Trying the 5DM2 at Birds in Flight

[Romy Ocon]

I got the 5DM2 primarily to shoot HD video of wild birds..... that it also shoots still photos is just a welcome bonus in my book.


In this sortie to Candaba wetlands (January 21 and 22, 2009), I finally had some time to try the AF of the 5DM2 at birds in flight (I grudgingly suspended HD video capture for the afternoon). I turned on the six invisible assist points for AF tracking.


Here are a few BIFs courtesy of the 5DM2:


1. First, a "gimme" shot to warm up the camera and the shooter..... even a 300D in sports mode can get this one, so this is not a testament to the 5DM2's AF performance. ;D

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, 5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support








2. Now, let me try something more interesting - an uncontrasty raptor very small in the frame, bobbing up and down in the horizon..... even my 1DM2's AF has a tough time locking on this bird's plumage.


Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus )
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, 5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support , uncropped full frame, processed and resized to 900x600






Cropped, processed and resized:






3. Third, a shot that my 40D wouldn't even attempt and my 1DM2 finds a challenge - another uncontrasty bird in fading light, small in the frame and with terrestial background.


Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, 5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400, f/7.1, 475B/3421 support, uncropped full frame, processed and resized to 900 x 600





Cropped, processed and resized:







4. Now, what about lowlight AF? I shot some photos of the setting sun, and before calling it a day, I decided to have some fun with slow-shutter panning shots. The sun had already gone below the horizon and I was working under low light reflected off the sky. The 1DM2 had stopped focusing effectively so it was dumped inside its bag, but the 5D2 still managed to acquire and track in AI servo!


Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, 5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/30 sec, ISO 1250, f/7.1, 475B/3421 support, captured 7 minutes AFTER SUNSET,
uncropped full frame, processed and resized to 900 x 600:




Cropped, processed and resized:





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I'm pleasantly surprised that the 5DM2's AF is very fast in target acquisition and excellent in tracking - miles ahead of my 40D's AF, and giving my 1DM2 a good run for the AF money. I'm guessing Canon didn't boast about the 5D2's AF to lower expectations, in light of the 1DM3 incident.

The downsides of the 5DM2 at BIFs are the slow frame rate (tougher to get the optimum wing position of the BIF) and the noticeable shutter lag. On the positive side, acquiring and tracking a BIF through such a large VF/frame is much easier, giving the subject more canvas all around for cropping flexibility. When focal length limited, the 5DM2 has a longer "reach" than my 1DM2 and is
about equal in pixel density to my 20D.

In sum, the 5DM2 is a very good BIF body and it's complementary to my 1DM2 in this application when frame rate and short shutter lag are less important than high ISO performance, a bigger canvas, a longer reach, or simply more MP.



Footnote - JP was also at Candaba wetlands on the 21st and I also tried shooting his D300 + 500 f4 VR + 1.4x TC at BIFs. This Nikon combo also works very well, with a very high percentage of in-focus BIFs.


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UPDATE - August 21, 2009


Adding more BIF samples from the 5D2:


Burst of Two - Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
PINAGBAYANAN, SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, July 15, 2009
5DM2 + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, f/7.1, ISO 640, 1/1250 sec, 475B/3421 support






Rufous Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
PINAGBAYANAN, SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, July 15, 2009
5DM2 + 500 f4 IS, f/4, ISO 800, 1/640 sec, hand held




Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
PINAGBAYANAN, SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, July 30, 2009
5DM2 + 400 f/2.8 IS, f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/1600 sec, 475B/3421 support




AMAZING AF PERFORMANCE. The combo of 5D2 + 400 2.8 L IS impresses with its great AF performance (AI servo center point + six assist points). This is not an aesthetic capture, just a quick test shot to see if the combo can focus on and track a BIF very small in the frame, with a busy background. 5D2 + 400 2.8 L IS, 1/3200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320, 475B/3421 support




Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, August 11, 2009
5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support





Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, August 11, 2009
5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support




Red Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica humilis)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PHILIPPINES, August 11, 2009
5DM2 + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support

[Romy Ocon]

Buoyed by the better-than-expected AF performance of the 5D2, I did a quick visit to Candaba wetlands yesterday to try and grab some more BIFs. I'm happy to get the full downstroke of a Cinnamon Bittern in flight. ;D



Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
CANDABA WETLANDS, PAMPANGA, January 29, 2009, 5DM2 + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 700 mm, f/7.1, ISO 320, manual exposure, 475B/3421 support

[Romy Ocon]

I visited Candaba again yesterday and shot HD videos mostly, but I also took some stills of birds in flight.

As I gain confidence in the 5D2's AF, I use it more and more at BIFs rather than my battle-tested 1D2. The 5D2's AI servo continues to amaze me with its acquisition and tracking speed. The 1D2 has faster fps and shorter shutter lag, but the 5D2 has a longer reach, better high ISO IQ and I can shoot HD video at any time should an opportunity arise without changing bodies. The AF in both cameras (center point with assist points) are very good, and if the 1D2 has an edge in this department over the 5D2, it's so insignificant that I can't discern it readily.


Here are a few BCNH, all with the 5D2 + 500 f4 IS + 1.4x TC on 475B/3421 support, EXIF intact, all with terrestial BG:

[derry]

I would say the system is working very good for you,, very nice photos,,

Derry

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Congratulations on finding the system good for you and not regretting the purchase mastah!

Please allow me to deviate from the topic just a bit with a question:
1. How far was the BCNH? (The last pic) I'm interested with the approximately 1.5 foot DOF.

That purple heron is incredible. I can't land a pic like that to save my life! It's plumage, particularly at the neck area almost always makes it look 2D in all of my pictures of it. My pics always look like cardboard cutouts. What did I do wrong?

[Romy Ocon]

Mar 30, 2009 0:33:23 GMT Edu Lorenzo Jr said:

Please allow me to deviate from the topic just a bit with a question:
1. How far was the BCNH? (The last pic) I'm interested with the approximately 1.5 foot DOF.

Can't remember very well, Edu..... it must be around 30 to 40 feet away.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Sorry master for the many questions. I am a real newbie at this. Am trying to create a "mental graph" of the relationships between Distance, DOF and Apperture to see where they should ideally meet. And believe me, all your pics, posts and answers are really helping me. Thank you po bossing!

[wirinhar]

Hi Romy,

Seeing those pictures you took make me drooling .

Make me thinking to get Canon Gears now, but of course the Pilot has to be experienced like you.

Thank you for sharing those awesome pictures and inputs.

Regards,
WW