GM5 and some BIF's

Taken this past weekend with my GM5 and RDS (Red Dot Sight), and the 100-300 lens.  Some of these are not technically in flight, but they move quickly - land, snatch food, and takeoff again.  Last 2 are from a grebe nest.  Thanks for looking.

Those look great to me!  I've seen enough shots with the 100-300 that I'm sometimes tempted, though I don't lean toward the long end.

Your thread title says "GM5" but the EXIF says "GM1."  I'm assuming it must be the GM5 with a hot shoe to mount the red dot sight?

Some very nice pictures indeed. Inspiration for me.

brentbrent wrote:

Those look great to me! I've seen enough shots with the 100-300 that I'm sometimes tempted, though I don't lean toward the long end.

Your thread title says "GM5" but the EXIF says "GM1." I'm assuming it must be the GM5 with a hot shoe to mount the red dot sight?

Thanks!

Yes - I am using a GM5 but have to change the exif on the raw files to GM1 so DXO Optics Pro can process the files.  Still waiting for them to release an update, but I have a quick batch solution to change the exif's so a quick fix for now...

alatchin wrote:

I tried a bit of this the other day, itvis a lot of fun.

how did you find the combo for AF?

I am very pleased with the GM5/100-300 combo; works fine for me!  The main item that helps me for BIF's and other fast moving objects is the RDS (red dot sight).  The RDS helps me get the subject in view of camera and then it is not that hard for the camera to lock focus and get the shot.

jjdsyd wrote:

Wow these are great shots from that little camera. And good technique from you. Not easy. Were you using continuous focus?

Thanks!

Yes - mostly using CAF and high speed burst.  I love the GM5 because to most people it looks like another everyday point & shoot, but it is a serious camera.  For this session, I had on the 100-300 lens and a red dot sight (the camera was buried in there somewhere).  Afterwards, popped the 12-32 kit back on and the camera is back in "casual P&S" mode.

Hen3ry wrote:

Some very nice pictures indeed. Inspiration for me.

Many thanks!

Well done.

It just comes up to my mind again, would the shooter or the gear be more importance?

You had demonstrated how to do BIF successfully on using the tiny camera and known not fast AF lens (some even classified it an old design)!

hifi wrote:

...

.., For this session, I had on the 100-300 lens and a red dot sight (the camera was buried in there somewhere).

Can you discuss your red dot sight set up and how you calibrate for distance? Or do you need to. i imagine there must be some parallax error and some optimal distance...but maybe it does not matter....

Thanks

nice set

Trevor Carpenter wrote:

nice set

Thanks!

alcelc wrote:

Well done.

It just comes up to my mind again, would the shooter or the gear be more importance?

You had demonstrated how to do BIF successfully on using the tiny camera and known not fast AF lens (some even classified it an old design)!

Thanks, appreciate your comments.

I think it is part gear, part photographer skill.  I won't guess at the percentage breakdown

Chas2 wrote:

hifi wrote:

...

.., For this session, I had on the 100-300 lens and a red dot sight (the camera was buried in there somewhere).

Can you discuss your red dot sight set up and how you calibrate for distance? Or do you need to. i imagine there must be some parallax error and some optimal distance...but maybe it does not matter....

Thanks

To calibrate the RDS, I set the 100-300 lens at about 200mm, then focus at something about maybe about 20 or 30 feet away.  I hold the setup away from my face so I can see both the rear LCD and the dot in the sight at the same time, and get the two to match up as close as possible on the target.  To calibrate, my model has two adjustment screws to move the dot horizontally or vertically, but all RDS's should have a similar setup.  Once calibrated, you should not need to do it again, as it will always be setup for that lens.

I have not encountered parallax error.

Zensu11 wrote:

hifi wrote:

brentbrent wrote:

Those look great to me! I've seen enough shots with the 100-300 that I'm sometimes tempted, though I don't lean toward the long end.

Your thread title says "GM5" but the EXIF says "GM1." I'm assuming it must be the GM5 with a hot shoe to mount the red dot sight?

Thanks!

Yes - I am using a GM5 but have to change the exif on the raw files to GM1 so DXO Optics Pro can process the files. Still waiting for them to release an update, but I have a quick batch solution to change the exif's so a quick fix for now...

Also waiting on DXO. You got some great captures, so good that I'm re-thinking getting a telephoto zoom for this great little camera. I'm sure their are others beside myself who would love to see a photo of your Red Dot Sight setup.

Bobby

I remember on the DXO site, it originally had February 2015 as the expected date for GM5 support, but now just brings you to the suggestion page...  At least they support GM1, and it is easy to change the exif's to GM1 for raw support now.

Here are some pics of the setup:

Considering the very small size of the GM5 body, I actually don't find it uncomfortable to use with this setup.

thank you very much!

Is that Photosolve's " Xtend-a-sight " rail/hot shoe adapter?