Blue tit in flight - Help

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Chubster

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Adrian
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Hi all....Over the next couple of days I am going to try and capture one that visits our garden.

Using D7000 and the basic kit lens, camera on tripod with remote release. I cant get fast enough shutter speed with natural light so planning on using either my Yongnuo flash or perhaps my Lencarta Elite ?

Which one would be more suitable and am I correct in saying that either should be able to freeze the action, I can then experiment with different shutter speeds for ambient light?

Any other tips appreciated
 
why not choose shutter speed priority and up the iso to obtain a faster shutter speed, or as you say use a flash, the kit lens is not your best choice of lens though

Les :thumbs:
 
D7000 good up to and beyond 1600iso so can you get a speed of less than 2000 in Shutter Priority with a high iso value?
 
Realise the iso performance is good on D7000 but was trying to keep it as low as, for optimal quality?

What sort of shutter speed do you reckon would be needed, they are quick little buggers ?

Realise the kit lens isnt great but it isnt a slouch either. That said I do have a 35 f1.8 and also a Tammy 70-300 VC USD, would either of those be better ?
 
And as per usual.....sitting here with no camera they are everywhere, sit here WITH camera and they haven't shown up for ages.

Watching them, they seem to have a regular circuit, visiting a garden for x amount of time flying off and then coming back, seems to be quite regular - UNLESS you have a camera out that is :-)
 
Chubster said:
And as per usual.....sitting here with no camera they are everywhere, sit here WITH camera and they haven't shown up for ages.

Watching them, they seem to have a regular circuit, visiting a garden for x amount of time flying off and then coming back, seems to be quite regular - UNLESS you have a camera out that is :-)
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That's usually the case here as well. :)
 
Chubster said:
Realise the iso performance is good on D7000 but was trying to keep it as low as, for optimal quality?

What sort of shutter speed do you reckon would be needed, they are quick little buggers ?

Realise the kit lens isnt great but it isnt a slouch either. That said I do have a 35 f1.8 and also a Tammy 70-300 VC USD, would either of those be better ?
Click to expand...

I shoot birds using a Sigma 150-500mm and push the iso to around 800, this gives me a shutter speed of 1/800th sec at f/8, needed with a longer lens

perhaps the 70-300mm would be a better choice :thumbs:

faster shutter speed means you can freeze the action

Les :thumbs:

iso 800 @ 1/800th sec


Male Reed Bunting 2 by Lez325, on Flickr
 
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Nice shot Les...but she aint flying ;)

I have the tammy on.....so lets see what happens, although I havent seen a bird for ages
 
Scroll down a bit and check out some of Martyn`s small bird flight shots here Adrian. Birds usualy do have a regular pattern when it comes to visits for feeding, they keep a check on who has what in there garden if one source fails then they know where to go.
 
Chubster said:
Nice shot Les...but she aint flying ;)

I have the tammy on.....so lets see what happens, although I havent seen a bird for ages
Click to expand...

agreed - just showing what an iso 800 shot looks like and its not a she its a HE

Les :thumbs:
 
Lez325 said:
and its not a she its a HE

Les :thumbs:
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Haha...If you say so....I wouldn't have a clue :)

Typical isnt it....sat here for two hours not a single bird to be seen.....took camera in cos it was just starting to rain, make tea, return to look at garden, 2 Blue Tits, 2 sparrows, black bird and a pigeon !!!!
 
u8myufo said:
Scroll down a bit and check out some of Martyn`s small bird flight shots here Adrian. Birds usualy do have a regular pattern when it comes to visits for feeding, they keep a check on who has what in there garden if one source fails then they know where to go.
Click to expand...

Hiya....that link is just returning a "Sorry, no matches page" ??
 
Chubster said:
Hiya....that link is just returning a "Sorry, no matches page" ??
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Ok try this and then you can just look at his user stats. Also Adrian imo you are trying run before walking. You need patience to first of all get the birds used to you. They know where the food is and for the first few times they see you they will shoot off, they will come back because they know there is something there they want.They will then happily come down on the feeders with you being out in the open at a fairly close distance. They will also not want to feel threatened by the sound of your shutter rattling away so try taking some static shots first, that brings it own problems if quality shots are what you are after. Whilst all this is happening you will want observe which branches they use more to get to the food, each species seems to have their fave spot, some like to launch from a low position whereas others will just dive down from a great height, the Bullfinches and Dunnocks here seem to like to sneak up in the shadows through the Laurel Hedge I have. You do need an understanding of your subject and not try to leave too much to chance imo.
 
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I had a concerted go at this a while back. The size of the bird seems to relate pretty much to how fast it's wings flap and the shutter speed needed. 1/800th is too slow to get wing detail from a blue tit but is there or thereabouts for a finch sized specimen.

The following three shots were all at 1/800th

Bob

10120_10125434654d30ccd1ea532.jpg


10120_15214394174d30ccd73a3b3.jpg


10120_18647516634d30ccd477f1a.jpg


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Cracking shots Bob....1/800th seems to give just enough movement on the finches, perhaps 1/1000th for the tits at a minimum would you suggest...if I was to try without flash that is ?

Never seen a finch round here...:-(
 
Looking at the 2nd Tit shot then I'd say 1/2000 would be more like it. These were shot at 600mm and using f/4.5 to f/8 at Iso 800 (1) and Iso 1600 the others. Focussing is the biggest issue and you need to stop down as much as possible whilst keeping the shutter speed up and an Iso that isn't going to throw up enough noise to obliterate feather detail.

Still, reading this has got me in the mood to try again....thanks :thumbs:

Bob
 
1/1000 sec should be fast enough, if the light is good crank it up a bit.

The wing blur adds the feeling of movement to a shot, with mine it is usually a combination of the speed they move and the shallow depth of field from a 500mm lens.

With my D700 I have no issues going to ISO 6400 if needed

This was 1/1000 @ f4

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This was 1/1000 @ f7.1

238_062.jpg


This was 1/1600 @ f7.1

293_083a.jpg
 
Fantastic shots Martin......really excellent and thanks for the tips. Blooming raining here today :-(
 
vince31 said:
A great thread to read folks and it's put me in the mood !!

I have also learnt a lot to go away with and try !

Many Thanks
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Not wanting to put you off but it took me 12 months to get that Goldfinch shot as I wanted it, with the focus nailed and the birds appearing to kiss.

Start off with the bigger stuff like pigeons, or ducks, then find some feeders where the small birds are regularly flying the same route.

One thing I should add is that I always use rear button focus, with the focusing disabled from the shutter release. This means once I have focus I can let go of the button, I know that once I press the shutter the lens is not going to try and lock on to something in the background.
 
Seagulls are pretty good for pratice too
I have warnham nature reserve near here, the feeders always have loads of tits on them amongst other birds and they are pretty mush used to cameras pointing at them :thumbs:
 
Martyn... said:
Not wanting to put you off but it took me 12 months to get that Goldfinch shot as I wanted it, with the focus nailed and the birds appearing to kiss.

Start off with the bigger stuff like pigeons, or ducks, then find some feeders where the small birds are regularly flying the same route.

One thing I should add is that I always use rear button focus, with the focusing disabled from the shutter release. This means once I have focus I can let go of the button, I know that once I press the shutter the lens is not going to try and lock on to something in the background.
Click to expand...

You won't put me off its a life time Marathon not a yearly sprint, photography as got into my blood now ;)
 
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