Opinion On Camera Setting for Birds in Flight Using D300

[Arnold Dubin]

I just purchased a Nikon D300 and just started using it but have been using a Nikon D200 for the past couple of years. I want capture birds in flight with getting minimum and/or no noise in my photos (primarily the BG i.e. the Blue Sky). I’m using a 70-200mm f2.8 AF VR lens. I also sometimes us a 1.7X Teleconverter. I always shoot in RAW, the Speed is set to 1/1250 sec. or faster, and the f-stop is set at f-8. Depending on the lighting conditions my ISO is ranges between 400 and 800. Most of the time I have to crop in 25 to 50% of the original size of the photo to obtain a decent size of the bird I’m photographing. I heard that the D300 has at ISO setting which the D200 doesn’t have. Would this help reduce my noise in a manual set-up for speed & f-stop? If anybody has any other suggestions of ways to reduce the noise for the type of photography I’m doing I would really appreciate your inputs. I’m current using DFine 2.0 to get rid of the noise in my photos. I find this a real time consuming process.

 

[NickST]

strike the bird at the right angle. I am talking about bright sunlight from maybe 11AM to 4PM and this may vary on where you live. You have a solid lens which means you can stretch the light conditions a bit more but I don't know how the TC will affect it.

As far as noise goes, there will be noise over ISo 400 even on the D300 but the noise level or the way it shows will differ to the D200.

Make sure you have the "c/S/M" to "C" position. Also select "focus" in the af menu and go with 21 points. Have the AF switch to the second or third position from the bottom.
Good luck.
--
--Nick.

 

[BackInTheGame]

It sounds like you have a good setup on speed and aperture. I go to 6.3 or 7.1 with the TC17, but I doubt that would make much difference. The only comment I would make is that my photos at high shutter speeds seem to be cleaner with VR turned off. Don't know if this is universal.

 

[Ryan Stewart]

Have you tried smoothing out the blue channel in post?

 

[BackInTheGame]

Thanks

 

[Gale Bizet]

Moose Peterson says "If the Light Ain't Right, Don't shoot it."

On occassion (not often) I follow that.

Only when it is once in a life time ,will I just crank up the ISO to what ever it takes to record the moment. Like 8 of the Apollo Astraunauts and flash NOT allowed at the 40 celebration of Apollo. Shame on NASA for the bad location and No Flash.

I was not a happy camper. But I have pictures. Sure I have noise.
But I have pictures and history in the making....

You can look through my galleries and see how I shoot wildlife and birds,

I shoot in manual mode . I shoot with the 80-400 VR. VR is always on. 99 % of the time I shoot handheld.
No it is not the best lens in the box. But it is what I could afford.

Have fun and practice ALOT!!!!!!!!!

Save your money for a 500 AFS II (or VR):> )))and a good tripod.

--
Best Regards
Gale

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[radddad]

thread started a few days ago ..
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1039&message=32971141
--
All NIKON

member of WSSA (the Worldwide Squirrel Shooters Association) as member# 159

 

[Arnold Dubin]

All Nikon,

Thanks the link. That will help me a lot.

------------------------------------------------------

thread started a few days ago ..
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1039&message=32971141
--
All NIKON

member of WSSA (the Worldwide Squirrel Shooters Association) as member# 159

--
ADubin

 

[Arnold Dubin]

Nink, Thanks for your input.
--
ADubin

 

[Arnold Dubin]

Thanks for every on responding to this thread.
--
ADubin