Pelican Landing (Micro Four Thirds Capture)
Photo by Scott Bourne – Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons
Photographing birds in flight wing the OM-D EM-5 is not easy, but it is possible. This is no doubt the biggest sacrifice someone contemplating the switch from a Canon 5DMKIII or 1DX would make. The autofocus on the Olympus is amazing, but it can’t keep track of moving subjects the way AF on the new Canon bodies does. There’s always a tradeoff in photography.
Yet, as this shot (in not the best light) proves, it is possible to get birds in flight, even coming towards the camera. The keeper rate is 50% of what it would be using the more expensive, more advanced and heavier DSLRs but if you want to go light (and I do) this shot proves you can.
Click on the photo to see a larger version.
Jeez, Scott.
Don’t you know you can’t do that! Didn’t all the experts tell you so? What will it take to prove that to you?
Great photos, Thanks!
jim.
Excellent flight shot of the brown pelican!
Great photo! What setting did you use please?
What specific settings do you want to know? I shot wide open – but that doesn’t mean you could because the light will always be different. I used ISO 400 but again, different light different situation – same for everything else.
I’m considering the switch from a low end DSLR. What would you estimate the autofocus/keeper rate to be like vs a D5000? Everything else seems like a win for MFT.