nikon D7000 BIF settings

[brian simpson]

Not just a nikon question...Was wondering what camera settings you would use for BIF ? Such as release priority or focus ? aperature or shutter speed or manual ?auto iso or manualy dialed in ? single point auto focus or auto area ?jpeg or 14 bit raw... anything you could add ide love to know thankyou..

[dankearl]

Well, there are a lot better and more experienced people than me to respond, but I will tell you what I use.
I program the u2 setting for auto iso (1600 max), ss 1000, f6.3 and program the af-l button for AF-ON, and use it
to focus and press the shutter.
I will up the speed if I can, or change the aperture, but I start with these.
I can hopefully fix exposure a bit, I can't fix focus if the shot is too slow so I err on the side of SS.
I use release and AF-C nine point.

[James Shadle]

You may find this thread interesting:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...d7000+settings

[brian simpson]

Thanks for the link james, was wondering what settings you use? And thankyou dan just the reply i was looking for..With the small buffer of the D7000 shooting 14bit raw? I think i should use focus priority ,, auto iso at 1600 seems low how about 3200. Ive seen some amazing photos taken by arash at iso 2000,, I prefer auto focusing with the shutter release button i find it hard to use both.

[dankearl]

Brian, it doesn't take long to get use to focusing with your thumb on the AE-L button and just snapping with the shutter button.
I think you get better focus on moving birds because you are not waiting for focus before you snap. The AF-ON is continuously focusing
and you just click away.
Give it a try.
I do use the regular shutter release button to focus in the Aperture priority mode on resting birds at times, where I set the iso, but for
BIF, the other method works better I think.
The best thing about the D7000 is the custom settings U1 & U2.
You can set it up so you can toggle between the settings, you know exactly what they are and don't have to think about it.
As far as iso, 3200 doesn't work for me, my processing skills are not that good yet, 1600 is pushing it.
Arash can make iso2000 work because besides being a great photographer, his processing skills are really good and his equipment
is first rate. I am not there yet, but if you are comfortable with processing iso3200 on BIF, go for it.

[brian simpson]

Thanks again Dan...I use the back focus button with my F5 its right beside the rear dial. But i find it hard to use on the D7K kind of far away and sticks out cramps my hand . Your right of course about iso 3200 being to high so iset u1 to 800 and u2 to auto 1600... The biggest improvement i noticed this morning was using the 21 point AF...not 3D or auto area...The blue heron against blue water or blue sky was hit and miss with 3D and auto area 39 focused on the background a few times.... So 14 bit raw + focus priority,,, 9 point AF small bird 21 large bird,,,aperature priority 5.6,,iso 800 or auto 1600.,,and as fast a shutter speed as possible......what do gus think ?.........Thankyou

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Brian,
I am glad you have liked my images I have to say though, that those images were made with a D3S which has significantly better high ISO performance than cameras like D7000. With D7000 you want to stick to ISO 800 and below for now and then once you get more comfortable with processing you can go to 1600 but not above that, you also have the be careful with exposure. As for BIF my settings were for D3/D3S series which have a different AF module, Captain Shadle uses a D7000 so his settings is the way to go.
Regardless of your AF settings you must shoot in RAW mode even if your camera has a small buffer.

[brian simpson]

Thankyou arash ,, Ile try shoot in raw more often. and thanks to everyone for their help. ime sure my keeper rate will improve