Canon EOS 70D: Birds In Flight Photography

Effective Autofocus System for Birds in Flight Photography

Kelp Gull with Golf Ball

Canon EOS 70D / Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens - Birds In Flight Cape Town

After some serious deliberation between the Canon EOS 70D and the Canon EOS 7D Mark II for my Birds In Flight (BIF) photography, I ordered and collected a new Canon EOS 70D body during May 2015.

The Canon EOS 70D is a very responsive and relatively fast continuous shooting Canon EOS APS-C DSLR body for serving my BIF shooting requirements. With the leftover budget I added a new Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens and Canon Professional Gadget Bag 1EG to my growing Canon EOS system. (At the time of purchase the Canon EOS 7D Mark II was almost double the price of the Canon EOS 70D in ZAR).

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Update: During October 2015 I started facilitating Birds in Flight Workshops in Cape Town and acquired a Canon EOS 7D Mark II body for studying and getting up to speed with the more advanced 65-point Autofocus system. I mainly pair the dual Digic 6 image processor / 10 fps Canon EOS 7D Mark II with the (same) Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. AI Servo / Frames per Second Test with Canon EOS 7D Mark II Birds in Flight gallery with Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
Paired with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens the Canon EOS 70D quickly delivered the expected results via application of the 19-point Autofocus system, Digic 5+ Image Processor and 7 fps / frame rate (compared against my Canon EOS 700D's 9-point Auto-Focus system, Digic 5 Image Processor and 5 fps / frame rate and same Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens).

Birds In Flight Test Shots
Manual Mode with deliberate fast shutter speeds of 1/1200 - 1/2000s to freeze the wings and to compensate for the lack of Image Stabilization on the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. All photos created handheld with Single Point AF or Zone AF. Post-processing was done in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6 and converted from RAW to JPG (minor colour adjustments, noise reduction and lens profile correction). Overcast / low light conditions.

Canon EOS 70D for Birds ib Flight Photography

Canon / SanDisk Equipment (Birds In Flight Photography) 

• Canon EOS 70D SLR camera body 
• Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM telephoto prime lens
• SanDisk 32GB Extreme PLUS 80mb/s SD memory card
• SanDisk 32GB Extreme PRO 95mb/s SD memory card

Canon EOS 70D Manual Mode Settings

• Shutter speed: 1/12000 - 1/3200s 
• Aperture: f/5.6 - 8 
• ISO 250-800 
• Focal length 400mm
• No Image Stabilization 
• Autofocus mode (Centre Point or Zone AF)
  
• Continuous shooting mode / AI Servo (up to 7 fps)
• Handheld

Cape Town Birds In Flight Photography Location
Milnerton Lagoon Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

(Click to Enlarge / Slideshow)

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Super Telephoto Prime Lens

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens: Links to professional / consumer reviews - View

Advantages of the Canon EOS 70D over the EOS 700D for Birds In Flight (own experience only) 

• Dedicated Auto-focus (AF) button on EOS 70D vs none on EOS 700D
• Improved / more adjustable Auto-Focus (19 Points vs 9 Points)
• Improved control button on the Canon EOS 70D 
• Improved battery life with battery charge(r) indicators (+1200 vs +- 650 shots) 
• More frames per second for Birds In Flight (7 fps vs 5 fps) 
• Top LCD and intuitive switch-gear with handy AF selection mode (vs Mode dial) 
• Slightly bigger / brighter viewfinder (pentaprism vs pentamirror / 95% vs 98% coverage) 
• Improved (body) balance with Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens 

Article Source © Vernon Chalmers (with Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens)

Canon EOS 80D Birds in Flight Testing / 1st Impressions Cape Town

Canon EOS 80D Birds in Flight Testing / 1st Impressions Cape Town

Canon EOS 7D Mark II - First Impressions and Test Shoots Cape Town

Canon EOS 7D Mark II - First Impressions and Test Shoots Cape Town

Tracy Trust Property Illegally Using a Vernon Chalmers Image

Tracy Trust Property 'West Coast & Surrounding Areas CAPE TOWN South Africa' Website Section Using a Vernon Chalmers Milnerton Lagoon Image Without Permission

