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

[Far-Out-Dude]

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"

[HJH]

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

[ebiggs1]

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.

[stevet1]

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