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I am interested in your comments.

My set up is a D70 with a Sigma 70-200. I have rigged up some pretty ugly looking camoflage in and around my back window. I am trying to photograph an elusive young honey eater. I have a few half decent shots but am trying to get one of those fast flapping hovering shots near a banksia.

Because the bird moves so fast through the tree and jumps and darts constantly, would you suggest I stick to manual settings or is Auto recommended? I have just started using manual but would like to know a secret or two from one of you experts. What about flash?

Any tips appreciated.

Peter Mc

I would use flash for fill and depending on what sort of honeyeater
start @ -1ev and reduce from there if you are blowing whites.

If you put the time in and wait, you may note that it may well go to a particular blossom and you could prefocus there and be ready to get the shot.

we have tools to help us so I would use af to fine tune focus before shooting.

I usually use aperture priority when shooting birds, but keep an eye on the shutter speeds the camera wants to use. remember that a slightly noisy image is better than a blurred one because you used too low a shutter speed.

Steve

Thanks Steve

I had another crack at it between my first post and your reply. Funny thing is I changed the ev to -1 and I agree that it helps to reduce blowing the whites.

I will try the Aperture Priority. What do you think is a good aperture for a small bird?

Peter Mc

the problem you with aperture is that you probably want as much DOF as you can get.
this will depend on the light but try for f8 as a starting point.

some birds with lots of white need -1.6 or eve -2 on fill flash.
but you will get used to that with practice.

steve