40d not good for bif

[alexf]

My 20d replacement has just arrived, the 40d. I have read some reviews on DP forum where they are saying that focus tracking on a moving bird is poor as the focus quickly locks onto the background, but it will refocus back again quicker than the 20d.

I havent had time to use it yet, has anyone had problems tracking small birds in flight with the 40d. (I wouldn't be surprised if it was down to using a short lens or poor tracking skills). I use a 400mm F5.6 and have a steady arm so I was expecting an improvement over the 20d, I hope I don't regret this purchase?!

I appreciate that some people on that forum may have poor tracking skills, wrong lens types, poor copies etc so I dont always believe what I read, what do you guys (who own a 40d) think?

Thanks

Alex

[Keith Reeder]

Well I'm no great shakes at all where BIFs are concerned, and I've read the negative commentary on the 40D in this regard: but I have to say that - within the scope of my own modest expectations - personally I don't agree that it's "not good".

There's actually another thread on the subject here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=96601), Alex.

The shots in there (speaking about mine) might not prove that it's the best camera ever for BIFs, but I do think they prove that it isn't as terrible as some folk suggest.

This (http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/165073/ppuser/4913) looks OK to me, for example.

I'd agree that it takes a bit more effort on the part of the photographer, but thats a good thing IMHO. The focus tracking seems [excellent to me, but I do agree that the focus lock will wander off with little provocation. Just means I've got to try harder to keep the focus point where it needs to be, which I'm OK with.

I know that since I've got my 40D, I've found myself more likely to have a go at a BIF, whereas I'd be more likely to shrug and think "naaah, it's not worth the effort..." with the 30D.

[alexf]

Cheers Keith,

Looks like I should give it a go then. From what I can see of it so far the other improvements look good. I hope it doesnt rain this weekend:t:

[Harold Stiver]

Keep in mind as well that if the AF operates a bit differently on the 40D, it will have a learning curve. I am always skeptical about early reports of problems, as I think most of the problem lies with inexperience of the user.

I remember first getting a 10D and 100-400mm combo. It wouldn't focus worth a damn at first, to the point I was going to return it. Funnily enough that gear not only repaired itself but became more and more accurate.

[Keith Reeder]

Well mine is just a personal view, and as I say I'm not really a BIF guy anyway.

I know that Romy Ocon is less impressed with the 40D for flight shots, but I suspect that's partly because his standards and expectations are much higher than mine!

;)

[alexf]

Keep in mind as well that if the AF operates a bit differently on the 40D, it will have a learning curve. I am always skeptical about early reports of problems, as I think most of the problem lies with inexperience of the user.

I remember first getting a 10D and 100-400mm combo. It wouldn't focus worth a damn at first, to the point I was going to return it. Funnily enough that gear not only repaired itself but became more and more accurate.



I totally agree. When I first got my 20d and long lenses I was often told not to judge anything untill I had learnt how to use it and how it behaves in different conditions.

I wondered how so many people could comment so negatively on the 40d in such little time.

[Blaumeise]

40D works fine for me.

(pic has been very slightly cropped and reduced in size for upload elsewhere, don't have the original handy at the moment)

[David Smith]

40D works fine for me.

(pic has been very slightly cropped and reduced in size for upload elsewhere, don't have the original handy at the moment)

Can't be any good-it's missed one of the legs off!!

[gkrpepper]

plus that is one ugly bird

[Blaumeise]

Somehow I'm not following the humor here...

[reptilian]

since i have not long had my 40d, i have only had 2 good goes at BIFS to date. this was a day at gigrin farm and another red kite feeding station. i gotta say that i was not dissapointed at all and had no real issues focussing accuratley and quickly on the red kites, and indeed i got some shots that i am quite more than pleased with. this was using the sigma 300-800 lens only mind. i have yet to try using my 100-400 is so cannot comment on that yet but on the sigma the 40d focussing performed admirably.
red kites as you know are quite big birds though so i suppose there is plenty to "lock on" to but have not tried with any smaller birds as yet. but at the moment, with my limited BIFS so far i am more than happy with the performance of the 40d
hope this helps a little at least????

[alexf]

since i have not long had my 40d, i have only had 2 good goes at BIFS to date. this was a day at gigrin farm and another red kite feeding station. i gotta say that i was not dissapointed at all and had no real issues focussing accuratley and quickly on the red kites, and indeed i got some shots that i am quite more than pleased with. this was using the sigma 300-800 lens only mind. i have yet to try using my 100-400 is so cannot comment on that yet but on the sigma the 40d focussing performed admirably.
red kites as you know are quite big birds though so i suppose there is plenty to "lock on" to but have not tried with any smaller birds as yet. but at the moment, with my limited BIFS so far i am more than happy with the performance of the 40d
hope this helps a little at least????



Yes, I am beggining to think that some are saying its no good with small birds because it is naturally harder to lock onto due to the size and speed of smaller birds. Its possibly got more to do with their shooting skills than the camera, maybe.
Mines got the 400mm attached and custom function 3.1 ready to go but this weekends looking a bit dodgy weather wise though :C

[Keith Reeder]

Not convinced about that either, Alex.

