My 5 MOST USED Custom Functions for Sony - Birds & Wildlife
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- In this video, I share the 5 custom function settings I used the most with my Sony a7iii and Sony 200-600mm lens. These are by no means the only option to customize your Sony camera, but for my workflow, I use these on a daily basis.
Let me know which ones you use the most and how you have your custom buttons setup on your camera!
Hope you enjoyed this video, and HAPPY BIRDING!
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#SonyAlpha #SonyWildlife #Sony200600 - Навчання та стиль
What's RUINING your bird photography? This might help -> ua-cam.com/video/msHuVMsybX4/v-deo.html
It's always nice to see your excitement when holding the 200-600mm lens 😄
Lmao. It's basically my child now 😅
Never even knew there was an option for the back monitor/view finder switch... just thought I was doomed for it to always randomly switch back and forth haha -- just saved me a lot of time! Excellent and informative video!!
Glad to help!! I was very happy when I found out you can control that too 😅
I'm curious, which custom functions do you guys use the most? There's many more buttons you can customize on your cameras, but these are the 5 I use on a daily basis. I won't have a lot of cell service while I'm camping, so I'll get back to your comments as quickly as I can. Have a great week!
Every now and then I experiment with the custom functions. Currently I put the APS-C switch on to the focus hold button of the lens to get some extra reach if quickly needed.
Great tip about all custom button set up but in particular silent shooting.
I love wildlife photography and your advice are very useful. I like your videos. Maybe you could make a video for beginning photographers about AF menu setting what you are using and atc... Thank you and you have really beautiful photos.:)
Thank you for this video! I got the Sony a7 III a few months ago. I'm still saving for new lenses and I'm really looking forward to try wildlife photography. Your tips are very useful.
Thanks a lot! And I'm very glad I can help. I hope you enjoy your new camera 😁
I excited for you! The a7r4 should be a beast in your hands!
Also, I really enjoyed my time in Alberta. No doubt you'll find many wildlife photo opportunities!
Thank you! And if you have any suggestions let me know, I'd love to check out some new places 🙂
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, you help us a lot.
Saludos desde Cabo San Lucas. Baja California Sur. México
Here are the customisations I'm most pleased with: I have set silent shooting to the "down button" on the scroll wheel, so I can just hit it once to open the setting, once again to toggle on/off and center button to confirm. Very quick and easy. I also have auto iso shutter speed bias mapped to one of the custom buttons c1/c2, can't remember which. That's great to have handy when you do a lot of shooting in aperture priority with auto iso. I default to "faster" but often switch to slow / slower for still subjects in low light.
Wow. . This is dope Stefan.. Love it
Thank you so much 🙂
Video is awesome! Thanks for the great info!!
Glad you enjoyed!!
Glad to see you posting.
Thank you 🙂
Great suggestions. Thanks
HELLO! I love you videos! they spire me so much! I own the Sony A7III and I just get the 200-600 mainly becase of you! Do you have any video when you go through all your settings in the camera? i not getting so good results with the focus...
In September the elk are calling and the bull bison are rutting and roaring in that park. Also in the late winter it is a good spot for calling Saw whet owls. Lots of photo ops there.
Very nice custom setting bro. Thanks for sharing and big thumbs up for the video. Big thumbs up and greeting from Singapore.
Thank you!!
Thanks for the tutorial, a big hug. Keep it up!!!!
Thank you!
My favorite custom setting is .. Recall custom hold 1
I have mine set to f2.8, 1/1600, auto ISO, continual shooting, continuous AF.
I use this alot for example, i might be shooting a bird on a branch so my camera setting are set up for that shot witha slow shutter speed. The bird takes off so i press one button and it reprograms all my settings so i can now take a photo of a bird in flight.
There's been a few people suggest this setting, I really like it. I'm definitely going to start using it 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
As always, dope video! What about a video on how you edit your wildlife photos ;) Cheers!
Thank you!! And that's a good idea. However my editing style is really simple haha. I can probably do a video on how I edit trickier photos, like harsh sunlight, backlit subjects, etc.. Thanks for the idea 🙂
Great video
I have my focus hold button on my Sony lenses set to recall a custom hold setting. That custom hold settings list is set to DMF direct manual focus. DMF is not available in the normal Focus hold button menu but you can do it that way. I can be shooting autofocus and touch that Focus hold button and half press the shutter and it switches to manual focus. When I turn the focus ring it zooms in with focus peaking highlights and once I take the shot it jumps back to autofocus. I really like that Sony feature. You uncheck everything in the custom hold recall and register menu except for 3 settings. Focus mode is DMF, Focus area is wide, AF on is on. When that custom hold set up is assigned to the focus hold button you now have DMF assigned to it and any other lens you hook on with a focus hold button.
