Birds in Flight
© Jogi Francis
Equipment used:
- Z 9
- NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S
Shooting conditions:
- Shutter speed: ¹/₃₂₀₀ s
- Aperture: f/6.3
- Focal length: 600 mm
The following settings are recommended for photographing medium-sized and large birds in flight.
| Shooting mode | A |
|---|---|
| Release mode | Continuous high-speed: 20 fps |
| Aperture | The maximum aperture value of the lens or ¹/₂ EV stop down from the maximum aperture value |
| Image quality | [RAW] or [RAW + JPEG normal] (Z 9), [RAW + JPEG/HEIF normal] (Z 8) |
| AF-area mode | [Auto-area AF] or [3D-tracking] |
| AF subject detection options | [Birds] |
| ISO sensitivity | ISO AUTO ([ISO sensitivity settings] > [Maximum sensitivity] set to [2000]) |
| Set Picture Control | [Standard] |
| White balance | [Auto] |
Recommended with the following subjects:
- Hawks, falcons, and other medium-sized birds
- Eagles, swans, and other large-sized birds
- Photographing large birds flying dynamically in the sky is one of the scenes that requires the most photographic skill. Once you have secured a shooting location with a good view and stable foothold, photograph the wild birds while following them using a super-telephoto lens and camera that is easy to hand hold. We also recommend using a dot sight when it is difficult to capture the subject in the viewfinder.