This thread: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=96818 contains a link (sadly now archived and the pictures not available) to some staggeringly good humming bird pictures - you can see how good they were from the responses posted on the thread.

[gkrpepper]

Somehow I'm not following the humor here...
I was joking

[James]

Took this with a 10D and a 100-400 Canon zoom out at 400 end.
Quite pleased with it for a learner.

James

[David Smith]

Somehow I'm not following the humor here...

It's what is called 'scouse humour' and is really a compliment-the shot is very good
Sorry if you mis-understood.

[David Smith]

Not convinced about that either, Alex.

This thread: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=96818 contains a link (sadly now archived and the pictures not available) to some staggeringly good humming bird pictures - you can see how good they were from the responses posted on the thread.

Keith
Could this because the humming birds virtualy 'hover' in position as aginst birds that are actually moving across or towards/away from the photographer and therefor not realy bif ?
2 weeks ago I was on the way into town to purchase a 40D but the 1.4TD issue frightened me off. The bif doesn't bother me to much as I don't tend to do too much of it but the 1.4 is permanently there.

[David Smith]

Took this with a 10D and a 100-400 Canon zoom out at 400 end.
Quite pleased with it for a learner.
James

James
Not about the shot which I do like. Can you tell me where Hermitage Green is ?

[Madmitch]

Keith
Could this because the humming birds virtualy 'hover' in position as aginst birds that are actually moving across or towards/away from the photographer and therefor not realy bif ?
2 weeks ago I was on the way into town to purchase a 40D but the 1.4TD issue frightened me off. The bif doesn't bother me to much as I don't tend to do too much of it but the 1.4 is permanently there.

Hi
Can you tell me more about the 1.4 issue as i'm about to upgrade from the 30D to the 40d

Mitch

[Keith Reeder]

Mitch,

have a read of this (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=24792272), this (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=97941) and this (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=99426).

Executive summary: the 40D doesn't play very well at all with 400mm f/5.6 lenses and 1.4x TCs, using the central AF point - it's essentially impossible to achieve focus lock.

It is better using one of the outside AF points, but not brilliant.

Now, one or two folk have been lucky and found that their camera/lens/TC combo is OK, but the majority view is that if using a TC on a 400mm f/5.6 is essential to you, a 30D (say) might be a better bet.

Personally, even though I'm a huge fan of my 30D/1.4x TC/100-400mm set up, I'm still glad I got the 40D, and I find I'm not missing the TC nearly as much as I thought I would - the 40D more than makes up for it by just being an all-round better camera than the 30D.

[Keith Reeder]

Could this because the humming birds virtualy 'hover' in position as aginst birds that are actually moving across or towards/away from the photographer and therefor not realy bif ?

I asked the same question David, and was assured that they're a huge challenge to photograph.

Yeah, they hover, but only for a second or two at a time in any one spot; they zip back and forward, up and down like little fireworks; and their size makes just getting the AF point on 'em before they've zoomed off somewhere else, really hard.

I guess that if we could do this well on in-flight dragonflies - extra-fast, hyperactive dragonfiles at that - we might have something to gauge hummers against: but personally I can't do in-flight dragonflies worth a damn either!

;)

[Madmitch]

Thanks Keith, it shouldn't be an issue with my lens lineup then. :t:

Mitch

[Keith Reeder]

Good to know, Mitch - in which case you''re going to love the 40D.

[alexf]

I tried mine today at the hide, I didn't see many moving birds but managed to get this with the first couple of shots. The light was poor and it was windy but I stayed long enough to see this little grebe.

What do you think?

[Keith Reeder]

I think I'm glad I'm not a perch!

;)

Not an ideal angle to take the picture from: but that apart, nothing wrong with this.

[James]

James
Not about the shot which I do like. Can you tell me where Hermitage Green is ?


Winwick, then Golborne Road, then the Hermit Pub and you are in Hermitage Green!

Easy.

[JohnZ]

Alex, I am using the same set up as you i.e 40D and 400mm f5.6. On my first trip out I tried a few bif shots and was very pleasantly surprised. The first I have attached is not the best piccie by a long way but I was waving the camera and lens all over the place as it was the first time I had used it !
The second I like a lot. Mainly because I cannot get a piccie of a Jay for love nor money. I should also add that the focus point was quite a way below the bird but for whatever reason the piccie turned out reasonably sharp.

[David Smith]

Winwick, then Golborne Road, then the Hermit Pub and you are in Hermitage Green!
Easy.

Guessed that was the case but couldn't see anything on your profile to confirm it (for all I know there could be a Hermitage Green is America).
I'm just down the road from you (past Haughton Green Flash).

[Bob D]

Maybe someone is following this link ( and others) in Digital Photography Review on the 40D with the 100-400 lens and a 1.4 converter?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=25517251

Bob

[postcardcv]

I've been using the 40D for just over a week now, it seems to handle birds in flight very well... sure it does at times lose focus on the bird (no doubt pilot error), it does seem to happily bang back onto the bird. I gave it a work out at Gigrin last week which it coped with no problems at all. The in the last two days I've had a crack at geese, gulls and skua in flight and it has done better than I'd hoped for.