Excellent vidéo! Thanks
Thanks 😀
All your videos are really informative and insightful...do u mind doing a similar video on the custom settings with the new A7R4 ... especially where you have set the crop mode etc...
Thank you so much, I might do an updated video in the future, but for the buttons I spoke about in this video, they're all the same on my A7RIV, except I've moved the S35 crop mode from C3 to the AEL button. I'm still working through different options but for now my C3 has turned into my AF Area switch.
I recommand to try the custom recall button. For example your C2 button can be replaced by a recall button using DMF focus + AF activated. Pressing this button zill make AF, and then you can adjust it manually zhile holding the button. If you relase it, your default focus mode is back. It's easier to use if you set it on a back button instead of top, like AEL button.
Though I have custom button C1 set up for APS-C, I tend to use the customisable C1, C2 and C3 on the command dial more than the buttons. I generally walk around with my A7R4 + 200 - 600mm set at 1/1000th, f6.3 and auto ISO. If I then see a bird or dragonfly in flight I just switch to C1 which is set to 1/2000th, f8, auto ISO. If the light is poor C2 is set to 1/1600th, f6.3, auto ISO. C3 is set at 1/250th, f13, ISO 100, for flash close up's of butterflies and dragonflies too far away for my 90mm macro lens. I have a Meike 320S mini speedlight fitted to my camera. This is a small, lightweight flash which does not interfere with the balance of the camera when the 200 - 600mm is attached.
That sounds like a great setup. I use the custom dials for different video settings and resolutions. Having a button/dial set for fast action is a great option!
thanks for all this .. it helped my starting line for birds sony a6500 .sony 70 ..350 ..footnote made me laugh about a minute into the vid...wat ever fits your bill ...gr8 thanks.
Thanks, as answered that question I had. Just got the sel200600 and saw the 3 buttons, but only 1 in custom key setup.....hmm....what the ....OK, now answered, one (same) setting for all, and makes sense.
Thanks
Yeah I thought it may have been 3 different ones. But they did it so you can access the button no matter which orientation you're shooting in, which thinking about it, it's a good idea haha
Nasa Called they want their lens back LOL that is awesome man. Great shots in here also love the wood cocks in flight, i believe they were.
Close! Those were Snipes. Very similar looking birds. Thanks a lot!
Stefano Ianiro Wildlife figured it was either one of them such amazing shots you get
When you start to speak crop mode and Sony A7RIV, i saw myself. That excitement and light in your eyes 👍
Hahaha, best of both worlds! With this lens you can crop in to 900mm and still have a 26 MP image... what a time to be alive 😂
@@StefanoIaniro definitely. I had also same system. Now passing sony 200-600mm. Waiting for order status (not preorder) . Than A7RIV 😔 need sell my kidney too 😂
@@RustamMaharramov Hahaha who really needs internal organs, anyways? 😅
@@StefanoIaniro 😂 nobody i think 😂
So crop 1.5x works for still photos and video?
Are use the C1 button to magnify the image during focus. The peeking is nice, but it often fills the screen with so much color it is difficult to differentiate the subject.
Nice video. I'm trying to set up Silent Shutter on a button. I see when you press yours you still have to select On, which to me is to involved. I have it set on my Mode Dial 1 so that when I rotate to it the Silent Shutter is already on but what I really want is to do it by just a button press but haven't been able to figure if it can even be done?
Cool👍😎
Nice tips, but I have a feeling you haven't tried the "Reg Cust Shoot Set" yet :) Because that feature is sooo powerful, and it can initiate focus too (af on). So you could program settings for BIF, for static animals, and once you get the R4, you can have a button that does tracking + af-on, and another button that does wide + af-on for example, and yet another button that does manual focus (no need to switch, just hold that button).
Anyway ... I wish you to get the R4 soon because as you said, it's going to be a game changer with that 1.5 crop!
That's awesome! I tried that setting when I first got my a7iii, but i was using it with my adapted sigma lens, so I didn't understand it's full potential. When I get the A7RIV, I will definitely be trying this out! Thank you!!
Hey great video!
I am looking on getting same set up at the moment.
Same lens with either a7iii or a74. I noticed you said you are also interested in a74. However, the a74 is only 6fps in uncompressed raw compared to 10 by a7iii. This puts me off massively as a wildlife, bird photographer. I have also read many reviews that this lens isn't working well with the a74. Did you upgrade to the the a74? If so what are your thoughts?
