Canon can't do this??

[Desmond Chan]

200-400 on D700 hand-held. ISO 1250 f5.6 1/2000s.

See that tree swallow??

I've read that some don't think Canon can do this, i.e., tracking a bird flying with a distracting background. What say you?

Hey, just for fun :)

[Desmond Chan]

Here's the 100% crop.

OK, not the best I admit :D:D

I don't like the light, but, need the practice.

One thing in particular I found out today is: VR off does seem to help the AF get a lock faster.

[Lance Peters]

You are a bad man Desmond ;)

[Doug Brown]

This could get ugly! :D:eek:

[Axel Hildebrandt]

This could get ugly! :D:eek:

Exactly! Who knows if the camera even focused on the bird or rather on the ripples. My best guess is that Desmond just got lucky that the DOF was wide enough. :)

[Alfred Forns]

I would say it was a lucky shot?

[Colin Knight]

No, my Canon can take OOF shots too- if I try hard enough. :)

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

I've read that some don't think Canon can do this, i.e., tracking a bird flying with a distracting background. What say you?

Hey, just for fun :)

Desmond,

Greetings. If you use Capture NX2, you could validate that the camera locked focus (view->show focus point). Or in the exif the field, AF Points Used, presents a graphic showing the locked AF point... such as in the following:



The lit sensor (in red) will not show if the camera did not lock focus. The camera having locked focus (as above) is indicative AF tracking well even in a noisy background. Not being locked, (besides indicating that you shoot release-priority) doesn't rule out luck (bird happened to fly into focus zone), but may also indicate focus changing (tracking) but not yet locked.

The above image was extracted using PhotoME (an exif viewer).

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Jim Neiger]

Canon cameras - All of them that I have used starting with the 10D are capable of shots like this. I have made thousands of images like this. They usualy get thrown away because of small size in frame, but it's not that difficult to do if you use center AF point only.

[Roman Kurywczak]

I really, really, don't want to jump into that debate.....but will offer this advice.....Canon/Nikon/other......bird that small in the frame.......don't push the button! Way too many images on this website with the Canon bodies to even go there:D.

[arash_hazeghi]

I also like Nikon AF system better for tracking birds against busy BG, performs excellent. But my 5D2 can also track tiny objects against busy BGs, if that matters, check this one out

http://www.stanford.edu/~ahazeghi/Ph...s/IMG_5271.JPG

BTW, one sharp frame does not mean much, any camera will gab sharp frames here and there, if you post at least 6 frames in succession with all frames in sharp focus then you are in business :) here is one sequence with D700 and 200-400:

http://www.stanford.edu/~ahazeghi/Ph...tSheet-001.jpg

[Desmond Chan]

Easy, easy folks :D:D

Now that we know we all have good, capable cameras, no more blaming the camera, all right? :)

Hey, if I have 8 frames in a roll of a free flying tree swallow tack sharp, I am very sure I am in business ;) Then again, somebody please tell those **** swallows to stay on their course and do not make any fast, sharp turns out of the blue :D:D

[Jim Neiger]

Easy, easy folks :D:D

Now that we know we all have good, capable cameras, no more blaming the camera, all right? :)

Hey, if I have 8 frames in a roll of a free flying tree swallow tack sharp, I am very sure I am in business ;) Then again, somebody please tell those **** swallows to stay on their course and do not make any fast, sharp turns out of the blue :D:D

Try it with a 500mm+2xTC :D

[Desmond Chan]

Try it with a 500mm+2xTC :D

Some day :D:D