Vernon Chalmers Photography

AF Tracking: The Canon EOS R5 Mark II’s Flexible Zone AF System for Birds in Flight AF Settings Optimization for Birds in Flight Also View:  AF Cases for BIF with Canon EOS R5 Mark II Introduction "Tracking birds in flight is universally regarded as one of the definitive tests of any camera autofocus (AF) system. The unpredictable, high-speed, and often erratic movements of birds - as they take off, glide, change direction mid-air, or land - demand not only fast initial acquisition but also seamless tracking through sharp acceleration and abrupt deceleration. The Canon EOS R5 Mark II, released in July 2024, positions itself among the most advanced tools for action and wildlife photographers, touting a major overhaul to Canon’s already respected autofocus engine, with critical improvements in deep learning subject detection, acceleration/deceleration tracking, and the user-customizable Flexible Zone AF. This report provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art analysis of the R5 M...

Effectiveness of IBIS in the Canon EOS R5 Mark II for Birds-in-Flight (BIF) Also View:  AF Cases for BIF with Canon EOS R5 Mark II Abstract "The Canon EOS R5 Mark II’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is an important tool for many kinds of photography; for birds-in-flight (BIF) it is not a magic bullet but - when understood and used correctly - it meaningfully improves handheld flexibility, viewfinder stability, and panning accuracy. This essay explains how the R5 Mark II’s IBIS works in practice for BIF, how it interacts with lens IS and autofocus, practical shooting advice, and where IBIS helps versus where it’s neutral or even a disadvantage. Key claims and camera specifications referenced below are supported by contemporary reviews and Canon material. ( Canon U.S.A. , DPReview , Canon Europe ) Summary of the R5 Mark II IBIS Capability Canon’s EOS R5 Mark II features a five-axis IBIS system rated at up to roughly 8 - 8.5 stops of shake correction in ideal conditions whe...

Trying out the Canon Extender EF 1.4x III one last time... Speckled Pigeon in Flight Above the Diep River : Woodbridge Island I know it would be another close-to futile experiment. As I have tried a few times before with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. However, in good light there could be a few keepers, but my hopes are never high. With the pairing I'm using here, around Woodbridge Island and the Diep River, I get great shots without the converter, but the extra 1.4x is there to try. The Canon Extender EF 1.4x III works well with a f/2.8 or f/4 EF 400mm lens (and others), but not so effective with the f/5.6 lens. I went out (down the Diep River, Woodbridge Island right to the edge of the Table Bay Nature Reserve  and back), with very crisp Cape Town light and a soft South-Easter blowing, which would have no real effect with / or without the converter. The main disadvantage for me is the fast autofocus I'm losing at f/8 and only getting 1 or 4 AF-points f...

Triple Back-Button Autofocus on Canon EOS R5 Mark II Introduction “Back-button autofocus” (BBAF) is a technique in which the autofocus (AF) activation is separated from the shutter button and assigned to a button on the back of the camera (often the AF-ON button). This gives the photographer independent control over when focusing is triggered versus when the shutter fires (Canon, n.d.; Canon Support, n.d.). On advanced mirrorless cameras such as the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, the flexibility of custom button assignment allows a further extension: triple back-button AF , in which three distinct buttons are assigned to three different AF behaviors or presets. This approach enables rapid switching between, for example, single-point precise focus, zone tracking, and full-frame subject detection, without diving into menus during critical shooting moments. In the sections below, I present: (1) the rationale for triple back-button AF; (2) how to configure it on the R5 Mark II (based on Canon’s ma...