One of the reasons I decided to upgrade over my trusty Canon 20D is that while I have always been very happy with it for "static" avian shots, I found myself passing up opportunities for flight shots, as I've never been too thrilled with the 20D's AI servo and tracking a moving bird. I gave it a try yesterday morning with my old 20D, stopping at an open field where Cliff and Barn Swallows were actively flying around catching insects. My lens is a 400 5.6L.
Not exactly as easy as shooting a big ol' raptor. However, given the (relatively) slow banks and turns they'd often take, and given that I was only trying to track and shoot them when they were high enough that they were framed by a clear blue sky, it shouldn't have been an impossible task to get at least some decent shots with the 20D.
Well, it was impossible. I could get an initial focus lock many times, but AI servo didn't do too great a job in maintaining focus.
I got my new 40D delivered last night, so went to the same spot and tried again with my new equpiment this morning. Definitely better than the 20D, but still very frustrating.
I realize taking shots of swallows in flight is tough going, but given how often I'd get initial focus lock, I was a bit disappointed in how well AI servo maintained focus as I tracked a bird in flight.
I realize part of it is a "me" problem, as it can be darn hard to track a swallow in flight. I realize some of the focus problems were because I wasn't able to track the bird very well, because of camera shake, etc. However, there were also times where everything seemed perfect in terms of smoothly panning and following a bird, and still AI servo wasn't as responsive as I'd have hoped.
Any hints/tricks/tips to improve my success? Or is this pretty much par for the course for a 40D? I'd love to give a MarkII or MarkIII a whirl, just for comparison, but to be frank, I doubt I'll ever be able to afford one, or be able to afford the 500 or 600mm 4.0L lens that most avian folks use.
For a bit more info, I read ahead of time that some folks have better luck using only the center focusing point with ai servo, while some have good luck having all points activated. I tried this morning using both methods, but even with birds framed against a clear blue sky, I was a bit disappointed in performance.
Do not worry!! Swallows in flight are the most difficult birds to shoot with a camera. The 20D, A1 servo and center spot metering with 400 f5.6 is a fine setup for the purpose as would be the 40D or 1D MkIII.
It seems there is a point in an endeavor where you exceed the difficult and step into the realm of the near impossible - the realm of shooting swallows in flight is in the latter category. The fun is in the challenge. It should take lots of practice and many attempts to produce one great shot, but it can be done. It is an achievement that brings satisfaction.
You can practice on lots of types of birds, but swallows are an entirely different realm.
Stay determined and you will succeed. Good luck. Bill
Terry, I agree with Bill. Before I wore my 20D into the dirt, I shot many a sharp BIF image with the 20D in Al servo on the center focus point shooting with the 100-400. I haven't noticed a bit of focus acquisition/maintenance improvement now that I'm shooting with the 30D and 400 f5.6, so I'd be surprised if the 40D would be a substantial Al servo BIF improvement over the 20D.
You may notice a difference with an f2.8 lens (I did) on those bodies, because they have improved AF performance on Canon f2.8 lenses when using the center focus point.
My glorious days with borrowed/rented "1" bodies are another matter. A distinct improvement there, but swallows in flight is still among the toughest of BIF assignments, and I'd expect tons of discards even with the Mk3. Just too hard to keep any focus point or pattern of focus points on a small bird that agile.
One question. How many frames do you shoot with not a bird in the frame?? These little buggers are aerial artists of the first degree. After spending a couple of hours trying to get agood shot, you will need a visit to the chiropractor. Hopefully you will have one or two good shots for all that effort. Bill
One more thing. For the best bird shot I have ever seen, check out a post by David Hemming posted 10/12/06 at 1:11PM CDT. It shows a parent barn swallow feeding a youngster ........in flight!!!! - skill, luck and lots of time in the field at its ultimate!!
Thanks for the comments. I tried again this again this evening and was doing better. It's actually RELATIVELY easier to pan and track a bird when you're standing on one of the bridges they nest under. They tend to take a little more predictable paths going in and out from under the bridge.
Tracking a bird isn't too hard when they're small in the frame. It's when they get closer that it's tougher to maintain the tracking, as any little flight path shift puts them out of the frame. That...and I get too excited when I'm tracking a bird in, and he gets large in the frame!!
