This article shares a selection of 25 consecutive images that were captured handheld using an Olympus OM-D E-M1X while panning with Pro Capture H mode.

One of the terrific features that is available on some Olympus OM-D camera bodies is the Pro Capture mode. Over the past number of months I’ve met many non-Olympus owners who have no idea that this capability even exists, and how effective it can be to capture specific moments of action. A good degree of eye/hand coordination is needed to pan with a subject during a Pro Capture H run. It is most easily accomplished with larger, slower flying birds.

I was recently at Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls Canada and did some additional field testing with the Pro Capture H feature on my Olympus OM-D E-M1X. The images in this article are of a Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill taking flight, then flying across part of the main aviary. All of the photographs were captured in one image run while panning with Pro Capture H mode. This mode captures images at 60 frames-per-second.

These images were created using the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 zoom lens along with the M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter. Which, by the way, is a killer combination! The subject bird was approximately 8.5 metres away.

The series begins just as the Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill is taking flight, then follows it in mid-air.

NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.

Bird photographers viewing this image run will immediately recognize the potential of using the Olympus Pro Capture H mode with wild birds. Combining a typical Pro Capture sequence of a bird taking flight along with panning with it while it flies, extends the impact of this incredible technology.

Technical Note:
Photographs were captured hand-held using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. All photographs were cropped to approximately 4000 pixels in width, then resized for web use.

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