The Short Eared Owls are Back, and In Flight! R5 + RF 100-500 + RF 1.4x

[R2D2]

Travelled to one of my favorite winter birding spots over the holiday (instead of battling Black Friday lines) to see if the Short Eared Owls were back (they love the vast open prairie, and so do I :-D ). Yes they were there! They even braved the hordes of deer hunters to search for their favorite meals (voles and field mice).

Fortunately the owls in this location often come out before the sun sets (contrary to most other spots I know of). As one can imagine, this really helps with the BIFs ;-) .

I only got a couple of close fly-by's, but I was happy to get anything (hopefully I'll get more chances this winter)!

Shot with the R5 + 1.4x @ 700mm.

• For BIFs with this combo I recommend 1/3200 sec wide open @ f/10
• Even 1/4000 for quicker birds
• Silent Electronic Shutter is my preference
• Back Button AF works well for me (I like to "preset" the distance prior)
• Manual ISO @ 3200 was perfect for this light
• Yes I applied the principle of "ISO Invariance"...
• DxO works extremely well bringing the darks up
• But ALWAYS protect the highlights (watch for those blinkies)
• Exposure Simulation OFF (brightens the viewfinder and helps the AF)
• Servo AF
• Continuous AF OFF
• Animal Eye AF
• Case 2 with "TS" set to ( - ), Accel/Decel set to ( + ), Switching to ( 0 )
• Auto Initial AF (works great for birds)
• Focus Priority
• Focus Search ON
• Lens Focus Limiter ON
• Image Stabilization OFF (for BIFs)
• Best keeper rates are when the birds are heading into the sun
• Specular highlights in the eyes really help the Eye Detect (for any subject!)
• "Pump" the AF if it doesn't lock on right away
• Keep the subject in the same spot in the viewfinder when tracking
• Letting it wander will cause blurring akin to Subject Motion Blur
• Oh yeah, closer is better! :-D

I know I'm forgetting some stuff, but these are my basics. Holler with any questions.

Happy Shooting!

R2

 

[R2D2]

All are 2160 resolution (cropped and resized). Full RAW processed with DxO Photolab 7 (Deep Prime DX noise reduction), finished in Photoshop.

Click on "original size"


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.


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.


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I can post a couple of 100% crops if you'd like. Or shots from further away.

Happy Shooting this Winter!

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

 

[Ephemeris]

Travelled to one of my favorite winter birding spots over the holiday (instead of battling Black Friday lines) to see if the Short Eared Owls were back (they love the vast open prairie, and so do I :-D ). Yes they were there! They even braved the hordes of deer hunters to search for their favorite meals (voles and field mice).

Some amazing images, and that sundown light really gives a sense of being their.

Few q. Why do you turn continuous AF off? Focus search On? At what point are we thinking OIS+IBIS is not helping? (Canon fit it to the longest focal length lenses).

Fortunately the owls in this location often come out before the sun sets (contrary to most other spots I know of). As one can imagine, this really helps with the BIFs ;-) .

I only got a couple of close fly-by's, but I was happy to get anything (hopefully I'll get more chances this winter)!

Shot with the R5 + 1.4x @ 700mm.

• For BIFs with this combo I recommend 1/3200 sec wide open @ f/10
• Even 1/4000 for quicker birds
• Silent Electronic Shutter is my preference
• Back Button AF works well for me (I like to "preset" the distance prior)
• Manual ISO @ 3200 was perfect for this light
• Yes I applied the principle of "ISO Invariance"...
• DxO works extremely well bringing the darks up
• But ALWAYS protect the highlights (watch for those blinkies)
• Exposure Simulation OFF (brightens the viewfinder and helps the AF)
• Servo AF
• Continuous AF OFF
• Animal Eye AF
• Case 2 with "TS" set to ( - ), Accel/Decel set to ( + ), Switching to ( 0 )
• Auto Initial AF (works great for birds)
• Focus Priority
• Focus Search ON
• Lens Focus Limiter ON
• Image Stabilization OFF (for BIFs)
• Best keeper rates are when the birds are heading into the sun
• Specular highlights in the eyes really help the Eye Detect (for any subject!)
• "Pump" the AF if it doesn't lock on right away
• Keep the subject in the same spot in the viewfinder when tracking
• Letting it wander will cause blurring akin to Subject Motion Blur
• Oh yeah, closer is better! :-D

I know I'm forgetting some stuff, but these are my basics. Holler with any questions.

