BIRD IN FLIGHT ONLY -- share your BIF photos here

applecider said:
Kudos to all but a question for Cog...

Did you prefocus on the swallow flight path or use any illumination?

Please give any tips to your technique. I have tried swallows with the exact same lenses as you and a better beamer, usually around sunset. Rarely do I get a keeper keeper. The damned things just move so fast.

Also what auto focus settings are you using, and what area selection method.
Hi applecider,
Swallows are too fast for me too. Never had luck trying to catch them in flight. But this time I tried to predict their trajectory and catch them when they slowed down near some places. For a few seconds they often hover in the air. It is enough to take several shots. I used preset 1 and a group of 9 points. Good luck!
Best,
Vladimir
 
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AlanF said:
Canon 5DIV + 400mm DO II + 2xTC, 1/3200s and iso 2000.

Alan, are these cropped and if so how much? Are you satisfied that the focus is right on? The shutter seems fast enough to eliminate any blur and ISO 2000 is not that high to seriously detract from the sharpness. I'm curious since I'm also trying to acquire BIF using the same lens combo.

Jack
 
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Jack Douglas said:
AlanF said:
Canon 5DIV + 400mm DO II + 2xTC, 1/3200s and iso 2000.

Alan, are these cropped and if so how much? Are you satisfied that the focus is right on? The shutter seems fast enough to eliminate any blur and ISO 2000 is not that high to seriously detract from the sharpness. I'm curious since I'm also trying to acquire BIF using the same lens combo.

Jack

They are cropped like mad - 100% crops of the original where the bird occupies only 440x530px of the 20mpx. Here is the full frame downsized by 60% to get into the forum allowed size. This is the softest one but it's pretty sharp in context.
 

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AlanF said:
Jack Douglas said:
AlanF said:
Canon 5DIV + 400mm DO II + 2xTC, 1/3200s and iso 2000.

Alan, are these cropped and if so how much? Are you satisfied that the focus is right on? The shutter seems fast enough to eliminate any blur and ISO 2000 is not that high to seriously detract from the sharpness. I'm curious since I'm also trying to acquire BIF using the same lens combo.

Jack

They are cropped like mad - 100% crops of the original where the bird occupies only 440x530px of the 20mpx. Here is the full frame downsized by 60% to get into the forum allowed size. This is the softest one but it's pretty sharp in context.

Thanks Alan, that puts it into perspective and helps me to keep a context to what I'm trying to achieve.

Jack
 
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Jack
The 400mm DO II really comes into its own with extenders. The bare 400mm prime is just a little better than the 100-400mm II in terms of IQ but has phenomenal IS and AF. Put a 1.4xTC III on it and it is superb on a 5DSR or 7DII an significantly better than the zoom with a TC (though the zoom is pretty good), and is superb with a 2xTC on the 5DIV and 1D series.
 
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AlanF said:
Jack
The 400mm DO II really comes into its own with extenders. The bare 400mm prime is just a little better than the 100-400mm II in terms of IQ but has phenomenal IS and AF. Put a 1.4xTC III on it and it is superb on a 5DSR or 7DII an significantly better than the zoom with a TC (though the zoom is pretty good), and is superb with a 2xTC on the 5DIV and 1D series.

Thanks Alan. I'm not as focused as you on sharpness etc., I don't have the background/ability but I've really tuned into the AF capability. For a small bird to be of usefulness in a photo it needs to be fairly large, preferably at least the center screen circle (10% ??) and in that case, tracking movements becomes really challenging and it is also evident that 800 doesn't match the 400 AF speed etc. but what can one expect. I still say it's wonderful.

Minutes ago I shot my first 20 minutes of 4K60 goof-off video at 800mm. No birds initially but some chickadees showed up. It's the first time I've experienced DPAF on the screen tracking an object - so cool. Sadly I have no expertise editing! :(

Jack
 
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Click said:
Very nice shots, Cog. I especially like the second one. :)

+1 Super in higher resolution

Now here is one from me. I know, it's pretty bad but I'm posting it to show I'm trying! I hope to luck out before these guys abandon my pond in a week or three. I have a good number of almosts - they perch near the pond and then off they go in any direction based on where the but is and it's impossible to know from head orientation or whatever! :( I can't possibly swing the camera fast enough to track them.

Jack
 

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Nice one Jack.
-r

Jack Douglas said:
Click said:
Very nice shots, Cog. I especially like the second one. :)

+1 Super in higher resolution

Now here is one from me. I know, it's pretty bad but I'm posting it to show I'm trying! I hope to luck out before these guys abandon my pond in a week or three. I have a good number of almosts - they perch near the pond and then off they go in any direction based on where the but is and it's impossible to know from head orientation or whatever! :( I can't possibly swing the camera fast enough to track them.

Jack
 
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Thanks guys but I'm not satisfied and spent another two hours to get one slightly better shot. I hope one day to have a truly nice one if they stick around. For now lunch time is 2 - 4 PM and I'm stuck with the half decent but not great lighting of that time, depending on where I sit. ISO 3200+ is never going to be the best but hey, I'm seeing a lot of fun action including another bath.

Jack
 

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