Canon R5 with RF 100-500 lens for birds in flight: I have been trying out my new Canon R5 with the RF 100-500 lens for birds in flight. As much as I love it for birds that are perched...

venkatesh_eng

I have been trying out my new Canon R5 with the RF 100-500 lens for birds in flight. As much as I love it for birds that are perched (static), but for birds in flight and zoomed at 500mm, it is having difficulty locking focus initially but once it locks it locks, don’t know if it is lag issue. I am missing out on a lot of shots. I have updated it with the latest firmware 1.1.1, I have been using drive mode as Servo AF, case 3 also tried auto. Auto focus methods I tried out are animal af, zone af and point af. When I had been using my 7D mkII w/ 100-400 II it used to lock onto focus for BIF just like that. But with the new R5 /100-500, I am having difficulty and hard to describe the scenario. I just wanted to post this so can get inputs from fellow hoggers who have the R5 with the 100-500 and get their thoughts. Don’t know if I have my settings wrong. Please let me know your inputs. Thank you

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

venkatesh_eng wrote:

I have been trying out my new Canon R5 with the RF... (show quote)

On Nikon I use GROUP AUTO FOCUS, on Sony I use Expand Flexible Spot Tracking, both give about 97-99% locked on.
I know if, when photographers are tracking a bird, it can slip out of the focus spot, it is easy to do because of the erratic flight of some birds. Maybe your panning technique needs some brush up.
Or, maybe the R5 has a focusing system you are not yet aware of. A search of the manual may be helpful or this video I found on Utube that describes the use of the Canon R5 for birds in flight.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbaoPeLbPI

venkatesh_eng

billnikon wrote:

On Nikon I use GROUP AUTO FOCUS, on Sony I use Exp... (show quote)

Thank you billnikon. I will see if there is something similar to Group Af in the Canon R5. Also i will check the you tube you sent me. Thanks

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Can you post and store a few BIF results so we know what sized birds and what distances (and settings) you're working with? Everything you've described sound correct. Following billnikon's comments, see pages 441-445 for AF points / groups available. I'd try limiting to the 'face' and 9-group, only, and adjusting AF5 as described on page 445 (changed from Auto default).

venkatesh_eng

CHG_CANON wrote:

Can you post and store a few BIF results so we know what sized birds and what distances (and settings) you're working with? Everything you've described sound correct. Following billnikon's comments, see pages 441-445 for AF points / groups available. I'd try limiting to the 'face' and 9-group, only, and adjusting AF5 as described on page 445 (changed from Auto default).

Paul - i have attached 3 pics of Mallards in flight (out of focus) and the last is a snowy egret in flight (much better and in focus). What i have been finding is when it locks on focus it is really very sharp but getting to first lock with birds moving swiftly that is not something i am able to hit all the time. I will post more pics later. Will also try the AF5 as described in page 445 that you suggested. Thanks

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bleirer

venkatesh_eng wrote:

Paul - i have attached 3 pics of Mallards in flight (out of focus) and the last is a snowy egret in flight (much better and in focus). What i have been finding is when it locks on focus it is really very sharp but getting to first lock with birds moving swiftly that is not something i am able to hit all the time. I will post more pics later. Will also try the AF5 as described in page 445 that you suggested. Thanks

The exif says you were in servo with face+tracking mode and 1 face was detected. Strange. If it is similar to the RP tracking means you have to acquire a target with the tiny square and then it will follow it anywhere in the viewfinder.. but it is hard to get the tiny square on a small target, so one of the multipoint modes might be better. Im sure the R5 is far more advanced in tracking than the RP.

venkatesh_eng

bleirer wrote:

The exif says you were in servo with face+tracking mode and 1 face was detected. Strange. If it is similar to the RP tracking means you have to acquire a target with the tiny square and then it will follow it anywhere in the viewfinder.. but it is hard to get the tiny square on a small target, so one of the multipoint modes might be better.

Thank you bleirer. I will try other multipoint modes. I am still experimenting with the camera and lens. Hopefully, i will be able to get my set up right for BIF.

venkatesh_eng

I was wondering if Regis who posts here pictures of Ospreys and other birds has any suggestions for BIF ? I think you own the R5 with 100-500 lens. Thank you

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

are you using SPOT metering???

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

venkatesh_eng, Thank you for providing the examples as they let us see the AF and the camera settings. I don't see anything obvious. The image I looked at has a AF zone on the duck. If this 1 frame isn't perfect, and if you 'ripped' 14-40 frames over the next few seconds at 14fps, did the focus improve in subsequent frames? If this bird just took off, did you start the AF from the water through this frame and continuing? With several to chose from, then you can review and pick the best (best pose, best wing position, best sharpness, best exposure, etc).

A few settings to consider:

1) Try Aperture or Shutter priorities rather than Program.

2) Try AUTO ISO with EC to 'position' for 'bright', say at +1 over (to the right) of the 0-mark on the meter.

3) Try Case 3 for the Servo AF.

4) Look at the resulting customizations for Case 3, see of you should / need to add +1 to the Tracking and Acceleration settings if Case 3 doesn't enable these settings automatically.

5) For the LiveView setting, are you shooting with the camera held to your eye or held way and viewing the back?

So, these are good subjects and again thank you for posting so we have a common basis for discussion. Practice and investigation, I think, are what are needed at this point as you have great subjects for practice.

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EMT88 Loc: Lwr Hudson Valley

change tracking to animal not face (people)

Sensei

I rarely manage to get a decent shot of birds in flight if I am shooting the way I do when taking a static shot. I get some very decent shots shooting bursts in action mode.

DanCSF Loc: SA Bay Area CA

I have the R6 and been testing it with my 100-400 mk2, comparing it to 7md2...nope the R6 ain't perfect, and I believe that there are nuances to getting the best out of the units and lenses. It's a matter of understanding/learning the nuances. I can't wait to switch over to the 100-500 and applying animal eye tracking. Maybe we are expecting perfection without having to learn how to get the best out of the combination...Everything should work perfectly right out of the box right?

bleirer

DanCSF wrote:

I have the R6 and been testing it with my 100-400 mk2, comparing it to 7md2...nope the R6 ain't perfect, and I believe that there are nuances to getting the best out of the units and lenses. It's a matter of understanding/learning the nuances. I can't wait to switch over to the 100-500 and applying animal eye tracking. Maybe we are expecting perfection without having to learn how to get the best out of the combination...Everything should work perfectly right out of the box right?

So the animal eye tracking does not work with ef lenses? I'm surprised because the human eye af works on my RP with ef lenses.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Page 400 of the EOS R5 advanced user manual shows the setting to change between humans and animals.