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

[HJH]

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

[stevet1]

H,

Do you use tracking?

or

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

[mdphotography]

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

[mdphotography]

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

[HJH]

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

 

[stevet1]

H,

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

[Waddizzle]

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. 

[FloridaDrafter]

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@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."

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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

[FloridaDrafter]

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

[FloridaDrafter]

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@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

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

Newton