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Cameras and photography

BeckyThump

As I know there are a few people on here who are quite the photographers, I'm wondering whether anyone might be able to give me some advice about starting out with photography and cameras. I'm a bit of a birdwatcher and have been wanting to take decent pictures of the birds for a while so I have recently bought myself a Canon Eos 2000D DSLR camera. It came with a 18-55MM lens and I've borrowed a 70-300MM lens from my brother in law, and so far I seem to be getting on ok with it. Mostly I've been using the cameras autofocus function but I'm finding it's focusing on the wrong things sometimes so the subject is often a little blurry. Is there a knack to using autofocus, or am I better of doing it manually? If I do it manually, how do I focus fast enough when birds move quite quickly? Any help would be much appreciated!

Token picture of a sedge warbler from Frampton Marsh last week!

  • One tip is to switch to continuous autofocus mode (AI Servo) to track the movement. Experiment with different focus points and settings to see what works best. However, for precise control, manual focus can be great too. Practice tracking birds manually by pre-focusing on an area and anticipating their movements. It may take time, but you'll get the hang of it. Also, consider reaching out to newborn photographer sydney—they often have experience with capturing fast-paced moments.

  • in reply to M

    I'd forgotten I'd even planted it until it flowered Joy.

    I enjoy kayaking but my son is a swimmer who occasionally sits in a kayak, sometimes the transition between the two isn't quite how he'd like it!

  • in reply to BeckyThump

    That's a great photo! I love the colours and detail. Well taken!

    I mostly photograph cars because I'm boring ha ha. Do what you feel, that's what I do. So long as you enjoy it that's all that matters at the end of the day Slight smile 

    I did kayaking a few years ago but didn't enjoy it much..I got wet a number of times and found that I am not very good at kayaking but I am a good swimmer, which was most fortunate for me at that time!

  • in reply to M

    I've been doing some macro shots as well, I love taking photos of the flowers in my garden (and the bees if they stay still long enough!).

    What I'm realising is that I really need to pick only one expensive hobby, because kayaking, photography, birdwatching, cross stitch and reading are collectively bankrupting me! Although that's mostly the kayaking and the photography, and my inability to not do something 100% straightaway.

    This was one of my playing with the camera shots the other day.

  • Excellent photograph! 

    I love the detail. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    I love photography, it's something I've been working on these last few years. It was suggested to me after my mental breakdown. And I've not looked back since!

    Primarily I use my phone. Tut tut. But I do own a rather nifty big camera which I take out when the weather is good. I use it mostly for macro shots, something phones can't compete with! 

    What you could do to improve and learn is check out some YouTube videos where they show you the ropes. That's what I've been doing and I've now gone up from fairly terrible photographer to terrible photographer!

    Practice makes perfect! Smiley

  • in reply to Iain

    I think then I need to practice manual focusing on subjects that don't move as much to start with so I can get the process down pat before attempting it on fast moving birds.

  • in reply to Kit

    My phone is great for things I can get close to or more broad subjects but for the birds I really needed something with better zoom. I still use my phone for other things or if I don't have my camera though.

  • Nice picture. That looks great, amazing quality.

    I used to use a Canon camera I bought of ebay but now I just use my phone because the detail and quality is as good as my digital camera is, but lighter and easier to carry round.

  • BeckyThump said:
    Is there a knack to using autofocus, or am I better of doing it manually?

    Autofocus will focus on what it is pointed at, but in the case of the bird here there are leaves and plants in the foreground which the camera will probably think it needs to focus on.

    The trick is using autofocus when there is nothing else in the way and manual focus when you are maybe picking a face out the crowd, a bird in a bush or a particular part of a reclining body (ahem!).