Best Camera Settings for Bird Photography

[@Sven-R]

AF near/AF far is so useful, not only for bird photography, thanks for this!

[@ImageMaven]

I agree! Cheers.

[@bradster1528]

Thank you for teaching us about the G9 and birding. We have plenty of bluebirds, cardinals and woodpeckers near us to photograph and with your knowledge my ability to photograph them has vastly improved! After 10 years I have gone back to micro 4/3rds using the Pan/Leica 50-200 lens and enjoying it!

[@ImageMaven]

Excellent to hear this. Great bird species. I wish we had cardinals around here. And you have a great lens for it too. Enjoy!

[@ImageMaven]

Oh wow, I just noticed your Super Thanks! Thank you for your generosity. (The supers don't show up on studio mobile, and I just noticed it when I went to check emails and things on my computer.)

[@nwrth]

The AF ON Far back button focus setting is a game changer. Thanks a lot for this tip! It has proven useful right the next day. 🙂

[@ImageMaven]

Great to hear this Jan! It really helped me too. Thank you for letting me know.

[@davidnorwich3771]

Marlene I'm a late comer to your channel. You are so good at explaining things. Top marks!!

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks so much! What a great way to start my day.

[@johnspoor8341]

(again) a clear explanation Marlene, thanks!

[@ImageMaven]

Cheers John! Made my day. 🤗

[@sharonblais1111]

I just found your page. I am enjoying it and learning from you. Thank you.

[@ImageMaven]

Welcome to my channel Sharon. 😊Are you a Lumix user?

[@sharonblais1111]

@@ImageMaven Yes, I’ve been a LUMIX user for many years. I just got my brand new LUMIX G9ii this afternoon and am very excited about it! So much to learn and only one month until I plan on taking it to Africa on safari. Thank goodness I have used LUMIX cameras for so long. At least it is somewhat familiar. I wish I could buy the 100-400 mm lens but that will have to wait. Happily I do have a 100-300mm zoom lens.

[@aramb]

This video is a treasure trove. Thanks, Marlene!

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Ron, I'm so happy to hear this. Thank you for letting me know. Cheers.

[@sveinwilhelm5491]

Hi, Marlene! I’m an old guy up in northern Norway who picked up this lens from a very good friend of mine, a bargain I think..about 300 USD. I also bought an almost brand new G80/85 for a very low price. The combination works great, for me at least. Though the cam doesn’t have the more sophisticated focus settings as the G9, it works. I also tried the lens paired with my GM5, a weird combo, yes..but worked darn well. Ok, the lens is heavy, right now I’m carrying it with a Peak Design strap mounted on the lens, actually, it works.. but hurts my shoulder after a while. Maybe I’ll by “your” OPTECH strap, looks softer to carry around. Anyway, after getting into your videos lately (shame on me, should have looked them up earlier) I find your approach much more interesting than all those youngsters around! And, yes, I’m gonna look up all your videos, have plenty of time, just become a pensioner who’s been taking photos for about 50 years. And being into several systems, until recently Sony FF (the 7C, and lenses), right now I am re-loving mft very much, and trying out “serious” birding first time in my life. Last thing, menus on my Sony, and former Olympus cameras really sucks. The Pana-menu is so easy and intuitive, I even love the touch-screen. This was a loong comment, hopefully U forgive.😅.

[@ImageMaven]

Hello Svein! Nothing to forgive. I love hearing from people like yourself who are re-discovering their love for photography. Sometimes it takes new gear to get us excited again. At least it does for me! I have used Olympus OM1 recently, and I'm still getting used to their menu system. I do like their quick menu though. Not sure what they call it, but it's the menu where "most" of the common settings are in when you push the main "OK" button. Lumix has one too, and it's called Quick Menu! Birding is as much about finding the species as it is photographing them. When I started I just photographed common birds as I got used to the camera stuff. It's addictive but so good for the mental health as well as physical. I do love a bird walk more that driving around. But you'll find what works for you. Have a blast!

[@sveinwilhelm5491]

Hi again, and thanks a lot for inspiring answer. I know the OM-1 has much better menus than elderly Olympus camaras. In fact I do have the oldest EM-1 mark l, and it definitely is a great camera which unfortunately has very bad battery life. Up far north in Norway it’s kind of cold, not extremely cold during winters, actually much less days below zero (C) than 20 years ago. Climate changes up here are unfortunately quite obvious…that aside; I’ve tried out my Olympus with my new Pana 100-400. It actually works pretty good, but image stabilization is visible better on my “new” G80. The latter is way more user friendly for me, grip, viewfinder and especially interface. Though the Olympus seem to have phase detect autofocus in continuous mode, I can’t observe better performance compared to G80. Anyway, the G9 do have significant improvements due to autofocus capabilities. The bird detection seems stunning.., will this make a huge difference to this old guy with a little shakier hands than 20 years ago..ok not that old, reaching just 70 next year, and in good shape walking our dog at least 10 kilometers a day with my gf and camera. Though my girlfriend and our border collie Maja (the most beautiful dog on the planet, of course, haha..thousands shots of her) often are in a hurry, which make me do longer photo walks on my own. Right now, around in woodlands and mountains close to were we live in the small city of Bodø, right above the arctic circle, the diversity of species are huge. Birds of passage are often seen..just love it. Ok, way to much talking around. Should I upgrade to the G9..one thing that bothers me slightly is the G9 is heavier and larger than th G80. Have a nice day Marlene!

