Struggling with Autofocus on X-H2 + XF150-600mm Lens – Advice Needed!

[Logan Gregory Photography]

Hi everyone,

I’m still fairly new to photography and have been having trouble getting in-focus shots with my X-H2 and XF150-600mm lens. I bought this setup for bird photography, but my results have been pretty underwhelming when it comes to birds in flight.

For context, I purchased the lens from Willoughby’s in New York. After hearing from others, I realize buying from them may have been a mistake. A Fujifilm rep assured me the lens is likely genuine but probably not a U.S.-market version, even though I paid full price. Honestly, with Willoughby’s business practices, I’m surprised they haven’t been sued for blatant misrepresentation—but that’s a sidebar.

Earlier today, I went out on an overcast day with light snowfall—beautiful conditions with plenty of soft light. While I was able to capture some great still shots of perched birds, every attempt at birds in flight ended up out of focus. I’m heading to Decatur this weekend to photograph sandhill cranes, and I really want to nail down better settings before the trip.

Here’s what I used:

• AF Mode: AF-C (tried both Zone and Single Point)

• AFC Custom Settings: Set 2 (Sensitivity 3, Speed Tracking 0)

• AF Point Display: Off

• Focus Points: 117

• Pre-AF: Off

• Subject Detection: Tried both On and Off (with Bird setting)

• Interlock Spot AE and Focus Area: On

• Boost Mode: On

• Shutter: Tried both Electronic and Mechanical

I’ll upload some unedited photos so you can see what I mean. Despite trying these different settings, I couldn’t get sharp results with birds in flight. Am I overlooking something, or should I try different configurations?

Should I be using exposure compensation instead of ISO for higher shutter speed compensation? I’m at a complete loss.

Any advice on optimizing settings for birds in flight or troubleshooting this lens would be a huge help!

Thanks so much for your input. I’m eager to improve and get the most out of this gear!--

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

ISO 12800 442mm F6.4 1/500

ISO 12800 670mm f7.1 1/640

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500








-Logan Gregory

 

[Truman Prevatt]

Welcome aboard Logan,

There are a lot of people here that can help. You might want to start with the "Morris approved" and maybe Morris will point to them.

The one thing I noticed was part of the issue might be motion blur. It looks that your shutter speed might be too slow for the focal length.

Flying birds are one of the more difficult targets. They require long lenses and they move fast. It takes practice to even keep the little beggars framed.

 

[alphaZ]

Hi everyone,

The problem is the shutter speed, which is a real issue based on the iso and combined with the speed of the lens you don't have a lot of option's here. The lens needs more light and unfortunately its not available. Getting to 600mm faster than f5.6 is a problem on most systems and then you hit high iso's to get above 1/500. Your best method is to wait for a brighter day, or maybe try video in 4k @ 60fps and 1/120 shutter angle (speed). Then you can probably extract the images you like from the 4k timeline.

Good luck.

I’m still fairly new to photography and have been having trouble getting in-focus shots with my X-H2 and XF150-600mm lens. I bought this setup for bird photography, but my results have been pretty underwhelming when it comes to birds in flight.

For context, I purchased the lens from Willoughby’s in New York. After hearing from others, I realize buying from them may have been a mistake. A Fujifilm rep assured me the lens is likely genuine but probably not a U.S.-market version, even though I paid full price. Honestly, with Willoughby’s business practices, I’m surprised they haven’t been sued for blatant misrepresentation—but that’s a sidebar.

Earlier today, I went out on an overcast day with light snowfall—beautiful conditions with plenty of soft light. While I was able to capture some great still shots of perched birds, every attempt at birds in flight ended up out of focus. I’m heading to Decatur this weekend to photograph sandhill cranes, and I really want to nail down better settings before the trip.

Here’s what I used:

• AF Mode: AF-C (tried both Zone and Single Point)

• AFC Custom Settings: Set 2 (Sensitivity 3, Speed Tracking 0)

• AF Point Display: Off

• Focus Points: 117

• Pre-AF: Off

• Subject Detection: Tried both On and Off (with Bird setting)

• Interlock Spot AE and Focus Area: On

• Boost Mode: On

• Shutter: Tried both Electronic and Mechanical

I’ll upload some unedited photos so you can see what I mean. Despite trying these different settings, I couldn’t get sharp results with birds in flight. Am I overlooking something, or should I try different configurations?

