SWIFTS

Tyne Decca · 21 Mar 2011

I would like to capture these beautifull birds as they come into a nesting roost they have been using for several years..

What lens/settings would be best for this?

scottthehat · 21 Mar 2011

what lenses do you have.

Tyne Decca · 22 Mar 2011

scottthehat said:
what lenses do you have.

Sorry about that should have mentioned it just starting a collection
24 105 f4L is usm
50mm 1.8

Note: I will in my garden and the swifts roost in the next door eaves! I have often watched them skim over the 7ft fence to the rear of my house and drop into my garden before soaring up to thier eave nets/roost speed and noise as they pass is extremly impressive!!I have access to the roof of the garage so I will be quite close

footman · 22 Mar 2011

Tyne Decca said:
Sorry about that should have mentioned it just starting a collection
24 105 f4L is usm
50mm 1.8

Note: I will in my garden and the swifts roost in the next door eaves! I have often watched them skim over the 7ft fence to the rear of my house and drop into my garden before soaring up to thier eave nets/roost speed and noise as they pass is extremly impressive!!I have access to the roof of the garage so I will be quite close

I have that gear and good as the lenses are I doubt whether you'll get any birds in flight worth keeping.They are just not intended for that kind of photography.
I have used the 40D successfully but with a Canon 400mm f5.6L.

Tyne Decca · 22 Mar 2011

footman said:
I have that gear and good as the lenses are I doubt whether you'll get any birds in flight worth keeping.They are just not intended for that kind of photography.
I have used the 40D successfully but with a Canon 400mm f5.6L.

Thankyou will have to really start saving then

casts_by_fly · 24 Mar 2011

look up focus trapping. I have a nest above my front door. Last summer I took a day and tried to catch them coming in. I tried setting manual focus on a point, and catching them as they past. It didn't work so well. With focus trapping I was able to get a reasonable hit rate. It helps to have an infinity background (looking at the sky worked for me) and then set your focus trap. Then press the shutter and wait for one to come into the focus area. You can't guarantee what position the bird will be in, but you might get some.

Thanks
rick

Silver pixels · 24 Mar 2011

I think you need 200mm lens as a minimum. The more power the better. If they consistently come over the fence at the bottom of your garden, try setting up your camera on a tripod, focus on a point in the line of flight (manual), set the drive to high speed, use a fast shutter speed (increase the ISO if you have to) and trigger the camera remotely. I'm sure after a little trial & error you'll get some decent shots!

It may help if you cover the camera with something to absorb the noise of the motor drive so they don't take evasive action and change route. HTH.

Tyne Decca · 24 Mar 2011

casts_by_fly said:
look up focus trapping. I have a nest above my front door. Last summer I took a day and tried to catch them coming in. I tried setting manual focus on a point, and catching them as they past. It didn't work so well. With focus trapping I was able to get a reasonable hit rate. It helps to have an infinity background (looking at the sky worked for me) and then set your focus trap. Then press the shutter and wait for one to come into the focus area. You can't guarantee what position the bird will be in, but you might get some.

Thanks
rick

Thanks great advice a new technique had a look some info timing is going to be a key issue and due to the height the birds flying in is so low an infinity background will be awkward, will take more thought!