Anybody using "scene modes" -- panning, beach -- on the FZ18 (also flight shots)?
These modes seem like they could be useful for bird photography. "Panning" mode might be useful for birds in flight, and "beach" could be useful for shooting gulls and shorebirds on light-colored beaches to ensure they are not underexposed. I have not tried these myself though, and do not see how to determine exactly what settings they change. If they just change a few settings, it would probably be just as easy to make the changes directly.
On the subject of flight shots, I had a recent experience in which a rare tern for my area (a Bridled Tern) was circling for about 20 seconds about 25 feet above and around a boat in which I was riding. I found it impossible to get a shot in the circumstances; I have been able to get good flight shots when birds are flying in a more predictable pattern, but this was a definite challenge. The focusing mechanism pretty much ground to a halt and could not get anything to focus on. I suppose the best option, in hindsight, would have been to switch to manual focus. If others have ideas I would be interested in hearing them.
Jim
These modes seem like they could be useful for bird photography. "Panning" mode might be useful for birds in flight, and "beach" could be useful for shooting gulls and shorebirds on light-colored beaches to ensure they are not underexposed. I have not tried these myself though, and do not see how to determine exactly what settings they change. If they just change a few settings, it would probably be just as easy to make the changes directly.
On the subject of flight shots, I had a recent experience in which a rare tern for my area (a Bridled Tern) was circling for about 20 seconds about 25 feet above and around a boat in which I was riding. I found it impossible to get a shot in the circumstances; I have been able to get good flight shots when birds are flying in a more predictable pattern, but this was a definite challenge. The focusing mechanism pretty much ground to a halt and could not get anything to focus on. I suppose the best option, in hindsight, would have been to switch to manual focus. If others have ideas I would be interested in hearing them.
Jim