[@Stone1108]

Marlene you’re a KZbin gem. The sponsors should be lining up. I’m so leased your getting a lot from the 100-400, it’s quite an investment but so such good value. Thanks for another top video and those great tips. 📸👏

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you for the kind words Andrew. Glad the tips are helpful. Yes, I'm so very happy with this lens. Never thought I'd love it so much. It has really raised the bar for me.

[@kingdom777866]

Yes it is a good investment and a greater value for her, because she didn’t have to pay for it the punter’s did.. Alex Belfield gained hundreds of thousands of pounds asking for money on his channel, I think it’s a cheek how they get away with it !!

[@piarb]

Thanks a lot for these really useful videos! Cheers from France

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you so much for the Super! Happy New Year!

[@gman9261]

Thanks! Just discovered your videos and they are terrific. Thanks so much!!!

[@ImageMaven]

Glad you like them! And thanks for the Super too. Cheers!

[@ritfloyd]

I came across your channel couple of days ago and I really like your easy/relaxed presentation style and to be honest you've got me interested in photography again. I became interested in nature photography purely by chance last week when I saw a hawk while out on a walk and wished that I had my 35 to 100 lumix lens with me. I look forward to learning about nature photography and thanks to you I'll have to get a G9 now; which I hope will be a step up from my trusty GX80 🙂

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Ritesh, So great to hear that you're interested in photography again! You will start to see more birds now that you're tuned in again. There are some good deals out there on the G9 as it's 4+ years old already. Still a very solid camera with lots of firmware updates over the years. Thanks for stopping in to chat. Cheers.

[@emilebaudot904]

Great to see you back Marlene….! The settings you suggest are fundamentally the same as my own and I have saved those settings to a customised C setting, enabling me switch easily between landscape, macro & wildlife. As for carrying my 100-400 on my G9, I also use a clip on a Think Tank belt. This has been a real bonus when walking miles over an unforgiving landscape , in foul weather… Thanks Marlene… looking forward to the next one!

[@ImageMaven]

Great suggestion about the C settings. And thanks for sharing your carrying setup too. Thanks for stopping by Emile 😊

[@karlrichards]

I see you're using the camera focus near and far like I do. Great video.

[@ImageMaven]

Yes, thanks Karl. As you know it's a very practical set up for birding.

[@Easter_Egg89]

Thank you for sharing your settings, Marlene. I also have the same camera and lens, and I found really useful to use the front custom buttons for AF-near and AF-far, it makes it really quick to adjust the AF. I also sometimes carry the camera sideways with that lens, it's a bit more comfortable for longer walks. At 400mm I usually close down up to 7.1, otherwise I tend to shoot wide open or slightly closed down. I tend to set the ISO manually, with 1/3 EV increments, and I never pass ISO 2000. Try faster shutter speed (1/1600 - 1/3200) for fast moving birds, you should obtain extra sharp shots.

[@bernym4047]

I'm new to the G9 and the 100-400 and to 'birding' so this is a very useful video, Thanks. I find the Peak design camera clip suits me as I do a lot of fell walking with the occasional scramble. Having my camera clipped high on my ruck sack shoulder strap keeps it out of harms way and at the same time accessible.

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Berny, Birding is very challenging no matter what camera system you use. Hopefully this gets you started. I'm waiting for even better focusing now that Lumix has promised Phase Detect on all their future M43 cameras. Fingers crossed!! Thanks for stopping by.

[@uphollandlatic]

I sat and watched your film with the camera in hand to set up as recommended. Really looking forward to going out now.

[@ImageMaven]

Awesome. Let me know how it goes! Cheers.

[@rlgenge]

Always good to review your settings. Thank you.

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks for checking it out, Bob.

[@bugeyebill]

Thanks!

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you so much William!! Cheers.

[@hVF8KZuQPeCc8u]

I am very glad you were able to get the 100-400 lens you wanted. This video was very helpful with all your useful tips. You are becoming quite the birder. That camera strap looks intriguing. I'll have to check it out. Spring is here, summer not far off so happy birding!

[@ImageMaven]

I'm so very happy with this lens. Glad the tips were helpful. As you know I always like to dive deep into the settings to see how I can get better pictures. Yes, I'm definitely addicted to birding now. It's a great pastime and suits my personality well. I never seem to tire of it. Always something new to discover about the camera and the bird population. Thank you again for the Coffees! Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated. Cheers.

[@franshuttlewood4649]

Thanks Marlene. Have just taken delivery of the G9 and 100 - 400 lens - whoop whoop!! - and out for a days birding tomorrow so your video was perfect. I've been using a cross body strap for a while with my FZ1000ii and it has a couple of zipped pouches for lens caps which is very handy. Looking forward to getting to grips with this new set up.

[@ImageMaven]

Wonderful! Enjoy your photo walk. It may take a little while to get used to what settings work best but you’ll get there!

[@malcolmsutton6740]

For carrying a camera try the cotton carrier. There are two models, a harness over both shoulders and a one shoulder model. Like the video.

