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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 13, 2015 13:06:32 GMT
Continuing my LLWE series, it's amazing how thin the DOF is at such close shooting distance, focal length and aperture. Accurately placing the focus on the eye area has become a challenge, and I used a single AF point in AI servo (usually off-center depending on the composition) to try to achieve this. Here's a couple of examples of thin-DOF shooting, specially noticeable when the bird's body is oblique to the sensor plane.
Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni, a near Philippine endemic)
Shooting info - Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, July 6, 2015, Canon 5D MIII + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 2x TC II, 800 mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600, 1/320 sec, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, near full frame resized to 1000x750.
Shooting info - Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, July 6, 2015, Canon 5D MIII + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 2x TC II, 800 mm, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 1/320 sec, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, near full frame resized to 1500x1000.
When the bird's body, head and bill are aligned and such are parallel to the sensor plane, much more feather details are captured using the same combo, distance and settings.
Shooting info - Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, July 12, 2015, Canon 5D MIII + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 2x TC II, 800 mm, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/500 sec, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, near full frame resized to 1500x1000. |
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Post by Tonji Ramos on Jul 14, 2015 0:28:21 GMT
Full frame LLWE  Another great set Romy. |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 14, 2015 1:47:06 GMT
Thanks, Tonji!
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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 14, 2015 1:51:21 GMT
Here's a portrait of a young backyard bird at actual pixels view (a.k.a. 100% crop) demonstrating the DOF behavior of the combo in rendering feather detail up close .
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus, immature)
Shooting info - Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, July 12, 2015, Canon 5D MIII + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 2x TC II, 800 mm, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/250 sec, 475B/516 support, manual exposure in available light, processed 100% crop.
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Post by Tateo Osawa on Jul 14, 2015 14:14:02 GMT
All great shots, Romy. You are the master of details and focusing. All beautiful photos.
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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 16, 2015 3:20:45 GMT
Thanks, Tateo-san.
Funny, but I just realized that I use AI servo AF almost 100% of the time now. Of course, for BIFs and other action shots, this focus mode is a must for me. But at static subjects, I find that it helps in "AF bracketing" - i.e., a burst in AI servo at a static subject decreases the chances of focusing error. With the numerous AF points of recent EOS cameras and MFA-enabled fine tuning of a camera-lens AF system, I can select an off-center point consistent with my desired composition, focus in AI servo, then shoot in short bursts. Almost always, I get at least one shot in the burst with precise focus placement.
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Post by Tateo Osawa on Jul 17, 2015 16:45:58 GMT
Thank you very much for the explanation, Romy.
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Post by Nilo Arribas Jr. on Jul 24, 2015 13:10:15 GMT
WoW, hair-raising details!! Excellent avian imaging, Romy.
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Post by oscar cablao on Jul 24, 2015 16:45:05 GMT
fine details! ganda
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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 25, 2015 0:32:35 GMT
Thanks, Nilo and Oscar!
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Post by Neon Rosell II on Jul 26, 2015 5:24:08 GMT
Wow, awesome captures as always, Ka Mastah! Heard the 500 is now with Bert Madrigal is that right?
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Post by Romy Ocon on Jul 26, 2015 9:06:18 GMT
Thanks, Neon. Yes, Ka Bert got my 500 last June. I'm planning to get a 600 II when I have more time to bird. For now, I've to make do with the 400 2.8 + 2x TC. |
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 13, 2015 0:28:30 GMT
Wow, details galore! Excellent combo, Ka Romy :-)
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Post by Romy Ocon on Aug 16, 2015 22:43:26 GMT
Thanks, Bobby!
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