For Paul - Flight Shots with the Canon 40D

[Canon_Bob]

As promised, here's a flight series with the 40D. Our weather here was overcast again today, so I decided to really give the 40D a workout. These Pelican shots were taken at ISO 1000 with the in camera NR enabled. You'll note they still have quite a bit of noise.

These are five CONSECUTIVE frames. There were seven frames in the burst, and all were Sharp.

[Canon_Bob]

Here's one more of a wild Black Hooded parakeet (against a dreary gray sky - bummer). These are fairly fast birds, but the camera tracked it effortlessly. this one was at ISO 400.

[Loupey]

So I suppose I should start using AF then.

Canon_Bob, what do you recommend - which servo mode, which AF point, what else...?

[Canon_Bob]

So I suppose I should start using AF then.

Canon_Bob, what do you recommend - which servo mode, which AF point, what else...?

Set the camera to AI SERVO mode. Set the IS on the lens to mode 2 (I pretty much leave it there, even when on the tripod). Now for the most important part. I NEVER use the entire focusing field. I ALWAYS set the focus to a SINGLE point. When shooting flight shots, I'll just light up the center point, and always try and keep it on the eye. There is a menu option on the 40 that you should enable to "light" the AF Point you are using. When framing a pose, I'll move the SINGLE focusing point around to get the subject in the frame properly, but the single point is always on the area I want the focus on (usually the eye on any wild animal). I do this same thing on my 1DsMII. It has 45 focusing points, and I'm not sure I've ever used more than one or two at a time.

Yes, this technique takes practice, but the devidends are worth mastering it. You will always achieve the best focus with a single point. It is also far faster than you can humanly focus.

[mn shutterbug]

When framing a pose, I'll move the SINGLE focusing point around to get the subject in the frame properly, but the single point is always on the area I want the focus on (usually the eye on any wild animal).

Bob, can you explain this a bit better? First, you mention moving the single focus point around, then you say that you normally keep the focus point on the eye. I'm a bit lost here.

[SmartWombat]

Like in motor racing shots.

You can use one focus point out of the many in the viewfinder.
Fastest most accurate focus (until the 1DmkIII) is the centre spot.

If your subject isn't moving, then you can use the controller on the back of the camera to change the active focus point - the red box moves to the the point you're using.
So it's not so much moving the focus point as changing which one...

Using Servo AF you can pick which focus point matches your composition, yet can be placed over the eye of your victim. So for a portrait shot it'll be the rightmost focus point (if you turn the camera anti-clockwise and shoot with the shutter button on top) that is at the top of the image.

You can also use left/right focus points when panning left/right to get the eye on the edge of the frame so you don't need to crop so much.


OK for motorsport, I'll be using probably bottom left and bottom right when composing a wider shot on a corner, so I can focus on the lead car, or the overtaking car, and still use the full frame. Same principle, different focus point.


Excuse the total lack of ability in the examples below, that's why I take photographs

[Canon_Bob]

Perfect expaination SmartWombat!

[mn shutterbug]

Who has time to move the focus point around when the bird is flying past you at 50 mph?

[Loupey]

Thanks for the explanation, C_B & SW.

I'll definitely give it a try come spring. If it works for me, then the 500mm f/4L will be inevitable (so as to retain AF for one thing)

The "problem" for me up here is that there is a lack of larger avians or moving mammals. I still can't imagine AF helping me out with the little flying critters (swifts/swallows/dragonflies) that I like to shoot. AF can't track what's not in the frame more than 75% of the time. So I will still have to keep up my MF skills.

Still, I know I have to master some of the tools given me. Thanks again for the info!

[Canon_Bob]

Who has time to move the focus point around when the bird is flying past you at 50 mph?

You don't move the focusing point when shooting birds in flight. You just select the "center" spot, and leave it there. I was referring to moving the focusting spot on "stationary" subjects for the purpose of better framing.

Here is that Black Hooded Parakeet after some time in PS. I added a bit of vibrance, and used a graduated blue filter to the BG (using a layer mask):




Gotta love digital

CB

[paulnj]

OK, looks like after I hatch and sell a few $1000 geckos(and I will), I may have to invest in a better camera(40D) and maybe a 500F4IS as my walk around setup.... handheld

[Canon_Bob]

OK, looks like after I hatch and sell a few $1000 geckos(and I will), I may have to invest in a better camera(40D) and maybe a 500F4IS as my walk around setup.... handheld

:eek6: Wow - If they're worth that much maybe I should quit taking pics of them and start catching them!

[paulnj]

Some leopard geckos sell at $20 and some rare morphs sell at $4000.

Here's a link to a leading breeder's site and Enigmas are the newest morph and my male has bred 3 females already

http://www.hisss.net/available_leos_enigmas.shtml