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I was using an F2.8, 70 - 200mm IS L USM.
Wide aperture to get controlled depth of field. Speed at 640th. More than that and with big birds all the movement is frozen. I like to have some soft feathers so the bird looks like it is alive and moving. Much less than 400th and you start to get blur from the birds natural ocillation on each wing beat which is difficult to control when you are panning. Here is the critical exif data:
Model - Canon EOS 5D Mark II
DateTime - 2011:06:17 14:18:07
Artist - Photographer: Damon Guy - Netkonnexion
Copyright - Copyright: Damon Guy [The Author]
ExposureTime - 1/640 seconds
FNumber - 4.50
ExposureProgram - Manual control
ISOSpeedRatings - 250
DateTimeOriginal - 2011:06:17 14:18:07
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 200 mm
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Manual
It is most difficult to get good focus when the bird is flying parallel to you when using a narrow depth of field. If you focus in the wrong place the wing messes the focus on every stroke. I try and focus on the eye anyway so you get any catchlights and in this case the wing beat did not interupt the focus on the eye probably because it was obstructing the view after I had pushed the button but while the shutter was open so the camera would not refocus at that time. I was working here with a DoF of about 70 cm. If you look carefully the wing tips at each end show bokeh and slight movement blur. So the focus was right where I wanted it.
I was using an F2.8, 70 - 200mm IS L USM.
Wide aperture to get controlled depth of field. Speed at 640th. More than that and with big birds all the movement is frozen. I like to have some soft feathers so the bird looks like it is alive and moving. Much less than 400th and you start to get blur from the birds natural ocillation on each wing beat which is difficult to control when you are panning. Here is the critical exif data:
Model - Canon EOS 5D Mark II
DateTime - 2011:06:17 14:18:07
Artist - Photographer: Damon Guy - Netkonnexion
Copyright - Copyright: Damon Guy [The Author]
ExposureTime - 1/640 seconds
FNumber - 4.50
ExposureProgram - Manual control
ISOSpeedRatings - 250
DateTimeOriginal - 2011:06:17 14:18:07
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 200 mm
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Manual
It is most difficult to get good focus when the bird is flying parallel to you when using a narrow depth of field. If you focus in the wrong place the wing messes the focus on every stroke. I try and focus on the eye anyway so you get any catchlights and in this case the wing beat did not interupt the focus on the eye probably because it was obstructing the view after I had pushed the button but while the shutter was open so the camera would not refocus at that time. I was working here with a DoF of about 70 cm. If you look carefully the wing tips at each end show bokeh and slight movement blur. So the focus was right where I wanted it.