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R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?

Started 11 months ago | Discussions
fairfaxian Regular Member • Posts: 396
R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?

After 8yrs with 7DII, I finally made the leap to R5. Looking for suggestions to optimize settings for (mostly) BIF. Although I often capture static wildlife, and landscapes, etc.

Who's using IBIS? Use WITH optical lens IS ON? I still have an older Canon 24-70 that has no IBIS. Guessing that lens might benefit most.

I have never gotten around to Back Button Focussing, but now might be the time.

Looking to hear about any new settings/features specific to the R5 that older cams (like 7DII) didn't have.

Anyone having issues with older lenses or those from other manufacturers?

I know my lenses that are APS-C specific won't work on the FF R5. Anything more to know on that?

Thanks

Canon EOS R5
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User2848819902 New Member • Posts: 12
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
2

Look for Jan Wegener Canon R5 videos (YouTube) as he has a tutorial on Bird AF.

northlarch Regular Member • Posts: 120
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
2

The R5 is brilliant for back-button AF, in fact I’m using triple back-button AF for birds in flight. First decouple the AF from the shutter button, and then here is my setup:

AF-On: set to current AF area mode, which I use the front DOF button to cycle between. Usually I keep this on single point focus but do like to cycle to spot for a little more control.

* button: set to Face + Tracking with “Initial Servo AF point” set for spot/single point (page 5 of the AF menu tab, second option under the Initial Servo AF pt settings.) When you’re customizing the buttons and on the * button choices, you’ll choose “Metering and AF start”, but it’s very important to hit the INFO button for the “Detail set.” Here you can have AF operation set to Servo, AF method set to Face + Tracking, and it will automatically use the settings in Page 5 for initial Servo point. It sounds confusing because it is. Took me a while to figure this out. Basically when pressing the * button now, you’ll see an initial point that you were using for Spot or Single Point and it will track whatever is under that point. This is what I call local tracking. Gives you control rather than just scanning the whole frame.

Focus Mode button next to *: I have this set for “Eye Detection AF” because it scans the whole frame and tracks. This is what I call the global tracking. So when I can’t get my point on something quickly enough to track, especially BIF, I switch to this and let the algorithm work its magic. Works great for BIF especially in open sky.

The R5 is a complicated beast of a machine that is tricky at first to dial in, but once you get it it’s incredible. It took me a while to figure out the hidden INFO button settings when customizing buttons—don’t overlook that. This gives you an effective triple back-button focusing, three AF methods in one, way more versatile than using the shutter button for BIF.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you don’t understand the setup here and I’ll try to elaborate.

gossamer88
gossamer88 Contributing Member • Posts: 769
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
3

fairfaxian wrote:

After 8yrs with 7DII, I finally made the leap to R5. Looking for suggestions to optimize settings for (mostly) BIF. Although I often capture static wildlife, and landscapes, etc.

Who's using IBIS? Use WITH optical lens IS ON? I still have an older Canon 24-70 that has no IBIS. Guessing that lens might benefit most.

I have never gotten around to Back Button Focussing, but now might be the time.

Looking to hear about any new settings/features specific to the R5 that older cams (like 7DII) didn't have.

Anyone having issues with older lenses or those from other manufacturers?

I know my lenses that are APS-C specific won't work on the FF R5. Anything more to know on that?

Thanks

Which lenses? APS-C lenses do work adapted but resolution will be 17MP.

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R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,542
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
1

fairfaxian wrote:

After 8yrs with 7DII, I finally made the leap to R5. Looking for suggestions to optimize settings for (mostly) BIF. Although I often capture static wildlife, and landscapes, etc.

Who's using IBIS? Use WITH optical lens IS ON? I still have an older Canon 24-70 that has no IBIS. Guessing that lens might benefit most.

I have never gotten around to Back Button Focussing, but now might be the time.

Looking to hear about any new settings/features specific to the R5 that older cams (like 7DII) didn't have.

Anyone having issues with older lenses or those from other manufacturers?

I know my lenses that are APS-C specific won't work on the FF R5. Anything more to know on that?

Thanks

My #1 rule for shooting BIFs with the R5: Turn Image Stabilization off, completely.

R2

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OP fairfaxian Regular Member • Posts: 396
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?

