A How To Question on Birds in Trees

[russellsnr]

Hi,Just statrting to try and photograph birds but how do you manage to get an image of a bird in a tree like a Pine tree? I only have the Sigma 150-500mm waiting on the Canon 400mm. I tried on Staurday but due to the density of the branches just could not a get focus, don't no the species of bird yet but about the size of a sparrow and never stopped moving about, using just the one focus square on the Canon 70D (centre one). Will the Canon 400mm maybe do a better job on the focusing side? Any advice please? Thankyou. Russ.

 

[chris malcolm]

For birds in the middle of twiggery I always use manual focus, usually using AF to get it nearly in position first, and then tweaking it manually. I don't know of any kind of camera AF which can sort out that kind of problem.

 

[FromTarn]

which ever Canon 400 you are getting, it will have a more snappy focus than the 150-500mm lens you have, this may well help to some extent but small birds in trees are tricky to get anyway

 

[Dale.]

If your birds are frequent visitors to your branches, twigs and perches, spend some time watching their habits, flightpaths etc, then pre focus on a well used spot. Birds tend to be, to varying extents, creatures of habit and you'll soon pick up their movements. A little of the correct type of food can help too as long as you don't suddently withdraw it, once you start feeding wild birds, it becomes a bit of a commitment.

It becomes much more difficult if you're out and about on walks and the like but not impossible, time and patience are the key.

Good luck.