p.1 #1 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
Just reposting in the Sony forum for anyone that might be interested.
I have always been fascinated with swallows and recently managed to get some decent BIF shots of the little Welcome Swallows using the Sony a9 and A1. I was quite astounded by how good some of the images turned out to be and in response to queries I put together a video to show how I did it. As good as the AF is on these camera's you still have to take some steps to be able to reliably capture close up images of them in the air. Reliably means about 400/16000 = 4/160 = 1/40 = 1 frame in every 1.3 seconds at 30fps lol!
p.1 #5 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
I haven't had the time to watch the entire video yet but what I've watched so far tells me it is going to be a masterclass on swallow IF shooting.
The one thing I will add (assuming you didn't touch on this due to the lenses you were using) is that the one feature I find to be invaluable in doing very close range swallow shooting is the ability of the 400GM and 600GM to be in a lens toggled DMF mode all the time. I do a lot of MF to follow the swallow in to a closer range for when I then let AF engage to do the final burst when it is in close proximity. That is not to say that I haven't done a lot of successful swallow IF shooting with the 100-400 and 200-600 but having that DMF switch on the 600GM makes my success rate go up. It may also have some help from the dual linear motors but I'm not too sure if that matters.
The limitations of the 600GM are the MFD (4.5m) (as you'd be at the further end of your ideal range you list in the video even at MFD) and the fatigue from handholding the weight which leads to decrease in agility and reaction time over a session. I have never tried the 400GM but I think that would solve the first issue (2.7m) and probably help a little due to the more compact size with the 2nd (although weight induced fatigue would still factor).
p.1 #6 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
Very nice work, Duncan!
I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but I have to ask Geoff about his use of the DMF switch on the 600GM. I find that it behaves quite differently than when I select DMF on the A1 body, e.g., no peaking, need to turn off AF w/Shutter to avoid a constant focus battle. In my opinion selecting DMF on the A1 seems to behave "more like it should" and is easier for me to use than using the lens switch. Am I doing something wrong?
p.1 #7 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
pluturi wrote:
Very nice work, Duncan!
I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but I have to ask Geoff about his use of the DMF switch on the 600GM. I find that it behaves quite differently than when I select DMF on the A1 body, e.g., no peaking, need to turn off AF w/Shutter to avoid a constant focus battle. In my opinion selecting DMF on the A1 seems to behave "more like it should" and is easier for me to use than using the lens switch. Am I doing something wrong?
The reason I use the lens method is that it doesn't bring up focus peaking or zooming (of course I could turn both of those off). I want it to act just like a typical Canon/Nikon lens does on a DSLR (or even now on their own MILCs). In fact even how an adapted Canon or Nikon lens works on a Sony. I've never seen it do any sort of fighting with the AF-C. I shoot 100% in shutter button AF. It doesn't do anything unless I move the focus ring and when I move the ring I'm not engaging AF. But even as I sort of finish my MF pull and engage AF I've never noticed any sort of fight even if I overlap the AF with the finish of my MF. My DMF switch is On 100% of the time on the 600GM even when I have no intention of using it. Although I do make use of it to overcome the PDAF issues with seeing small, near, grossly OOF perched birds.
Maybe I need to re-visit the DMF setting on the camera itself. Which if it worked could help me shoot swallows with the 100-400 and 200-600. I haven't tried DMF on camera in ages but when I had tried it I had some issues with it which I can't remember what they even were. It didn't work the way I wanted it to...where as the 600GM switch does.
p.1 #11 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
I got the time to finish the video. Great production and lots of great tips and details about your process.
I've never experienced a situation with that many swallows confined to such a small area and especially have never got to experience them flying into that strong of a headwind. They are almost paused in the air!! I'd love to shoot in such a target rich environment. I can now understand how your hit rates were as high as they were seeing the conditions you got to shoot them in.
Great video and great shots.
I was going to suggest trying OSS Off which IME helps critical sharpness. But in the situation your shooting in it probably isn't needed as you aren't having to rapidly move the lens and pan with the swallows like I do in the local spots I shoot swallows.
p.1 #12 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
AZSteve wrote:
Barn and Welcome Swallows look a lot alike but are "officially" different species.
Well if you look closely they are quite distinct especially underneath the body. Barn swallows have much lighter colours underneath closer to white, welcome swallows are more buff and have more of that dark tan. barn swallows are more slender and a bit longer I think the tail is longer. Finally Barn swallows are mostly found in Australian tropics, not in the southern half of Australia.