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks Malcolm. Good timing. I'm also looking at Peak Designs right now. I don't know if I'd like the two shoulder harness, but I'll definitely check those ones out. Cheers!

[@JanenMiadeBel-xi8rh]

Bedankt

[@ImageMaven]

And thank you again. :)

[@brianwhiteside]

Another great video. Congratulations on your new lens. I knew you would see the light😀

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks Brian. Love it. No regrets 👌💪

[@anupamsadhukhan5620]

Thank you mam, I am inspired by you and your camera setup. I am just starting with it... thanks lot.

[@ImageMaven]

All the best to you and with your photography! Thank you.

[@wolfgangradlinger9478]

Danke!

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you Wolfgang!

[@samuelwragg8615]

Excellent as always Marlene. It's reassuring to know that you confirm what I believe that max 3200 iso is the limit for a crisp bird image.. keep up the good work. Best wishes Sam

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Samuel. Yes 3200 is definitely upper limit. I’d rather be 800 or less though especially if I’m cropping a lot. Thank you for watching.

[@mk1photography62]

Hi again Marlene glad you got it at last! I use a black rapid strap screwed into the foot of the lens foot Thanks for the advice on settings

[@ImageMaven]

Ah, cool. Thanks for sharing that!

[@chrisbrown6432]

Thanks Marlene.

[@helenpothecary1078]

Wow what a great set of informative information As usual you are always so precise and understandable, showing us the camera whilst you do your settings I am one of your older active listeners (72) so quite funny to slow the sound Down a bit so I could synchronise my brain intensively on what was being said, although you don’t speak fast! Great stuff. I so much like how you present every little angle as always Cheers to you Helen UK

[@Skill_Issue92]

Oh wow I just learned so much about AF 😮 I can't believe I never knew this

[@ImageMaven]

Great to hear. Hope it’s useful for you. Cheers.

[@AbHAT22]

Great video and excellent tips. I have the same camera and lens. It has allowed me take photos of migrating warblers which I could never do before. I do not use faster than 1/600 shutter speed to keep picture quality good. Dual IS works well and I found that I can take good bird pictures even at 1/250. I was used to carrying large DSLR with Tamron 150-600 lens. This set up is ultra light. I have done 3-4 hours of birding without any issues.

[@ImageMaven]

I just love Warblers. They sing so nice too. I found another one today on my afternoon walk. They are a challenge to shoot as they move around so much and so fast. But, I'm going to try 1/600s and slower next time I go out birding and see how it works for me. Thanks for the suggestion! I'll post my results in the community tab. Maybe I'll even see that Warbler again. Cheers!

[@lumixographer2185]

Marlene, I must confess that first time I watched this video I had the sound turned off so I wouldn't be one of "those" people who disturb others. Even without the dulcet tones of your voice, your manner of presentation was engaging and informative! And watching the second time with sound I was pleased to learn new tips that will help me on my G9 Leica journey. You have always been so generous sharing your knowledge and the process of your learning. You welcome ideas from your viewers and share their tips with your community. Thanks for passing along my tip for easy zooming with the 100-400mm lens. Using a push/pull motion to zoom the lens keeps your eye on the target as you zoom in. It's also possible zoom in/out while recording video. My advice to your viewers is, "Try it! You'll like it!" One other bit of advice for your viewers, share your ideas with Marlene so we can learn together!

[@ImageMaven]

Well Jason, I really appreciate tips from my viewers. Yours is golden. I also learned to shoot birds with Auto ISO from a KZbin viewer comment. As a teacher in art colleges for many years I learned early on that we have to keep our egos out of it, or we become blocked to new ideas. I prefer a collaborative classroom. Plus I'll try anything at least once, especially if it's a subject matter I'm very interested in photographing. Cheers and happy adventuring this summer!

[@lumixographer2185]

@@ImageMaven You’ve definitely guided us further along the road to Bird mastery. For your next adventure with the 100-400mm for us, how about the 3 B’s - Blossoms, Bees, Butterflies. There’s more to life than birds with the G9 Leica!😁

[@JamesAnderson-wft]

Thanks again, lady. More great stuff.

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks for watching James! Cheers.

[@laurentyarp514]

Your tutorials on the settings of the G9 are great. Thank you. Didn't know about that Focus Release Priority setting or the AF Custom setting. btw AF near/far shift focus are a blessing. They are such great helpers to speed up focusing in difficult situations. Auto Focusing generally a no brainer with these tools.

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Laurent. Yes, you're right. The AF near and far are so handy! I use them all the time with birds. Cheers!

[@Mixxwizard]

Thank you, Marlene, for these settings. I tried them out on my GH6 on the photography side. The Jpegs came out so beautiful.

[@ImageMaven]

I’m so happy to hear this. I still use these settings. How do you like your GH6? I’m holding out for a G9 successor as I don’t shoot much video. But I have to say the GH6 is tempting. Cheers!

