Bird Detection AI, Birds in Flight, Micro 4/3 (OM-D/M.Zuiko), Pro Capture

Best BIF Settings

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This article discusses best BIF (bird-in-flight) settings, and shares a selection of recently captured photographs of purple martins in free flight. All of the featured images were captured handheld at Biggar Lagoons Wetlands in Grimsby Ontario a few days ago during a quick 1.5 hour visit. It was a very productive outing that created over 100 useable images in a very compressed time frame.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 276 mm, efov 552 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3511 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.6 metres

Many photographers are curious by nature, and they enjoy learning about the camera settings that other folks use for their photography. Since we can often pick up some useful tips from other photographers, discussing camera settings can be beneficial.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 210 mm, efov 420 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3022 pixels on the width, subject distance 10.1 metres

The main reason why we include EXIF data for images featured on this website is to provide camera setting information to those readers who have an interest in this detail.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 218 mm, efov 436 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-500, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2801 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.3 metres

There is a  risk when we think that there is a magic formula that spells out the best BIF settings. Or… that the best BIF settings even exist at all in a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 200 mm, efov 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2820 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.9 metres

Over the years I’ve read articles and watched YouTube videos in which photographers have shared their BIF camera settings. Many bloggers have gone so far as to claim that their recommendations are the best BIF settings for a particular model of camera, and should be emulated.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 210 mm, efov 420 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-230, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3327 pixels on the width, subject distance 9.1 metres

This article will not make any claims of that nature. The reason for that is very simple. I have no idea what the best BIF settings would be for you and the camera gear that you own.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 314 mm, efov 628 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3612 pixels on the width, subject distance 7.4 metres

And, that includes those of you who may use the exact same camera body and lens that I do for bird-in-flight photography.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 169 mm, efov 338 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2760 pixels on the width, subject distance 7 metres

Just because you may happen to use an E-M1X with an M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS zoom lens like I do… doesn’t mean that the settings that I use for bird-in-flight photography will make sense for you.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 236 mm, efov 472 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3160 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.5 metres

It’s quite possible that my BIF settings may not work for you at all. The reason for that is also very simple. What constitutes the best BIF settings for a  specific photographer are dependent on their shooting style, and how they like to use their camera gear.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 314 mm, efov 628 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 4500 pixels on the width, subject distance 7.4 metres

The process of understanding one’s shooting style and how to best use the camera gear that we own can take some time. I’d be the first to admit that I fumbled around for about a year with my E-M1X trying out various settings.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 236 mm, efov 472 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3216 pixels on the width, subject distance 9.8 metres

I don’t typically capture long, extended image runs of birds-in-flight as I find that they waste a lot of my time in post. Instead, I usually use ‘pulse shooting’ and grab a series of shorter length image runs. These typically focus on specific behaviours like birds banking, doing mid-air stalls, or coming in to land or hunt/fish.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 210 mm, efov 420 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-160, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2813 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.5 metres

As a result I don’t really care that much about a camera’s capability to stay locked on to a subject for extended periods of time. It is far more important to me that my camera is extremely responsive and is able to grab precise moments quickly and reliably.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 227 mm, efov 454 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2888 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.9 metres

This is especially important since I often enjoy working in close to my subjects. If you check the EXIF data you’ll find that many of these purple martins in full flight were less than 10 metres (~32.8 feet) away from me. Trying to photograph a quick, erratic purple martin flying in close is often a reactive response by a photographer… which puts a lot of pressure on their camera gear to perform.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 169 mm, efov 338 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2894 pixels on the width, subject distance 7.1 metres

It wasn’t until the E-M1X firmware was updated to include Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking that I was able to really hone in on the best BIF settings for my style of photography.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 300 mm, efov 600 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3700 pixels on the width, subject distance 9.8 metres

It did take many months of experimentation… and a lot of test shooting at various locations, with a range of subject matter. I had numerous weeks where I shot over 5,000 test images per week as I was trying to find the exact BIF settings that suited my photographic approach.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 227 mm, efov 454 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-1250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3560 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.4 metres

Many of my mistakes were with the number of AF points I was using with my E-M1X’s Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking. I tried engaging all of the AF points, which proved to be quite ineffective and frustrating.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 300 mm, efov 600 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3003 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.7 metres

Then I tried a number of different patterns of AF points… including standard approaches like using a 5 x 5 grid. None of these gave me the consistency, speed, and accuracy that I needed. I pressed on with my experimentation.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 200 mm, efov 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2755 pixels on the width, subject distance 9.1 metres

Eventually I found a big part of my BIF settings puzzle… that was using a single, small AF point with Bird Detection AI. It was an “AH-HA” moment. That approach allowed me to get the auto-focusing speed and subject tracking that I needed. I soon discovered that I wanted even more performance.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 236 mm, efov 472 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-250, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2907 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.4 metres

I kept experimenting and eventually combined Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking with Pro Capture L… using a continuous auto-focus rate of 18 frames-per-second. There was something about that combination that really felt right. That’s when the real work started.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 314 mm, efov 628 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3427 pixels on the width, subject distance 7.4 metres

I had to train myself to be comfortable using a completely different approach to shutter release timing. Initially it felt counterintuitive to wait  to fully depress my shutter release until after a bird-in-flight had completed a particular movement. More practice ensued.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 218 mm, efov 436 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2842 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.4 metres

The next hurdle was learning to respond to both visual and auditory cues simultaneously. Not only did I have to watch for the green box AF confirmation in my viewfinder… but also listen for the audible ‘beep’ when my E-M1X acquired focus. This was a protracted lesson about patience and shot discipline.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 227 mm, efov 454 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3130 pixels on the width, subject distance 7.8 metres

Things continued to progress to the point where I now only use Pro Capture L in combination with Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking to photograph birds in free flight. Even small, fast, erratic flyers like the purple martins. featured in this article.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 253 mm, efov 506 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3517 pixels on the width, subject distance 9 metres

This combination of technologies is part of my best BIF settings… but they may not be the best for you. That’s the key point of this article. When it comes to choosing the best BIF settings, we need to experiment and make a very personal decision. What works very well for one photographer, may not suit another.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 236 mm, efov 472 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-400, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3268 pixels on the width, subject distance 8 metres

What someone else recommends for BIF settings is based on their experience, their needs, and their shooting style. Not yours. Or mine. That’s why we need to take those recommendations with a grain of salt and not accept them at face value.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 276 mm, efov 552 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-320, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 3636 pixels on the width, subject distance 8.3metres

The only thing that is critically important is to determine which BIF settings will work best for each of us. Discovering that takes an investment of time and a willingness to experiment… as well as practice to improve our photographic skills.

There is no magic bullet with ‘best BIF settings’ carved on it. That’s a good thing as it helps keep photography both interesting and challenging.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data.  Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. This is the 1,291 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 200 mm, efov 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-200, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI Subject Tracking, cropped to 2208 pixels on the width, subject distance 12.8 metres

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4 thoughts on “Best BIF Settings”

  1. Your proof positive that using the latest and greatest gear like the om-1 and 150-400 f4.5 is in olympus land is not everything.
    Learning about the gear you own and practising your skills clearly rates higher,
    Great set of images.

    Reply

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