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Canon 70D or EM1 for BIF?

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Bigbob Irwin

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hi I have a EM5 plus 75-300 oly lens and although I take good sharp pictures with it I struggle with the focus speed for fast wildlife. So is it worth me upgrading to The EM1 or getting a second hand canon 7d body and 400f5.6L. I would still keep most of my m4/3 stuff for landscapes etc.
 
I agree that the E-M5 with the 75-300 doesn't do BIF using C-AF or C-AF with Tracking. I usually have better luck with S-AF.

The E-M1 with the 40-150+1.4xTC works pretty good for BIF using C-AF with mostly keepers. I haven't tried C-AF with Tracking. A firmware update is coming on February 24 that is suppose to improve C-AF and C-AF with Tracking.

The Canon 70D C-AF performance is reported to be very useable. It is most likely equal or better than the E-M1. Still the E-M1 with the Pro lenses are very useable.

Dave
 
I'd say get the Canon with the 400 5.6, or the new 100-400 if you can find the budget. You did seem to have the 70D in the subject and the 7D in the message, it may be a typo but you can pick up 7Ds pretty cheaply right now.
 
Hi Bob,

Search EM-1 BIF there some interesting discussions on getting the most out of your EM-1 in attempting BIF ! They discuss Autofocus CAF ,SAF focus areas to use , Mysets , use of sighting aids , tracking and what is achieved using a variety of FT and MFT lenses . I'm sure other posters will see your question and give you advice but the EM-1 has become a better tool every time the Firmware has been updated - new Firmware due in days .

There some very experience EM-1 users in this Forum they be answering you soon !
 
Bigbob Irwin said:
hi I have a EM5 plus 75-300 oly lens and although I take good sharp pictures with it I struggle with the focus speed for fast wildlife. So is it worth me upgrading to The EM1 or getting a second hand canon 7d body and 400f5.6L. I would still keep most of my m4/3 stuff for landscapes etc.
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I guess it depends on how serious you are about BIF and what else you do. If you are looking to purchase specifically for BIF, I'd go with the Canon 70D or 7D. It just does a better job. Plus, if you're in this for the long haul, you may be looking at Canon's big whites in time to come.

The 400 f5.6 is a great lens, but you also have some good choices from 3rd parties with greater reach in the same price bracket - I guess it depends if IQ or reach is more important.
 
The PDAF and BIF is just one of those areas where the DSLRs still outperform the mirrorless cameras. If you are really serious about it, I think the lagless DSLR is the instrument of choice. BIFs really stress out the mirrorless which has to supply an almost instantaneous electronic viewfinder image and also take burst photos.

You may be able to get what you want with the EM1 and a pro lens, such as the 40-150 with a 1.4 TC, or the upcoming 300, and that is a choice you have to make. Just how serious are you about BIF?
 
Bigbob Irwin said:
hi I have a EM5 plus 75-300 oly lens and although I take good sharp pictures with it I struggle with the focus speed for fast wildlife. So is it worth me upgrading to The EM1 or getting a second hand canon 7d body and 400f5.6L. I would still keep most of my m4/3 stuff for landscapes etc.
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www.olympus-global.com

"scheduled for release on February 24, 2015. With the firmware Version 3.0 update, a maximum 9 fps AF tracking sequential shooting is now possible, improving the ability to capture moving subjects."

add that info to the upcoming 300/4 and your decision get's much more fun.
 
I have a SL1 + 400/5.6 outfit and it is unbeatable for BIF. If you see the bird in flight you can get a good photo of it. The 400 is an outstanding lens and not too heavy to carry comfortably. The lack of IS is not an issue at the shutter speeds needed for BIF (1/2000 or more).

That said I've been using the 75-300 on a GM1 lately and it's not much worse. The cross combination is important. The lens is much slower on an EM5, and the 100-300 is much slower on the GM1. This is, of course, the smallest and lightest BIF capable combination there is. It's a pleasure to carry along on strolls, hikes, and bike rides, and it is productive because it's there when something interesting shows itself.

The GM1s AFC is really pretty good but slower to get started than the Canon's. Start by sighting over the camera with both eyes open while keeping camera and lens lined up with peripheral vision. A lot like using a red dot sight.
3143593


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Steve Barnett
 
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Most important is the used lense. Here are examples of BIF-sequences with my new 40-150 Pro with MC-14 TC. The birds are also flying towards the E-M1, and away from the camera. These are the biggest challenges for an AF-System. The E-M1 gets a new firmware these days, that will make the AF-C performance even better (hopefully). I'm eager awaiting the new 300mm f/4 this year.

My Flickr-Album from first test with this combination:

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www.flickr.com

By the way, the GH4 too, works fine with this lens-combi
 
Bigbob Irwin said:
hi I have a EM5 plus 75-300 oly lens and although I take good sharp pictures with it I struggle with the focus speed for fast wildlife. So is it worth me upgrading to The EM1 or getting a second hand canon 7d body and 400f5.6L. I would still keep most of my m4/3 stuff for landscapes etc.
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The 400 F/5.6L is an excellent lens as is the 100-400 F/5.6L, very popular with bird shooters and for wildlife. The 7D is getting old now days, but still takes shots as good as it did when new and that is pretty darn good. I shoot with one guy using the 7D and 100-400, both work well together. If I had a choice, I always prefer primes over zooms.

As already said in here by a couple of people, the Oly 300 F/4 would also make a great choice if the AF is also up there and I expect it will be and especially if there is a new EM2 or what ever it will be.