Should I be using exposure compensation instead of ISO for higher shutter speed compensation? I’m at a complete loss.

Any advice on optimizing settings for birds in flight or troubleshooting this lens would be a huge help!

Thanks so much for your input. I’m eager to improve and get the most out of this gear!--

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

ISO 12800 442mm F6.4 1/500

ISO 12800 670mm f7.1 1/640

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

-Logan Gregory

 

[Alan Hewitt Photo]

As mentioned, shutter speeds are way too low. For this sort of species and its movement you need to be up past 1/2500 to freeze the action. Once shutter speeds are ruled out, its far easier to diagnose AF issues.

 

[Morris0]

Hi Logan,

So far everyone has pointed to your shutter speed yet that is not your primary problem. In every single sample focus is on something other than the bird, usually a branch. The slow speeds are causing the wings to blur and that can look quite nice yet you are not ready to do this type of photography. For shutters speed go for 1/2000 or more for small birds, at least till you are getting reliable results.

More important is that you are not focused on the birds. There are probably two issues with the first your AF-C settings. This is how I recommend setting up a camera for birds in flight:

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With this setup, your camera will do a much better job of tracking the birds. Even with this setup, you also need to track the birds and this is not easy and particularly difficult with small birds. Study their behavior so that you know when they are likely to fly. Birds usually take off into the wind. They may poop before taking off to lighten their load or stretch their wings or act fidgety.

Bird photography is extremely difficult and and flight photography even harder. You might find it easier to start with ducks and geese and then move up to small birds.

Keep practicing and you will get better,

Morris

 

[Waku Waku]

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

This shot the branch is in focus but bird is too fast for 1/500th

ISO 12800 442mm F6.4 1/500

Hard to tell where it is focusing. Probably branch but motioned blurred.

ISO 12800 670mm f7.1 1/640

Focus is at the bird or it's feet area but slight motion blur

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

Tree behind right bird is in focus. Assuming it tried to focus on left bird but too fast for 1/500. Your best held shot in terms of sharpness. At least what I can see from the branch detail.

-

Try again with faster shutter speed 1/2000 to 1/4000 especially if they are flying or launching off.

Even with IBIS/OIS technology everyone has different hand holding abilities. Some shakier than others. I am able to shoot 1/500 shutter at 600mm fine. Sometimes even lower if I control my breathing & concentrate. However, my spouse can't and needs 1/1000 or faster.

The reciprocal rule to avoid camera shake is 1/focal-length*1.5 for APS-C. In your case it is 1/600*1.5 or 1/900.

Setup a piece of paper/book with some text. Practice shooting at 600mm using different shutter speeds. Get a feel for how low of a shutter speed you can consistently get sharp result.

 

[alphaZ]

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

This shot the branch is in focus but bird is too fast for 1/500th

ISO 12800 442mm F6.4 1/500

Hard to tell where it is focusing. Probably branch but motioned blurred.

ISO 12800 670mm f7.1 1/640

Focus is at the bird or it's feet area but slight motion blur

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

Tree behind right bird is in focus. Assuming it tried to focus on left bird but too fast for 1/500. Your best held shot in terms of sharpness. At least what I can see from the branch detail.

-

Try again with faster shutter speed 1/2000 to 1/4000 especially if they are flying or launching off.

He's at iso12.8k, he needs more light, then he can increase the speed!

Even with IBIS/OIS technology everyone has different hand holding abilities. Some shakier than others. I am able to shoot 1/500 shutter at 600mm fine.

Static, yes, moving unlikely unless you are going for the blurred look and are panning.

Sometimes even lower if I control my breathing & concentrate. However, my spouse can't and needs 1/1000 or faster.

The reciprocal rule to avoid camera shake is 1/focal-length*1.5 for APS-C. In your case it is 1/600*1.5 or 1/900.

