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The Olympus one works on any camera , I had one for a short while but found it to unreliable and fiddly to set upAny recommendations for red dot sights that are compatible with Canon DSLRs.
The Olympus one works on any camera , I had one for a short while but found it to unreliable and fiddly to set upAny recommendations for red dot sights that are compatible with Canon DSLRs.
They are all cross compatible as long as the camera has a standard hotshoe (ISO 518:2006). The Olympus EE-1, Nikon DF-M1, etc will all work on a Canon DSLR. But I wouldn't actually recommend those... they allow too much play/movement, they have a comparatively small FOV (the frames/covers are pretty obstructive), and they cost too much for what they are.Any recommendations for red dot sights that are compatible with Canon DSLRs.
It’s been a very interesting thread!! Thank you @stevejack & @sk66 Didn’t know such things existedThe EE-1 works well for me, I did end up getting a hotshoe adapter to help it mount more snug onto my Sony hotshoe though. The adapter also raises the dot sight higher which helps with larger diameter lenses.
Yes if you knock the sight, it might shift though I don't have any issue with that in the field. As SK66 says any holo sight will do if you can work out how to mount it (and as long as you have elevation + windage adjustments to dial it in correctly).
The little Swallows that I photograph are almost impossible to follow through the viewfinder at any reasonably magnification when they're hunting and I don't think I would get very many hits at close range without the dot sight. I've never really needed it for larger / slower flying birds, but it's always on my camera just in case. The same when I'm panning - much easier to judge the speed and direction of a motorcycle with the dot sight.
Sorry for the follow up, but any recommendations for holographic sights as Amazon has several and most get reviews from great to rubbish. Also how easy are they to use as you seem to have to hold them further away from your eye than you would with an optical viewfinder. Perhaps you use the sight initially and then switch to the viewfinder?They are all cross compatible as long as the camera has a standard hotshoe (ISO 518:2006). The Olympus EE-1, Nikon DF-M1, etc will all work on a Canon DSLR. But I wouldn't actually recommend those... they allow too much play/movement, they have a comparatively small FOV (the frames/covers are pretty obstructive), and they cost too much for what they are.
Instead I suggest getting a separate hotshoe mounting rail and then you can use any holographic sight you want (total cost can be well under $100). Just look for a mounting rail that actually firmly locks into place in some manner rather than the typical twist down friction knob like many flashes use.
Thanks that's something for me to think about and try.Hi Crotal, I'm new to the forum so sorry for my newbie status.
But I did want to add a couple of points if its ok as I've had some luck with decent bird photos in the past.
- Shoot in burst mode if you can, I know its a lot of extra effort going through and deleting unwanted files but you'll have a better chance for capturing a great shot
- As fast shutter as you can whilst balancing the aperture you can afford whilst keeping ISO low
- Of course then you have challenge of focus. On the one hand a fast, auto focus lens is great, but I actually use manual focus lenses (I know not always practical) but at least I can speed up the burst rate by focus not being used. So sometimes I'll need to use reference points to focus on, but over the years I've come to pull focus while in burst mode and it often does the job. So within a range of focus I'll take maybe 5-10 shots whilst slowly winding the manual focus as I'm tracking the subject. And because the shutter speed is really high (2K to 4K usually when on f2-3.5) I'm not too concerned about camera shake.
Hi Keith, sorry I just realised our names and usernames, sorry didn't mean to miss that. Also I read my reply and didn't mean it to sound like anything you might not have already known! I was just thinking about how much of a challenge I've had shooting manual focus (cause my lenses were initially for videography anyway) but they come across amazingly for photos its just hard nailing focus!Thanks that's something for me to think about and try.
I've noticed this. I took your advice and had a couple of practice sessions on the local Seagulls. My hit rate has increased because I am being more patient and obtaining focus before pressing the shutter. It may sound obvious to some, but as a beginner I was lifting the camera and shooting too soon, always in a hurry to start a burst and get images.As a long term 20+ years wildlife shooter with long lenses , and having tried one of these out . My view is it’s purely pot luck with them . To be successful with b.i.f you HAVE to ensure a focus lock is obtained before depressing the shutter .
You will get the same results as with a dot sight just by holding the camera at arms length in the direction of the bird/s and pressing the shutter . Some of the shots will be in focus inevitably .. . .
There is no way round it whatever brand / type of camera you use the longer the lens the harder it gets
I appreciated the comments buddy, when people try to help me I'm always grateful.Hi Keith, sorry I just realised our names and usernames, sorry didn't mean to miss that. Also I read my reply and didn't mean it to sound like anything you might not have already known! I was just thinking about how much of a challenge I've had shooting manual focus (cause my lenses were initially for videography anyway) but they come across amazingly for photos its just hard nailing focus!
Awesome any time! Can't wait to see more of your pics!I appreciated the comments buddy, when people try to help me I'm always grateful.
