Snowy taking off.
Here's a few I recently took of a Snowy Egret. I've been spending a lot of time practicing with the Canon 7D. I'm using expanded spot focus, AI Servo, back button focus, and high burst drive. I'm getting some fairly good shots but keeping the spot on the bird is a task. I'm trying to use proper techniques...firm stance, keeping my arms against my body, smooth panning and follow through...but I'm still missing way more than I'm getting. These were shot with the Tamron SP 70-300 mm F/4-5.6 lens, manual, F/8, 1/1600, ISO 400. Photos are cropped.
Comments and suggestions please.
The photo's are so much the type I love "wildlife busy" - Thankyou for sharing it.
birdpix
Loc: South East Pennsylvania
Lamar,
You are doing fine. Just keep working at it and your "hit" rate will improve. Part of this is a physical skill that needs frequent practice just like a golf swing or a tennis backhand.
On you 7D, there are three other custom function settings that I feel can help. They are only applicable to AI-Servo mode:
C.Fn III-01, Auto Focus Tracking Sensitivity I set to slow. This affects how quickly the 7D refocuses when something comes between the lens and the subject or if the focus point wanders off the target.
C.Fn III-02, AI-Servo 1st/2nd Image Priority. I set this to "0" AF Priority/Tracking priority. That means that the shutter will not release until the lens has focus for the first shot. For all subsequesnt shots the same is true. This may slow down the burst rate but you will have fewer OOF photos.
C.Fn III-03AI-Servo tracking method. I set this to "1" Continuous AF track priority. this prevents the lens from focusing on anything that comes temporarily between the camera and the subject focused on. In other words you are telling the camera to stay on the subject you originally focussed on.
These three things all work hand in hand and can help you bring home more keepers.
birdpix wrote:
Lamar,
You are doing fine. Just keep working at it and your "hit" rate will improve. Part of this is a physical skill that needs frequent practice just like a golf swing or a tennis backhand.
On you 7D, there are three other custom function settings that I feel can help. They are only applicable to AI-Servo mode:
C.Fn III-01, Auto Focus Tracking Sensitivity I set to slow. This affects how quickly the 7D refocuses when something comes between the lens and the subject or if the focus point wanders off the target.
C.Fn III-02, AI-Servo 1st/2nd Image Priority. I set this to "0" AF Priority/Tracking priority. That means that the shutter will not release until the lens has focus for the first shot. For all subsequesnt shots the same is true. This may slow down the burst rate but you will have fewer OOF photos.
C.Fn III-03AI-Servo tracking method. I set this to "1" Continuous AF track priority. this prevents the lens from focusing on anything that comes temporarily between the camera and the subject focused on. In other words you are telling the camera to stay on the subject you originally focussed on.
These three things all work hand in hand and can help you bring home more keepers.
Lamar, br You are doing fine. Just keep working ... (
show quote)
Thank you so much for this info. I will do that. I really appreciate your help.
tk wrote:
Wow, great action shots!
Thanks tk! It's good to hear from you.
birdpix wrote:
Lamar,
You are doing fine. Just keep working at it and your "hit" rate will improve. Part of this is a physical skill that needs frequent practice just like a golf swing or a tennis backhand.
On you 7D, there are three other custom function settings that I feel can help. They are only applicable to AI-Servo mode:
C.Fn III-01, Auto Focus Tracking Sensitivity I set to slow. This affects how quickly the 7D refocuses when something comes between the lens and the subject or if the focus point wanders off the target.
C.Fn III-02, AI-Servo 1st/2nd Image Priority. I set this to "0" AF Priority/Tracking priority. That means that the shutter will not release until the lens has focus for the first shot. For all subsequesnt shots the same is true. This may slow down the burst rate but you will have fewer OOF photos.
C.Fn III-03AI-Servo tracking method. I set this to "1" Continuous AF track priority. this prevents the lens from focusing on anything that comes temporarily between the camera and the subject focused on. In other words you are telling the camera to stay on the subject you originally focussed on.
These three things all work hand in hand and can help you bring home more keepers.
Lamar, br You are doing fine. Just keep working ... (
show quote)
Wow, what timely information. I just got a 7D a couple of days ago and stumbled across this post. Thank you so much!
Very nicely captured. The snowy egret is one of my favorite birds!
Sunfish 33 wrote:
Here's a few I recently took of a Snowy Egret. I've been spending a lot of time practicing with the Canon 7D. I'm using expanded spot focus, AI Servo, back button focus, and high burst drive. I'm getting some fairly good shots but keeping the spot on the bird is a task. I'm trying to use proper techniques...firm stance, keeping my arms against my body, smooth panning and follow through...but I'm still missing way more than I'm getting. These were shot with the Tamron SP 70-300 mm F/4-5.6 lens, manual, F/8, 1/1600, ISO 400. Photos are cropped.
Comments and suggestions please.
Here's a few I recently took of a Snowy Egret. I'... (
show quote)
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Nice job. Great series. Thanks for sharing.
rlaugh
Loc: Michigan & Florida
Great shots..good for you!
bhowdy
Loc: Maryville, Tennessee
Birds in flight and a keeper rate of 50% is considered good by most folks that regularly shoot birds .... especially hand held
Great info regarding 7D custom function. Thank you indeed. I will set it up this way and give it a try. Just got a 5D mark lll and will check out the custom functions there as well. Did not think to do this so your post is much appreciated.
Bmac
Loc: Long Island, NY
Nice sequence Sunfish. :thumbup:
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