[@Mixxwizard]

I love the GH6, I upgraded from the GH5. Each time Panasonic came out with a new GH5(GH5s, GH5 markii) it was temping as well. But I managed to hold out for the GH6. I always shoot in manual mode. So I never allow myself to get caught up in the autofocus disagreements out there about Panasonic cameras.🤣😁 Ps. Keep up the great work. I have followed your videos for year's. But I never commented

[@Stone1108]

Thanks

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you so much Andrew!

[@daniellegrandpa]

Great video, since i am new to photography, this has helped a lot.

[@kathypirok-klein3413]

Thanks for the ideas. I also find it handy to wear a Travelsmith travel vest. I have easy access to my car keys, phone, chapstick, Kleenex, lenses cloth one for my lenses and another for my glasses, a filter, sm sunscreen, bug repellent…..

[@ImageMaven]

Great tips Kathy. Thank you for sharing.

[@brucegraner5901]

Your videos are a great resource for Lumix G9 shooters. I use the center-square focusing with animal detect as you do. Most of the time it works great but I've been trying to photograph black skimmers flying straight towards me and, sometimes, find it useful to nudge the joy stick to remind animal detect to prioritize is focusing efforts in the center square. Once engaged animal detect helps hold the focus a bit if the bird strays outside the square. This is especially useful with a subject against tricky backgrounds and keeps the camera from unnecessary hunting. Any thoughts about adding QUICK Focus to your recipe for bird settings? Oh, do you or any of your subscribers know how long the G9 can go without the battery inserted before it forgets its custom programming settings?

[@ImageMaven]

Great tip about the joystick. Thanks Bruce, I'll give that a try. I have had many occasions where the bird is outside of the centre square and if the bird isn't moving too much, it seems to hold the Green frame indicating focus. But those skimmers must be super hard to hold focus with. I am definitely going to look into Quick Focus. I've always kind of skipped over that Menu. Thank you for the suggestion. Adding it to my list of things to test. I get the best ideas from my viewers. Cheers!

[@ankhira8256]

Love your Videos

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you! 😊

[@lostshepard00]

Thank you Marlene glad to see you back, very informative as usual with lots of reminders as to what is where which one tends to forget when time is of the essence. One thing though: The weight of this wonderful lens is heavy and I do not trust the connector place between lens and camera having had, fortunately, a repairable situation, with the extremely light 35-100 lens. I tend to walk around with it in my hand against my chest pointing skywards and with my hand through the hand strap for extra safety - I find this less tiring on a long day out - just my 2c worth - the build quality is not made for knocks and whilst it's good to have free hands this is not a lens to shake around I think.

[@ImageMaven]

Yes, I hear you! Thanks for the reminder about the lens mount. I shall be mindful of that and not let the camera bounce around my hip. Cheers!

[@willparsons32]

The amount of $ this lens is, it's unfortunate to read how bad of a flaw it has. Think I'll steer clear of it for sure. Thanks for the heads up!

[@ksgtokgo]

I love your videos, Marlene. We have the same camera and lens, but I always seem to be struggling with what settings to use. I plan to try out your settings. Thanks for the great information.

[@ImageMaven]

Glad it was helpful Kathy! Most of the basic settings are the same for me. But the focus stuff is new. I've been testing out so many focus techniques lately, but this is my most successful to date. The AF-ON Far set up to use the AE/AF button is probably the most significant improvement for me. Just the ease of switching from the main shutter button (first finger) to the AE/AF button (thumb) gives a fast focus response without jarring the camera, especially if the birds are back in the leaves. Having the AF-ON Near set to the front Fn4 button is easy to use as well but wrapping my middle finger to that position on the front of the camera body takes a bit longer. Let me know how it goes!

[@jerzysilberring3220]

Dear Marlene, congrats to your new lens! You will enjoy it. Concerning the strap, please have a look how Peak Design suggests its mounting using the tripod plate. Much better balance with such heavy gear. Thanks for your excellent videos 👍

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you! Will do!

[@sue.Hoo123]

Hi Marlene, so glad you are liking the strap I recommend 👍 I hardly know I’m carrying the PL100-400 lens.

[@ImageMaven]

I love it Sue. Thanks again for the recommendation 👌

[@lloydfreese3416]

Always enjoy your videos, you are definitely my go-to for anything to do with my g9. Do have a question though,,,,,,do you use a protective filter on your lenses? Thank you

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Lloyd, Nope. No protection filters for me. But I keep my lens hoods on at all times, so that's enough protection for me. If I was in the desert for a prolonged period of time, I would definitely consider a protection filter, as I wouldn't want my lens getting scratched by blowing sand. Thanks for checking out my latest video. Cheers!

[@JFAP71]

Love your channel Marlene. I have the same setup and wear mine the same way. The only thing different is that I use Peak Design’s straps. They make a great system if you haven’t seen them before. A bit pricey however very much worth it. 😊

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely check out Peak Design. Anything that helps my old injured shoulders is worth a look.

[@seanbreslin5836]

Great video! Thank you. I bought a LUMIX S5 the day it came out because it suits my photography more and hung on to the G9 because I had a gut feeling I’d regret selling it. But last year I reluctantly decided to sell it. Now I’ve gotten into bird photography along my local river and wish I had your exact set up photograph some of the local kingfishers. I have the S5 and Sigma 100-400 which is great but can’t help thinking the G9 + Leica 100-400 would be better for the river. Should have trusted my instinct.

