Wrens

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Birdgirl2009
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Wrens

I went to Morpeth today to practice manual focus on the wrens (because autofocus always seems to focus on a branch, not the bird). I was ashamed to realise that I have had the camera for more than 2 years and am still using autofocus. It seems quite easy but the photos often turn out blurry, even of still objects. I've tried with and without my reading glasses - I still have a long way to go. Wrens weren't the best subject for manual focus as they never sit still, but I got a couple of good ones.

Tassie

Good on you birdgirl,nice shots.
Did the little buggers move around alot on you?

ed
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Hi Birdgirl
Unfortunatly the little fellows 'who don't sit still' are the ones that live in the clutter that give AF such a hard time. I tried for a quite a while today to get a Tawney Grassbird in long grass in focus with AF, gave up in the end and flicked the switch for MF, note the grass between me and the bird.

Ed Townsville NQ

Raoul
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Nice photo's birdgirl, the male is absolutely gorgeous..

Headsie
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Birdgirl are you using spot focus, I use spot focus and find it is the most efficient way to shoot birds.

Birdgirl2009
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Tassie - oh yes - they sure did move a lot. There were lots of them but wherever I see them they seem to move on as soon as I arrive.
Ed - I like your tawny grassbird - I haven't seen one before. I have most trouble with autofocus when the birds are very small and in a leafy tree
Raoul - the male is beautiful isn't he? I was lucky to get him in focus becasue there were many more females and non-breeding males
Headsie - I used manual focus for the first time. When I turn the focus ring an area in the centre of the lcd screen is enlarged so I can focus more easily. I can also move this area around. I found that although I thought I had focussed, some of the photos still were not sharp, even when I was practicing on plants.

ed
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Birdgirl
Try turning the manual focus aid (enlarged area) off. I found things easier with it off. Keep an eye on your shutter speed, it may be camera shake not poor focus if you are getting poor results with MF on still subjects.

Ed Townsville NQ

Birdgirl2009
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Thanks ed - I'll give it a go. I have to check it isn't my eyes causing the problem too!

ed
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I doubt that will be the problem, I have reading glasses and it has never been an issue once I am looking through the viewfinder.

Ed Townsville NQ

GeorgeP
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The nice shot of the male proves that your technique is OK and that the AF is the problem. Agree with ed about using the fastest shutter speed to eliminate blurring (as opposed to out of focus) of your images. Have you turned on the image stabilisation to assist you when using long focal lengths ?
.
Cheers,
.
George

Cheers,

George
Melbourne, VIC

Birdgirl2009
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I had it in scene mode and used sports becaue I expected them to be moving. I'll look up image stabilisation in the manual. I'll have to look up using shutter priority as well.

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