Copyright Infringement from Tracy Trust Property: It came to my attention that Trust Property via its 'West Coast & Surrounding Areas CAPE TOWN South Africa' website section at https://www.tracytrustproperty.co.za/west-cost-surrounding-areas is using a Vernon Chalmers Image captured by a long exposure image by Vernon Chalmers (Vernon Chalmers Copyright / Intellectual Property) at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton without permission.

When visiting the Tracy Trust Property 'West Coast & Surrounding Areas CAPE TOWN South Africa' the Vernon Chalmers copyrighted image is used in the top left corner of the Tracy Trust Property - website.

Removing the © Vernon Chalmers Copyright Watermark
The © Vernon Chalmers copyright watermark was altered / removed from the 'cropped' image. It is not essential (legally required in South Africa) to display image copyright via a watermark. Nevertheless, it is distasteful and dishonest attempt by Tracy Trust Property to remove the explicit © Vernon Chalmers notification (without permission).

Vernon Chalmers Photography Image Illegally used by Tracy Trust Property 

Tracy Trust Property Illegal Use of Image

  

Milnerton Lagoon Image Used by Tracy Trust Property Without Permission
This is the Milnerton Lagoon image captured by Vernon Chalmers that was illegally used by Tracy Trust Property without permission / content from the Vernon Chalmers Photography Training website in Cape Town, South Africa.

'Tracy Trust Property using a Vernon Chalmers Image without Permission' As posted on the Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Facebook Page: Trust Property Illegally using a Vernon Chalmers Image

Tracy Trust Property using a Vernon Chalmers Image without Permission

Original URL on the Vernon Chalmers Photography Website illegally used by Tracy Trust Property
https://www.vernonchalmers.photography/2015/04/sunrise-lagoon-beach-hotel-woodbridge.html

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright | Intellectual Property Policy

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy | Intellectual Property Policy

Copyright Infringement Warning for Cape Town Photographers - 'Tracy Trust Property'

Copyright Infringement Warning for Cape Town Photographers 'Tracy Trust Property'

The illegal use of a Milnerton Lagoon Image from a Vernon Chalmers website by Tracy Trust Property will be reported to Google (Search Engine Division) for Intellectual Property breach and Copyright Infringement.  

Copyright Infringement Warning for Cape Town Photographers

Copyright / Intellectual Property Rights for Photographers

Copyright / Intellectual Property Rights Infringement Warning

Copyright Infringement : Using Images Without Permission

It is every photographer's responsibility to be vigilant in terms of images being used without permission and to take the necessary steps to manage / report copyright infringement(s) to the appropriate on and / or offline establishments / advertisers / legal authorities.

Useful Copyright and Intellectual Property Articles (South Africa)

• Copyright Infringement Article Mail and Guardian
  
  
• No Copyright Notice. No Excuse. Article Adams and Adams (Legal Services)
  
  
• How to Copyright Your Work. Article Adams and Adams (Legal Services)
  
  
• Copyright does NOT need to be registered in SA Smit & Van Wyk (Legal Services)
  
  
• The role of intellectual property rights' protection in advancing development SA Scielo
  
  
• SA Copyright Act as Published (PDF) in the Government Gasette www.gov.za

Overview of Copyright Law, Intellectual Property and Litigation
An overview of intellectual property, copyright infringement(s) and litigation possibilities are discussed at every photography training session I facilitate in Milnerton / Woodbridge Island, Cape Town (or elsewhere).

Below are links to posts I have created here on the Vernon Chalmers Photography website of advertisers / establishments / institutions / websites using Vernon Chalmers Photography images without permission and / or prior arrangements.

The latest Vernon Chalmers Photography image used Without Permission is the Tracy Trust Property website.