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Sean! Sorry to hear you regret selling your G9. Maybe something new and even better will come along in a couple of years that will work for you. But hopefully you can work with the larger sensor of your S5 and get some good results. Most of my birding friends use full frame and nothing more than a 400mm, so don't be too hard on yourself. We make the best decisions we can at the time. Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my video. Cheers!

[@jiffijoff9780]

Thanks for sharing your best practices and settings regarding the G9 + PL 100-400 combo. It will have a close look on those, especially the nice AF far and the overall AF settings. I haven't achieved really pin sharp results with AFC since it tends to micro-pump back and forth on the target in the constant attempt to find its best spot. Somehow multiple AFS attempts returned sharper results. I will happily check with your AFC settings! :-)

[@ImageMaven]

There are definitely times when AFS works just fine, and honestly that's how I've focussed for years - even when I'm not birding. I find I'm a bit wobbly holding this lens due to the weight and length when extended to 400mm, so the AFC seems to help. But if AFS is working for you, then keep using it!

[@ggwildlife]

Marlene what is that custom silicone button on the record button please.

[@ImageMaven]

It's called a Pro Dot. Here's a link: ProDot Big Red video button: amzn.to/3o4F0tS

[@ggwildlife]

@@ImageMaven many thanks.

[@brianmckeever5280]

I just ordered the 100-400 mk II for my G9ii. I don't have any tips yet! Will advise! I love the 50-200, but want more reach and the 2x tele is not quite what I was looking for. I use the PRVKE Lite backpack and a capture clip to hold the camera. I don't remember the last time I used a strap.

[@willparsons32]

Hi Marlene, Good to see your new video! From watching this video, I can't see why anyone would have to use a photo editor to fix their shots. Seems like you have the cat...or should I say; bird in the bag when you shoot your photos. I think your camera settings are the best thing for bird photography. Shooting in Manual mode just takes too much fumbling and you end up loosing the shot in the end anyways. Let the speed of your camera settings to do it's work after all, that's what you paid all that $$ for in the first place!!

[@ImageMaven]

Yes, that's how I feel. Work hard to get things as good as you can - in the camera. Hopefully save tons of time editing. Of course there are still a few small tweaks we make. Thanks so much for dropping a comment Will. Cheers!

[@kiwigreenflame]

Really helpful video. Have you done any similar videos for photographing birds with a lower end camera like the G100?

[@ImageMaven]

I have tried to use the G100 for birding. Sadly it doesn’t have the focus features I like to use so if is somewhat limited. But if you have a G100 slap your 100-300mm (or whatever your longest lens is) on it and give it a shot. All the exposure settings will be the same/similar on any camera.

[@kiwigreenflame]

@@ImageMaven Thanks. I’ve managed to get the occasional good bird shot on my G100 but very hit or miss most of the time. One more reason to save up for a G9 or similar, but the G100 remains my favourite travel camera.

[@A2Z1Two3]

Finding the exposure button is easy, there are two pips on the middle ISO button , it’s the one to the left of that without looking you can do it by feel .

[@ImageMaven]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@JOHANGYEOL]

Don't you worry about noise and its image resolution decline? 2:11at this point, ISO was 4000! And I'm curious about what benifits of high-iris(F8) make you pass over lovely boke of low-iris(F4, 5.6, etc)? Sorry for poor English.

[@ImageMaven]

Hello. I was pointing my camera at a wall in my studio for this demo so that ISO isn't reality. I explained why I use a smaller f/stop instead of wide open for sharpness and to get the whole bird in focus. At 400mm the biggest f/stop is f/6.3. So f/8 isn't too far off. Bokeh is affected by the focal length as well as proximity to your subject. Not just the f/stop.

[@JOHANGYEOL]

@@ImageMaven I'm really appreciate for your explanation!!!

[@mikesphotography7185]

Good video. You can use a dedicated camera shoulder sling as I do it works for me and yes there are good and bad ones

[@ImageMaven]

Thanks for sharing your setup Mike! Comfort when I'm on long walks, is key for me. So far so good for this setup. But things change as I age. I'm always open to other options too. Cheers!

[@ttbirds1082]

Would be great if OpTech could create a camera strap with integrated sling bag. That way only one accessory needed. Great video. I’ll try CAF a bit more since usually a SAF bird shooter.

[@ImageMaven]

I have a closet full of camera bags! One more won’t hurt, right? 😂 AFC is a game changer for me especially when it’s windy or the bird is bobbing on the water. Thanks for watching!

[@brianwhiteside]

I also carry the wonderful Olympus 12-100mm 4.0 lens with my 100-400mm. For scenery shots as well as insects, frogs, bees, spiders and other unexpected surprises at close range.

[@ImageMaven]

Nice zoom range! Perfect for surprises.

[@57carolyn]

what is your position on filters that protect your lenses, specifically lengthy zoom lenses?....thanks, carolyn

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Carolyn, unless I’m shooting in very adverse conditions like a windy desert, I’m not a fan of putting filters on any of my lenses. The exception is a polarizer or ND filter. I prefer to keep my lens hood on for protection.