Happy Shooting!

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

 

[Ephemeris]

Just viewing on my phone along my travels today.



Cropped and a slight amount of sharpening to the subject (Auto mask in LR Mobile).

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

I mean, it's not bad R2 but where are the really good shots hope you don't mind the cropping it was just to help show the detail you achieved.

It's also my favourite image (yours not my fiddle)

 

[R2D2]

All are 2160 resolution (cropped and resized). Full RAW processed with DxO Photolab 7 (Deep Prime DX noise reduction), finished in Photoshop.

Edit: Deep Prime XD :-D

R2

 

[R2D2]

Just viewing on my phone along my travels today.

Cropped and a slight amount of sharpening to the subject (Auto mask in LR Mobile).

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

I mean, it's not bad R2 but where are the really good shots hope you don't mind the cropping it was just to help show the detail you achieved.

It's also my favourite image (yours not my fiddle)

Just for you my friend... a 100% crop (1920 x 1080)...


Cropped, but not resampled. Click on "original size"

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

 

[R2D2]

Travelled to one of my favorite winter birding spots over the holiday (instead of battling Black Friday lines) to see if the Short Eared Owls were back (they love the vast open prairie, and so do I :-D ). Yes they were there! They even braved the hordes of deer hunters to search for their favorite meals (voles and field mice).

Some amazing images, and that sundown light really gives a sense of being their.

Many thanks for the kind words Ephemeris.

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

Yessir

Few q. Why do you turn continuous AF off?

Just so we're speaking the same language, I'm talking about "Continuous AF" (aka "AF Preview"), and not Servo AF...

I like to preset the focal distance to the approximate distance that the subject will appear at. Initial AF acquisition is much faster and effective that way. A lot of what I shoot are BIFs with about zero time to do anything except point the camera in the right direction ;-) . Keeping Continuous AF ON doesn't allow this (it actually drives me batsh!t crazy :-O ).

Having Continuous AF OFF also lets me Lock the focus point (focal plane) on a particular (still) subject, so that the camera doesn't have to reacquire and lock focus again (makes follow-up shots extremely fast). This is great for people and other subjects too.

Focus search On?

Needed for mirrorless I've found. I used to keep it disabled on my DSLRs because the burst keeper rates were so much better (with it turned OFF).

At what point are we thinking OIS+IBIS is not helping? (Canon fit it to the longest focal length lenses).

Funny you ask. When I first got to location I was so excited to see owls that I forgot to check my lens' setting. My BIF rate STUNK. Then I checked my lens (switched IS to OFF), and Voila! Nirvana again. :-D Well, as long as I didn't try shooting over my (hot) vehicle!

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

 

[Ephemeris]

Just viewing on my phone along my travels today.

Cropped and a slight amount of sharpening to the subject (Auto mask in LR Mobile).

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

I mean, it's not bad R2 but where are the really good shots hope you don't mind the cropping it was just to help show the detail you achieved.

It's also my favourite image (yours not my fiddle)

Just for you my friend... a 100% crop (1920 x 1080)...


Cropped, but not resampled. Click on "original size"

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

Thanks R2.

If you magnify just the eye you have decent detail.

I've realised you have now brainwashed me into buying two RF lenses. If you don't get commission I'd write a letter to Dr Canon

 

[Ephemeris]

Travelled to one of my favorite winter birding spots over the holiday (instead of battling Black Friday lines) to see if the Short Eared Owls were back (they love the vast open prairie, and so do I :-D ). Yes they were there! They even braved the hordes of deer hunters to search for their favorite meals (voles and field mice).