Other local / international websites (mainly accommodation, travelling / tourism and advertising) using / used  a Vernon Chalmers Photography image without permission (links to posts on this website)

• Bright Beachside Woodbridge Island Bright Beachside Woodbridge Island
• Brownie Points Africa Brownie Points Africa
• African Sports Travel African Sports Travel
• DigiMac Photography DigiMac Photography
• East Cape Tours Eastern Cape Tours
• Frame a Trip Frame a Trip
• Go Traveller ZA Go Traveller XA
• Grand Plateau Voyage Grand Plateau Voyage
• Gumtree (Accommodation Milnerton)
• HolidayAprtments.co.za Holiday Apartments 
• Kingfisher Island Kingfisher Island
• Lion Mountain TV Lion Mountain TV
• Parker Cottage Cape Town Parker Cottage Cape Town
• Property24 Property 24
• Rebecca Harris Rebecca Harris
• Safari365 Safari365
• SafariNow SafariNow
• South Africa Living South Africa Living
• Tracy Trust Property Tracy Trust Property
• Wet and Dusty Roads Wet and Dusty Roads

Original Posts are all on the Vernon Chalmers Photography website 

Example Copyright Infringement

Attached Image: As used / amended by the Airbnb establishment

<<Bright Beachside on Woodbridge Island Using a Vernon Chalmers Image Without Permission: Bright Beachside En-suite on Woodbridge Island Using a Vernon Chalmers Woodbridge Island / Table Mountain Image Without Permission

It came to my attention that Bright Beachside En-suite on Woodbridge Island at www.airbnb.com is using a Vernon Chalmers Woodbridge Island Milnerton, Cape Town copyright image without permission.

When visiting the Bright Beachside En-suite on Woodbridge Island website the Vernon Chalmers Woodbridge Island Milnerton, Cape Town image is located on the View Photos section listed on the main image on the the www.airbnb.com website.

This is the Woodbridge Island image that was taken by Bright Beachside on Woodbridge Island without permission from a Vernon Chalmers website in Cape Town, South Africa. >>

www.vernonchalmers.photography/2018/03/bright-beachside-on-woodbridge-island.html

Copyright Infringement Warning: Bright Beachside on Woodbridge Island Using a Vernon Chalmers Image Without Permission

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright | Intellectual Property Policy View

Latest Vernon Chalmers Photography Image Without Permission - Tracy Trust Property

 © Symbol Image: Copyright Free from Pixabay

Special Rainbow over Woodbridge Island…

Natural Moment of Beauty and Grace over Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

I left at dawn for a client visit this morning. While there I received this image from a friend of mine captured from our building overlooking Woodbridge Island / Table Mountain.

His message to me: “Thought you would like to see what a great God we have – taken this morning”

Captured with Smartphone © Kenny Wilson, Arnhem, Milnerton

Published with permission from Kenny Wilson

What is a Rainbow?

"A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicolored circular arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun.

Rainbows can be observed whenever there are water droplets in the air and sunlight shining from behind the observer at a low altitude angle. The most spectacular rainbow displays happen when half the sky is still dark with raining clouds and the observer is at a spot with clear sky in the direction of the sun. The result is a luminous rainbow that contrasts with the darkened background.

The rainbow's appearance is caused by dispersion of sunlight, which is separated into its component colors when it enters the water droplets. The process is called dispersion. The light is first refracted, or bent, when it enters the water droplet, then is reflected off the back of the droplet, and finally refracted again when leaving the droplet. The overall effect is that the incoming light is separated into its component colors, forming a circle of colors in the sky." (Source: ChatGPT 2023)

Updated: Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright  / Intellectual Property Policy

Vernon Chalmers Copyright / Intellectual Property Policy (IP) Index:

1. Summary
2. Copyright Protection
3. Commercial Reproduction
4. Article Content / Image Retrieval
5. Drawing, Painting, Sketching and Superimposing
6. Images Location
7. Image Copyright and Media / Press Releases
8. Image Copyright on Social Media
9. Images for Canon South Africa
10. Crediting of Vernon Chalmers Images
    
