skeet shooting is a good analogy: would you use a shotgun with a wide dispersion, or a rifle with one bullet.
I found that you need to be prepared to take lots and lots and lots of images. Watching the backgrounds is another hard part.
Many misses but some real thrills.
I found that you need to be prepared to take lots and lots and lots of images. Watching the backgrounds is another hard part.
Many misses but some real thrills.
Jul 31, 2012 12:46:22 #
Wacotim wrote:
Skeet shooting is a good analogy: would you use a shotgun with a wide dispersion, or a rifle with one bullet.
One bullet would be all I would need - and the rifle of course. :D
Jul 31, 2012 12:48:54 #
I have always use spot mettering but not always with great resuls. So will give "Wacotim" theory a try.
Jul 31, 2012 15:08:59 #
Wacotim wrote:
I live in Phoenix, Arizona. My wife and I travele... (show quote)
I guess I am going to have to try this. I have always used a single spot for focus and metering. What happens if you have a real busy back ground? Say trees and houses. I use a Nikon D300s and have it setup with continuse spot focus and set on long, and with spot metering . I don't do a lot of birding, but this seems to work for me. I would like to hear your reply on the busy back ground. The more keeps the better. :)
Erv
Jul 31, 2012 16:00:37 #
I use spot all the time, along with the rear focus button to lock on and hold the trigger down for at least 6~10 frames. I have great results with birds in flight...
Jul 31, 2012 17:47:49 #
Wacotim
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
Backgrounds are a problem. If the bird is flying and you are panning, the background will blur. You will obviously need to use a faster shutter speed or crank up the ISO and shoot on continuous mode. Like I said earlier, it's a bit of hit and miss, so take lots of images.
If you are shooting a sitting bird, use your spot metering. My post assumed a flying bird. I have never used a tripod because the action Is too fast. I still shoot on contentious mode.
If you are shooting a sitting bird, use your spot metering. My post assumed a flying bird. I have never used a tripod because the action Is too fast. I still shoot on contentious mode.
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