Thanks for all the detailed notes! (Saved all to my files)

Complexity is a tad intimidating, but might as well learn the toolset

R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,542
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
1

fairfaxian wrote:

After 8yrs with 7DII, I finally made the leap to R5. Looking for suggestions to optimize settings for (mostly) BIF. Although I often capture static wildlife, and landscapes, etc.

Congrats BTW.  Great camera for BIFs!  BIFs also top my own list (and I shot with a 7D2 as well!).

A couple more suggestions for setup…

I too like the flexibility of BBAF.  My setup is slightly different tho.  I like to use “Auto Initial” for BIFs.  The AF will seek out that BIF no matter where it is.  It’s like magic.

Who's using IBIS? Use WITH optical lens IS ON? I still have an older Canon 24-70 that has no IBIS. Guessing that lens might benefit most.

IBIS when appropriate.

I have never gotten around to Back Button Focussing, but now might be the time.

Versatile!

Looking to hear about any new settings/features specific to the R5 that older cams (like 7DII) didn't have.

I never picked up the 7D2 after getting the R5.  It’s that much better.

Anyone having issues with older lenses or those from other manufacturers?

They just end up feeling kinda slow and clunky.

I know my lenses that are APS-C specific won't work on the FF R5. Anything more to know on that?

Sure they will.  It’ll just be in crop mode (17.3 MP).

Enjoy!

R2

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Duckman21 Regular Member • Posts: 273
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
1

The IBIS on R5/R6 are all-or-nothing based on the lens. I am uncertain how well panning is working for all lenses but it seems if your lens has a dedicated "Mode 2" the IBIS will only work in one direction. However, with my RF 800mm f11 the panning detection is very inconsistent, even though the manual suggests it does have this feature. Often it fails to work and I end up with blurred panning shots as if IBIS and/or lens stabilization are fighting against my movements, but other times it seems to pan just fine.

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Corey Kessler Regular Member • Posts: 227
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?

My #1 rule for shooting BIFs with the R5: Turn Image Stabilization off, completely.

R2

^^ More on this please!  At > 400mm handheld without IS it is so difficult to acquire and track without IS.

R2D2 Forum Pro • Posts: 26,542
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
1

Corey Kessler wrote:

My #1 rule for shooting BIFs with the R5: Turn Image Stabilization off, completely.

R2

^^ More on this please! At > 400mm handheld without IS it is so difficult to acquire and track without IS.

Not to worry, it'll come as you get more opportunities.  Assume a good stance and orientation, giving yourself a nice wide arc to move in.  Tuck your left elbow.  Follow the bird's movement along its path as precisely as possible.  Practice on everything.

For those just starting out, keep the shutter speed up (ideally 1/2500 or 1/3200), and work your way down as light decreases (and ability increases).  You'll be able to eventually shoot at a slow enough shutter speed to produce those neat "slow shutter" panning effects, but it'll take a while, and your keeper rate will be pretty low no matter what.

With the R5, I've found that if I leave image stabilization turned on (even at pretty high shutter speeds), my pixel-sharp keeper rate drops substantially.  I'm not sure if it has something to do with combination IBIS/IS or not.

No matter, if your keeper rate is better with IS left on, then by all means use it. 

R2

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Corey Kessler Regular Member • Posts: 227
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
1

northlarch wrote:

* button: set to Face + Tracking with “Initial Servo AF point” set for spot/single point (page 5 of the AF menu tab, second option under the Initial Servo AF pt settings.) When you’re customizing the buttons and on the * button choices, you’ll choose “Metering and AF start”, but it’s very important to hit the INFO button for the “Detail set.” Here you can have AF operation set to Servo, AF method set to Face + Tracking, and it will automatically use the settings in Page 5 for initial Servo point.

Thank you for this!

OP fairfaxian Regular Member • Posts: 396
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?

My #1 rule for shooting BIFs with the R5: Turn Image Stabilization off, completely.

R2

Referring to IBIS AND Lens IS?

OP fairfaxian Regular Member • Posts: 396
Re: R5 Settings for BIF -IBIS?
1

I typically use Manual Mode with Auto ISO -adjusting aperture & shutter speed as the light fades, etc.

I notice that on the R5, often I pick up the camera to find that auto ISO has been inadvertently changed to a specific ISO setting. Am guessing I have bumped the ISO control knob -which didn't occur using the 7DII.

Suggestions?

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