Heron Flying not totally sharp

gerfoto

New member
Hello,

I am not sure if I am doing something wrong or the circumstances (on a moving boat) make my photo look not totally sharp, but please need your advise and how to improve this skill.

Thanks a lot,
G
DSC_0116.jpg
 

singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
Did you have VR set to "Active"? This setting is for when you're shooting from a car, boat, etc. Don't know if that would help much, since you're shooting a moving bird from a moving boat at a slow shutter speed. When I shoot BIF, I try to keep the shutter at 1/1000 or higher.
 

mauckcg

Senior Member
Thanks @singlerosa Hmm it looks like i had the VR off and set to Active. Are those the right positions ? Also with a 200mm lens shooting at 1000 not problem at all ?

VR set to Active means it is on. You would want to be much higher than 1/250 when the bird is moving and you are moving too. You can also adjust the autofocus so it is slower to pull focus off to something else if you are having a hard time keeping the AF points on the bird.
 

nikonpup

Senior Member
vr on unless mounted to a monopod or tripod, shutter speed way to slow. Check the "birds in flight" thread for exif data to give you an idea on shutter speeds. Hard to tell where you focus point was from your shot. I use af-c and single point which would have been on the birds body (hard to shot for the eyes when moving or even when still).
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Your VR will be off unless you flip the switch to ON no matter whether the other switch is set at normal or active.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Your VR will be off unless you flip the switch to ON no matter whether the other switch is set at normal or active.

I was going to type that but it looks like you saved me some unnecessary typing:)

Also +1 on all the slow shutter speed answers.

Also @gerfoto, which focus mode were you in? Tracking birds you'll need to be in one of the AF-C modes. Some people prefer multi points and some do well with a single point when in AF-C mode
 
1/250 is way to slow. I try to keep my BIF shots on at least 1/1500 sec of faster if possible. The tips of the wings are moving very fast and that is where yours is losing it.
 
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