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Nikon4sure
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p.1 #1 · Lens Hunting

I'm sorry if I put this in the wrong spot but I have a question about bird photography and seeing all the beautiful shots here I hope somebody could answer this for me.

Question: When Photographing bird I find that when I focus on the bird the lens will hunt from the bird to the brush or tree and by the time I get it back on focus the bird is gone. How do you stop this from happening.

Once again sorry if I put this in the wrong spot, but thanks for any advice and my setup is;
Nikon D200
Sigma 50-500mm Lens
Nikon 70-200mm VR Lens
Nikon SB-800 Flash
Better Beamer Flash Extender
Manfrotto Tripod and Ballhead

Rodney

Jan 07, 2008 at 11:35 PM

Lil Judd
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p.1 #2 · Lens Hunting

Rodney,

will be interesting to see what responses you get. I have that camera, but not that lens. Feel free to PM me & we'll talk. I do a fair share of bird photography...

Lil

Jan 07, 2008 at 11:40 PM

Elessar
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p.1 #3 · Lens Hunting

Rodney,

Although I am a Canon person and so have never used a D200, one thought from my own experiences immediately comes to mind. Do you use all the focus points? Birds in trees can drive a camera's autofocus crazy because it can't decide which focus point is the right one. If you only use the center focus point for shots like this, that eliminates (or at least greatly reduces) the chances that one of the other autofocus points will latch onto a branch or some other unwanted object. If you're already using solely the center focus point, then I'll defer to other Nikon users.

Jay

Jan 08, 2008 at 01:43 AM

onesickpuppy
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p.1 #4 · Lens Hunting

My experience as a previous Nikon user (D100 to D2x), there are several methods to focusing.

Definately use center focus, continous focus.

I would also encourage you to double check that you didn't bump the focal point off center as well.

I would also ask to what "color" of birds that you find an issue with?? The darker the color, the Nikon has a real problem (and canon not as bad) with there being no contrast. One of the reasons I got rid of my D2x, was the focal points being "too" close together and getting too many OOF shots.

You can go on Nikonian's site, and read the great article on dealing with focus on Nikon gear.......it helped me alot in the beging.

Jan 08, 2008 at 01:49 AM

Lil Judd
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p.1 #5 · Lens Hunting

Rodney,

this is actually one of the first things I would have commented to you. I don't have the Bigma, but it does require some light I would imagine..... Not enough light will also make the camera "search"

Lil

Jan 08, 2008 at 01:49 AM

Lil Judd
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p.1 #6 · Lens Hunting

onesickpuppy wrote:
My experience as a previous Nikon user (D100 to D2x), there are several methods to focusing.

Definately use center focus, continous focus.

As a current Nikon shooter - I disagree - Center focus yes, lock it down . . . too easily moved if you use your left eye.

I would also encourage you to double check that you didn't bump the focal point off center as well.

Lock your focus point down.

I would also ask to what "color" of birds that you find an issue with?? The darker the color, the Nikon has a real problem (and canon not as bad) with there being no contrast. One of the reasons I got rid of my D2x, was the focal points being "too" close together and getting too many OOF shots.

Not a problem as far as I'm concerned with the D200 & I have the camera.

You can go on Nikonian's site, and read the great article on dealing with focus on Nikon gear.......it helped me alot in the beging.

True - or go to DPR and ask in the D300/D200/D100 forum. There are a lot of guys who have the camera & the lens who can help you there.

JMHO

Lil

Jan 08, 2008 at 01:54 AM

Cliftonyte
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p.1 #7 · Lens Hunting

Depending on how thick the trees/brush are I have had to on occasion set my camera to manual focus. The other thing is to set to one auto focus point like some one else mentioned. I shoot canon and that usually helps me. Good luck

Jan 08, 2008 at 02:10 AM

Nikon4sure
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p.1 #8 · Lens Hunting

Thanks for all the advice I'm new to photograhing bird and I'm going try all your advice. I live 15 min from Point Pelee National Park in Leamington, Ontario and have already booked the week of May 11 off, so I want to make sure my technique is sound .
Once again Thanks

Jan 08, 2008 at 02:54 AM

Lil Judd
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p.1 #9 · Lens Hunting

If you keep having problems I also wish to recommend NikonCafe.com to you. Lots of great photographers & an outright bird forum.

Great people there.

Lil :-)

Jan 08, 2008 at 03:22 AM


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