Using MF legacy lenses widens up the possibilities, but not many now days want to go down that track. Fair enough as well, but it does give a great deal more choices, tough to learn the techniques, but possible for sure.

Not easy huh ;-) If I was locked into m4/3 I would wait for the 300 F/4. Since you are willing to try a DSLR, then you have a good choice there.

The other thing to remember is that bird and wildlife shooters often need to crop (over 99% in my case) and this is where the two different formats come into play. With m4/3 you already have more of a crop factor coming into play and that is a benefit. Noise can be an issue and so can isolating the subject and that's where APS-C comes into it more. FF is different again, but then you need to crop more than APS-C or m4/3. Basically and within reason, it equals itself out, but not always with the different size sensors. For me personally, APS-C is the right balance, but with a 500mm lens.

All the best and good luck with the decision.

Danny.

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Birds, macro, motor sports.... http://www.birdsinaction.com

Flickr albums ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/124733969@N06/sets/

The need for speed ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/130646821@N03/
 
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Bigbob Irwin said:
hi I have a EM5 plus 75-300 oly lens and although I take good sharp pictures with it I struggle with the focus speed for fast wildlife. So is it worth me upgrading to The EM1 or getting a second hand canon 7d body and 400f5.6L. I would still keep most of my m4/3 stuff for landscapes etc.
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70D. No question. (Unless you can shell out the money for 7DII and then 7DII)

Don't get me wrong -I love the EM1. I actually sold my 70D and all my Canon lenses to buy the EM1, and I don't look back one moment.

With that said, the tracking focus on EM1 is substantially worse than that on the 70D (let alone the 7DII). It may be worthwhile waiting for the upgrade expected with the Firmware 3.0, but unless there is a *revolution* bundled into that Firmware, I'd still say 70D beats EM1 in focus tracking any time of the day.

For BIFs - Focus tracking is important. and thus the 70D is a real winner. If you bundle it with the new 100-400 II lens, u will get outstanding results (probably better sharpness @400 than the 75-300 @300) and great focus performance.
 
That's just silly (are you 12?), the 400 f5.6 is a very good lens and one of the wildlife lens bargains. Olympus has no good quality long lenses beyond the 40-150 (and some old 43 lenses that focus just about okay on an EM1). The AF comments suggest you have no idea about focus tracking. Worth a read:

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www.imaging-resource.com

Or just Google for really good BIF pictures then go look what the gear used was.
 
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windsprite said:
nzmacro said:
dennis tennis said:
Canon knows nothing about AF compared to Olympus. That 400 f5.6L is kit lens level and of course ginormous.

--
refugee from the Nikon Df dial and grip police
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Will you stop trying. Post up a few of your BIF shots and lets check them out :-) Money where the mouth is sort of thing ........... and the room goes quite.

Various users with the Canon 400 F/5.6 from Flickriver. Always a good place to check out lenses in real world terms.

http://www.flickriver.com/lenses/canon/canonef400mmf56lusm/

Of course old dennis the tennis man will out shoot those and we will see that when he posts his shots up.

Danny.
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LOL. You gotta know dennis' posting history. I suspect he was being MASSIVELY sarcastic. ;-)

Julie
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Oh I know dennis only too well and that's why its very safe to ask him to post some shots up ;-) He gets around for sure and we have ...... chatted before .... if you could call it that ;-)

All the best Julie.

Danny.

--
Birds, macro, motor sports.... http://www.birdsinaction.com

Flickr albums ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/124733969@N06/sets/

The need for speed ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/130646821@N03/
 
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nzmacro said:
The 400 F/5.6L is an excellent lens as is the 100-400 F/5.6L, very popular with bird shooters and for wildlife. The 7D is getting old now days, but still takes shots as good as it did when new and that is pretty darn good. I shoot with one guy using the 7D and 100-400, both work well together. If I had a choice, I always prefer primes over zooms.
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You're right. The Canon 400mm f5.6 L has a reputation as being the one of the best lenses there are for BIFs. It's very good optically, and has very fast AF. It's only downsides are a lack of IS and a not very good mfd. Neither which are of any relevance for BIFs. Even most Nikon shooters have long been jealous of the 400m f5. L. No one who knows what they are talking about, has anything bad to say about it as regards BIFs.

The only reason I've never got one is I want a tele lens with a good close focus, so I can use it for semi macro photos as well. That's why I'm keenly looking forward to the Olympus 300mm f4. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will have a good close focus, although most of them do. Over the years I've been tempted by both the Canon and Nikon 300m f4 lenses. Optically they are good, but they are missing a few things I'd like. Neither are weather proof. The Nikon doesn't have IS, and the Canon has old IS + there used to be problems with sample variation and the IS - I think that has been resolved. I need more of a carry around lens, and one that will serve as a dual purpose tele and close focus lens. If the Olympus 300mm f4 is a good performer, has a good mfd, and isn't stupidly priced it might be the lens I've been looking for. I've been looking for the right lens for a long time, and none of them are quite it.

Talking of that. I just got a Canon 55-250mm f5.6 STM to replace the older II version for my Canon system. And for the price it's amazing. Much sharper than the old II version I had, and it's very light. I think m4/3 needs a lens like that. Most of the something to 300mm zooms are a bit soft at the 300mm end. 250mm is probably a better compromise and the Canon 55-250mm f5.6 STM proves it's possible to make a sharp cheap tele zoom. It's ridiculous good. Optically, it's probably as good as the old 100-400mm L.
 
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