So...managed some better shots tonight when they're smaller in the frame, just need to work on when they get close. But yeah, no matter what, I'll end up discarding 9 of 10 frames at least.
Looking at some of the shots I tried this evening...never did catch a bird that was anything close to a frame filler, but did manage some that look better than I expected. Maybe the 40D is doing a better job in ai servo than I thought.
Now...if only I could match that Ettlinger Swallow that was an Editor's pick this week!!
I can dream...
Posted by Bill Reichert on July 22, 2008 at 11:32 PM
One more thing. For the best bird shot I have ever seen, check out a post by David Hemming posted 10/12/06 at 1:11PM CDT. It shows a parent barn swallow feeding a youngster ........in flight!!!! - skill, luck and lots of time in the field at its ultimate!!
That's a fine capture, Terry!
You're gonna do just fine with that setup.
Posted by Mike Klarich on July 23, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Terry,
After seeing some of your shots from your website and the picture you posted here... I think you will have many, many, keepers! Keep up the great work!
Discussion
9 repliesNot exactly as easy as shooting a big ol' raptor. However, given the (relatively) slow banks and turns they'd often take, and given that I was only trying to track and shoot them when they were high enough that they were framed by a clear blue sky, it shouldn't have been an impossible task to get at least some decent shots with the 20D.
Well, it was impossible. I could get an initial focus lock many times, but AI servo didn't do too great a job in maintaining focus.
I got my new 40D delivered last night, so went to the same spot and tried again with my new equpiment this morning. Definitely better than the 20D, but still very frustrating.
I realize taking shots of swallows in flight is tough going, but given how often I'd get initial focus lock, I was a bit disappointed in how well AI servo maintained focus as I tracked a bird in flight.
I realize part of it is a "me" problem, as it can be darn hard to track a swallow in flight. I realize some of the focus problems were because I wasn't able to track the bird very well, because of camera shake, etc. However, there were also times where everything seemed perfect in terms of smoothly panning and following a bird, and still AI servo wasn't as responsive as I'd have hoped.
Any hints/tricks/tips to improve my success? Or is this pretty much par for the course for a 40D? I'd love to give a MarkII or MarkIII a whirl, just for comparison, but to be frank, I doubt I'll ever be able to afford one, or be able to afford the 500 or 600mm 4.0L lens that most avian folks use.
For a bit more info, I read ahead of time that some folks have better luck using only the center focusing point with ai servo, while some have good luck having all points activated. I tried this morning using both methods, but even with birds framed against a clear blue sky, I was a bit disappointed in performance.
It seems there is a point in an endeavor where you exceed the difficult and step into the realm of the near impossible - the realm of shooting swallows in flight is in the latter category. The fun is in the challenge. It should take lots of practice and many attempts to produce one great shot, but it can be done. It is an achievement that brings satisfaction.
You can practice on lots of types of birds, but swallows are an entirely different realm.
Stay determined and you will succeed. Good luck. Bill
You may notice a difference with an f2.8 lens (I did) on those bodies, because they have improved AF performance on Canon f2.8 lenses when using the center focus point.
My glorious days with borrowed/rented "1" bodies are another matter. A distinct improvement there, but swallows in flight is still among the toughest of BIF assignments, and I'd expect tons of discards even with the Mk3. Just too hard to keep any focus point or pattern of focus points on a small bird that agile.
Check it out!! Bill
Tracking a bird isn't too hard when they're small in the frame. It's when they get closer that it's tougher to maintain the tracking, as any little flight path shift puts them out of the frame. That...and I get too excited when I'm tracking a bird in, and he gets large in the frame!!
So...managed some better shots tonight when they're smaller in the frame, just need to work on when they get close. But yeah, no matter what, I'll end up discarding 9 of 10 frames at least.
Now...if only I could match that Ettlinger Swallow that was an Editor's pick this week!!
I can dream...
Check it out!! Bill
You're gonna do just fine with that setup.
After seeing some of your shots from your website and the picture you posted here... I think you will have many, many, keepers! Keep up the great work!
Take care,