topic Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

HJH — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 10:33:16 GMT

I need help or advice please. I have R10 and the canon 100-490 but I can't seem to get in focus in flight images of peregrine.

It's frustrating. . I use shutter prority at 2500 , auto iso and I am pointing into sky most of time .

Any help gratefully received

Many thanks H

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

stevet1 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:55:01 GMT

Do you use tracking?

Do you put the bird in the center of your screen and with single point autofocus, fire off a burst of shots?

I don't shoot birds in flight, but it seems to me that peregrines fly pretty fast. Perhaps upping your speed to 1/4000 might help?

Steve Thomas

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

mdphotography — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 15:11:05 GMT

I've never been able to capture a peregrine in flight - too high and too fast

Same thing with an American kestrel - I can only snap them when they're hovering

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

mdphotography — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:01:38 GMT

FWIW: with my current kit (see siggy) I have a 20-25% keeper rate on birds in flight

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

HJH — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 21:18:43 GMT

Thanks for replys. I've tried tracking and yes maybe I should try a higher speed .

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

stevet1 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 21:25:37 GMT

You're pretty close. Don't get discouraged.

What were your other settings on this? Do You remember?

Just as an aside, I think you've got a spot on your lens - just above the bird's head.

You might want to give it a cleaning, and your filter too, if you're using one.

Steve Thomas

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

Waddizzle — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:56:11 GMT

You mentioned that you are using a 100-400mm lens, but you didn’t say which one. The first release of the EF 100-400mm would not be a good fit for the Dual Pixel AF II image sensor. Neither are the highest frame rates in the camera.

Try disabling all advanced AF settings like subject detection and Eye AF tracking. The camera is capable of focusing on the closest object to the camera on its own. I find taking advantage of this behavior simplifies capturing birds in flight.

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 23:53:37 GMT

@HJH wrote:

I need help or advice please. I have R10 and the canon 100-400 but I can't seem to get in focus in flight images of peregrine.

"I use shutter priority at 2500 , auto ISO and I am pointing into sky most of time."

"I've tried tracking and yes maybe I should try a higher speed."

Are you using Servo? Have you set up Servo characteristics in the "Case" menu (magenta AF 2 menu)? Have you selected a "Subject to track", turned on "Subject tracking"? Have you selected an "AF area", if so, which one? All of these are in the magenta AF 1 menu. You will need to study what each of these settings do and when to apply them, for example, how fast to lock on to the bird and how soon to release lock, if necessary. There are other settings needed to capture BIF, or at least make it easier, but I will leave it at these initial questions.

The above questions are integral to successfully shooting BIF, along with technique, that is, how you hold your camera and pan as the bird dives or soars.

I have never photographed peregrines because they are rare in my area, but I have photographed other high speed raptors like Swallow-tailed kites, Mississippi kites, and Osprey, from high stalls to a full on dive to capture prey. I've been doing this for years with DSLR's and MILC's. Since BIF is pretty specialized, I set up my cameras and store the settings in a custom mode, like C1, C2, or C3. My BIF settings also double for insects, like dragonflies and butterflies. If you really want a challenge, try tracking a dragonfly, LOL!

Newton

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 23:59:40 GMT

Hey there, Waddizzle!

She is using the RF 100-400. I use an EXIF plugin for my browser, so "the right mouse button is my friend", LOL!

Newton

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

FloridaDrafter — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:03:06 GMT

@stevet1 wrote:

Just as an aside, I think you've got a spot on your lens - just above the bird's head.

You might want to give it a cleaning, and your filter too, if you're using one.

Steve Thomas

I'm pretty sure it's on her sensor. I've seen to many of these 🙂

Newton

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

Far-Out-Dude — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 06:19:45 GMT

I was given this advise and the following day captured this picture.

For smaller birds I run my shutter up to 1/5000-1/6400 and float my ISO. Now on a cloudy day floating your ISO that is not going to work, then you need to manually adjust your ISO. For larger birds I shoot at 1/1200 if that is not working for you go to 1/2000 and change Aperture to 7-8. I always just take a test shot before the action to see how exposure looks on the screen. With the mirrorless this makes it much easier no test shot needed.

So try manual 1/2000 - ISO 800

And F7-F8"

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

HJH — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 13:59:41 GMT

Thanks for the info guys and the 100-400 is RF if usm lens . The cheap one not the expensive one. I will clean my lens and hope that makes It a bit better. X

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

ebiggs1 — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 14:23:17 GMT

Everybody has their opinion of what is good or acceptable.

HJH,

"Try disabling all advanced AF settings like subject detection and Eye AF tracking. The camera is capable of focusing on the closest object to the camera on its own. I find taking advantage of this behavior simplifies capturing birds in flight."

Also, I would, and I always do, use Av not Tv. I also use Auto ISO with fixed limits set.

Re: Can't get in focus bird in flight with R10 / 100-400 lens

stevet1 — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 19:54:43 GMT

HJH,

You wrote, "I will clean my lens and hope that makes It a bit better."

If, after you clean your lens, and you still see that spot, You might want to do as Newton mentioned, and take a look at your sensor.

It seems like there are two options:

If you are shooting RAW and using a software program like DPP4 or some other tool, you can clone that spot out by replacing it with an area nearby like a part of the sky.

The other option would be to clean the sensor itself. There are videos that tell you how you can do it yourself, or you can send the camera off to a professional.

Steve Thomas