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 to South African Photographers - 'Tracy Trust Property'

Copyright Infringement Warning to South African 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.  

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 to South African 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 to South African Photographers - 'latest Lion Mountain TV'

Copyright Infringement Warning to 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.  

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