Need advice on 1D4 settings for BIF

In particular CF III-3 and CF III-4. I am shooting Skimmers in Southern Ca. right now as well as fast moving Terns hand held. These two adjustments have been a source of confusion for me and other friends of mine as to which is the best setting for our situation.

I have been using default for CF III-3 or AF priority / Tracking priority. For III-3 would I be better off using III-3-3 or release priority / tracking priority? What do you guys/gals use?

I have been using default for III-4 or main focus priority. The other choice is Continuous AF track priority which also seems to conflict with CF III-2 which I have set to slow.

I fully understand what the adjustments do but my keeper doesn't seem to improve no matter what the setting. Keeper rate seems to be a lot lower than it was when I was using gear from the other side. Any suggestions would certainly help. BTW, my most often used lens is a 300 2.8 is with 1.4 Canon TC. I also use a 400 5.6.

Gene

Have a look at https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=286

The guide has all the answers and explanations in plain english. Best money you will ever spend.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pam Handyside

Have a look at https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=286

The guide has all the answers and explanations in plain english. Best money you will ever spend.

---

Pam,

Thanks for the suggestion, I am aware of Arties guide however I would kind of like to hack it out myself in order to educate myself in the use of the camera.

Gene

I have both settings at 0, III-2 at slow and III-8 at 2.

Missed you at the hand held BIF workshop we just completed at Bolsa Chica Gene. :) Both Jim Neiger and I use the Mark IV (we co-led the workshop). I have C.Fn III-2 set to slow, and both C.Fn III-3 and C.Fn III-4 set to their default positions. I also have C.Fn III-8 set to Surrounding AF points (option 2) for most flight shots. I did quite well with the Terns using those settings. I'll be posting some Tern images in the coming weeks using the above settings. Here's an image of a Skimmer that I posted yesterday using those settings.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the info. I have been using the same settings but at the same time I wasn't really sure that these were the best settings. Yes Doug, I missed Jim and your Handheld workshop and probably would have learned a lot. Maybe next time I'll be able to make it.

Gene