BIRD IN FLIGHT ONLY -- share your BIF photos here

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#4,221
Mikehit said:
That's a good'un Jack.
What shutter speed were your running at? I would normally have 1/2,000 as a minimum
Click to expand...

1650 and that's pushing my ISO's up with 400 X2. I need to experiment with higher shutter regardless. Sometimes I luck out with better sunlight. These guys are extremely challenging for me but I'm scheming and learning a little more of their behaviour which isn't predictable for the most part.

Jack
 
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#4,222
Brilliant shot!
Amazing.
-r

Jack Douglas said:
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
Click to expand...
 
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#4,223
Hi Jack - 1/1600 is pushing it and it does come down to whether you want less IQ because of ISO or blur because of shutter speed. With the 1Dx2 I am coming down to getting the shutter speed at all costs. Provided you don't need to crop too much I think 6400 or 8000 is pretty acceptable for my eyes. This shot of a grebe was at 25,600 cropped to 70% of the original - the plain background helps a lot with apparent sharpness but I think it shows what ridiculous ISOs you can go to nowadays.

The other challenge with these critters is whether the AF can keep up with them, and I would be tempted to try zone AF hoping it does not pick up the background instead. Mind you, you can have large zone AF with the option to select the first AF point - have you experimented with that yet? I am just starting to with mixed results so far.
 

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#4,224
Mikehit said:
Hi Jack - 1/1600 is pushing it and it does come down to whether you want less IQ because of ISO or blur because of shutter speed. With the 1Dx2 I am coming down to getting the shutter speed at all costs. Provided you don't need to crop too much I think 6400 or 8000 is pretty acceptable for my eyes. This shot of a grebe was at 25,600 cropped to 70% of the original - the plain background helps a lot with apparent sharpness but I think it shows what ridiculous ISOs you can go to nowadays.

The other challenge with these critters is whether the AF can keep up with them, and I would be tempted to try zone AF hoping it does not pick up the background instead. Mind you, you can have large zone AF with the option to select the first AF point - have you experimented with that yet? I am just starting to with mixed results so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike. Yes I'm kind of fighting all the various trade offs just like you.

The AF can't keep up with these guys with large zone but it does offer one advantage. If you lock onto the subject you can then move the frame off to the side with hopes that the action will occur in the direction you've left the space since panning at the speed they are going is for me, mere mortal, impossible. Today my idea is to set up the tripod and try some 4K video and frame grabs.

There also is no hope of me getting this action as close as required to allow ISOs like 12500. At 800 mm, I'm cropping to increase the size of the subject. This shot was more forgiving by luck, auto ISO was lower. The lighting is so variable that I'm auto ISO

Yes, Riley whatever I may be able to post is nothing but luck - well, coupled with perspiration and aching left arm muscles - close to tendonitis. ;) This is totally outside of my ability! O course I won't tell my friends around here that. ;)

Jack
 
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#4,225
Just between you and I, Jack, there is a lot of things that is pure luck. It's our secret.
Blood, sweat and tears are only for the failures!!!
Just keep at it.
-r

Jack Douglas said:
Thanks Mike. Yes I'm kind of fighting all the various trade offs just like you.

The AF can't keep up with these guys with large zone but it does offer one advantage. If you lock onto the subject you can then move the frame off to the side with hopes that the action will occur in the direction you've left the space since panning at the speed they are going is for me, mere mortal, impossible. Today my idea is to set up the tripod and try some 4K video and frame grabs.

There also is no hope of me getting this action as close as required to allow ISOs like 12500. At 800 mm, I'm cropping to increase the size of the subject. This shot was more forgiving by luck, auto ISO was lower. The lighting is so variable that I'm auto ISO

Yes, Riley whatever I may be able to post is nothing but luck - well, coupled with perspiration and aching left arm muscles - close to tendonitis. ;) This is totally outside of my ability! O course I won't tell my friends around here that. ;)

Jack
Click to expand...
 
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#4,232
Mikehit said:
Hi Jack - 1/1600 is pushing it and it does come down to whether you want less IQ because of ISO or blur because of shutter speed. With the 1Dx2 I am coming down to getting the shutter speed at all costs. Provided you don't need to crop too much I think 6400 or 8000 is pretty acceptable for my eyes. This shot of a grebe was at 25,600 cropped to 70% of the original - the plain background helps a lot with apparent sharpness but I think it shows what ridiculous ISOs you can go to nowadays.

The other challenge with these critters is whether the AF can keep up with them, and I would be tempted to try zone AF hoping it does not pick up the background instead. Mind you, you can have large zone AF with the option to select the first AF point - have you experimented with that yet? I am just starting to with mixed results so far.
Click to expand...
That looks to be a stunning grebe shot Mike thanks for sharing a high iso capture.
 
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#4,234
Thanks guys. You probably already know how determined I become. I sneak out when my wife isn't watching. So, yes birdies please stay around a little longer cause I'm getting the hang of it! ;)

This one is ISO 6400 and cropped but I've done some NR on it. Today was fairly cloudy with breaks; kinda frustrating.

Jack
 

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#4,236
Hi Jack.
Nice, really showing off now eh, BIF and portrait together! ::) ;D ;D Well done.

Cheers, Graham.

Jack Douglas said:
Thanks guys. You probably already know how determined I become. I sneak out when my wife isn't watching. So, yes birdies please stay around a little longer cause I'm getting the hang of it! ;)

This one is ISO 6400 and cropped but I've done some NR on it. Today was fairly cloudy with breaks; kinda frustrating.

Jack
Click to expand...
 
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#4,240
Jack Douglas said:
Thanks guys. You probably already know how determined I become. I sneak out when my wife isn't watching. So, yes birdies please stay around a little longer cause I'm getting the hang of it! ;)

This one is ISO 6400 and cropped but I've done some NR on it. Today was fairly cloudy with breaks; kinda frustrating.

Jack
Click to expand...
Hi Jack, you certainly are getting the hang of it :).
I'm still trying to capture birds in flight - but not with the same level of success (sharpness, composition etc.)
Well done!
 
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