Looking for help on aiming techniques: I am having trouble finding critters (especially birds) through the lens before they move on. What are techniques for aiming: 1. using a zoom...

mangurian

I am having trouble finding critters (especially birds) through the lens before they move on.

What are techniques for aiming:

1. using a zoom lens

2. using a fixed focal length lens.

Are there any tutorials out there?

Any help appreciated.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Go to: https://bcgforums.com/index.php
or
https://www.youtube.com/@backcountrygallery
or
https://backcountrygallery.com/

Steve's videos can help...

Dik

Dot sight. Astro mania 1x40

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Red Dot sight like used with a pistol. I have one but never use it anymore. It uses a foot that fits the mount on top of the camera for a flash unit!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

mangurian wrote:

I am having trouble finding critters (especially birds) through the lens before they move on.

What are techniques for aiming:

1. using a zoom lens

2. using a fixed focal length lens.

Are there any tutorials out there?

Any help appreciated.

A most effective technique, if you can manage it, is to learn to shoot with both eyes open. This will eliminate the "tunnel effect" of looking through s lens and dramatically improve your overall situational awareness and ability to orient yourself. A big advantage is that it costs nothing.

mangurian

tx

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

[quote=mangurian]I am having trouble finding critters (especially birds) through the lens before they move on.

What are techniques for aiming:

I have hot shoe mount that has a weaver base which allows mounting a red dot sight. I use mine for BIF shots.

Wasabi

Someone on here wrote: "...follow the target with your naked eye and then bring the camera up and put it in front of your eye,"

Have tried it and it works. Practise will make it work well'

dikh123

For roughly $50, you can purchase a mount that fits your hot shoe on the camera and place a "Red Dot" sight on it. This will give you quick target acquisition and make BIF easier once you get the hang of it. The mount is for cameras and has a picatinny rail and you just attach a red/green dot sight to the rail.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

[quote=dikh123]For roughly $50, you can purchase a mount

Can you provide a source?

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Not a tutorial, but to answer the question, practice and practice more.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

mangurian wrote:

I am having trouble finding critters (especially birds) through the lens before they move on.

What are techniques for aiming:

1. using a zoom lens

2. using a fixed focal length lens.

Are there any tutorials out there?

Any help appreciated.

It just takes time, you will improve, I recall when I first started shooting with a 300mm prime it was almost impossible for me to find a bird in my viewfinder but with time you just get better at it, I now shoot with a 600mm lens and have no problem finding my subjects.

neillaubenthal

fredpnm wrote:

Go to: https://bcgforums.com/index.php
or
https://www.youtube.com/@backcountrygallery
or
https://backcountrygallery.com/

Steve's videos can help...

Beat me too it…he's got a nice video teaching the proper techniques and it's improved my game but I still am not really good at it…perhaps I just need to get out more.

Dik

Here's the Astromania: https://astromaniaoptics.com/products/astromania-1x40rd-reflex-red-green-dot-sight-lighted-scope-mount-to-fix-to-a-dslr-camera-flash-type-connection
I started with much more expensive ones from camera makers but found this to be much better and much cheaper. Nice bright dot and the 40mm diameter helps get the sight aligned with your eye quicker than smaller optics. The camera shoe adapter is brilliant.

(Download)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Blurryeyed wrote:

It just takes time, you will improve, I recall when I first started shooting with a 300mm prime it was almost impossible for me to find a bird in my viewfinder but with time you just get better at it, I now shoot with a 600mm lens and have no problem finding my subjects.

Know your equipment.