New to P950 -- looking for the right bird settings

Hi All --

(Content warning: graphic hawk pic below)

First post here so please excuse any errors I make in posting etiquette/form/etc. I will learn and adjust .

I've been watching birds in my backyard for the past 2 years and finally took the plunge to up my game. After doing a bunch of research, I landed on the P950. Overall, I have been very happy with my decision so far.

I am trying to learn how to improve the shots I get with the camera and am wondering if there are any good posts/blogs/sites that provide a good primer on P settings to use or if it is best to stay in Bird mode.

The biggest issue I have had so far is shooting during overcast days. Sometimes the camera adjusts and gives me great shots but often the subject/bird stays very dark in the frame (even though I know the camera can adjust if I focus on a dark tree trunk, for example. Exposure boost doesn't seem to be the right way to compensate for this, especially because I know the camera is capable of getting a better exposure (I think I am using the right terminology).

I'm happy to do a bunch of reading/research on my own but don't exactly know the right place to start/right questions to ask. I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction!

Side note: bird activity in my yard decreased quite a bit right at the moment I bought my camera. I have a few feeders, baths, and 'wild' areas and I counted just shy of 50 birds in my yard last year. My best guess about why is the feisty pair of mating Cooper's Hawks nesting in a neighbor's tree. Their new favorite perch for enjoying their little snacks overlooks my feeders.

Here is one example of a picture where the focus could have been sharper/color better/etc.

If you can, please post exif info and camera settings. This will help others help you.

Thanks for the reply!

I'm afraid I am such a newbie that I don't know how to find exif info for my pictires. I looked at the manual and a few other threads but wasn't able to figure it out.

The setting was Bird Mode on my P950

Birds in the yard said:

Thanks for the reply!

I'm afraid I am such a newbie that I don't know how to find exif info for my pictires. I looked at the manual and a few other threads but wasn't able to figure it out.

The setting was Bird Mode on my P950

Click to expand...

Just post the picture directly from the card. No cropping. No processing.

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Sherm
Sherms flickr page

P950 album

P900 album RX10iv album

Welcome to the forum and Congrats on your new camera - you're going to have lots of fun.

You can take a look at my settings - I used them for the P900 and now the P950. I use them for everything I photograph, i.e. birds, butterflies, reptiles, general nature.


I don't mess with changing settings of any kind when I am shooting - these settings are in memory. Only thing(s) I do is make a conscious effort to attend to my hand-held camera method, if I have time with say a cooperative bird I will change the exposure compensation so I have multiple images with some having the right exposure. That's it. Other than I may assess if I need a spot focus if birds are in leaves or branches, or do a need normal focus.


The Cooper's Hawk - looks slightly out of focus - sure you are holding the camera steady? Is this image straight out of the camera, no editing? Is it RAW or JPEG?

Hand holding method:


Ev

Ah, thank you for this. I need to set up my card reader on my computer and will do it ASAP.

Thanks! This is very helpful!

The picture is handheld, slightly cropped, JPEG, and I certainly don't have the steadiest (or the shakiest) hands in the world. I will upload the image directly from the card once I get the card reader hooked up later. I have been using the SnapBridge app to transfer to my phone as I learn.

Personally I use Bird Mode - all the time, not just for birds either. There are odd occasions when I might use a different setting, but I've found Bird Mode has worked for most things so it's my preferred option.

I find if I put my finger on the shutter button lightly and it looks too dark or light, I lift my finger off and then put it back again and often the lighting will adjust. Then I take the picture.

The only time I don't use Bird Mode for birding is if it's for BIF (Bird in Flight) shots - the shutter takes too long to adjust for the movement and that's when it's better to use another mode.

I've been using the P950 since November 2020 and am very happy with what I've been able to achieve with it, both at a closer and at a longer distance. Just a couple of examples to show you.


Tawny Frogmouth


Blue Heeler


Azure Kingfisher

Hope these help give you some hope.

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KathieMT
Selby, Vic, Australia
P950 Album https://bit.ly/flickrP950

Nice action catch. The hawk has given an added meaning to the term, "bird-feeder". For birds in good daylight, I set my P950 to "P" mode, set the ISO to 100, sometimes drop the EV to minus .3 and let the camera pick the shutter-speed and F-stop. I use a modified monopod for steadiness, that has a strap that goes over my right shoulder and across my back. I can push against it with both hands to make it tight.

Birds in the yard said:

Thanks! This is very helpful!

The picture is handheld, slightly cropped, JPEG, and I certainly don't have the steadiest (or the shakiest) hands in the world. I will upload the image directly from the card once I get the card reader hooked up later. I have been using the SnapBridge app to transfer to my phone as I learn.

Click to expand...

Kathie's suggestion to use "Bird Watching" shooting mode is the perfect option for you while learning.

Then, since you are using snapb feature, try editing the photo in-camera first. There are two options that work well together or independently. During playback, hit menu, then select "Quick Retouch". This changes contrast & sharpening and often results in an improved image. Also try "D-lighting" low, normal or high(low usually works best for me). Can also try D-lighting first, then apply Quick Retouch to the D-lighting photo. There is around a 10 limit adjustment limit, so you can apply each of these several times to your liking.

You can also downsize the image in camera during playback. Select "Small Picture", then choose 640x480. This size works well for messaging and also works for faster transfer/web upload.

Tip: be sure to set image quality to FINE jpeg and vibration reduction to Active before shooting.

kathiemt said:

Personally I use Bird Mode - all the time, not just for birds either. There are odd occasions when I might use a different setting, but I've found Bird Mode has worked for most things so it's my preferred option.

I find if I put my finger on the shutter button lightly and it looks too dark or light, I lift my finger off and then put it back again and often the lighting will adjust. Then I take the picture.

