amehta Loc: Boston

It would be a trade: the sherpa gets to use my pathetic 300mm lens. ;-)

The bigger expense is the personal trainer and gym membership so I can hand-hold it. :lol:

christofras Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Yes!, that is another reason I don't use it much!

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

Nah, you pay somebody to hold it for you.

RSpinney Loc: Maine

I grew up with a pair of binoculas in my hand, it seems. In addition to what Sharpshooter said, when I photograph birds in flight, I use the eyepiece exclusively. Using the LCD is an exercise in frustration.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

If you can even see whats on it when using it in bright sunlight !!!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Are you saying, all of this is supposed to be done in the daytime!!??
I bet, THAT, would solve at least some of my issues!! Sheeesshh. :lol:
SS

ggttc Loc: TN

I agree. After many frustrating attempts to catch a backyard bird in flight using the LCD screen, I went to the viewfinder. First of all it was the way I learned shoot, but secondly if you are shooting a moving object the closer the camera is to your eye the better. Picture yourself trying to keep a bird in the frame of your windshield when you are driving a car. Difficult at best.

If I could give anybody any advice about shooting birds in flight it would be three things.

1. You have to be fast. By that I mean keep the camera out of your face until you see the bird you want to shoot. Otherwise you miss a great deal of what's going on around you. Then get the camera up with the lens as wide open as you feel comfortable with, track the bird and then start to zoom in.

2. Pay attention to your aperture. You want as wide a depth of field as you can get in the situations you are shooting in. Birds can fly in and out of your DOF faster than your autofocus will handle.

3. Anticipate. Most birds are habitual creatures. They often come in from the same direction and leave the same direction. I've been trying to get a good shot of this Osprey who consistently comes in from the north, hunts and exits to the south. Getting eyes on him before you want to take a picture gives you a great advantage.

That being said, I have shot thousands of frames without getting very many quality photos. My hats constantly off to Swamp Gator.

You should also check out his time lapse. They are as smooth as syrup.

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

These were handheld, with a 300L + 1.4x:

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v11/p205514654-3.jpg

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v18/p462004474-3.jpg

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v17/p334680684-3.jpg

Whole folio of brown pelicans BIF and diving is here:

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p156337309


Like others have posted, you must have a solid base, feet wide enough apart, and your arms in a solidly-braced position, against your side, to help keep your camera as still as possible (or at least, only moving in the direction to follow your target!).

GregShea Loc: Redding, Ca

Gimbal heads do work quit well in tracking birds in flight. I saw this in a camera shop in San Jose, CA and was very impressed with it.
http://www.promaster.com/products.asp?product=5111

Cu Cuchulainn

Great shots! Brown Pelicans hit the water like a missile and are hard to track

RSpinney Loc: Maine

Thanks for the additional tips, GGTTC

Dan Copeland Loc: Hamilton Ontario Canada

I do BIF with my older 400mm 2.8 lens weighs a ton but worth it.

tmrawshooter Loc: Tampa, FL

Wish I had a 500/2.8. I'd settle for a 500 4.5 but even that will have to wait awhile as all I can afford right now is my trusty 100-400 L IS and 300 f4 L. I also recently ordered the Tamron 150-600 but will have to wait a month or so for it to arrive because its still on back order. Can't wait to post some diving pelican pics once it finally arrives. Thanks for the post.

tmrawshooter Loc: Tampa, FL

Thanks CHOLLY! Sounds like you know what you're talking about and I agree that I've got the gear...just never enough time to practice as much as I'd like. Unfortunately, working/paying the bills takes priority but I still try to get out and shoot as often as I can. I also ordered the Tamron 150-600 and CAN'T WAIT for it to arrive but its still back ordered so may take awhile to get here. No worries... plenty of Canon glass in the bag to play & practice with until she arrives! Thanks for the expert advise:)

tmrawshooter Loc: Tampa, FL

Moles: I'll give it a shot! (Pun intended): Thanks for sharing:)