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11/30/2005 05:45:00 PM · #1 |
| I'm struggling to get an in focus shot of birds flying. I can get the shot composed but the slow autofocus on my camera can't keep up with the birds. What's the trick? Have I just reached the limit on my G6? I tried to use the manual focus but all I could do was set it to a predetemined distance and guess at how far away the birds were. That didn't work too well. Is it now time to upgrade to a DSLR or what? |
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11/30/2005 06:07:05 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
Is it now time to upgrade to a DSLR or what? |
Yup! ;)
I found with P&S if the bird was moving quickly it was nearly impossible to focus on it. If you have any idea of where they will be, (in a tree or something), you can pre-focus by holding the button down half way, and then waiting until the bird is in the frame. The other thing, is if your camera has it, try burst mode? Don't know if it will help though...
Get a DSLR |
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11/30/2005 06:19:42 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by pidge:
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
Is it now time to upgrade to a DSLR or what? |
Yup! ;)
I found with P&S if the bird was moving quickly it was nearly impossible to focus on it. If you have any idea of where they will be, (in a tree or something), you can pre-focus by holding the button down half way, and then waiting until the bird is in the frame. The other thing, is if your camera has it, try burst mode? Don't know if it will help though...
Get a DSLR |
I was afraid you were going to say that. So will a DSLR's autofocus be able to keep up with a bird flying about 15ft over my head as I pan to follow it? |
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11/30/2005 06:21:50 PM · #4 |
I entered shots of birds as my triptych and I couldn't manage it with my Kodak and HAD to use the Canon Rebel that John usually uses. I put it on burst and even then had to take about 50-60 shots to get three or four that were OK. My Kodak just wouldn't have focussed fast enough. I was pleased with the result but would love to try to do this again and get it better.
Might be time for you to upgrade!
P
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11/30/2005 06:21:55 PM · #5 |
Did you try sports mode with the birds? I haven't done this but that mode may work.
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11/30/2005 06:31:47 PM · #6 |
My cameras are probably among the worst for this ... pre-focusing manually at infinity is probably the only way. Most of my panning shots are probably lucky accidents.
A bird flying at only 15 mph moves 22 feet in just one second. |
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11/30/2005 06:47:51 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
So will a DSLR's autofocus be able to keep up with a bird flying about 15ft over my head as I pan to follow it? |
In a nutshell, yes.
If you can rent a dSLR, and a good telephoto lens, give it a shot next time you want to shoot birds. You'll most likely notice a large difference between the DSLR and the PnS |
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11/30/2005 06:54:36 PM · #8 |
Not all dslr's are created equal and some will do better than others. Things like continuous auto-focus and the number and type of focal points determine focus speed.
Generally speaking, the popular dslr manufacturers save costs on entry level bodies by cutting back in these areas.
The lens used will also contribute to success rates as some focus faster than other dependant on the number of revolutions required to bring the subject into focus. Lenses that have smaller movements between extremes of the zoom range will generally focus faster than others.
bazz. |
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11/30/2005 07:16:58 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by A4wheelin:
...I tried to use the manual focus but all I could do was set it to a predetemined distance and guess at how far away the birds were. That didn't work too well. Is it now time to upgrade to a DSLR or what? |
That's not too bad a technique, if combined with an appropriate shutter speed. I've found that herons,for example, fly sharp between 1/640 to 1/800, eagles at 1/1000 + (to stop a humming bird's wing movement, you're going to need something other than the G6).
If you preset the shutter speed, you should be able to free your mind and mind-to-finger coordination enough to pull off some decent shots. In time and with good practice, you can also do better than this. :-) |
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11/30/2005 08:08:10 PM · #10 |
This is the best shot that I got today of the birds flying. Got some really good ones standing. I think it's time for a 20D. :)
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11/30/2005 08:13:21 PM · #11 |
 i got over the past weekend. Just regular mode. Putting the rebel into sports mode kicks the AF into servo which helps, but man them birds move! As long as i kept the lens at 200mm or less i had no problems - at 250-300mm i had divfficulty keeping the birds in the lens and the focus would hunt and seek. I did not try drive mode, just took single shots. Not all are of the bird's butt...but many are.
here is an earlier shot from this year
there is NO comparison with a dSLR and any other digicam when it comes to action.
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11/30/2005 08:19:35 PM · #12 |
I'm not sure, but I think you're supposed to put the bird in the freezer for a little while. It makes them move a little slower and gives you more time to focus and stuff. :)
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11/30/2005 08:27:07 PM · #13 |
High shutter speed and camera with little or no delay is the only chance. Shooting on burst mode also helps. These are not the best but they are ones I alredy have uploaded.
   
Oh, and fast glass. I upgraded to a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR this summer and the next one is going to be the Nikon 200-400 F4 VR. None of these were taken with the new glass.
One more
Message edited by author 2005-11-30 20:33:56. |
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11/30/2005 10:07:09 PM · #14 |
Here's my two cents. I will usually watch a sitting bird and focus on it. When he flies off, I snap as many as possible. I can usually get a good one.
This gull was moving fairly fast, however he was coming at me and I was able to keep focus until he was over my head.
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11/30/2005 10:22:20 PM · #15 |
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11/30/2005 10:34:00 PM · #16 |
I have a Powershot Pro1 that has Continuous Focus mode, does the G6 have that same mode? It is hell on the battery but the only way to get birds, planes and other really fast moving things.
Also the Pro 1 has and my PowerShot S50 did as well, (2) different multi-shot modes... multi-shot and High Speed (H) multi-shot the difference being that multi-shot redraws the LCD for every shot taken and H Multi-shot does not.
EDIT: Use the H-Mode
Silly question but I got to ask; Are you using the LCD to compose your bird action shots? Good I didn't think so...just turn that thing off while shooting action type things... I know the view finder is just a piece of glass (on P&Sers) to look through but when the camera becomes part of your face it is much easier to follow the action and shoot when you are ready. (Leave the holding the camera three feet from you body to the tourists)
Another Popular Point and Shoot technique that I used is known as Pray and Spray... Set it to rapid fire, turn the LCD off, Point in the general direction of your subject and hold the shutter release down until you fill the buffer, one of em has to come out.
Message edited by author 2005-11-30 22:35:28. |
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11/30/2005 10:54:08 PM · #17 |
With my pro-1 ( very simular to your G6 ), this is the best of about 50 shots of this heron. To catch this, used auto-focus continuous, alot of patience, and heavy use of the crop tool in post processing.
You also need to take into account the shutter lag of your camera with this type shot, and apply an appropiate amount of lead.
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11/30/2005 11:19:48 PM · #18 |
These were taken with a Sony F-717:
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