Peregrine at 1/1600

[Jeff Nadler]

I am wondering if my feeling that this lacks shaprness is correct - the 1/1600 probably not fast enough?

Canon 7D - center sensor expanded.

Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: +1/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Evaluative
Drive mode: Continuous
ISO: 800
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Focal length: 500mm

[arash_hazeghi]

No Jeff, 1/1600sec is not enough most of the time to get tack sharp images of Peregrines and other fast birds in flight, at least to my standards of sharpness. This shot is OK but as you have noted the fine detail is not there, especially in the head/eye area. The other thing is try to get them when they are flying towards or parallel to the camera, makes it more interesting than flying away. for PG I prefer 1/2500sec or faster, cranking up the ISO when necessary.

TFS

[Harshad Barve]

Nice flying pose and agreed with Arash here
TFS

[Juan Aragonés]

Sharpness is difficult to evaluate at this web size but, certainly, it looks a bit unsharp. I think that 1/1600s is fast enought to frozen the action at least on the bird´s body but, of course, not all the images made with such shutter speed has to be sharp. Is this one handholded?
Other than that, I love the light, BG, eye contact and opened beak. I do not mind about the slight blur in the wing tips. TFS :)

[Daniel Cadieux]

As posted the eye and talons are pin sharp...could be another story at full resolution though? I'm OK with the bit of wing blur if that is what you mean. I agree with bird's body angling away isn't optimum though.