Mammals B(bat)IF

[Kamoshika]

Came across this Japanese house bat (abura koumori [oil bat]) flying about in the middle of the day (odd). As you can imagine, erratic flight, fast and a small target (body length less than 5cm), it required a bit patience to capture a decent shot. Was using the RF 100-500mm, but at 500, it was difficult to keep the bat in the focus area long enough to give the AF a chance--kept zooming out and in to get a lock.

• Canon EOS R6m2
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• 500.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 1250

• Canon EOS R6m2
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 640

• Canon EOS R6m2
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• 300.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/4000 sec
• ISO 640

 

[Tim Mayo]

Awesome shots David. You definitely did well tracking this guy!

 

[Kamoshika]

Awesome shots David. You definitely did well tracking this guy!

Thank you.

 

[Hali]

Fantastic series of shots, David. I can't even begin to fathom how hard it must have been to track it.

 

[Kamoshika]

Fantastic series of shots, David. I can't even begin to fathom how hard it must have been to track it.

Thank you. Luckily, the R6MII is quite capable--and the 20fps also helped a lot (maybe I should have used 40fps). I initially fired off a ton of shots, but most were too far off for such a little animal. I then realized it was going to be hanging out for a while in this one section of river, and saw it was flying a regular route up and down this section, so I just waited until it came flying by for a shot attempt. A few misses, but eventually got a few.

 

[Ferenc MÓGOR]

Love these bat shots David, especially the first one with shallow DOF. Did you use eye detection set to "animals"?

 

[Kamoshika]

Love these bat shots David, especially the first one with shallow DOF. Did you use eye detection set to "animals"?

Thank you. Yes, I had the eye detection set to animals and servo AF case set to 3.

 

[AKVet]

These are amazing shots! You did a really fine job getting some sharp photos in spite of AF!

 

[Kamoshika]

These are amazing shots! You did a really fine job getting some sharp photos in spite of AF!

Thank you.

 

[Hazza]

Wow. Amazing skill to track bats.