You would be hard put telling them apart if they were sitting on a fence together with wings folded at casual glance
p.1 #14 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
duncang wrote:
Just reposting in the Sony forum for anyone that might be interested.
I have always been fascinated with swallows and recently managed to get some decent BIF shots of the little Welcome Swallows using the Sony a9 and A1. I was quite astounded by how good some of the images turned out to be and in response to queries I put together a video to show how I did it. As good as the AF is on these camera's you still have to take some steps to be able to reliably capture close up images of them in the air. Reliably means about 400/16000 = 4/160 = 1/40 = 1 frame in every 1.3 seconds at 30fps lol!
p.1 #15 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
I have always been fascinated with swallows
Fantastic stuff and very informative - but - I HATE swallows. They inundate our house, poo all over our patios and porches and sometimes even try to nest under outdoor covered areas. They are a menace. ha ha
That said - they dart around so fast I'm super impressed that you can catch them at all, let alone being in focus. Well done!
p.1 #17 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
arbitrage wrote:
I got the time to finish the video. Great production and lots of great tips and details about your process.
I've never experienced a situation with that many swallows confined to such a small area and especially have never got to experience them flying into that strong of a headwind. They are almost paused in the air!! I'd love to shoot in such a target rich environment. I can now understand how your hit rates were as high as they were seeing the conditions you got to shoot them in.
Great video and great shots.
I was going to suggest trying OSS Off which IME helps critical sharpness. But in the situation your shooting in it probably isn't needed as you aren't having to rapidly move the lens and pan with the swallows like I do in the local spots I shoot swallows....Show more →
Thanks, glad it was interesting. Yes the wind makes it feasible.
I was thinking of getting an entry level camera to take along and try next time as I am pretty sure I could have got a few good shots with my a7riii - at least with bird in focus if not actually looking at the lens - but if you can get some in focus then it is just a numbers game so persistence will eventually pay off.
Anyone have any idea what the typical entry level sony birding camera/lens combo would be that people use - I am not really familiar with other sony gear being ex-Canon/Nikon - like the Canon 7D equivalent ?
p.1 #18 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
arbitrage wrote:
I've never experienced a situation with that many swallows confined to such a small area and especially have never got to experience them flying into that strong of a headwind. They are almost paused in the air!! I'd love to shoot in such a target rich environment. I can now understand how your hit rates were as high as they were seeing the conditions you got to shoot them in.
Take a road trip to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts in the middle of August. They gather there for migration and there are thousands flying around (I know, 3k miles from you). You'd think I'd be better at Swallow flight photos with that many opportunities every year . Hopefully this year I'll get a few keepers, what I find is lighting is the most important thing for good photos of them.
p.1 #19 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
Entry level but still fairly capable could be the A6600 with 70-350. For full frame I believe the A7C has Sony’s latest tracking firmware. Neither will compete with a stacked sensor, especially for swallows.
p.1 #20 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
duncang wrote:
Thanks, glad it was interesting. Yes the wind makes it feasible.
I was thinking of getting an entry level camera to take along and try next time as I am pretty sure I could have got a few good shots with my a7riii - at least with bird in focus if not actually looking at the lens - but if you can get some in focus then it is just a numbers game so persistence will eventually pay off.
Anyone have any idea what the typical entry level sony birding camera/lens combo would be that people use - I am not really familiar with other sony gear being ex-Canon/Nikon - like the Canon 7D equivalent ?
You could try one of the APS-C cameras like A6600. Supposedly has fairly good AF-C and RTT. Also the new A7C has RTT. The A7III and RIII should be capable in the location shown in your video. But I have no first hand experience with those except for a brief trial of a friends A7RIII which I immediately gave back to him as the EVF experience was not up to par. That was also the time I first tried/borrowed the A9 from him and after the A9 I never wanted to see an A7RIII EVF again. The MPs/IQ aren't worth it to me for that type of shooting experience.
Any camera in the last 5 years should be able to get some keepers but of course it will just take more time and more shots to get the really special ones that come much easier on an A9/A1. I shot swallows in full darting flight with A7RIV and got a number of nice shots but it just took way too much time/effort compared to picking up my A9 and getting strings of keepers.
I've been successful with swallows starting back when I got my D500. Shot them with D850 and then A9, A9II, A7RIV and now A1.
. Hopefully this year I'll get a few keepers, what I find is lighting is the most important thing for good photos of them. 
