Gull Tracking with the 400 Prime

[Scottes]

I tried to do some gulls in flight with the new 400 Prime yesterday, but they weren't flying. I only shot about 20 frames at 6 different birds so it wasn't very conclusive as a test of the new lens.

This series did come out well. They were taken 35 minutes after sunrise which is why they look a bit reddish. I used AI Focus but held the * button down so I guess it switched to AI Servo. I clicked the shutter when I felt that I had him right. He kinda just flew around me in a near circle, and I almost fell off the breakwater since I twisted around so much. Which is probably why the 5th shot of this guy looks like crapola.

Canon 400mm f/5.6 L
ISO 400
Shutter 1/3200 (so says the EXIF in 2 programs!)
Aperture f/5.6
RAW +0.9 exposure in CaptureOne
Noise removal via Neat Image
Levels
Resized via FM Web Presenter
Sharpened via FM Intellisharpen II

These images are "50% crops" - I cropped a 1400x936 chunk out, then resized that to 1/2-size, 700x468. The bird is actually good sized in the uncropped version. I'm very surprised by the DoF in these shots - he was fairly close for 400mm, and just about the entire wingspan is in focus.


http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Gull_10632.jpg
http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Gull_10633.jpg
http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Gull_10634.jpg
http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Gull_10635.jpg


If you recall, I had a tough time with the 100-400 L when CDS were shooting terns at Monomoy a couple weeks ago. Please note that the wings are *all* up in these shots.
:D

[timmyquest]

Glad to see your enjoying your new choice. Those images are amazing...

Next friday i'll have my "400mm" lens for the sophmore football game (daylight). Dont think the 70-200 + 2x tcon will perform as beautifully as your new glass. Seriously, they look fantastic :shock:

[Scottes]

You may be surprised what the 1D will do with that combo... Just remember that if you going to zoom out - and have time - take off the TCon!

[timmyquest]

You may be surprised what the 1D will do with that combo

I'd hate to hijack your thread but i havnt asked because of all the other tcon questions going on, but any EOS body will autofocus with this combo (70-200mm f/2.8 USM L + 2x tcon). Compatability charts state that you can only focus using the center focus point. Is this still the case on the 1-series cameras?

[Scottes]

I'm almost positive that your camera will AF to f/8. I'm also pretty sure that it will AF better at f/5.6 than the 10D or Rebel.

You may have issues with low light, and the 2xTC results might not be so crisp, but it should work darn well.

[timmyquest]

I'm almost positive that your camera will AF to f/8. I'm also pretty sure that it will AF better at f/5.6 than the 10D or Rebel.

You may have issues with low light, and the 2xTC results might not be so crisp, but it should work darn well.

Yeah you are right that it will focus to f/8, just wondering if it'll use all 45 focus points with the tcon, thats all.

[Scottes]

Yeah you are right that it will focus to f/8, just wondering if it'll use all 45 focus points with the tcon, thats all.

I searched and searched but I couldn't find an answer on this. Let me know - I'm kinda curious now.

[cmM]

wow scottes !
Are you sure those birds were flying? Or they just froze there in the air :wink:
Very sharp. Looks like the new prime focuses very nice. BTW, do you use all focus points or just the center point?

[Scottes]

wow scottes !
Are you sure those birds were flying? Or they just froze there in the air :wink:
Very sharp. Looks like the new prime focuses very nice. BTW, do you use all focus points or just the center point?

Frozen, apparently. It was still dark out so I set it to ISO 400, f/5.6 of course. I didn't even notice that I was getting 1/3200 shutter speed.

I usually use the center point only, but when I get a chance I want to try using all points.

Especially if I ever get my 20D.... That new AF point layout looks like it would be good for birds in flight.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Cool Scott,.. these are the kind of shot that the 100-400m can have trouble with..

I see you mention that you have switched to the * focus button with CF#4 (finally :) )

When using the * ... the trick is usually to leave the Camera in AI servo.. as you will only be focusing when you hit * you may as well not give the camera a choice to stop focusing when the * is depressed.. (which of course AIfocus does give the Camera this option.. )

You may want to try this and see of there is any more AF speed you can eek out of that combo.

[Scottes]

Cool Scott,.. these are the kind of shot that the 100-400m can have trouble with..

Yep. Though the light was obviously brighter than I though if I was getting 1/3200. And this bird obviously get the same distance throughout the 2 second he flew by. Those shots are all equally cropped, and the bird's the same size in each...


I see you mention that you have switched to the * focus button with CF#4 (finally :) )

Yep. I did it after shooting those stink-rotting terns at Monomoy.

Doing this meant that I had to switch eyes, because I'm left-eye dominant. So I keep putting the camera up to my left eye, which now drives my right thumb-knuckle into my right eye. Good thing I wear glasses.


When using the * ... the trick is usually to leave the Camera in AI servo..

Will do. Thanks.


You may want to try this and see of there is any more AF speed you can eek out of that combo.

Every little bit helps. I just need to find large numbers of gulls.

[JZaun]

Scottes they are beautiful,,, Now I gotta find gulls, you are just too hard to keep up with!! WOW

JZ


PS How about take that durn pebble back,, its too hard to keep :D