11. Images not For Sale
12. Sharing images on Social Media
13. Removing  / Cut and Paste of  Images
    
14. Using images without Permission
15. Image Copyright / IP Infringement Notifications
16. Legal Considerations via appointed Legal Representation
17. South Africa Copyright Act / Act 98 of 1978
18. Copyright Infringement Warning to Cape Town Photographers
19. Examples of Vernon Chalmers Copyright on Images
20. Contact Vernon Chalmers 

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright / Intellectual Property Policy Summary

All Vernon Chalmers Photography images on Vernon Chalmers owned websites and associated Social Media Platforms are the intellectual property of Vernon Chalmers, Cape Town, South Africa - all images are photographed by Vernon Chalmers in various locations across Cape Town (and the Western Cape), South Africa. Any image / photograph on the Vernon Chalmers Photography website not commissioned or photographed by Vernon Chalmers will be the copyright of such commissioner with copyright clearly identified with regard to rightful ownership of the image (and the required permission for display and / or promotional purposes). 

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Protection

Any Vernon Chalmers Photography image with / without any copyright identification symbol is the legal ownership and intellectual property of Vernon Chalmers (unless otherwise identified on and / or below a commissioned image or promotional product / Canon sample image not captured by Vernon Chalmers (i.e. for promotional purposes for Canon Europe / Canon UK / Canon Global / Canon SA / Canon USA).

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy >>

Copyright Infringement Warning for Cape Town Photographers >>

© Symbol Image: Royalty Free from Pixabay 

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

Lion Mountain TV Illegally Using a Vernon Chalmers Egyptian Geese Image

Lion Mountain TV YouTube Channel Using a Vernon Chalmers Egyptian Geese Image Without Permission

Copyright Infringement from Lion Mountain TV South Africa: It came to my attention that Lion Mountain TV at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkDCUcoMv4M&ab_channel=LionMountainTV is using a Vernon Chalmers Egyptian Geese Image Captured by Vernon Chalmers (Vernon Chalmers Copyright / Intellectual Property) at Woodbridge Island copyrighted image (with copyright mark) without permission.

When visiting the Lion Mountain TV YouTube Channel the Vernon Chalmers copyrighted image is used as the Introductory image of the Video Egyptian Geese Fight Club | Caught in the Act.

Obscured © Vernon Chalmers Copyright Watermark
Furthermore the © Vernon Chalmers copyright watermark bottom left corner is almost entirely obscured by information from Lion Mountain TV and the default "Watch on YouTube" text logo.

In the illegal / unauthorised context of the Egyptian Geese image used by Lion Mountain Media this is Lion Mountain TV's standard request in terms of this video (where the Vernon Chalmers Egyptian image was used "To license this footage for broadcast use, please contact library@aquavision.co.za."

Please note: The above listed email address used / provided by Lion Mountain Media is publicly displayed on its Lion Mountain TV YouTube channel.

Vernon Chalmers Photography Image Illegally used by Lion Mountain TV 

Lion Mountain TV Using an Illegal Vernon Chalmers Image without Consent 

  

Egyptian Geese Action Image Used by Lion Mountain TV Without Permission
This is the Egyptian Geese image captured by Vernon Chalmers that was illegally used by Lion Mountain TV without permission / content from the Vernon Chalmers Photography Training website in Cape Town, South Africa.

'Lion Mountain TV Illegal Egyptian Geese Image' As posted on the Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Facebook Page:  Lion Mountain TV Illegally Using a Vernon Chalmers Egyptian Geese Image

Lion Mountain TV using a Vernon Chalmers Egyptian Geese Image at Woodbridge Island Cape Town used without Consent

Original URL on the Vernon Chalmers Photography Website illegally used by Lion Mountain TV
https://www.vernonchalmers.photography/2015/01/canon-eos-70d-for-birds-in-flight.html

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright | Intellectual Property Policy

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy | Intellectual Property Policy

Copyright Infringement Warning for Cape Town Photographers - 'latest Lion Mountain TV'

Copyright Infringement Warning for Cape Town Photographers ' latest Lion Mountain TV'

The illegal use of Lion Mountain TV Egyptian Geese Image from a Vernon Chalmers website will be reported to Google / Google YouTube for Intellectual Property breach and Copyright Infringement.  

