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Best AF settings for BIF on E-M5 ii (advice needed)

Started Jul 20, 2015 | Discussions
leendertv Forum Member • Posts: 55
Best AF settings for BIF on E-M5 ii (advice needed)

I'm looking for the best settings for birds in flight or fast running dogs. I'm using a 75-300 ii lens and no I don't wanna update to the much heavier 40-150 2.8. So far I still using the 7d mk I + 100-400 to get a good number of keepers for fast moving birds and dogs but I would prefer to use the e-m5 ii.

any advice?

thanks!

 leendertv's gear list:leendertv's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Olympus PEN E-P5 Olympus E-M5 II Olympus E-M1 II Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS +9 more
Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS II Canon EOS 7D Olympus E-M5 II Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm 1:4.8-6.7 II
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Digital Dick Senior Member • Posts: 2,379
Re: Best AF settings for BIF on E-M5 ii

Try C-AF with the nine center focus boxes activated (turn off face/eye detection) and use Low continuous burst mode at 5 frames per second.

For small birds in a big sky try one of the red dot sight.

For small birds against a highly detailed background you might get better results with S-AF using the smallest center focusing box.

Dick

 Digital Dick's gear list:Digital Dick's gear list
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus E-M5 II
OP leendertv Forum Member • Posts: 55
Re: Best AF settings for BIF on E-M5 ii

Thanks for the advice, I'll try these settings soon.

Does the red dot sight help a lot compared to the viewfinder? Do you have any experience with it? This accessory is new for me.

 leendertv's gear list:leendertv's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Olympus PEN E-P5 Olympus E-M5 II Olympus E-M1 II Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS +9 more
Digital Dick Senior Member • Posts: 2,379
Re: Best AF settings for BIF on E-M5 ii

I've use it on a rifle but never on a camera. The guys who have used it on their cameras say it works well for distant birds. When the bird gets really close it is apparently better to look into the EVF. Another tip is to turn on the beep that indicates a focus lock. It's ON by default but a lot of us turn it OFF for street or concert shooting.

Dick

 Digital Dick's gear list:Digital Dick's gear list
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Olympus E-M5 II
sb123 Senior Member • Posts: 1,162
Re: Best AF settings for BIF on E-M5 ii

The red dot sight makes a huge difference for BIF.

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