First time shooting birds......please CC....hummingbird

I am usually a car/action nut, but since I have 4 hummingbird feeders in the backyard (with regular activity), I figured I'd give it a shot. I know these aren't great by any means, but I am looking for techniques since this is new to me. I am lacking some sharpness, I think more from the slow lens and low light than anything.

Basically looking for tips, especially with hummingbirds........be​yond the obvious lack of light and sharpness. I wasn't sure what shutter/aperture to start with.....so I just played around. The little fella didn't like me taking more than 4-5 pics at a time.......but he'd come right back after 2-3 minutes each time.

30D + 100-400L
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sounds like you're having the same issue as me...
i have the same lens and its been a challenge to get shots of them with their wings frozen.
except i've been seeing only 1 hummer at my feeder cuz he chases everyone else away! i tried using my flash, but i think that annoyed the crap out of him.

I gave up on trying to freeze the wings....not sure if that's what you're after or just to get the bird in focus.

Raise the shutter speed, use a tripod...my best suggestions and sorry if they're obvious but to get them in flight and in focus that's all I can suggest.

May I ask what time of the day are you shooting these?

I see your ISO 400 and f/8 aperture looks good to me...

It seems you need a much faster shutter speed so the only other thing I would try though being a pure novice is that I would try to shoot when the lighting conditions are much brighter to up that shutter speed....

Maybe if the conditions are not bright enough the AF is not locking on the subject quick enough and its hunting when you are depressing the shutter button...

And you might want to use a tripod too!

Geez I don't know but you might want to give it a try...

I'm just a noob trying to offer some suggestions and hope it helps if not...sorry....

most if not all are oof, there abouts. I am from Australia, and I know of the lens you are using, the 30D should be capable of ISO 800 if you have to, and keep the ap at about f5.6 to f8 max that will get the whole bird in focus, try to focus on the eye and shift if have to. the 100-400L is a great lens, and will capture excellent quality images of all types. But for birds you need to really get to know what it is capable of. If you have a monopod use it or tripod, but if not get one or the other. the IS helps but at 400 you will need that bit more stability.
only my opinion hope this helps in some way.

peter

I would suggest cranking that ISO up. I was recently photographing finches on a watering table in the midday sun and I still went to ISO1600 with shutter speeds of 1/4000th and ISO800 @ 1/2000th. I was using a 400D with Tripod, EF-S100-400mm with some good success. Sure it gets grainy at the higher ISO's but this imaging is just for me, my friends and maybe to share here. Just a case of keeping at it. Cheers, Mark.

Looks like you were able to get close, that's the first step. However your shutter speed is only 1/160 which is too slow. As a result, the photos are underexposed and a bit soft. Use at least 1/500. Don't worry about freezing the wings - there's no shutter speed fast enough for that and it won't be possible unless you are using multiple high speed flashes. It's definitely possible to get pleasing photos of hummingbirds in flight without freezing the wings. Here are some suggestions:

- Cover up all of the ports on the feeder except for one so the hummingbird is forced to use that one. Watch how it uses the feeder port. It will take a few sips, then back off to hover a few inches away, then go back to the port. Catch it in the air when it's hovering. Just point your camera in that hovering spot and wait for it to move there. Turn off IS so your 100-400 IS lens will focus faster.

-Put up a perch right next to the feeder. You can just clamp a small stick to the pole. Hummingbirds are very territorial and like to perch near the feeder, watching for other hummingbirds to chase away. Obviously make sure the perch is in good light with a pleasing background.

-Use a tripod and increase your aperture so you can use a faster shutter speed to get the photo as sharp as possible. Make sure you have enough light. Here's an example (taken with a 30D and 400 f/5.6 with extension tube):

Great advice.......thanks everyone.

Beautiful shot Liz...

I see you got this down to a science!

Awesome set-up and approach at getting these SHARP and CRISP....

Nice DETAIL!

gymell wrote in post #6332531
Looks like you were able to get close, that's the first step. However your shutter speed is only 1/160 which is too slow. As a result, the photos are underexposed and a bit soft. Use at least 1/500. Don't worry about freezing the wings - there's no shutter speed fast enough for that and it won't be possible unless you are using multiple high speed flashes. It's definitely possible to get pleasing photos of hummingbirds in flight without freezing the wings. Here are some suggestions:

- Cover up all of the ports on the feeder except for one so the hummingbird is forced to use that one. Watch how it uses the feeder port. It will take a few sips, then back off to hover a few inches away, then go back to the port. Catch it in the air when it's hovering. Just point your camera in that hovering spot and wait for it to move there. Turn off IS so your 100-400 IS lens will focus faster.

-Put up a perch right next to the feeder. You can just clamp a small stick to the pole. Hummingbirds are very territorial and like to perch near the feeder, watching for other hummingbirds to chase away. Obviously make sure the perch is in good light with a pleasing background.

-Use a tripod and increase your aperture so you can use a faster shutter speed to get the photo as sharp as possible. Make sure you have enough light. Here's an example (taken with a 30D and 400 f/5.6 with extension tube):

Heh, I'm always happy to share when something comes up that I actually know something about.