Semipalmated Plover 2

[Aidan Briggs]

Hopefully this one is a bit sharper

50D, 100-400 at 400
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 320

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great angle, calm water and the details do look better. Maybe a slight crop off the right.

[Arthur Morris]

Looks as if sharpest focus is on the shoulder. Everything else is sweet. Post the whole image (the original capture) and let us know how you focused.

[Aidan Briggs]

Here is the original. I took a burst of images before this guy moved away, and the focus was always near the same spot. I put a red dot to show where the focus was. It does seem odd to me that the shoulder seems sharper than the head when the focus is more on the head.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Aiden. OK, check the EXIF and see if you were using One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF. Were you handholding? (I would guess yes.)

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Thanks Aiden. OK, check the EXIF and see if you were using One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF. Were you handholding? (I would guess yes.)

Hummm... Arthur your question about "using One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF" is very interesting since I don't know how can this affect an image, I particularly don't like to use something when I don't know what the product is going to be, I have tried Al Servo and One shot and everything but I stick to One Shot, I am doing it right? At least that is my choise when my subject is not moving. :confused:

[Arthur Morris]

Hummm... Arthur your question about "using One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF" is very interesting since I don't know how can this affect an image, I particularly don't like to use something when I don't know what the product is going to be, I have tried Al Servo and One shot and everything but I stick to One Shot, I am doing it right? At least that is my choise when my subject is not moving. :confused:

Whoa, if you are handholding, the difference an be huge. You use One-shot and think that you are holding the camera perfectly still but in reality, 99% of the time you are moving the lens either closer to or farther from the subject thus throwing off the focus. Only use One-Shot AF if you are on a tripod or are bracing your arm by the elbow, and even there, it is possible for you to shift....

When you use AI Servo AF and the image is o-o-f it is usually because the system started searching (and that may be caused either by human error or very low contrast...

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Whoa, if you are handholding, the difference an be huge. You use One-shot and think that you are holding the camera perfectly still but in reality, 99% of the time you are moving the lens either closer to or farther from the subject thus throwing off the focus. Only use One-Shot AF if you are on a tripod or are bracing your arm by the elbow, and even there, it is possible for you to shift....

When you use AI Servo AF and the image is o-o-f it is usually because the system started searching (and that may be caused either by human error or very low contrast...

Thank you so much Arthur for your quick replay and explanation. Now I now what has been happening...

[Aidan Briggs]

Hi Artie, I was using AL Servo AF (I almost always do)

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Aiden; we will jusst have to chalk this one up to "Who knows why?" Sometimes the AF system loses focus for an instant when the sensor falls off the subject and is trying to re-aquire when the shutter releases but that is much more likely in low light (and with the MIII bodies...)

[david cramer]

Great discussion about handholding and AF, which is even more applicable for small subjects. This is a nice image with good color and comp. In a case like this, I would suggest you selectively sharpen the bird, allowing you to sharpen the body and shoulder a tad less, and the head a tad more.