Some amazing images, and that sundown light really gives a sense of being their.

Many thanks for the kind words Ephemeris.

I have a friend, lives perhaps 5 miles away and famous locally for capturing owl photos. They are often on bleak, cold, windy Yorkshire hilltops surviving in a gap of a wall.

I like the warmth of yours.

Oh he shoots Sony so I know he can always do better

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

Yessir

I don't have an RF Tele, so many lenses are not compatible. 28-70 for example.

Few q. Why do you turn continuous AF off?

Just so we're speaking the same language, I'm talking about "Continuous AF" (aka "AF Preview"), and not Servo AF...

Ah gotcha.

I like to preset the focal distance to the approximate distance that the subject will appear at. Initial AF acquisition is much faster and effective that way. A lot of what I shoot are BIFs with about zero time to do anything except point the camera in the right direction ;-) . Keeping Continuous AF ON doesn't allow this (it actually drives me batsh!t crazy :-O ).

That's an interesting root, I can see the benefits over a lens bouncing off the limits. I wish it had a limit button so you could set the focal length and it holds at that plane.

Having Continuous AF OFF also lets me Lock the focus point (focal plane) on a particular (still) subject, so that the camera doesn't have to reacquire and lock focus again (makes follow-up shots extremely fast). This is great for people and other subjects too.

Focus search On?

Needed for mirrorless I've found. I used to keep it disabled on my DSLRs because the burst keeper rates were so much better (with it turned OFF).

I will have a look. Mine is off (I think).

At what point are we thinking OIS+IBIS is not helping? (Canon fit it to the longest focal length lenses).

Funny you ask. When I first got to location I was so excited to see owls that I forgot to check my lens' setting. My BIF rate STUNK. Then I checked my lens (switched IS to OFF), and Voila! Nirvana again. :-D Well, as long as I didn't try shooting over my (hot) vehicle!

I will give it a try. But why do they fit it to the big prime whites? For close object I suppose but the manuals don't seem to describe the concept of turning it off.

R2

 

[m100]

Wow ! Great shots !

Thanks for sharing these photos and your settings.

--
Hello, my name is Steve and I have GAS.

 

[BigBen08]

Those are very attractive photos, thanks for sharing.

I also have this same camera/lens combo that I use for aircraft in flight. But when I use the RF 1.4x my shots are a bit on the soft side (I must confess, I like sharp photos so much that I consider myself a sharpness freak).

I curious how much sharpening you apply to your bird photos?

I'll take more test photos using the 1.4x, and run them through Topaz AI Sharpen, perhaps I'll be satisfied. But for now I don't use the extender.

 

[R2D2]

If you magnify just the eye you have decent detail.

Yes it's mind-boggling how far into these R5 + 100-500 + 1.4x files you can crop. Debating specs is one thing, but real life images can help a lot with evaluation too.

I've realised you have now brainwashed me into buying two RF lenses. If you don't get commission I'd write a letter to Dr Canon

LOL! I sure appreciate that big monthly commission check! Many thanks for your support! :-D Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

R2

 

[R2D2]

Travelled to one of my favorite winter birding spots over the holiday (instead of battling Black Friday lines) to see if the Short Eared Owls were back (they love the vast open prairie, and so do I :-D ). Yes they were there! They even braved the hordes of deer hunters to search for their favorite meals (voles and field mice).

Some amazing images, and that sundown light really gives a sense of being their.

Many thanks for the kind words Ephemeris.

I have a friend, lives perhaps 5 miles away and famous locally for capturing owl photos. They are often on bleak, cold, windy Yorkshire hilltops surviving in a gap of a wall.

I like the warmth of yours.

Oh he shoots Sony so I know he can always do better

Yup, and you know those Sonys shoot "cool" to begin with!! ;-)

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

Yessir

I don't have an RF Tele, so many lenses are not compatible. 28-70 for example.

Yeah, there was a lot more versatility in the old days!

Few q. Why do you turn continuous AF off?

Just so we're speaking the same language, I'm talking about "Continuous AF" (aka "AF Preview"), and not Servo AF...