[@mariannepreston9903]

Another informative video, Marlene. Just wondering if you sold your 100-300 mm. or did you keep it for those times when you might want a lighter lens? I've got the original 100-300 mm. which, sadly, doesn't support dual stabilization. I'm finding that the image quality at 300 mm. isn't as sharp as I'd like, but I'm not sure if it's due to the glass, lack of dual stabilization, "operator error" or a combination of all three. I'm toying with the idea of upgrading, but I'm hesitant because of the weight of the 100-400 and the cost. Perhaps I should try to rent the lens for a few days and see how it goes.

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Marianne, I have not sold my 100-300. But I probably should (or use it occasionally) as I haven’t used it once since getting the 100-400 last year. Definitely rent it before buying if you can. It’s heavy for sure. And I still find the zoom ring very stiff, especially when I’m out on cold winter days. Check your camera settings especially shutter speed, to see what your issue with sharpness is, or isn’t. Perhaps it’s time for me to take a day hike with the 100-300 soon! Thanks for stopping by.

[@mariannepreston9903]

@@ImageMaven I don't think shutter speed is the issue because I usually shoot at 1/1000 sec. (handheld) . I'm shooting with a wide open aperture and using Auto ISO. Unfortunately, the lens probably isn't the sharpest wide open and high ISO isn't helping either. During the winter we don't get much sunshine in our part of BC, so light is sometimes a limiting factor, therefore, the high ISO. I'll have to experiment a bit more, but my sense is that the photos are still a bit soft at the long end even when the camera is on a tripod with IS on the lens turned off and in good light with a reasonable shutter speed and lower ISO.

[@ImageMaven]

This might help! I have started using Topaz DeNoise Ai for those exact situations. It removes noise artifacts really well, and also has a sharpening tool built in. I find it gives my images, especially my birding ones, that missing "something" that happens when shooting M43 in lower light. I've also used the Topaz Sharpen Ai but I find that I prefer the Noise Ai software better. The Sharpen Ai tends to overdo things and doesn't work great with bokeh - as it tries to sharpen it! You can mask your subject though, so it's definitely workable. I just like to "do less" editing to my photos. So the Noise Ai works for me. I've got a video on it. I'm going to be making another video soon. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks about the Topaz suite of editing apps. It's cheaper than buying another lens! I got this tip from another 100-300mm lens owner. Here's my video (starting where I edit using Topaz DeNoise): kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2XTqohpfrmkfck

[@mariannepreston9903]

@@ImageMaven Thank-you for your suggestions! :) I've also wondered if upgrading my photo editing software might not be a better/cheaper solution to my issues. Are you still shooting mainly jpgs or do you shoot your bird images in RAW? At any rate, I'm going set up some lens tests and see how the lens performs at different apertures and ISOs.

[@ImageMaven]

I always shoot jpg, except when I do the occasional studio shoot where colour is critical. If you can set up your photos properly "in the camera" then you shouldn't need to shoot RAW files. 10-20 years ago that wasn't the case, but camera processors are much better now. Great idea to test your lens. I'm shooting at f/8 for better sharpness - at least when the light allows.

[@rayjenkins2754]

Thank you for all the empirical pointers & suggestions - like when using my 100 ~ 400mm at the full reach of 400mm, which is often when I shoot wild life, to set the aperture at f8.0 for a sharp image. Since I use the exposure compensation often I've assigned it to my front/top wheel. As you discovered, the G9's focus - for me back-button - is about the same as the ' near bias ' focus, so I now have my front lower function button as my ' far bias ' focus & will have the upper button free to do ? ? Similarly, I have reset my burst modes as you have done. I wonder, have you played with the camera's AF Flexible or the i ISO settings ? One or the other but not both at the same time ? I would guess that you would ' not ' since it would be giving too much unpredictable control to the camera. Really enjoy your insights & video presentations but it seems like I haven't seen more recent ones. Looking forward to your next one. Ray

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Ray, I've been thinking about your comments and questions for a couple of days now and I have looked up a few things. I have not experimented with the i ISO setting, as I shoot birds in M mode (and it doesn't work in M), but I think it would be fun to try. And might make a good video topic as well! As far as the AFF goes, I did use that way back when.... but not recently with birds. Might be worth another shot! 😉 Thank you for those nudges. I've been lacking in inspiration lately and I really appreciate you writing me. Cheers!

[@Albert-DenAkker]

Hi Marlene, many thanks for this very helpfull video. I changed from a Lumix G80 to a G9 recently, thanks to your videos about birding. I have one question about the back button focus settings in this video. When using the AF/AE Lock set to AF-ON Near, shouldn't the Shutter AF be set to OFF? In your video it is set to ON and it seems to me the camera then also focusses when pressing the shutter button. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Albert, Congrats on the G9! In my experience once the camera finds the bird, it sticks to it. I use the Af-Near AF-Far to "tag" the bird, and then the main shutter button works just fine to keep the bird in focus - I keep it half pressed once the bird is in the Green Box. But you should experiment with those settings yourself. Everyone has their own preferences. Hope that helps. Don't give up.

[@Albert-DenAkker]

@@ImageMaven Thanks for the reply. I consider your videos as a good guide, but I will always have to find out for myself what works best for me. I won't give up, I've just started :-) Have a nice day.

