p.2 #1 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
arbitrage wrote:
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.
Now come on Geoff, some of those are Martins I reckon.
I have way more D500 swallow shots than with the A9. I have good access to a few local rivers/beaches with a lot of swallows, but I rarely get them flying at anything less than full tilt erratic and not much over water skimming.
p.2 #2 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Now come on Geoff, some of those are Martins I reckon.
I have way more D500 swallow shots than with the A9. I have good access to a few local rivers/beaches with a lot of swallows, but I rarely get them flying at anything less than full tilt erratic and not much over water skimming.
The swallows in those photographs are Violet-Green (tiny and fast, 2cm shorter than Welcome Swallow), Tree Swallow (1-2cm shorter than Welcome) and Barn Swallow (larger but faster, 2-4cm longer than Welcome).
p.2 #3 · Photographing Swallows in Flight with A1, A9, FE100-400GM, FE200-600G and 1.4TC
I'll see if I can find an a6400/70-300 - but it doesn't look like there are many for sale secondhand. Certainly one thing about the sony cameras/lenses is they are not so easy to find at a good price secondhand.
I have a Nikon 16-35 VR f/4 and Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR lens in mint condition and can't seem to give them away.
The swallows in those photographs are Violet-Green (tiny and fast, 2cm shorter than Welcome Swallow), Tree Swallow (1-2cm shorter than Welcome) and Barn Swallow (larger but faster, 2-4cm longer than Welcome).
Purple Martins nest here in the summer and the Wildlife Refuge has houses that fill with them every year about 10' from the parking lot. Speaking of Swallows though, migration is in full swing here.. I just need to get my lazy butt out of bed early enough to get good lighting. This is from today around 1pm'ish... no lack of opportunities.
