Bob J wrote:I bought a Canon 1DX Mark III recently to replace my 1DX (first version) and ask for suggestions on camera settings to photograph birds in flight. I take photos as a hobby. I have not been able to use the 1DX Mark III much due to Covid-19, having only taken photos in my house and yard and in the park. That's been frustrating. I photograph a lot more than birds in flight but am interested here in advice on camera settings specific to the 1DX Mark III for photographing birds in flight.
Most of the birds in flight I photograph are either flying horizontally, taking off, landing or hovering. The birds vary in size from relatively small (like a sparrow) to larger (like a crane or heron). The distance can be relatively close to quite far away. I have two long lenses, 500mm and 800mm.
The settings I have been using on the 1DX (first version) to photograph birds in flight are,
RAW
AI Servo, high
Manual mode
AF with eight-point expansion
AF Case No 1 (tracking sensitivity - no adjustment; accel/decel - no adjustment)
Bracketing - off
Viewfinder (not live view)
My thought is to use these same settings on the 1DX Mark III, although these are thoughts that have occurred to me about alternatives.
To photograph birds in flight should I use Zone AF or Large Zone AF (horizontal or vertical depending on the movement of the bird) or in the opposite direction AF with four-point expansion, instead of AF with eight-point expansion? I have been using AF with eight pt expansion instead of an AF zone thinking I have a better chance of getting the eye in focus. I have been using eight-point rather than four-point expansion thinking I have a better chance of getting a photo in sharp focus. I think I have had a high success rate getting sharp images with the eye in focus with the 1DX but maybe there are better settings.
To photograph a small bird flying fast relative to where I am standing (such as a sparrow, finch or robin) or something like a duck taking off, instead of Case No. 1 maybe I should use Case No. 4 (subjects that change speed rapidly) coupled with accel/decel no +2 (to handle greater changes in speed) and maybe also Zone AF.
I have not shot with live view. Is there a reason to use live view for photographing birds in flight? It seems like 16 fps using the viewfinder is ample and I am not aware of any other reason (except 20 fps) to use live view. I'm not accustomed to using live view.
Are there other settings I should use?
Any suggestions are welcomed.
Thank you.
Bob
Greetings from Manchester, UK. Just seen this post.
I took delivery of my 1DX Mk3 a couple of days ago and have been studying the settings, mainly AF. I'm a new user to the 1DX Mk3 but a longtime user of the 7D and 7D-Mark-II. Over the years I've customised my birding settings on those cameras and so far, owing to the crop factor, the 7D Mkii has been my birding camera of choice. I use it with a Canon 400mm prime and occasionally with extenders and have had good results. I have yet to see whether I shall prefer the 1DX Mk3 for birding.
In my kind of bird photography (and I am strictly an amateur) birds in flight can either fly in a straight and predictable line (think ducks), ride the air currents (think raptors) or just fly totally unpredictably (think swifts and swallows)? I need to be able to respond to these different situations quickly, and Canon Case settings are a great help in making a snap adjustment.
I see that you were making the same enquiries a few months ago, and am wondering whether you have come to any conclusions about best settings for bird photography (AF and other). If you have and you are able to share your thoughts it would be very much appreciated. I cannot simply ‘import’ my 7d settings as the 1DX only has four programmable cases (and one automatic) where the 7Ds have six. And the 1DX Mk3 has so many other refinements that I have to rethink my entire AF and metering strategy.