Birds Advice on Capturing Birds in Flight

[MrSparks999]

Hi All

looking for a bit of advice. I am going on a Birds of Prey workshop tomorrow. Will be using my R6 MKii. So am looking for advice on settings for capturing birds in flight. Will also be using the RF70-200 2.8 and the RF100 - 500.

 

[Kamoshika]

Hi Mark,

From this site:

The best Canon EOS R6 II settings for birds in flight:​

• AF Zone: Flexible Zone 1 (medium size)
• Subject Tracking: on
• Subject to Detect: Animals
• Eye Detection: Auto
• Switching tracked subjects: 0
• Servo AF: Case Auto
• Lens drive when AF impossible: on
• Drive: 20fps / 40fps (electronic shutter)
• Stabilisation: Off (or Mode 2)

For me, I use the AF button set to Spot AF to pick out birds with branches (or other birds/objects) about (I probably should try Flex Zone 1 just to see how well it works with BIF, though) and I set the star button to eye detection. I often use case 3 instead of auto and I use 12fps or 20fps (set to C2 and C1, respectively, so I can easily switch between the two), depending on what I'm shooting (I haven't even tried 40fps). Stabilization I usually have in mode 2 for BIF.

Here's a video I found helpful.

Anyway, have fun.

 

[MrSparks999]

Great thanks

 

[Jake Shoots Birds]

Only thing I might change above is if you're not used to tracking birds in flight then I'd consider going to the wide AF area as it will help you stay locked in on the bigger bird as it moves. I set the command wheel on my 100-500mm to allow me to change focus zones quickly in situations like this so if one isn't working well I get one that is.

And I'm guessing you won't even tought the 70-200mm.

 

[RedCobra]

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

This guy is a master bird photographer.

 

[TonyB]

Steve Perry has an excellent ebook for birds in flight photography.

Secrets To Stunning Bird-In-Flight Photography – Backcountry Gallery Web Store

 

[Kamoshika]

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

This guy is a master bird photographer.

Good video. One point he brings up that I forgot about is compressed RAW. I think I might start shooting in CRAW as it seems many agree that picture quality is about the same as RAW.

 

[MrSparks999]

Thanks all, will watch the videos and learn