Bird Photography - Focus for flying birds

[rtk]

Hi Pros,

I love bird photography from streets to birds sanctuary. I was able to lock the focus on birds eye when the bird is at ideal position and able to click a good shot.

Facing problem in locking focus at eye when the bird is in motion. Need your inputs in shooting a flying bird.

I use AF-C and 3d-tracking and my DLSR is Nikon D5100 Nikon 70-300mm ID ED VRII

Below pic I shoot recently and Vedanthangal birds sanctuary.

[IzzieK]

This might help you:

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/20...spot-metering/

It is not about BIF but there is a tip there when to lock focus...

[Brownbear]

Hi Thilak,

I think that the focus on the flying pelican is good, just a little soft. It is hard to see the eye but from what I can see the eye of the pelican looks in focus.

I find that when photographing birds in flight that it is easier to grab and keep focus using a faster shutter speed, especially when using longer focal lengths. And that grabbing focus on a point on the head or near the head works just fine.

For large birds like pelicans in flight I find my best captures are at a shutter speed of around 1/1600. Capturing a flying pelican at a shutter speed of 1/500 second is very challenging. I think I've managed a couple of shots at 1/800 or 1/1000 with panning and a lot of luck, but for me when photographing birds in flight, faster shutter speeds are far easier.

In your second image at 1/640 second for the floating pelican the focus is very nice and sharp. Beautiful shot.

[Geoff F]

Just adding a couple of points to what Christina has already mentioned.

I prefer single centre autofocus point because it removes any false focus issues such as accidentally focusing on the closest wing tip etc.

And I use the AI Servo setting, or whatever it is called in other cameras to hold the focus. But that does mean accurately tracking the bird as you pan in order to retain the lock.

Thereafter it is mostly down to luck. But bearing in mind the tips which Christina has given.

[chauncey]

In addition...check the focus on that lens/camera combo as a little back/front focus will affect the clarity. Especially when you use the shallow f/stops. BIF, I use a SS of 1000 or I don't shoot.

[NorthernFocus]

High, Thilak. You'll get many different opinions on which focus mode to use as many of us do it differently than one another. Likewise you have to figure out which mode works best for you. The only definitive thing is that you need to use continuous focus, AF-C, for birds in flight.

In addition to focus, the other things already mentioned are just as important. Keep shutter speed up and also make sure you are using an aperture that provides enough DOF to get the entire bird in focus. For large birds like pelicans a minimum of f5.6 is typical at ranges that don't clip the bird. You should consult a DOF calculator to understand your particular equipment and expected shooting distances.

On these two images, the flying pelly looks a bit soft. The one on the water is tack sharp. Both are slightly over exposes.