Many thanks :)
I think I'll use some of the suggested BIF modes replied here for my "running down the tree makes no sense to me" Nuthatches :)
Haha, good idea! I think tracking Nuthatches with a camera should be an official sport at the Olympics 😅
how do you setup your focus point selection? I mean which setting works best for birding , do you use entire screen or zone or.....
I find when at 600 mm its difficult to track birds in flight perhaps I need more practice. what sharpening and denoising workflow do you use
Stefano: I like the choices you have made for your "birding buttons" but was surprised that you apparently don't have one dedicated to instantly optimized settings for BIF... I find it extremely beneficial to program the AEL button for that function, using a higher shutter speed (1/2500-5000), EV compensation (+0.7), Tracking AF (wide or zone), ISO Auto, and Hi drive mode to allow me to get on BIFs within 2 seconds of spotting them. If you haven't done this before, give it a try - pretty sure you'll like it.
That is actually really smart, I've never thought of that! I will definitely assign that to a button when I get my A7RIV. Thank you for the suggestion!! much appreciated.
Mine is similar but the opposite. Mine is set for for bird portrait shots, but the idea is similar. Can't live with out it.
@@weareyesyesyes There's enough customizable buttons, I can probably try both haha
Really enjoying these 200-600mm videos, a video on using it as a "macro" lens would be interesting
Ou that's a good idea! It does have a better minimum focusing distance than my old Sigma. Should definitely give that a try!
@@StefanoIaniro Yeah it would be interesting, and if you use clear image zoom I bet you can get some pretty macro looking shots
@@franklinmichael671 I think I will make a video on this when I get the a7RIV. With the zoom and high MP, it would be interesting to compare the cropped images too. Thanks for the idea!
looking forward to seeing the a7riv
Would you recommend a7s with the 200-600? Or I need to get a newer camera? For bird photography
🔥🔥🔥
Thanks Zack!
Great video, I just ordered the 200-600 and I can't wait! Shame they're on back order in the U.K so I'll have to wait. Watching this made me excited to test it with my a7r2!
Subscribed and followed you on socials :)
Thank you so much! I think they're back ordered in a lot of places. I hope it doesn't take too long for you to get it, you're going to love the lens! Let me know what you think of it when you get it!
@@StefanoIaniro I've been told 1-2 weeks! Going on a short trip to Lundy island in 3 weeks where I worked for 4 months this summer surveying puffins and other pelagic birds! Hoping I can catch the end of the autumn migration! So many swallows and Willow warblers 😍
@@Alex-gc6xh That sounds amazing!! Very jealous. I still haven't seen a puffin. I really need to do more pelagics. I hope you get the lens in time!!
I love the silent mode, but like you say you take a lot as you hear nothing. At first I didn't think It was taking any photo's. On my old Canon 7d silent mode made no difference. I tried it in a blind setup and the rapid fire of the shutter did scare the birds. But silent mode they have no idea that I'm there. Love the Sony and the 200-600mm
Same here! Such a beneficial feature!
Hi Stefano, at present I am on MFT but thinking to switch to 35 mm for birding. I would like to know which sony model is better sony A7III or a7iv. My main concern is low light and eye af tracking. Could you please advise? Thank you.
Nice vid. The most important is af/mf hold button
What do you think of upcoming apsc A6600 instead of A7R4 (Crop-mode) to pair with your 200-600mm lens?
Sadly I haven't tested any of their aps-c cameras too much. Not to sure about their performance with the telephoto lenses
I need clarification; if you have a full frame A7R4, you can use a programmable C button and in video, alternate between 61 MP full frame video and 26 MP cropped at 1.5x? So it works for videos and still photos?
Yes, the super 35 mode (1.5x crop) works for both photos and videos. If you program it to a custom button, you can use it no matter which mode you're in.
Custom Button Settings, a7R IV
Lenses are Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 (doesn't have a Focus Hold button) and Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 (has focus hold button)
Tab 1:
Wheel: ISO
AEL: Reg. AF Area + AF On (Registered area is Zone, pressing this does AF over the Zone area, most of the frame but not the edges/corners)
AF-On: AF On (Normally in Expand Flexible Spot or Small Flexible Spot, so this focuses in a small area usually near the center)
C3: Display My Menu
C4: Silent Shooting
Tab 2:
Joystick Press: Metering Mode
Wheel Center: AF/MF Control Toggle, really only used when I've got a lens without the Focus Hold button on. I turn "AF with Shutter" back on then.