Ah gotcha.

I like to preset the focal distance to the approximate distance that the subject will appear at. Initial AF acquisition is much faster and effective that way. A lot of what I shoot are BIFs with about zero time to do anything except point the camera in the right direction ;-) . Keeping Continuous AF ON doesn't allow this (it actually drives me batsh!t crazy :-O ).

That's an interesting root, I can see the benefits over a lens bouncing off the limits. I wish it had a limit button so you could set the focal length and it holds at that plane.

An AF-Stop button like on the Great Whites would certainly be appreciated. Maybe the button on the 200-800 can be used like that.

Having Continuous AF OFF also lets me Lock the focus point (focal plane) on a particular (still) subject, so that the camera doesn't have to reacquire and lock focus again (makes follow-up shots extremely fast). This is great for people and other subjects too.

Focus search On?

Needed for mirrorless I've found. I used to keep it disabled on my DSLRs because the burst keeper rates were so much better (with it turned OFF).

I will have a look. Mine is off (I think).

I hate it when a lens just won't start focusing when you ask it to.

At what point are we thinking OIS+IBIS is not helping? (Canon fit it to the longest focal length lenses).

Funny you ask. When I first got to location I was so excited to see owls that I forgot to check my lens' setting. My BIF rate STUNK. Then I checked my lens (switched IS to OFF), and Voila! Nirvana again. :-D Well, as long as I didn't try shooting over my (hot) vehicle!

I will give it a try. But why do they fit it to the big prime whites? For close object I suppose but the manuals don't seem to describe the concept of turning it off.

Image stabilization helps in some situations, and it can work against you in some too. We're pretty much left to figure that out on our own. ;-)

R2

I've a few very small robins appeared in the garden. See if I can snap one when the lens arrives.

Absolutely. Shoot everything in sight!! Best way to get good.

Happy snapping!

R2

 

[R2D2]

Wow ! Great shots !

Thanks for sharing these photos and your settings.

Many thanks kind sir.

These settings are indeed applicable to all of these DIGIC X bodies (and lens combinations) IME.

R2

 

[c h u n k]

Just viewing on my phone along my travels today.

Cropped and a slight amount of sharpening to the subject (Auto mask in LR Mobile).

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

I mean, it's not bad R2 but where are the really good shots hope you don't mind the cropping it was just to help show the detail you achieved.

It's also my favourite image (yours not my fiddle)

Just for you my friend... a 100% crop (1920 x 1080)...


Cropped, but not resampled. Click on "original size"

R2

Thanks R2.

If you magnify just the eye you have decent detail.

I've realised you have now brainwashed me into buying two RF lenses. If you don't get commission I'd write a letter to Dr Canon

Lol. Im sure thats at least the 2nd time someone suggested Canon pay you a commission in as many months.

--
**********-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-**********
Some of my photos here: https://flic.kr/ps/2i6XL3
“You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!” --Dr. Seuss

 

[c h u n k]

Travelled to one of my favorite winter birding spots over the holiday (instead of battling Black Friday lines) to see if the Short Eared Owls were back (they love the vast open prairie, and so do I :-D ). Yes they were there! They even braved the hordes of deer hunters to search for their favorite meals (voles and field mice).

Some amazing images, and that sundown light really gives a sense of being their.

Many thanks for the kind words Ephemeris.

This is with R5, ES, HS, 100-500 + 1.4x?

Yessir

Few q. Why do you turn continuous AF off?

Just so we're speaking the same language, I'm talking about "Continuous AF" (aka "AF Preview"), and not Servo AF...

I like to preset the focal distance to the approximate distance that the subject will appear at. Initial AF acquisition is much faster and effective that way. A lot of what I shoot are BIFs with about zero time to do anything except point the camera in the right direction ;-) . Keeping Continuous AF ON doesn't allow this (it actually drives me batsh!t crazy :-O ).

