Sigma 50-500 camera settings for birding (1 Viewer)

[YellowBudgie]

Hi Everyone,

I'll be using the Sigma 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS HSM with a Canon EOS 40D to photograph birds.

Could you recommend what metering mode to set the camera to.

Do I spot meter on the bird, or use evaluative metering for the whole scene? I'll be looking to get good bokah behind the bird. Any tips on what the various metering settings will do to the photo?

Just a fyi on what I plan to set the camera settings to:

I'll be shooting from a tripod with OS off, using a remote shutter release. I'll have the camera settings as follows: Aperture 8 to 10, ISO 200, Capture Mode RAW. Shutter Speed chosen by camera in Av mode (is this okay?)

Thanks!

Dana

 

[HokkaidoStu]

Just my opinion, don't treat this as gospel.

I have no experience of that particular lens but at f8 to f10 at ISO 200 you'll be geting very slow shutter speeds (unless it is a very bright day and even then...........), if the bird is moving even slightly you'll get motion blur. I'd use f8 minimum at ISO 400 at least. If it's a bird sitting quietly and doing nothing f10 at ISO 20 may be OK.

I usually use manual exposure which kind of renders which metering mode redundant, if I was using AV mode I'd probably use spot though. Others may have better advice there.

Bokeh: for good soft backgrounds avoid clutter (like twigs) and make sure it is as far behind the subject as possible. You need to use as low an f number as possible here, not always practical as some zoom lenses are better at f8 than at f5.6.

 

[jimthomson]

I have a sigma 150-500mm and it is better at f8 than at f6.3.
I generally shout in Av mode and bump the ISO to get shutter speed up around 800-1000. Generally start at ISO 400 and work up.

For metering I'd normally use Evaluative unless the bird was really light or dark then I'd switch to spot.

 

[YellowBudgie]

Thanks for the advice.

Here's what I plan to start out with:

Shoot in M (Manual Mode)
Set Apeature to 8, 9 or 10
Set Shutter Speed to 500 to 1000 (If flying birds 1250 or higher)
Set ISO to 200 to 400 to start (go up as needed)
Set metering mode to Evaluative metering
Set Drive mode to High-speed continuous shooting
Set AF mode to AI Servo
Set capture mode to RAW

Shoot from tripod (Turn off the OS)
Shoot with remote shutter release

Thanks!

Dana

 

[mdb2]

hi Dana I shoot with the sigma 150-500. Till you get used to the lens I would advise auto ISO otherwise you will forever be changing the ISO after the event(photo taken). Typically each bird shot will be different ie shaded or sunlit etc etc IMO. Good luck and don't forget to post some shots for us to see.

 

[YellowBudgie]

hi Dana I shoot with the sigma 150-500. Till you get used to the lens I would advise auto ISO otherwise you will forever be changing the ISO after the event(photo taken). Typically each bird shot will be different ie shaded or sunlit etc etc IMO. Good luck and don't forget to post some shots for us to see.

Hey,

Thanks for the tip. I received the lens in the mail today. I can see exactly what your saying. ISO can need to be changed so quickly you may loose track. So I tried auto ISO and it did a decent job, meaning it didn't bump the ISO up to high.

Thanks!

Dana