Setup a piece of paper/book with some text. Practice shooting at 600mm using different shutter speeds. Get a feel for how low of a shutter speed you can consistently get sharp result.

All these birds are active, in order to get shots, concentrate on static birds or wait for brighter/sunnier day and shoot as you say well above the speeds shown here.

 

[Bill Ferris]

Hi everyone,

I’m still fairly new to photography and have been having trouble getting in-focus shots with my X-H2 and XF150-600mm lens. I bought this setup for bird photography, but my results have been pretty underwhelming when it comes to birds in flight.

Welcome to the DPR forums and thanks for sharing sample photos. That's incredibly helpful.

ISO 12800 was used to make all the photos. That inductes you were working with very low light. Do I see snow flurries or rain drops in the photos?)

To put the light level in context, a good default shutter speed for birds in-flight is 1/2000. That's for raptors and other soaring birds. For song birds, if your goal is freezing wing movement, 1/3200 or 1/4000 is needed.

You used a 1/500 shutter speed at ISO 12800. I've often often been at 1/2000 ISO 400. At 1/2000, you'd have been at ISO 51200. That's 7 stops less light than I often work with. To put it simply, the light was not good for birds in flight. It would've been a challenge to get good images of perched birds. No camera would've done significantly better.

The best advice I can offer is to get out in good weather & good light - clear skies with the Sun and wind at your back - and continue the process of learning your new kit and the settings delivering great results. In good light, the camera will autofocus be nimble and confident.
Good luck to you.

 

[Waku Waku]

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

This shot the branch is in focus but bird is too fast for 1/500th

ISO 12800 442mm F6.4 1/500

Hard to tell where it is focusing. Probably branch but motioned blurred.

ISO 12800 670mm f7.1 1/640

Focus is at the bird or it's feet area but slight motion blur

ISO 12800 333mm f6.4 1/500

Tree behind right bird is in focus. Assuming it tried to focus on left bird but too fast for 1/500. Your best held shot in terms of sharpness. At least what I can see from the branch detail.

-

Try again with faster shutter speed 1/2000 to 1/4000 especially if they are flying or launching off.

He's at iso12.8k, he needs more light, then he can increase the speed!

Yes more light is better. But, I'd still take a even noiser higher iso than 12800 over a blurred shot.

Even with IBIS/OIS technology everyone has different hand holding abilities. Some shakier than others. I am able to shoot 1/500 shutter at 600mm fine.

Static, yes, moving unlikely unless you are going for the blurred look and are panning.

Yes 1/500 won't work for non stationary subject. Just saying I able to hand hold at 1/500 with IBIS as my lower limit. Doesn't mean I don't use higher shutter for moving subjects.

Sometimes even lower if I control my breathing & concentrate. However, my spouse can't and needs 1/1000 or faster.

The reciprocal rule to avoid camera shake is 1/focal-length*1.5 for APS-C. In your case it is 1/600*1.5 or 1/900.

Setup a piece of paper/book with some text. Practice shooting at 600mm using different shutter speeds. Get a feel for how low of a shutter speed you can consistently get sharp result.

All these birds are active, in order to get shots, concentrate on static birds or wait for brighter/sunnier day and shoot as you say well above the speeds shown here.

You still need to understand your own ability & limits. Everyone is different. Best method is to test in a controlled environment and verify. After that you take what you learned and see how well it handle real birds.

With birds they do all sorts of things from hoping around, flying or perched still. If I land a nice shot already at 1/2000 I'll try again with a lower shutter hoping for better quality. I also know my lower limit so I don't even bother trying wasting time.

If I see them already sitting I'll skip higher shutter for slower shutter that isn't below my limit. I have different back buttons assigned to different shutter speeds so it can be done quickly.

 

[Yannis1976]

Welcome aboard!

I think the experts here have already responded to you with some very good advice. For any good birds in flight photo you need high shutter speeds and therefore a lot of available light (good weather).
Another tip I would add for this type of subject (small birds flying off from a branch) is the pre-shot capability of Fuji. You set the shutter speeds and rest of settings as advised but you start recording the shots just s few seconds before the bird flights. This way you may capture that magical moment you are looking for…