Tim! This is such a great video. Some new info for me and lots of reminders of things that I had let slip away! I need to watch this one several times to take in ALL of the helpful information you've provided here. Thanks so much!!!
Once again a great video, I also shoot with a 5D mark iv and double checked my settings. Changed a couple to your recommendations. Looking forward to getting out to shoot. Thanks.
Once again a very helpful video from you - thank you very much! BTW using the EOS R instead of my 7D II I experienced less shots per second but more keepers and way sharper/detailled on the same lense (Sigma 60-600 Sports).
I really like the image quality coming out of the R, last week in the snow at Klamath Falls, Oregon I used the R and the 5D Mark IV most fo the time, used the 7D Mark II a little. Thanks Tim
Having enough light to shoot at fast shutter speeds and relatively low ISOs is a luxury! I often find myself fighting with overcast days (today was super gloomy), and to get any kind of decent shutter speed, I'm up around ISO 3200 or maybe even 6400 on my OM-D E-M1, which is not exactly great, especially when you start cropping. I would think one of the advantages of a full-frame camera is to be able to get usable images at those higher ISOs, so why not push it higher than 1000 if you need to? Sure, it's ideal to get your ISO as low as possible, but when the light is bad, sometimes you don't have a choice.
If you have too much noise for your personal taste, I highly suggest Topaz Denoise AI. (I'm not sponsored, I just like how this product cleans up the image.) It's the best solution for shooting over ISO 1000 that I have found. I'm even going back and cleaning up images I took years ago in low light and high ISO. I agree that fast glass is expensive, some full frame cameras with really good sensors are expensive. Topaz is a very reasonable alternative.
I just got a Pentax 500mm, it's an old lens so no AF - makes me wonder how people back then did it because it's really hard even focusing on a still object lol
I sometimes wonder just how skittish the eagles are. I was sitting on the bank of the Boise River in Boise watching Idaho Fish and Game releasing steelhead into the river. The fish are rather stunned when first released and will just hold in the river while getting oriented. There was a whoosh over my head and a very large female bald eagle caught a steelhead and pulled him onto the bank about 10 feet from me. I didn’t move and she would look at me occasionally but was happy to let me sit there and watch while eating her catch. After about 15 minutes she let out a screech and was joined by a second eagle that may have been her mate. All in all I had about 30 minutes of very close eagle watching. No pictures but some once in a lifetime images in my head.
It's really about pressure, sometimes when teh bird decides to land near us, they feel less pressure than if we are slowly walking towards them. And then sometimes, they'll be fine with you, but if another car, photographer, person, dog-walker etc comes along then it's too much pressure and they leave. I've found that each bird is unique in how much pressure it will take. Sounds like you had a magical encounter, that's so cool! Thanks for commenting.
Hi Paul, Yes, I use the 5D Mark IV as my main camera and I use the EOS R for video and the 7D mark II when I want more reach. I've enjoyed your videos as well, and congratulations you're about to pass 10,000 subscriber!
Thanks Tim, much appreciated. Yes, I just got past 10,000 today! I enjoy your videos too Tim. I was interested to know your thoughts on the 5D in terms of the frame rate - I think it's maximum 7 fps.. do you find this fast enough for you? The 5D looks a great camera - that's just one thing that puts me off.
Yes the frame rate is slower than the 7D Mark II and the 1DX, but I've spent enough time with birds that I find I can shoot short burst and anticipate the action. This is where learning bird behavior is important, and all the time I've spent studying birds, their behavior and their migration patterns pays off. So... I personally haven't found it to be a limiting factor.
I would like ISO 100 and shutterspeed of 1:8000 sec, but the content come before the degree of noise. I live in Norway, with harsh weather, long could and dark wintertime, Florida is the opposite. I would say 1600 ISO is a threshold.
What noise reduction software are you using? Recently I've been using Topaz Denoise AI and shooting at higher ISO. But, I live in the PacificNW were we also have mostly cloudy drizzling days. Thanks Tim
@@GodwitMediaLLC I use affinity photo and Topaz (which looks excellent) is not compatible. I find I have to do a lot of paintbrushing things up and building up the layers to keep sharpness and restrict the amount of noise, but it's a long process. That's what you get for living in cloudy places, but I love our seasons! Thanks for the reply. Beautiful photos as always!
@@GodwitMediaLLC It doesn't matter how far it is. The human eye doesn't work in a way to be focused forward while driving and in peripheral vision ,see a bird that small(and identify it). I'm not saying that you didn't see it , I'm saying the distance isn't possible. You , the bird and the poles would all have to be parallel to each other to make an accurate measurement. That absolutely was not the case.
Excellent tutorial very easy to understand. Thank you so much.
Great video!!! Never thought of double back button focus until now. Thank you, Tim.
I think shutter priority is better because you can keep it at 1/1000 or 1/2500 for sharp images. This is especially important for fast moving animals.
Tim! This is such a great video. Some new info for me and lots of reminders of things that I had let slip away! I need to watch this one several times to take in ALL of the helpful information you've provided here. Thanks so much!!!
+Jann Ledbetter Thanks, glad it's helpful. 😀
Great video, I'm glad I found your work, finally someone who shoots like me! I just bought your book, kudos!
Thanks!
Another Great Video!!!
Loved this video. Some great tips. Thanks Tim.
Thanks Pauline!
Once again a great video, I also shoot with a 5D mark iv and double checked my settings. Changed a couple to your recommendations. Looking forward to getting out to shoot. Thanks.
