7D with 100-400 for wildlife

Hey all. I have a 7D with the 100-400. Just wondering what settings you use? Like focusing, spot, multi point, what metering mode. What drive mode. And any others you can think of.

I use the custom settings as starting points in both my 7D and 5DII:
C1 for landscape: ISO 100, evalulative metering, single shot, mirror lockup, 2 sec timer..etc.

C2 is for wildlife: ISO 800, center metering, AI Servo, high speed, center zone AF on 7D

C3 for birds in flight: ISO 1600, center metering, AI Servo, high speed, center zibe AF on 7D

I will usually use my 7D as prime wildlife body. So it will get most of the C2 or C3 type shoots. Naturally I would not likely have the 100-400 on with C1 setting on the 5DII. But stranger things have happened.

The camera bodies are in Av mode for all 3 custom settings. C2 and C3, I will usually set the lens for max aperture as the starting point. For C1 landscapes, the lenses will usually be in the 8-16 aperture range...depending on the scene I want to capture.
Saving customized setting in C1-3 just gives you ready made starting points. You can change any settings you like from those starting points. Using custom settings It is the fastest way I know to go between two or more very different types of subjects.

I usually use AV mode for general wildlife photography - partial metering, one shot focus, single point autofocus.

I use C1 for for birds in flight (larger birds that are easier to track): Spot metering, AI Servo, AF point expansion, slow AI servo tracking sensitivity.

I use C2 for smaller, fast flying birds: Spot metering, AI Servo, 19 point AF, slow AI servo tracking sensitivity

I use high speed (8fps) most of the time....love it!

I've noticed, sometimes when shooting at 400mm, it doesn't catch focus, I have to pull back to 250-300mm to focus then get back to 400mm, then it catches focus! missed quite a few shots that way...any body else experienced that? any idea what the problem could be?

Can't remember that focus problem. There are two focus ranges on the lens....1.8m to infinity and 6.6m to infinity. I always have the lens set on 6.5m to infinity as the default. Could be that when it is trying to focus at 400...there is not quite enough light to get a good contrast edge. But with more light at 300, it grabs an edge it can hold onto when you zoom to 400.

Thanks guys, I will be going out tomorrow to try to get some shots of some bald Eagles.

Very helpful thread. Thank you!