Tracking 'in flight'....??

[Mtn Breeze]

Hi.

I was out and about a couple of days ago trying to capture some shots of our native Bush Falcon. Although I managed a couple of ok in flight shots I was wondering what the best method of tracking and focusing you all use. Is the best way to try and go long with the lens to fill the frame (found the camera focus not quick enough to keep up as well as being very hard to keep the focus point on the bird myself) or go short and crop in closer later in PP ??

Thanks, Matt.

ps - I was using mode 2 on IS, AI servo and the fastest SS I could get by using high iso and wide open

[sandpiper]

Going long and filling the frame as much as possible is best, apart from giving better resolution on the bird (with the need to crop less) it is easier to keep the focus point on the bird.

A falcon in a dive is a fast moving target for a camera to track, you seem to be using the right settings but the 450D isn't the fastest focusing body and the 100-400L is a bit sluggish to change focus too. That will make tracking fast birds a bit hit and miss.

My 20D can't keep up with a falcon in a dive using the 100-400L, but my 5D has pulled off such a sequence with that lens.

You need a faster focusing body, or lens (or both) if you want to gain better tracking performance with falcons etc.

[C4Miles]

One thing I find that helps is setting custom function 4 so that the focusing is done by pressing the "*" button on back. Makes it easier for me to track birds and I use the 350D/rebel XT body.

[Mtn Breeze]

Going long and filling the frame as much as possible is best, apart from giving better resolution on the bird (with the need to crop less) it is easier to keep the focus point on the bird.

A falcon in a dive is a fast moving target for a camera to track,

The pair of birds I was shooting the other day were certainly that.....watched one fold up his wings into an arrow shape and go into a completely vertical dive. Awesome to watch and way, way too quick for this kid...LOL.

Thanks Sandpiper for the tips. Also good to know that at least I'm using somewhere near the right settings too. Cheers.

[Rich S]

This is a Brown Pelican . .... This is with a 300mmF/4L IS shooting 5D 1/1250sec F/6.3 ISO 200 mode 2 AV continous focus center and spot meter. http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc150/blackies_owner/_MG_5025_edited-1copy.jpg

[dkord]

I think it takes some practice. I've done fine with my 20D and the 70-300 is but there's no way I can claim to be a birder/bif expert. I definitely lack the proper lenses and would love to have a 1d body.

But here's my experience so far.
I use either center focus or all of them active. It depends on the background and brightness of the scene.
My experience are with zooms but if you have time to track the bird, it's easier to start wide and zoom in once you get the feel of it's flight.
I think that you'll find that those who are experts in bird photography are usually experts in bird behavior or whatever species they photograph.

I find that small birds with very erratic flights the hardest:

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/88623585.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/82471803.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/82471809.jpg

There's a nice raptor exhibit at my zoo so I go there occasionally to practice the technique:

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/42483559.jpg

The shot above was taken a few years back with my 20D and the 28-105. It was partially cropped, probably shot at around 85 or 90mm. Tracking was still tough, because I had the lens zoomed almost all the way out the entire time.
Definitely did not feel comfortable confident or comfortable.

These below were taken last summer. I used all the focus points active in AI Servo:

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/103210479.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/103210484.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/103210491.jpg

Here's a pelican dive:

http://www.pbase.com/dkord/image/102613224.jpg

Man, I wish I have a longer lens. But then I probably will need to rethink my technique.
Good luck!

[Mtn Breeze]

That's a nice sharp pelican shot there Rich....niiiice !!!

Thanks for your comments and advice too dkord.

Here's two of the shots from a couple of days ago that prompted me to ask the question in the post title. These are prolly the best two of many, many shots I tried that day. In looking up the EXIF data on these two to list for you here, I noticed that thay both happened to be quite short in the zoom range.....hmmmmmm. Might be something in that considering, as I said, that they are two of the better ones.

1. 160mm @ 5.6, 1/640, iso 1600, AV, +0.7, patrial metering and center point focus, AI servo.

2. 260mm @ 5.6, 1/4000, iso 1600, AV, +1.3, partial metering, centre point and AI servo.

[dkord]

Those are both really nice especially the 2nd one, looking towards you.
First one looks very sharp.
At 1600 iso it's hard to crop large and your exposure has to be spot on.
I think that's when you want to use your maximum zoom if you can.

[Mtn Breeze]

Those are both really nice especially the 2nd one, looking towards you.
First one looks very sharp.


Thanks dkord. It was my first serious attempt at inflight shots so I was pretty chuffed with them. Just a tad disappointed at the low number of in focus keepers. However, I think maybe I was expecting too much considering my inexperience and being the first attempt. Can only improve I reckon. Cheers,
Matt.

[Rich S]

Try spot metering without the +'s Is your light bad there? I shoot 200-400 ISO with my 300, but I notice you shoot zooming. Try 300 or 400mm and stay with that . Checkout this guys test pages for your best f/ vs mm for best resolution. I was looking at the difference between 300 vs 400 Canon lenses. You can check your 100-400 vs different f/s This is a great site....Rich http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=113

[Mtn Breeze]

Try spot metering without the +'s Is your light bad there? I shoot 200-400 ISO with my 300, but I notice you shoot zooming. Try 300 or 400mm and stay with that . Checkout this guys test pages for your best f/ vs mm for best resolution. I was looking at the difference between 300 vs 400 Canon lenses. You can check your 100-400 vs different f/s This is a great site....Rich

Hey there Rich....thanks for the advice. I was using partial metering simply because I noticed the majority of EXIF data I've been seeing on the 'Bird forum' shots were using it but will certainly try spot next time.

And the "+'s" I used after seeing the underexposed results of prior shots.

Was there supposed to be a link to the test pages you mentioned above ??

Cheers, Matt.

[Rich S]

Sorry here it is ........... http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=113