Having Continuous AF OFF also lets me Lock the focus point (focal plane) on a particular (still) subject, so that the camera doesn't have to reacquire and lock focus again (makes follow-up shots extremely fast). This is great for people and other subjects too.

Focus search On?

Needed for mirrorless I've found. I used to keep it disabled on my DSLRs because the burst keeper rates were so much better (with it turned OFF).

At what point are we thinking OIS+IBIS is not helping? (Canon fit it to the longest focal length lenses).

Funny you ask. When I first got to location I was so excited to see owls that I forgot to check my lens' setting. My BIF rate STUNK. Then I checked my lens (switched IS to OFF), and Voila! Nirvana again. :-D Well, as long as I didn't try shooting over my (hot) vehicle!

R2

 

[c h u n k]

All are 2160 resolution (cropped and resized). Full RAW processed with DxO Photolab 7 (Deep Prime DX noise reduction), finished in Photoshop.

Click on "original size"


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.

I can post a couple of 100% crops if you'd like. Or shots from further away.

Happy Shooting this Winter!

R2

--
Good judgment comes from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.
http://www.pbase.com/jekyll_and_hyde/galleries

Great shots! Ive been getting to see a lot of bald eagles...no SEOs though . My mom has a great horned nesting right behind her house, but theyre in a full evergreen tree. Only way to catch a glimpse is if they come out.

--
**********-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-**********
Some of my photos here: https://flic.kr/ps/2i6XL3
“You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!” --Dr. Seuss

 

[Ephemeris]

If you magnify just the eye you have decent detail.

Yes it's mind-boggling how far into these R5 + 100-500 + 1.4x files you can crop. Debating specs is one thing, but real life images can help a lot with evaluation too.

I've realised you have now brainwashed me into buying two RF lenses. If you don't get commission I'd write a letter to Dr Canon

LOL! I sure appreciate that big monthly commission check! Many thanks for your support! :-D Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

R2

 

[R2D2]

Those are very attractive photos, thanks for sharing.

Many thanks BB08! I lucked into some good light.

I also have this same camera/lens combo that I use for aircraft in flight. But when I use the RF 1.4x my shots are a bit on the soft side

Aircraft are definitely a different animal. A lot depends on how you shoot them. Shutter speed is a huge factor (esp if you're going for prop blur). Generally speaking, adding the 1.4x necessitates a higher shutter speed. Distance (ie atmospherics) can also be an issue if the 1.4x means you're trying to capture more distant craft. If the subject is too far away, the AF can be affected as well.

(I must confess, I like sharp photos so much that I consider myself a sharpness freak).

Yeah, me too. If it's not tack sharp, into the bin it goes!

I've never used the 1.4x for planes (but I admittedly have limited experience shooting aircraft). Only a couple of airshows. Planes in formations require a lot of zooming out, so I leave the TC off. I have had pretty good success with just the bare 100-500 on the R5 tho.

I curious how much sharpening you apply to your bird photos?

As little as possible (and always scaled to the required output resolution). I hate sharpening halos! Even worse is the odd-looking "granular" structure when noisy images get over-sharpened.

That said, I have been relying more and more on DxO Photolab 7's outstanding "Lens" sharpening when coupled with their DeepPrime XD noise reduction for RAW files. I can't reproduce that kind of clean detail when trying to sharpen after the fact (ie in Photoshop). The two coupled together work really really well.

I'll take more test photos using the 1.4x, and run them through Topaz AI Sharpen, perhaps I'll be satisfied. But for now I don't use the extender.

I don't think it's the extender per se, but it's possible you might have a soft copy. I don't lie when I say I see close to zero degradation to IQ (or AF) with the extender attached. And of course I like to back that up with real images! :-D

Thanks for looking! And good luck to you!

R2

 

[R2D2]

Thanks R2.

...I've realised you have now brainwashed me into buying two RF lenses. If you don't get commission I'd write a letter to Dr Canon

Lol. Im sure thats at least the 2nd time someone suggested Canon pay you a commission in as many months.

LOL, raking it in! :-D

Seriously though, I love what mirrorless (and RF) have done for my photography.

R2