[@tomgwl65]

I really love the menues and functionality of my g90, but Im missing that animal detect and upgrade that the g9 got. I really would like an update, that seems out of reach. So maby upgrade to a g9?? Thank you for your vids :-)

[@ImageMaven]

Hmm, I don't think this one focus setting is worth upgrading a whole camera for. May I suggest that you work with the Custom Multi focus settings for a bit. Tracking will also work for birds in flight. Before the Firmware updates included the animal detection, I used Pinpoint for sitting birds - and I still do sometimes. It works great. I think wait and see if there's going to be a "Follow up" to the G9 with even better focussing capabilities. Some food for thought! Thanks for watching and stopping for a chat.

[@AprilClayton]

I recently bid on a Leica 100-400 and won for a good price. Hoping it’s sharper than 100-300. I have a Sony 70-350 APSC lens that gets about 525mm reach at about 700 grams. Rather get 800 mm reach with beautiful Leica colors for a bit more weight. I tried 1/1000 shutter speed on 100-300, and it sharpened the images a lot. I find that Sony is sharp and technically perfect, but it takes the pleasure out of photography. Also, extreme sharpness can look Lessing pleasing. G9 takes a more pleasing photo of my one-eyed kitten, whereas Sony shows too much detail. I need to stop comparing camera types, but it’s fascinating how people put down certain brands without cause.

[@ImageMaven]

First off, congratulations on getting the 100-400mm. Second, I appreciate your honestly so much April. I think you’re spot on. People don’t actually take the time to test each system, they rely on other (mostly sponsored) reviews of gear. And they often don’t appreciate the nuances you describe. You’re a breath of fresh air in the sea of complainers and nay sayers, especially when it comes to the Lumix M4/3 system. Let me know how you like the new lens. It’s heavy but hopefully will be lighter than some of your Sony gear. Always nice to chat with you!

[@gregpatterson134]

Marlene, do you ever do a sharpness test on the 100-400 lens? If so, what's your method. Thanks,

[@ImageMaven]

I have not done one officially on this lens but I have noticed its limitations. I try not to use it fully extended to 400mm as I find that ~375mm tends to be sharper in most cases. And I use full stabilization on the G9/G9ii. And in low light, or lower contrast, images tend to be softer looking, but that’s usually a combination of those things especially if there is a lot of noise from high ISO.

[@gregpatterson134]

@@ImageMaven Great advice. I don't think my copy is bad, because my still shots look pretty good, but birds especially are just not as sharp as I see other get with this lens. I'll keep looking for an easy test, and keep working on technique. thanks for all your great advice.

[@ImageMaven]

@gregpatterson134 The boring answer is to shoot a test chart at various F stops and focal lengths. Or set up a stuffed toy bird and focus on that at various f stops and focal lengths. But I definitely feel your pain. Some days I wonder what I’m doing wrong. Then other days my shots are perfect.

[@ImageMaven]

@gregpatterson134 I sense that it’s video where the challenge lies? Try AFC and get into the menu for the AFC settings. Those may need experimenting with. I don’t shot a lot of video with the 100-400. Just short clips of birds in the water and occasionally flying. But that’s a whole other challenge. Practice on large slow birds like Canada geese.

[@ImageMaven]

Greg I got your email but that fb group is private. Wasn’t sure if you saw my reply.

[@michaelhawkins1173]

Glad your getting the images you want and have your set up. How are you taming the highlight reflections off feathers on sunny days with the new lens ? As clipped highlights can overwhelm an image. Thank you for the video I enjoyed it.

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Michael, I agree sometimes clipped highlights are a problem, especially with the Yellow Warblers. If I'm paying attention to my histogram in the moment, I can dial in -1/3 or -2/3 Exp Compensation, or set up iDynamic to take care of it. That might be a great topic for a video, especially for jpg shooters. Hmm, time to test some things out more fully. Thanks for the question. Cheers!

[@michaelhawkins1173]

@@ImageMaven Thanks for the helpful reply if you do video on the subject that would be great as I think a lot of minor limitations of our system are related to clipped exposures. Thanks again.

[@ImageMaven]

If you shoot raw files you can deal with this in post, but I'd rather get a good jpg than have to edit every single raw file. I stopped doing that years ago.

[@toshiema3131]

Thanks Marlene for the subject but have a question on AF/AE Lock my camera doesn’t have AF-ON far or near is that okey to use AF-ON ?

[@ImageMaven]

Not all the Lumix cameras have AF Near or AF Far. But you should be able to set it up for Back Button Focus. You can use custom functions to set that button to whatever you want, but there may be limitations depending on the camera model. What camera are you using?

[@fastmamajama]

this is a great video. i have a tz10 and a gf2 lumix cameras and the settings are similar. i converted them to 590nm infrared and i will be trying to capture space crafts. any tips on ufo photography on these cameras?

[@ImageMaven]

Oooh, UFO photography. That's a new one for me. But I've seen some infrared work and it looks amazing. Sorry I couldn't help today.

[@FART-REPELLENT]

I personally use a 24mm f1.4 Prime lens to photograph birds, with the aperture set at f1.4 and a shutter-speed of 2 seconds

[@ImageMaven]

Wow. You must be really close to your birds!