The only time I don't use Bird Mode for birding is if it's for BIF (Bird in Flight) shots - the shutter takes too long to adjust for the movement and that's when it's better to use another mode.

I've been using the P950 since November 2020 and am very happy with what I've been able to achieve with it, both at a closer and at a longer distance. Just a couple of examples to show you.


Tawny Frogmouth


Blue Heeler


Azure Kingfisher

Hope these help give you some hope.

Click to expand...

These images are beautiful no doubt about that. Might be helpful to know how these are processed - assuming they are not straight out of the camera. Thanks.

Ev

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p900learner said:

kathiemt said:

Personally I use Bird Mode - all the time, not just for birds either. There are odd occasions when I might use a different setting, but I've found Bird Mode has worked for most things so it's my preferred option.

I find if I put my finger on the shutter button lightly and it looks too dark or light, I lift my finger off and then put it back again and often the lighting will adjust. Then I take the picture.

The only time I don't use Bird Mode for birding is if it's for BIF (Bird in Flight) shots - the shutter takes too long to adjust for the movement and that's when it's better to use another mode.

I've been using the P950 since November 2020 and am very happy with what I've been able to achieve with it, both at a closer and at a longer distance. Just a couple of examples to show you.

Hope these help give you some hope.

Click to expand...

These images are beautiful no doubt about that. Might be helpful to know how these are processed - assuming they are not straight out of the camera. Thanks.

Ev

Click to expand...

I use Lightroom to lighten, brighten, straighten and crop where necessary but don't go overboard with it.

kathiemt said:

p900learner said:

kathiemt said:

Personally I use Bird Mode - all the time, not just for birds either. There are odd occasions when I might use a different setting, but I've found Bird Mode has worked for most things so it's my preferred option.

I find if I put my finger on the shutter button lightly and it looks too dark or light, I lift my finger off and then put it back again and often the lighting will adjust. Then I take the picture.

The only time I don't use Bird Mode for birding is if it's for BIF (Bird in Flight) shots - the shutter takes too long to adjust for the movement and that's when it's better to use another mode.

I've been using the P950 since November 2020 and am very happy with what I've been able to achieve with it, both at a closer and at a longer distance. Just a couple of examples to show you.

Hope these help give you some hope.

Click to expand...

These images are beautiful no doubt about that. Might be helpful to know how these are processed - assuming they are not straight out of the camera. Thanks.

Ev

Click to expand...

I use Lightroom to lighten, brighten, straighten and crop where necessary but don't go overboard with it.

Click to expand...

I understand - the Bird mode has served you well. I wasn't as successful so stuck with P mode and my settings. I've also been shooting RAW last couple of months - processing with Nikon NX Studio while learning Affinity Photo.

Ev

Thank you for this reply! Very helpful. Here is the image (and a few others shot at the same time) directly from the SD card.

Thanks so much for this reply! Those are gorgeous shots!

I'm excited to try out birds in flight at some point soon but want to try to get a better grasp on the basics first

Thanks for this suggestion! I'll try this out. I still do not have a monopod, though. That's next

I usually shoot in "P" mode with ISO AUTO set to 400 , I adjust WB according to the situation and sometimes EV at -0.3. I have not done much with "Bird watching" option.

I think I get good results in OK sunlight with low ISO. I read other's posting and try to learn form the postings.

Few example from last year, these were not processed but may be cropped.















Thanks,

VadiV

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Nice picture, but that hawk looks like pure evil-- you can tell from its eyes it's a killer lol.

kathiemt said:

Personally I use Bird Mode - all the time, not just for birds either. There are odd occasions when I might use a different setting, but I've found Bird Mode has worked for most things so it's my preferred option.

I find if I put my finger on the shutter button lightly and it looks too dark or light, I lift my finger off and then put it back again and often the lighting will adjust. Then I take the picture.

The only time I don't use Bird Mode for birding is if it's for BIF (Bird in Flight) shots - the shutter takes too long to adjust for the movement and that's when it's better to use another mode.

I've been using the P950 since November 2020 and am very happy with what I've been able to achieve with it, both at a closer and at a longer distance. Just a couple of examples to show you.


Tawny Frogmouth


Blue Heeler


Azure Kingfisher

Hope these help give you some hope.

Click to expand...

these are excellent but I dont like not having control over exposure, why not use full on manual mode, set the ISO to 100 and adjust the other settings accordingly?



--
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961

OutsideTheMatrix said:

kathiemt said:

Personally I use Bird Mode - all the time, not just for birds either. There are odd occasions when I might use a different setting, but I've found Bird Mode has worked for most things so it's my preferred option.

I find if I put my finger on the shutter button lightly and it looks too dark or light, I lift my finger off and then put it back again and often the lighting will adjust. Then I take the picture.

The only time I don't use Bird Mode for birding is if it's for BIF (Bird in Flight) shots - the shutter takes too long to adjust for the movement and that's when it's better to use another mode.

I've been using the P950 since November 2020 and am very happy with what I've been able to achieve with it, both at a closer and at a longer distance. Just a couple of examples to show you.


Tawny Frogmouth


Blue Heeler


Azure Kingfisher

Hope these help give you some hope.

Click to expand...

these are excellent but I dont like not having control over exposure, why not use full on manual mode, set the ISO to 100 and adjust the other settings accordingly?

Click to expand...

I've used manual quite a bit, but because the camera lacks all the buttons to set exposure quickly, it's much faster to use program or bird watching, allowing you to focus on getting the shot. Besides, bird watching is an excellent jpeg producing machine. Nikon programmers hit a home run with this mode, just wish it would capture in raw too(primarily so we could reduce noise for bringing out feather deatail). Kathie's shots are fantastic!

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/dodge_rock/