Wildlife Photography Focus Tips - How to Fix those Tricky Autofocus Problems (DSLR Camera)
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Does your Autofocus sometimes struggle and you just can't figure out why? In this video we look at some specific issues that can affect Autofocus when photographing wildlife and how to work around them. If you have experienced any of these problems yourself please let me know in the Comments Box below.
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Filmed with Canon M50 and 15-45mm lens.
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I fixed my autofocus problems by buying an EOS R3. :)
Honestly, I'm curious why you're still using a 1DX? There's no need to use single point these days.
It serves me for now. Looking forward to next camera though - maybe R6.
@@PaulMiguelPhotography Oh nice one. Yeah I've never been one for cropping excessively, found the 45mp of my R5 quite unnecessary for my needs, cropping doesn't make up for not getting closer to the subject. :)
Aloha for the 4th or 5th time this morning (Hawai'i Aleutian Time), BRILLIANT! It's your experience in a variety of environments with a variety of bird plumages which is really helpful. And now instead of wanting to toss my new R5 into the (Pacific) ocean, I'm game to do some more experimenting! Mahalo nui loa!
thanks very much for your kind comments on my videos. Glad this helped.. and that your R5 is safe, lol!
For a non EOS R3 user I found it very informative. Tks.
I find focusing on the edge of the head does work well to help with low contrast situations.
Definitely know what you mean by the weird plumage issue. I photographed some static gulls in St Ives. The focus looked very soft, but when I zoomed in I just realised that their feathers are so dense they look like porcelain. And it did seem hard to focus on. Thankfully, they had very mottled heads which helped. So yeah, a valid point.
Yes, it's weird isn't it?
Very Informative Video Sir...👍
Paul, I agree with you about soft plumage on certain birds especially owls, thanks for your video of great focus tips.
Great focus tips Paul. I have also noticed soft areas on bird plumage. Thanks for the explanations.
WOW and OMG Paul, I'm a 4 week newbie and started with wanting to photograph wildlife. I'm in the UK, it's early December 2022, very overcast most days and using the Canon R10 with the Canon 100 to 400 f/5.6 to f/8, servo mode, auto tracking, animals and eye focus.
I've been struggling with this subject and although I know this hobby is a marathon to enjoy and not a race, WOW Paul have you opened up my eyes and imagination or what, your wealth of fantastic professional knowledge and how to brilliantly share it as a tutor is incredible. Thankyou so so much for explaining what could have taken me many many months or possibly longer to grasp.
Subscribing to your channel and liking your videos really is a no brainer, today will be the first day of the rest of my photography wildlife's days... thankyou millions. ps I now need to rewatch this a few times and absorb all of it's priceless content and within the next couple of days I'm buying myself an early xmas present... A Canon RF 70 to 200 f2.8
Massive thanks for that. I hope the videos continue to help you.
Remark about the specific plumage that appears to be out of focus is a nice remark. I think I had simillar observations, but always didn't know what was the reason. Maybe it was the plumage! thank you, I will evaluate some of my shots in regards of this issue.
Another possible soolution is to remove the skyllight filter-I find it definitely sharpens the plumage etc on bird pics
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and the small amount of image degrading from a inexpensive filter is far better the the replacement of a lens front glass element.
Plus there are great filter company's that make descent coated filters for less than $200.00... B & W made with aluminum frame + German glass, HOYA make some of the best color coating filters and TIFFEN is another great manufacturer of quality coated glass filters.
And of course there are pro grade filters out there as well. But I don't recommend to the average photographer. Unless you plan on selling images or if nothing but the best will do. Buy what you can afford a cheap filter broken is just that...cheap.
@@forsterl.stewart414 It was actually on a workshop with Paul I took the filter off-my images were all slightly soft and he suggested trying without a filter and it made a huge difference.
It could possibly have been a lens problem, I don't know-health problems have caused me to give up hauling big zooms
Another great video Paul,very useful info.
Thanks Paul. This was very helpful (as always actually)
Thank you for mentioning the plumage as I was question my lense focal points or my stability error for what looked like a soft point I could not diagnose. I learned more today with this photography knowledge, thank you!
The further you stop down on the aperture, the less (phase detection) autofocus points will be available to your camera to do the measuring...it doesn't tell you that but with a smaller and smaller hole in the aperture it's quite logical.
Great video paul. You, very helpful. 👌
Thanks for this video Paul. This has happened on a number of occasions to me , lost my temper thinking I was doing something wrong and couldn't understand what .
Thank you 😊
I like that video of yours as always ( sorry for my english, I am not native ).
Thank you Paul, yet again! I've had the same problem with owl plumage, most recently on a screech owl and a barred owl. While the rest of the bird and adjacent wood bark looked quite sharp, there was a noticeable softness in the plumage around the neck and beak. Thank you for demystifying this :) !!!
No problem. I'm glad so many people are agreeing with this!
Yup I noticed that on my owls images also. Nice video and tips. I have to start using my 1Dx again, ever since I have the r6 never really use it again
Cheers Peter. I may get the R6. Do you have any complaints?
A nice practical video Paul, good tips.
Great video! I very much agree with the soft plumage part!
Great video again Paul love the red deer 👌Don't think your imagenin it I see the white streaks sometimes in female sparrow hawks 🤔Great tuition as usual brilliant tips keep them coming 👏👏🦒
Yep
Thanks Paul, I recently had an issue with my D500 not auto-focusing - I had unknowingly turned the small button on the side from AF to M. Wasn't easy to notice when I was out in the field. Belted kingfishers are my problem birds where the breast plumage always seems out of focus.
Yes! My little owl images do look soft - even tho the eyes are sharp! Glad it is not my camera at fault! Great tips on here as always. I do look forward to your videos - always something of interest.
You're welcome!
Thank you 👍📷😎
Good tips buddy, enjoyed that ✊🏼😉 ….. JP
Agree with the weird plumage comment I have had the same issue with a Tawny Owl
It's the same with all owls.. and some other nirds too!
I faced this smooth plumage issue while photographing scarlet finches. the males are pure red very smooth
I sometimes get that “soft plumage” look with Ring Billed Gulls and Ospreys. I reckon it’s reflection.
Could be Joe.
This is when having instant manual focus overide built into your lens. Make sure you select a lens that offers this feature when you make your purchase. Otherwise in sticky situations you'll be one frustrated photographer.
Nothing will irritate you more than having to find the little button on that lens that cancels that auto focus.
I agree Paul, sometimes bird plumage just does not look sharp when everything else is. I thought it was just me but now I know that it wasn’t. Thanks.
Pail what happened to your idea of doing critiques of some our pictures for a small fee?
Thanks David. Yes, I really should update on this. I think that, given the feedback which suggested people were looking for more in depth critiques, I won't do this as planned. I do this as part of the workshops I run, so for now I will probably stick with this.
Getting a male Mallard’s head in focus along with getting that brilliant color is a challenge.
I find the head often needs to turn a certain way for the light to hit it best
Hi Paul, the breast feathers are more of a 'down' so the filament are smaller and closer together so do not show up as well as tail and wing feathers. Hope this helps.
Very interesting. Thank you.
Manderin ducks can look soft from plumage
I would like to capture wild birds movements, eating, still, etc. but I only have up to 300 mm lens with a F stop of up to 4.5, can I use this lens or should I get a 500mm so my f stop can go lower. sorry, I'm just getting into this
If you can get bigger it will help. But also you can work on trying to get closer to the birds in various way.