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Advice Needed - Photographing Birds in Flight
Hi All,
I've been having a bit of fun with a borrowed 70-200 F2.8L (Non IS) lens attached to my Canon 20D. I've been trying to get some good photos of birds in flight, but only managing to get about a 1% success rate at the moment. I'm shooting a burst of photos ISO 400 (would prefer 200) - F5.6, with shutter speeds being typically 2000 - 8000. Biggest issue I'm facing is that although I can get them sharp enough at a distance, I'm not getting the detail that I want until the bird is flying past, and filling up 70 to 80% of the screen (from perhaps 10% when I first start focusing) - and at the end of the day, the focusing system just isn't keeping up. Essentially, the bird is getting closer and closer to the camera. I've tried 1 shot auto-focus - AI Servo and Servo - I've tried setting only the centre focus point, or enabling all 9 and letting the camera choose, but nothing seems to be working reliably) (By the way, the field of view behind the bird is clear sky (infinity focus) so the camera isn't locking on to back ground trees or anything like that). I'd appreciate any advice others can offer. Additionally, is the speed of the autofocus mostly in the lens or the camera, and is it a parameter that can be compared with other cameras (eg would a 5D or a 1DS II focus faster - or are there faster focusing lenses I should be looking at?) Many thanks, CC |
#2
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Colin
buy Arthur Morris' book on the Art of Bird Photography and subscribe to his web bulletins (at no cost). You will be amazed by the good advice etc. His site is: http://www.birdsasart.com/ I have a 20D and get pretty good result with the larger birds and with small stuff my technique is improving so my success rate is up. I use mainly the 400 fixed focal F4 on a tripod (ball head) and will move to the type of rig recommended by Arthur as the bucks become available. Running through the shots from his site and bulletins will blow you away. His Art of Bird Photography is the best text I have seen . Another text is "an essential guide to bird photography" by Steve Young. This is also pretty good but doesn't carry the same amount of technique hints as Morris. regards Don from Down Under "Cockpit Colin" wrote in message ... Hi All, I've been having a bit of fun with a borrowed 70-200 F2.8L (Non IS) lens attached to my Canon 20D. I've been trying to get some good photos of birds in flight, but only managing to get about a 1% success rate at the moment. I'm shooting a burst of photos ISO 400 (would prefer 200) - F5.6, with shutter speeds being typically 2000 - 8000. Biggest issue I'm facing is that although I can get them sharp enough at a distance, I'm not getting the detail that I want until the bird is flying past, and filling up 70 to 80% of the screen (from perhaps 10% when I first start focusing) - and at the end of the day, the focusing system just isn't keeping up. Essentially, the bird is getting closer and closer to the camera. I've tried 1 shot auto-focus - AI Servo and Servo - I've tried setting only the centre focus point, or enabling all 9 and letting the camera choose, but nothing seems to be working reliably) (By the way, the field of view behind the bird is clear sky (infinity focus) so the camera isn't locking on to back ground trees or anything like that). I'd appreciate any advice others can offer. Additionally, is the speed of the autofocus mostly in the lens or the camera, and is it a parameter that can be compared with other cameras (eg would a 5D or a 1DS II focus faster - or are there faster focusing lenses I should be looking at?) Many thanks, CC |
#3
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Hi CC,
My niece is taking biology at BYU. I loaned her my old Canon Film Rebel along with a 70-300 lens, and a 500 mm lens. I actually had a roll of film in the camera, and she was going to try and use that roll up first. I told her she really should trash that roll, and start over with fresh film... but being a poor student ... well, I guess they think saving on a roll of film is a good plan. Anyway, I have no idea what she has managed to shoot with it yet. roland |
#4
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Cockpit Colin wrote:
I'd appreciate any advice others can offer. The keep-rate for this sort of thing is low to begin with. Don't expect miracles. Use a longer lens. 300mm is probably the minimum, but longer is preferred. You need further "stand off" distance, since by the time the bird is close enough for a 200mm, it has a much larger angular velocity -- hence the lack of focus. Additionally, is the speed of the autofocus mostly in the lens or the camera, and is it a parameter that can be compared with other cameras (eg would a 5D or a 1DS II focus faster - or are there faster focusing lenses I should be looking at?) It's all in the lens. Canon super-telephotos have "range" switches to reduce the focus travel times. If you have the physique that can support a 500/4, it makes a nice "flight lens". |
#5
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wrote in message oups.com... It's all in the lens. Canon super-telephotos have "range" switches to reduce the focus travel times. If you have the physique that can support a 500/4, it makes a nice "flight lens". Thanks for that. I always thought it was fighter pilots and elite athletes who had to work out the most - guess we need to add photographers to that list! |
#6
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"Don" wrote in message ... Colin buy Arthur Morris' book on the Art of Bird Photography and subscribe to his web bulletins (at no cost). You will be amazed by the good advice etc. His site is: http://www.birdsasart.com/ Thanks Don - I've ordered a couple of Arthur's books from Amazon this morning - looks like he knows more than just a think or two about the topic!!! |
#7
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"piperut" wrote in message ups.com... Hi CC, My niece is taking biology at BYU. I loaned her my old Canon Film Rebel along with a 70-300 lens, and a 500 mm lens. I actually had a roll of film in the camera, and she was going to try and use that roll up first. I told her she really should trash that roll, and start over with fresh film... but being a poor student ... well, I guess they think saving on a roll of film is a good plan. Anyway, I have no idea what she has managed to shoot with it yet. roland Thank you Roland for your interesting diversion into your nieces film purchasing habits! |
#8
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#9
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In article ,
"Cockpit Colin" wrote: Hi All, I've been having a bit of fun with a borrowed 70-200 F2.8L (Non IS) lens attached to my Canon 20D. I've been trying to get some good photos of birds in flight, but only managing to get about a 1% success rate at the moment. I'm shooting a burst of photos ISO 400 (would prefer 200) - F5.6, with shutter speeds being typically 2000 - 8000. Biggest issue I'm facing is that although I can get them sharp enough at a distance, I'm not getting the detail that I want until the bird is flying past, and filling up 70 to 80% of the screen (from perhaps 10% when I first start focusing) - and at the end of the day, the focusing system just isn't keeping up. Essentially, the bird is getting closer and closer to the camera. I've tried 1 shot auto-focus - AI Servo and Servo - I've tried setting only the centre focus point, or enabling all 9 and letting the camera choose, but nothing seems to be working reliably) (By the way, the field of view behind the bird is clear sky (infinity focus) so the camera isn't locking on to back ground trees or anything like that). Try going to fixed focus, either at infinity or not far from it (depending on just how close the birds are). I've found for my main use (photographing trains) that the AF is more of a problem than solution. The subjects are almost always 10+ meters away and usually there isn't enough of a difference in focus between that and infinity to bother about. But the AF sitting there trying to lock on is a problem as I get way out of focus shots sometimes. Even if you are focusing at something short of infinity then fix that focus in (focus on a point on the ground the same distance), then wait for the birds to get close and shoot off several shots. Hopefully one or two will be sharp enough. Also try trading f-stop for speed. I know with film I never found anything that had motion blur at 1/1000 S (fastest speed on that camera). -- Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" |
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