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - Book by Hélène Loon

Learn All About The Incredible World Of Birds!

Copyright: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

I was pleasantly surprised after receiving a hand-delivered copy of Hélène Loon's latest book, Kids' Birds of Southern Africa.

A few months ago Hélène contacted me regarding the use of one of my Great white pelican images for her upcoming Kid's Bird book. As many of you will know that my Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy excludes the direct sales and / or publication rights of using any of my own photography images (with a few exceptions).

With her professional approach and the fact that the pelican image will be published in an upcoming educational book project for kids left me with no hesitation for granting her permission to use one of the two images of the "Lazy Pelican of Woodbridge Island". I still remember capturing the pelican images in great early morning light. Indeed a few special moments followed-up a few years later with an equally special request. Many people over the years liked and commented on the image and it was more than a fair request on behalf of bird education for kids.

Hélène regularly communicated the progress of the book project with me and on receiving my personal copy from the author I was not only very pleased to see how the Great white pelican image was portrayed, but the way in which the entire Kids' Birds of Southern Africa book was organised in such vibrant and easy modern way for kids to learn more about Southern Africa's many bird species. I'm sure many adult birders will also find the book of great value to enhance their own current knowledge.

I am delighted for her for achieving this accomplishment and wish her the very best return on the special investment she has made in the awareness and educating children about the birds of Southern Africa.

Image Copyright: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

Also Available In Afrikaans & isiZulu

From the Publisher: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

This lively book, jam-packed with information about more than 60 bird groups, introduces kids to the wonderful variety of southern Africa’s winged creatures – from long-legged flamingos and speedy falcons to jewel-like sunbirds and plucky hornbills, and many more.

Learn to identify different birds and discover their intriguing behaviours – how they find food, choose a mate, build a nest, raise their young and avoid predators.

An informative introduction explains birding concepts such as courtship, migration, mobbing and moulting in an entertaining way. More than 500 stunning photographs are included, with many annotated to highlight interesting features and traits. (Copyright as per Publisher's Press Release)

www.struiknature.co.za / www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Kids’ Birds of Southern Africa is also available in isiZulu and Afrikaans

Recommended by Birdlife South Africa and the Mapula Trust

More About Hélène Loon

Hélène Loon holds an honours degree in ornithology from the University of Cape Town. She has extensive experience in ornithological research, including crane conservation and roller monitoring projects.

Price and Availability

Recommended Retail Price: R130 - R160. The book is available at most bookshops (Exclusive Books, Bargain Books, the Kirstenbosch bookshop and online at Takealot etc.)

Hélène can be contacted on Facebook Messenger

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - Contents

Introduction

• What is a bird?
• Feathers
• Bird senses
• Songs and calls
• Unusual menus
• Breeding
• Eggs
• Brood parasites
• Teamwork
• Migration 

Seabirds

• African Penguin
• Cape Gannet
• African Oystercatcher
• Terns and gulls
• Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters

Freshwater Birds

• Kingfishers
• Pelicans
• Spoonbills
• Hamerkop
• Darters and cormorants
• Flamingos 
• Black-winged Stilt
• Pied Avocet 
• Jacanas
• Herons and egrets
• Waders 
• Ducks and geese
• Coots, crakes and moorhens

Groundbirds

• Ostrich
• Secretarybird
• Guineafowl
• Francolin and spurfowl
• Cranes
• Bustards and korhaans

