Focus Subject Selection

[BlackRockArt]

Hi guys,

This may be a dumb question. When it comes to taking owl photos, do you select subject as human, animals, or birds ? Owls have eyes on the front of their face, unlike most other birds. Even with F/7.1 ~ F/8, I lose the AF Tracking briefly & re-lock on again. Granted my lens is not up to par,

Thanks.

Oliver

This is the Long Eared Owl I am shooting lately.

Sony A1, 200-600mm

1/250s, F/8

 

[AlanLichty]

I pick my focus points manually so I am not sure how to answer your question - I pick the face and eyes for a shot like this. I think having the eyes in focus is key for a good wildlife image.

 

[JimFox]

What camera are you using Oliver?

Maybe @Eric Gofreed can help?

 

[Ben Egbert]

With my Canon R5, I use eye detect. But with older cameras, I manually set the focus point and tried to keep it on the head. At f8 you should have enough DOF to cover a few inches of error from precise location of the focus point.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Firstly, Great shot. Great camera too. Most photographers have to use a single focal point and keep it on the bird's eye or head as Ben said above. The Canon R5 animal eye detect with tracking autofocus does that automatically. Compose your photo and the camera does the rest. Use it 95% of the time and you'll have great success. I use Sony and I set my camera for flight shots and I have another button set for perched birds (slower speed and lower ISO). I'm pretty sure the R5 has the same capabilities.

I am overwhelmed by the A9M2 tracking I am satisfied with 8/10 as my hands are a bit shaky. Many of the birds I photograph are very fast and I'm pleased when I keep them in the frame. If the head is in focus at f8 then the is almost always in focus too. I haven't seen where the animal eye is helpful. Sometimes it's a hindrance as it focuses on rocks, the knots in wood, and such. I use the C1 button to turn animal-eye on and off.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Firstly, Great shot. Great camera too. Most photographers have to use a single focal point and keep it on the bird's eye or head as Ben said above. The Canon R5 animal eye detect with tracking autofocus does that automatically. Compose your photo and the camera does the rest. Use it 95% of the time and you'll have great success. I use Sony and I set my camera for flight shots and I have another button set for perched birds (slower speed and lower ISO). I'm pretty sure the R5 has the same capabilities.

Hi Eric. Thanks so much for the tips. Previously I used Sony A9 for bird shots, after the FW 4.1, the real-time AF tracking became really sticky, I'd get 8 /10 tack sharp shots with Birds In Flight. Most often I am quite happy to let the camera pick up the birds' eyes.

With A1, the 50MP is less forgiving, maybe it's my shaky arms or somewhere in the setting, I don't see the A1 picking out the owl eyes; perhaps I should try human-face recognition?

I will go back with 100-400mm G Master lens to see if anything improves.

Thanks

With my Canon R5, I use eye detection. But with older cameras, I manually set the focus point and tried to keep it on the head. At f8 you should have enough DOF to cover a few inches of error from precise location of the focus point.

Ben, I may have to try AF-tracking, because owl only has eyetubes, the bird has to move the neck constantly to see the surrounding nature, so pin-point on the eyes is a bit hard.

Thanks

Oliver