p.1 #1 · BIF shooting with Xh2s - some more question, any help?
Hi
I have some unssolved issues with BIF just to make it more clear and reliable?
1. what RAW format is optimal for burst shooting and easier reliable AF tracking ? Lossless? Uncompressed? Raw +Fine?
2. Pre-AF always off? if on. when?
3. Pre-ShotES should be ON?
4. shooting Birds that fly towards camera : AF-C + single point , Bird detection - OFF ? is that right?
p.1 #2 · BIF shooting with Xh2s - some more question, any help?
pilgonico wrote:
Hi
I have some unssolved issues with BIF just to make it more clear and reliable?
1. what RAW format is optimal for burst shooting and easier reliable AF tracking ? Lossless? Uncompressed? Raw +Fine?
2. Pre-AF always off? if on. when?
3. Pre-ShotES should be ON?
4. shooting Birds that fly towards camera : AF-C + single point , Bird detection - OFF ? is that right?
would love to get any answers for that
thanks
I’m not going to try to answer all of this, but regarding #1…you can look up the spec sheets for the camera (I don’t have the link but I’ve seen them online in the past), which list the buffer depth with burst shooting for all formats. Generally the smaller the file the more you can shoot be for the buffer fills, thought it isn’t quite that simple.
I’m not sure how choosing a different raw mode would affect AF tracking…
p.1 #3 · BIF shooting with Xh2s - some more question, any help?
pilgonico wrote:
Hi
I have some unssolved issues with BIF just to make it more clear and reliable?
1. what RAW format is optimal for burst shooting and easier reliable AF tracking ? Lossless? Uncompressed? Raw +Fine?
2. Pre-AF always off? if on. when?
3. Pre-ShotES should be ON?
4. shooting Birds that fly towards camera : AF-C + single point , Bird detection - OFF ? is that right?
Unless you have a very big CFE card and love to spend time culling, I would not leave Pre-ShotES on all the time. I assign it to a function button on the D-pad which is under my thumb when shooting, and turn it on when I think I need it.
You do not want Pre-AF set to ON in the menus as that will chew up batteries. It comes on when you half-press the shutter or AF-On buttons.
It doesn't affect AF speed, but you can get slightly longer bursts at 30-40 fps if you shoot raw only, because the camera can write raw files to the CFE card faster than it can write JPEGs to the SD card and burst size is limited by how much the camera can write out be fore the buffer fills up.
Jan 08, 2026 at 04:52 PM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #4 · BIF shooting with Xh2s - some more question, any help?
pilgonico wrote:
Hi
I have some unssolved issues with BIF just to make it more clear and reliable?
1. what RAW format is optimal for burst shooting and easier reliable AF tracking ? Lossless? Uncompressed? Raw +Fine?
2. Pre-AF always off? if on. when?
3. Pre-ShotES should be ON?
4. shooting Birds that fly towards camera : AF-C + single point , Bird detection - OFF ? is that right?
would love to get any answers for that
thanks
As a relatively new XH-2S owner, I am working through these issues myself. Let me second the recommendation of Morris' guide linked above. It is sensible and helpful. I tend to shoot lossless compressed RAW and fine jpeg, because during lulls in shooting I like to review focus on the back screen and shooting the jpegs seem to help with that. I know I take a hit in buffer depth but to me having that better review is worth it.
I turn on Pre-AF and Pre-ShotES selectively when I am anticipating action I want to catch. I do find that feature useful sometimes.
I find shooting birds flying toward me challenging, and try a mix of methods, but the one you mention is one I try some of the times and it often works for me.
Like I said, I am still working through my preferred method and won't shoot birds much at all until the Spring. I also generally don't shoot BIF much but rather prefer shooting birds trying to capture their interactions with their habitat in other interesting ways. The shots I like best are neither BIF nor birds on a stick, but capture interactions with other birds or other types of behavior in their interactions with their habitat.
Please share your experience as you shoot more. I enjoy bird photography but won't have much time for it for a number or years. When I do turn to it more, however, I would love to learn from your experience.
p.1 #5 · BIF shooting with Xh2s - some more question, any help?
Steve Spencer wrote:
As a relatively new XH-2S owner, I am working through these issues myself. Let me second the recommendation of Morris' guide linked above. It is sensible and helpful. I tend to shoot lossless compressed RAW and fine jpeg, because during lulls in shooting I like to review focus on the back screen and shooting the jpegs seem to help with that. I know I take a hit in buffer depth but to me having that better review is worth it.
I turn on Pre-AF and Pre-ShotES selectively when I am anticipating action I want to catch. I do find that feature useful sometimes.
I find shooting birds flying toward me challenging, and try a mix of methods, but the one you mention is one I try some of the times and it often works for me.
Like I said, I am still working through my preferred method and won't shoot birds much at all until the Spring. I also generally don't shoot BIF much but rather prefer shooting birds trying to capture their interactions with their habitat in other interesting ways. The shots I like best are neither BIF nor birds on a stick, but capture interactions with other birds or other types of behavior in their interactions with their habitat.
Please share your experience as you shoot more. I enjoy bird photography but won't have much time for it for a number or years. When I do turn to it more, however, I would love to learn from your experience....Show more →
You don't need JPEG to preview your results. Just shoot RAW compressed and you can review your photos in camera.
Morris
Jan 10, 2026 at 08:28 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #6 · BIF shooting with Xh2s - some more question, any help?
Thanks Morris
morris wrote:
You don't need JPEG to preview your results. Just shoot RAW compressed and you can review your photos in camera.
