How to set camera parameters for bird photography?

No camera setting parameter can be used universally for all bird photography, and each camera has its own characteristics. This paper puts forward several methods of setting up bird photography cameras to give you some inspiration.

1. Which photo mode should I choose?

If you want to control every parameter setting, you should choose manual mode. But if you want to shoot more easily, choose semi-automatic mode.

Aperture priority mode: allows you to determine how much light enters the sensor, thus determining the degree of background blur.

Shutter priority mode: the function is the same, but the shutter speed is different. If you choose this option, you can avoid motion blur more easily and get better results when shooting birds in flight.

Automatic mode is not recommended because the camera doesn't know whether your shooting target is a static bird or a popular bird.

Secondly, select the aperture value.

In bird photography, shallow depth of field is usually needed. This is because a good fuzzy background can enhance the difference between birds and their surroundings. So you have to choose a large aperture. If you have an f/2.8 lens, you may get the clearest image at f/5.6. Of course, if you want to include more environments and show plants or other animals near birds, you can use a smaller aperture, such as f/ 1 1.

Third, set the shutter speed of bird photography.

Bird photography requires a fast shutter speed. Follow the golden rule, the shutter speed should be as fast as the focal length of the lens. If you have a 300mm telephoto lens, set at least one value of 1/300. Considering shooting birds in motion, it is probably faster than this, such as11000.

If you use a slow shutter speed, the image will easily become blurred. If you don't have a hand-held camera, you can slow down, but motion blur may occur. Motion blur can be creatively used to visualize the flight patterns of birds, but it is more for artistic purposes than for recording wild animals.

Fourthly, bird photography should choose ISO.

A higher ISO allows you to use a faster shutter speed and a higher aperture value while maintaining the correct exposure of the image. But it may cause a lot of noise and particles in the photo. It is important to find a balance between ISO and other camera settings. For example, you can start with ISO 800 and increase this value only when the image is too dark.

5. Which focusing mode should I choose?

Even when flying, autofocus can keep birds in clear focus. Continuous autofocus is recommended, because the lens may be better at tracking birds and keeping focus than you.

Six, shooting portraits of birds

A relatively close image of a still bird is called "portrait" here. Just like when shooting people, your focus is on the subject and the background is used for composition. The goal is to make the birds stand out from the background.

In portrait, our entry point is the eyes, because it will give the viewer a feeling that the whole image is in focus. In most cases, it is recommended to use aperture priority, which allows you to adjust the depth of field freely and quickly. Choosing shallow depth of field can get a blurred background. Use a long lens in the range of 300-600mm, and set the aperture to f/2.8, f/4 or even f/5.6 in the long range. Of course, shutter speed and ISO are also important, but in this mode, the camera determines the settings of these other bird photography cameras.

Seven, shooting portraits of birds in different environments

Shoot birds in different environments and habitats. A lens with a focal length of 85-300mm will be better, but it depends on how close you are to the bird. The aperture priority mode is also recommended here. In this image, a deeper depth of field is appropriate. Move the aperture up to f/8–f/11. This will make more pictures become the focus, so that more details of the surrounding environment will appear.

Eight, shooting birds in flight

Images of birds are difficult to shoot, because the focus, depth of field and changing light work together to create scenes that are difficult to shoot. Pictures of birds flying or other fast behaviors mean that more creative decisions must be made, and camera settings that affect exposure are constantly changing. In order to shoot clear action, please use continuous focus mode. Aperture priority or shutter priority can be used here, or you can try manual mode.

The shutter can be wider or smaller, with more emphasis on shutter speed. Use a faster shutter speed, such as11000 or faster. ISO should be set high enough to support fast shutter.

For creative flight blur, the main change that must be made is to set a slower shutter speed. Shutter priority is the best mode chosen here. Set it to any value between115 and1100. Here, when shooting at a long shutter speed, the ISO can be lowered.