Thank you.

Thanks

Nice article with nice photo examples. On the AF section it would be interesting to get your impressions of the different AF cases and which one you used.
Mike

Hey Mike thanks

The AF cases don't really apply to BIF much, Canon optimized these scenarios for particular types of sports but wild birds are too erratic to fit into a few categories.

The settings that matter most are the AI-servo tracking sensitivity (read re-focus delay) which I set to slowest and the expansion pattern which depends on the bird and background.

I can't say the rest of the settings made a big difference, the focus point switching delay might make a small difference but I have to experiment more to confirm that.

Ari, you have the cameras identified incorrectly on the side by side photo showing the top of of each.

Very nice review, and beautiful captures, especially of the kestrel. For those of us who are stuck for now with the 5D III, would you be willing to say what you think are the optimal settings of the AF system for BIF?

FM member Arash Hazeghi, posted a field test on the Canon EOS-1D X DSLR. The review is very informative and the photos presented are equally great.

Here is an excerpt from his conclusion:

"The EOS 1DX is the new flagship professional DSLR from Canon and it well deserves the title. It is a solid improvement over the EOS 1D Mark IV in overall image quality, high ISO performance, dynamic range, speed of operation, buffer capacity, storage interface, controls and a surprisingly significant improvement in AI-servo performance for flight photography."

Read entire Review

The Canon EOS-1D X's price was just lowered to $6,728 at B&H Photo | Adorama

thanks for the review!!

Thks so much for this fine report Ari !!!!!

Leon

dwweiche wrote:
Ari, you have the cameras identified incorrectly on the side by side photo showing the top of of each.

Thanks! corrected

kevinsullivan wrote:
Very nice review, and beautiful captures, especially of the kestrel. For those of us who are stuck for now with the 5D III, would you be willing to say what you think are the optimal settings of the AF system for BIF?

same as 1DX

AI - servo tracking sensitivity set to slowest

use expansion (8-points) or (4-points when BG is too busy or if bird is small in the frame).

same as 1DX

Thanks for this. --Kevin

These BIFs are ludicrous. Nice shots.

Thank you - nice review.

Thanks Arash Hazeghi (and Fred)!

Very interesting and informative review. It was quite interesting to read your impressions on the AI Servo drive speed on the 5D Mark III vs EOS-1D X and the fact that the focus speed is still so fast with an extender mounted. Good times!

How does a 135mm shot on a 1.29x crop camera have the same FOV as a 200mm shot on a FF? This would give 1D X an advantage over and above it's extra 2MP in a non-FL scenario. Should have been ~153mm for 1D IV.

Just awesome bird photography Arash - you should label that series - Orkestral manoeuvres.

Great camera & great photographer!

A very considered and informative review - thanks for an enjoyable read.

Paul.

cputeq wrote:
These BIFs are ludicrous. Nice shots.



No kidding! I was ducking so I wouldn't get hit,thought one was flying right toward me.

DEFINITELY getting a 1DX in 2016.

outlawyer wrote:
cputeq wrote:
These BIFs are ludicrous. Nice shots.



No kidding! I was ducking so I wouldn't get hit,thought one was flying right toward me.

DEFINITELY getting a 1DX in 2016.



Yeah, by that time I MIGHT be able to afford one. Excellent review and truly superb photography. One side benefit for me is that you've identified things I've noticed about my 1DIV that I had attributed to my technique or lack thereof. There are clearly times (in nighttime bad light sports) when I've noticed the OOF frame in a burst and the slowing of fps.

Thanks much,

Robert