Birds of Prey

• Eagles
• Kites
• Buzzards
• Falcons and kestrels
• Vultures 

Nocturnal Birds

• Owls
• Nightjars
• Thick-knees

Bush and Woodland Birds

• Woodpeckers
• Barbets
• Rollers
• Bee-eaters
• Storks
• Parrots 
• Hornbills
• Swallows
• Swifts
• Babblers
• Drongos
• Shrikes
• Seed-eaters
• LBJs: Little Brown Jobs
• Turacos and go-away-birds

Urban Birds

• Starlings 
• Doves and pigeons
• Bulbuls
• Wagtails
• Sparrows
• Lapwings
• Weavers
• Sunbirds
• Robin-chats
• Thrushes
• White-eyes
• Mousebirds 
• African Hoopoe
• Wood-hoopoes
• Coucals
• Crows
• Hadeda Ibis
• Egyptian Goose

Picture Credits

Image Copyright: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa  ISBN Numbers

ePub ISBN: 9781775848325

English ISBN: 9781775848318

Afrikaans ISBN: 9781775848332

isiZulu ISBN: 9781775848493

Published with permission from Hélène Loon, Author of 'Kids' Birds of Southern Africa'

Update: Vernon Chalmers Photography Training – Q4 2023

Please note that I will no longer facilitate any Samsung smartphone camera app and / or associated photography sessions going forward.

Any Vernon Chalmers camera and photography training will only be available to Canon EOS / EOS R (Full-Frame or APS-C body) photographers requiring introductory, intermediate or professional Canon camera / Speedlite flash / photography training.

All current photography genres will remain the same with Adobe Lightroom post-processing / image editing orientation now inclusive as an integrated no-cost sub-module (if required).

Disclaimer: Above decision was not influenced by any brand and / or other person.

Media Release by Vernon Chalmers

Image: © Vernon Chalmers (Canon EOS 700D @ Killarney Race Track, Cape Town)

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Around the Cape Peninsula

Reed cormorant with my ‘slowest’ camera - Canon EOS 6D

We generally aim to use our ‘fastest’ camera ito of Autofocus and frames per second (fps).

Here is an example of my more than 10-year old Canon EOS 6D, Full-Frame body @ 4.5 fps / one AF-point paired with a professional 400mm f/5.6 lens (handheld @ 1/4000s and Auto-ISO 640).
During most of my birds in flight photography sessions I generally use faster bodies at 10 fps+ and a variety of AF clusters and or zones.

If the EOS 6D was my only camera for birds in flight I would be more than happy to use it for action photography et al. The answer (for me) is in anticipation, light and a reasonably good lens.

With so much new mirrorless technology I am more than satisfied to challenge myself with older cameras.

I am still in no real hurry to upgrade my, by today’s standards, vintage DSLR bodies.

Location: Diep River, Woodbridge Island

Image: © Vernon Chalmers (Canon EOS 6D / EF 4oomm f/5.6 USM lens)

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Around the Cape Peninsula

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Birds In Flight Photo Gallery

Vernon Chalmers Photography Birds in Fight Gallery

Canon EOS 7D Mark II / Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens - Birds In Flight Photography

Birds in Flight Photography Gallery / Birds in Flight Settings
A gallery of various birds In flight sample images captured with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II / Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens shooting at 10 frames per second (and various AF Cases - as configurations of the advanced 65-Point AF System) at Woodbridge Island Cape Town.

Note: Fast shutter speeds / panning handheld in Manual Mode. All images processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC different versions). Converted from RAW to JPG. Lens profile correction. Minor exposure and colour correction. Cropping.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II for Birds in Flight Photography
The Canon EOS 7D Mark II paired with either the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 USM or EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens is currently (in my opinion) the best Canon APS-C DSLR combination for well-focused and sharp images of various birds in flight. I have worked extensively with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L lens and have had various testing opportunities with the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. My personal lens preference is the 400mm prime lens for its super-fast AF speed for action / birds in flight photography. 

Canon EOS 7D Mark II : Birds in Flight Photography

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Fog / Higher ISO Performance
The Canon EOS 7D Mark II paired with the 400mm f/5.6L USM lens performs best in good light (up to ISO 1200), but I am satisfied with certain images up to ISO 3200 (in fog / low light conditions).