Wheel Left: Drive Mode
Wheel Right: Subject Detection
Wheel Down: AF Tracking Sens.
Tab 3 (rear):
C1 APS-C / Full Frame Select
C2 Switch Focus Area (Small Flexible Spot, Expand Flexible Spot, Center, Zone)
Tab 4 (lens):
Focus Hold Button: AF/MF Control Hold
Disable AF on the shutter button (Turn off "AF with Shutter" on pg 6/15 on tab 1). I use my thumb: AF-On button for the currently selected focus area, AEL button to use the registered focus area (usually expand flexible spot). Makes shooting smoother.
Some of these are things I don't need that often, but when I do need them, I want them fast. Metering mode, Drive mode, and AF Tracking Sensitivity in particular rarely change, but have to change quickly.
Great video! Just curious why you aren't shooting in silent shutter all of the time? I used the a73 and keep it on silent shutter and haven't really found a reason not to use that. There are a couple of features that don't work with silent shutter I know.
Thank you so much! The main disadvantage to always shooting in silent mode is the distortion you get while either you or your subject is moving. Even if you're using the same shutter speed, it essentially takes longer for your camera to take an image in silent mode. So if you're on a tripod and your subject is still, you likely won't notice anything. But if you or your subject starts panning/moving, you will likely notice some distortion. That's why I mention that I use it mostly when I feel like I wouldn't get a shot otherwise. There are also a few other downsides to using silent shutter, but to me that's the biggest!
@@StefanoIaniro that makes sense and thank you for the information. I was not aware of the distortion or slow down during silent mode.
@@ForrestWest No problem! Happy to help!
Stefano, do you have the same custom button setup on your mark iv?
It's very similar, I'm always tweaking things to see what works best for me. The biggest difference is I moved S35 mode from C3 to the Centre button on the scroll wheel. Besides that, I've only done some minor changes for settings I don't use too often.
What gear is ? Ty
Great video. I have the exact 200-600 lens but on A7R3. Just newly got my gears and still trying out best functions and customizing it. However, I noticed the Crop Mode switching are locked out during clearing buffer/writing to disc. Do you notice that? Means you cannot switch to/from Crop Mode until all buffer/writing are clear. This is very annoying especially in birding wildlife when you take a shot and you need to recompose to/from Crop Mode. I could not understand why Sony have to lock this out. This happen for both Single Shooting/Cont. Shooting. Do you have any solutions to this?
Hey! No sadly that is just how it is with the Sony. There's no work around to it. The only thing I can think of that will help, but not get rid of the problem, is to use extremely fast memory cards that clear quicker. But that doesn't fix the problem, it only reduces the time you're locked out. Hopefully in a future firmware update they fix it!
@@StefanoIaniro Thanks for feedback. I used Sony G 64GB UHS-II sd card in slot-1. Unfortunately this is not card speed issue as you aware of. Afraid Sony might have overlooked this issue. I can't find anyone on google mentioning this. Hope Sony could reflect this in their next firmware update. Thanks again.
@@dixonlau707 No problem! It's something that has bothered me in the past, but same thing, can't find a work around to it!
@@StefanoIaniro Just a quick update on how I setup my A7R3 with 200-600mm. C1=Drive Mode, sometimes need change from Single Shooting to Cont. Shooting Hi when seeing BIF. C2=Not final yet but set to Focus Area for now. C3=Monitor Brightness. while indoor -2 brightness is good enough for me, however when outdoor, may need change to Sunny Weather quickly. On zooming extra reach, when reaches 600mm, AF-On=Crop Mode to give me quick 900mm. C4=Clear Image Zoom same as yours, if 900mm still not enough reach. However, I set AEL=Focus Mode, to switch between Manual - Auto. Esp when in Clear Image Zoom, auto focus doesn't focus on the spot. And if still not enough reach, I set Wheel Down=Aspect Ratio. Switching from 3:2 to 16:9 will give me another little extra reach ;) Oh and if that still not enough, can still do some cropping in post because of A7R3 42MP.
@@dixonlau707 That sounds like a good setup! I have a few buttons that aren't really set to anything, so I have some flexibility with what I can add. Nice to see your options!
When I use M mode, silently, I can't shoot in burst. why?
Hmm, never had that problem. At the moment, the only thing I can think of is when you turn the dial to M, it might switch your settings to single shot instead of continuous shooting.
I want to trade my 6 month old 100-400 gm for 200-600 G without additional costs. I really repent on getting 100-400.
dude just get a6600
I hope you have not sold your kidney. The A1 is way better.