This is the type of sight I prefer because it has 3 levels of brightness and two colors which can help make it more visible or less obtrusive in different situations.Sorry for the follow up, but any recommendations for holographic sights as Amazon has several and most get reviews from great to rubbish. Also how easy are they to use as you seem to have to hold them further away from your eye than you would with an optical viewfinder. Perhaps you use the sight initially and then switch to the viewfinder?
I have to disagree... in fact I use release priority (primarily/Nikon) precisely so that the camera will take a picture even if it does not have focus lock. I have many images over the years where the camera's AF was behind/off but the subject was still in focus (or w/in the DOF). And using a sight is (can/should be) far more accurate than just holding the camera at arms length and pointing it in the subject's direction... But when using a sight I might choose to switch to focus priority instead (will not take a picture w/o focus lock) just to minimize the number of misses/qtty of junk.As a long term 20+ years wildlife shooter with long lenses , and having tried one of these out . My view is it’s purely pot luck with them . To be successful with b.i.f you HAVE to ensure a focus lock is obtained before depressing the shutter .
You will get the same results as with a dot sight just by holding the camera at arms length in the direction of the bird/s and pressing the shutter . Some of the shots will be in focus inevitably .. . .
But that I agree with; the smaller/faster the subject, or the greater the magnification (longer FL or shorter distance), the harder it gets... exponentially.There is no way round it whatever brand / type of camera you use the longer the lens the harder it gets
The G80 does have focus peaking, so does this lock on fast enough for BIF? Presumably when you see the peaking colour on the bird you press the shutter?Manual focus is great once mastered ,I’m not sure on the specs on Keith’s OP Croatal bells camera . But if it has focus peaking that’s a great tool for helping to ensure you grab focus . I can do b.i.f with a adapted 300mm Nikon f.4 lens on my Olympus .just wait till the blinkies light up the bird and fire away .possibly more accurate than a.f mode at times .
Depends on the bird... and the camera to some extent. I.e. the G80 (and all mirrorless cameras) is using the processed demosaiced video stream for focus peaking (and most AF); and that means the data in the viewfinder is fractionally later in time.The G80 does have focus peaking, so does this lock on fast enough for BIF? Presumably when you see the peaking colour on the bird you press the shutter?
yep thats the way to do it ..cant at the moment find any demo photos so will take some over the weekend ?The G80 does have focus peaking, so does this lock on fast enough for BIF? Presumably when you see the peaking colour on the bird you press the shutter?
So something like F8 focuses better than F2.8?Depends on the bird... and the camera to some extent. I.e. the G80 (and all mirrorless cameras) is using the processed demosaiced video stream for focus peaking (and most AF); and that means the data in the viewfinder is fractionally later in time.
Plus, if the subject is small/fast enough I am convinced that no current AF system can even see it. With some cameras (Nikon, Pentax, Canon w/ Magic Lantern, etc) you can set up trap focus for when the camera can see the subject... which is basically manual zone focus with automatic release when the camera sees the subject in focus. Or you can use manual zone focus, w/wo focus peaking/confirmation as an aid (deep DOF helps).
Not exactly... depends on the camera, if it has f/2.8 focus points (i.e. some Canon/Sony) then f/2.8 will focus more accurately. But f/8 has a deeper zone of acceptable focus, and f/8 focus points will tend to focus slightly faster... so f/8 can get you close enough quicker.So something like F8 focuses better than F2.8?
Very interesting, thanks.Not exactly... depends on the camera, if it has f/2.8 focus points (i.e. some Canon/Sony) then f/2.8 will focus more accurately. But f/8 has a deeper zone of acceptable focus, and f/8 focus points will tend to focus slightly faster... so f/8 can get you close enough quicker.
And that all depends on the camera as well... i.e. if it's a DSLR that focuses with the aperture wide open you're probably not focusing at f/8 using only f/8 points, and the Nikon mirrorless won't focus using apertures smaller than f/5.6 unless they have to. But all of them will use the selected aperture for the exposure, so you always get the DOF benefit.
Many will say "I want max aperture for blurry backgrounds/subject separation"... and that's fine. But background selection (angle/distance/etc) is far more important and beneficial when it is possible (and it almost always is).
As a long term 20+ years wildlife shooter with long lenses , and having tried one of these out . My view is it’s purely pot luck with them . To be successful with b.i.f you HAVE to ensure a focus lock is obtained before depressing the shutter .
You will get the same results as with a dot sight just by holding the camera at arms length in the direction of the bird/s and pressing the shutter . Some of the shots will be in focus inevitably .. . .
There is no way round it whatever brand / type of camera you use the longer the lens the harder it gets
Thank you, hope it can be helpfulHaving seen the thread title I was going to make a very naughty comment about a 12 bore being best, but then saw Stevejack's post - extremely lucid and some very good thinking there. Thanks.