Impressions / Testing the Canon EOS 7D Mark II
My original thoughts after testing the Canon EOS 7D Mark II before replacing one of my Canon EOS 70Ds with a new Canon EOS 7D Mark II as my main birds in flight / action photography body. 

Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens First Impressions Article

Long Term Use and Experience Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Cape Teal Duck  :  Auto-ISO 500 / f/5.6 / 1/3200s

Auto-ISO for Birds in Flight Photography

All images in the below gallery were captured using the Canon EOS 7D Mark II's Auto-ISO function.

During the EOS 7D Mark II's 2014 launch the camera was documented by Rudy Winston from Canon USA as Canon's most advanced Auto- ISO at the time (on any EOS body, including the Canon EOS-1D X).

The Auto-ISO range for most of the images are between ISO 320 - 1600. In our good light in Cape Town I'm more than satisfied with using the Auto-ISO setting at all times (for action photography) - the noise I do get is easily addressed in Adobe Lightroom.

Birds in Flight Photography Training Cape Town / Canon EOS DSLR Training
I offer a variety of Birds in Flight workshops and private tutoring in Cape Town. For my Photography Workshops Cape Town go Here and for private tutoring / skills development go Here or Contact Me for more information. 

Starting out with Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town View

Capturing / Tracking Variables for Improved Birds in Flight Photography View

Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Supporting documents View

Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L IS USM Lens - Photo / Sample Gallery Woodbridge Island

Vernon Chalmers Copyright: Birds in Flight Photography Woodbridge Island, Cape Town
Please do not use / re-publish any Vernon Chalmers Birds in Flight photography images without permission. View the Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy for more more information.

Birds in Flight Photography Training Gift Vouchers View

(Canon EOS 7D Mark II Birds in Flight Photography - Click to Enlarge / Slide Show)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Equipment (Birds In Flight / Action Photography)

Canon EOS 7D Mark II DSLR camera body 

• Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens 
• Lexar Professional CompactFlash UDMA 7 32GB 
• Sandisk Extreme Plus SDHC™ UHS-I Card 95MB/s 32G

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Manual Mode Settings* (Settings for Birds in Flight Photography)

• Shutter speed: 1/2000 - 1/5000s 
• Aperture: f/5.6 - f/6.3 
• Focal length 400mm 
• Auto ISO 400 - 3200 
• AF Mode: Zone / Wide Zone 
• AF Cases (1 / 2 / 6) 
• AI Servo / 10 fps multi-shot
• Handheld 

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Settings (for Birds in Flight Photography)

• Autofocus On
• No Image Stabilization
• Focal Length 400mm

Cape Sparrow in Flight Arnhem Milnerton

 Birds in Flight Photography: Post-Processing

• All images captured in RAW (CR2) on both memory cards
• Adobe Lightroom 5.7: Slight colour / lens profile correction
• Adobe Lightroom 6: Slight colour / lens profile correction
• RAW to JPEG conversion in Lightrooom 5.7 / 6
• Publish to Vernon Chalmers Photography Website / Facebook

*These are my primary go-to settings for Bird in Flight Photography around Woodbridge Island. Matter of fact, I don't change the settings much for perched birds or most other interesting stationary subjects. From time-to-time I may change to Av mode.

All Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens images © Vernon Chalmers 2015 - 2020

Cape Cormorant in Flight Woodbridge Island - Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Little Egret in Flight Woodbridge Island, Cape Town - Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Canon EOS 7D Mark II / AI Servo Case Menu

Egyptian Goose in Flight / Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Vernon Chalmers Photography Workshops Cape Town View

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town View

Perched Birds at Kirstenbosch with Canon EOS 7D Mark II View

Birdwatching / Bird Life Photography Millerton Lagoon and Woodbridge Island

Photography Training Milnerton | Kirstenbosch | Cape Town | Across the Cape Peninsula