Once again a very helpful video from you - thank you very much! BTW using the EOS R instead of my 7D II I experienced less shots per second but more keepers and way sharper/detailled on the same lense (Sigma 60-600 Sports).
I really like the image quality coming out of the R, last week in the snow at Klamath Falls, Oregon I used the R and the 5D Mark IV most fo the time, used the 7D Mark II a little. Thanks Tim
Thank you Tim!!! Very helpful video :))
all good but I prefer to use manual focus since the bird is sooo far away I'm almost always at infinite focus - or very close to that
Having enough light to shoot at fast shutter speeds and relatively low ISOs is a luxury! I often find myself fighting with overcast days (today was super gloomy), and to get any kind of decent shutter speed, I'm up around ISO 3200 or maybe even 6400 on my OM-D E-M1, which is not exactly great, especially when you start cropping. I would think one of the advantages of a full-frame camera is to be able to get usable images at those higher ISOs, so why not push it higher than 1000 if you need to? Sure, it's ideal to get your ISO as low as possible, but when the light is bad, sometimes you don't have a choice.
If you have too much noise for your personal taste, I highly suggest Topaz Denoise AI. (I'm not sponsored, I just like how this product cleans up the image.) It's the best solution for shooting over ISO 1000 that I have found. I'm even going back and cleaning up images I took years ago in low light and high ISO. I agree that fast glass is expensive, some full frame cameras with really good sensors are expensive. Topaz is a very reasonable alternative.
manual shooting ftw :) that's the way to do wildlife.
Great video Tim! Thank you!!
I just got a Pentax 500mm, it's an old lens so no AF - makes me wonder how people back then did it because it's really hard even focusing on a still object lol
LIfe is so much easier now! Thanks for commenting!
Guess you've never used a D500. ISO 800 is considered low - this camera produces usable (great) images at ISO 2000 and above . . .
I sometimes wonder just how skittish the eagles are. I was sitting on the bank of the Boise River in Boise watching Idaho Fish and Game releasing steelhead into the river. The fish are rather stunned when first released and will just hold in the river while getting oriented. There was a whoosh over my head and a very large female bald eagle caught a steelhead and pulled him onto the bank about 10 feet from me. I didn’t move and she would look at me occasionally but was happy to let me sit there and watch while eating her catch. After about 15 minutes she let out a screech and was joined by a second eagle that may have been her mate. All in all I had about 30 minutes of very close eagle watching. No pictures but some once in a lifetime images in my head.
It's really about pressure, sometimes when teh bird decides to land near us, they feel less pressure than if we are slowly walking towards them. And then sometimes, they'll be fine with you, but if another car, photographer, person, dog-walker etc comes along then it's too much pressure and they leave. I've found that each bird is unique in how much pressure it will take. Sounds like you had a magical encounter, that's so cool! Thanks for commenting.
Hi Tim. Great video. Just wondered, is your main camera the 5d mark iv?
Hi Paul, Yes, I use the 5D Mark IV as my main camera and I use the EOS R for video and the 7D mark II when I want more reach.
I've enjoyed your videos as well, and congratulations you're about to pass 10,000 subscriber!
Thanks Tim, much appreciated. Yes, I just got past 10,000 today! I enjoy your videos too Tim. I was interested to know your thoughts on the 5D in terms of the frame rate - I think it's maximum 7 fps.. do you find this fast enough for you? The 5D looks a great camera - that's just one thing that puts me off.
Yes the frame rate is slower than the 7D Mark II and the 1DX, but I've spent enough time with birds that I find I can shoot short burst and anticipate the action. This is where learning bird behavior is important, and all the time I've spent studying birds, their behavior and their migration patterns pays off. So... I personally haven't found it to be a limiting factor.
Great!
Hi Tim. I disagree with you about ISO. The 7D mkii is capable with higher ISO than 640.
Cool, lots of personal preferences in all of this. Thanks for commenting.
I would like ISO 100 and shutterspeed of 1:8000 sec, but the content come before the degree of noise. I live in Norway, with harsh weather, long could and dark wintertime, Florida is the opposite. I would say 1600 ISO is a threshold.
thank you so much
In the UK, with cloudy skies the norm, there's no way, whether I like it or not, that my ISO on the 7D II is going below 2000, let alone 640-800
What noise reduction software are you using? Recently I've been using Topaz Denoise AI and shooting at higher ISO. But, I live in the PacificNW were we also have mostly cloudy drizzling days. Thanks Tim
@@GodwitMediaLLC I use affinity photo and Topaz (which looks excellent) is not compatible. I find I have to do a lot of paintbrushing things up and building up the layers to keep sharpness and restrict the amount of noise, but it's a long process. That's what you get for living in cloudy places, but I love our seasons! Thanks for the reply. Beautiful photos as always!
Perfect :)
Obviously every photographer has their own taste in settings. Sony Alpha users
ISO to auto
Aperture is up to you
Shutter speed 2-4000
Thank you.
You were driving and while you're in motion , you saw a bird 2 football fields away? That's impossible. But great camera tips.
I was on a dirt road in a National Wildlife Refuge What's the distance between three telephone poles.
@@GodwitMediaLLC It doesn't matter how far it is. The human eye doesn't work in a way to be focused forward while driving and in peripheral vision ,see a bird that small(and identify it). I'm not saying that you didn't see it , I'm saying the distance isn't possible. You , the bird and the poles would all have to be parallel to each other to make an accurate measurement. That absolutely was not the case.