[@andresgonzalezcerda7635]

Maybe he IS a bird…

[@briancampbell5243]

Hi Marlene. Great video. Do you leave the back button as AF far when you photograph other subjects like skateboarding, people, sports etc? Or do you change it back to standard AF?

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Brian, I usually leave it on "AF-Far" as I tend to use the main shutter button for my skateboarding photos.

[@caroledwards9342]

Hi Marlene, I am loving your videos, as I am new to photography I am finding it difficult in shadows with birds. I have set my camera the same as you suggested. Is there a setting I can set as custom to start with when birds are in shadows. I dont know what I should be changing.

[@ImageMaven]

What exactly is your problem? Too dark? Blurry? Something else? Also share your photo settings so I can try to analyze the problem. f/stop, shutter speed and ISO.

[@caroledwards9342]

@@ImageMaven I have F8 shutter 1000 iso auto. My photos are too dark. Is there an order of which area I should go to first to correct this. I dont know which area to go to and end up lost. thanks from Australia

[@ImageMaven]

Lower the shutter speed and open the f/stop to add more light. EG 1/500s and f/5.6 will add 4 times the amount of light.

[@caroledwards9342]

@@ImageMaven thank you so much, this will help a lot, keep the great videos coming

[@cameranewb3878]

I’m getting a lot of slightly blurry photos of stationary robins at 1/500 shutter speed F8 on LUMIX G9 with 100-300 LUMIX lens. They look mostly in focus but not super sharp. The Sony A7IV looks sharper but is heavy. I shouldn’t compare the two, but I would like the beak to be snap and the eye. Any thoughts? Maybe the lens is a bit soft?

[@ImageMaven]

Could be that you have a bit of camera shake, especially if you're using the lens at 300mm. Or maybe you're not locked on with your focus. What focus setting did you use? Bird/Animal? Try 1/1000s. And try shooting an inanimate subject to test the lens sharpness. Also high ISO can make photos look soft too. Lastly, that 100-300 isn't the sharpest tack in the box. You might need to sharpen in post. I always do a bit. Cheers.

[@cameranewb3878]

@@ImageMaven Thank you! Animal detect focus did the trick. Looks as good as Sony. Beak and eyes look sharp. Will try 1/1000 1/500 worked well with the new focus mode.

[@ImageMaven]

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know.

[@gingergreen4647]

Super helpful video! Thank you so much! I'm using same camera but with 200mm 2.8 plus tc2.0 it is comperable with your lense right? I'm also using it for birding.

[@ImageMaven]

You've got a great setup there Ginger! I'd love to try that 200mm lens with the tc2.0 as I basically use mine at 400mm 90% of the time anyhow. Thanks for the chat.

[@annbaldwin5097]

I have had that same lens for several years but the zoom has always been rather stiff and hurts my hand. Any tips for making it smoother? Is yours stiff or was that only a problem with the earlier ones?

[@ImageMaven]

Yes, the zoom ring is a bit stiff for sure. Watch the last tip in the video to help with that, it's at the very end. Really helps. I do know that some people have sent the lens in to Panasonic for tweaking. But that can take some time. Hope this helps a bit.

[@jackjstrange]

Hi Marlene! How do you compare this lens to the Lumix 100-300?

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Jack! The 100-400mm is much heavier, costs more, but it is sharper and gives you that extra reach. Honestly, I keep it fixed on 400mm most of the time, especially with smaller birds. If they made a 400mm, I'd buy it. But they do have the 200mm f2.8 with Teleconverter. But it's way out of my price range, unless I win the lottery. I have no regrets buying the 100-400mm, but I also had very good results with the 100-300mm. It's the same "speed" as the 100-400, f-stop range is identical starting at f/4.0 at 100mm, and it goes down to f6.3 at 400mm. The 300mm is f/5.6 on both lenses. No regrets buying it, but it does take some getting used to, especially the stiff zoom ring and the weight of it. In the cold weather it gets quite hard to zoom. I borrowed one to test before buying it and I was hooked. Hope that helps!

[@EPGNightcore]

What about the lumix 75-300mm f4-5.6?

[@007silverwings]

Thanks so much for sharing your settings and all those useful hints and tips. Out of interest, do you keep your camera powered on whilst walking around, or just power on when you need it? Just wondering how the battery lasts on the G9. 👍🏻

[@ImageMaven]

Hello! Great question. Usually when walking between locations, I power it off, as the AFC keeps hunting. So yes, I like to preserve batteries. Also I have accidentally touched the back LCD and my "big" AF area (denoted with the square) gets moved. I've learned a few hard lessons that way. Battery life does wane over time, but I always take 2 extra spares with me. It's rare I need all 3, but if it's cold batteries will also drain quicker.

[@007silverwings]

@@ImageMaven thanks so much for the detailed reply! Already looking forward to your next video.

[@leoyoung6]

Hi Helena, great video. I just acquired the 100-400 for my G9 too. What is the brand/name of the hand strap are you using? I don't see a 1 area (Human/Animal detect) icon on my camera, what am I doing wrong? Thanks, Leo

[@ImageMaven]

Hi Leo, Thanks for watching. You need to have at least Firmware 2.4 updated. I have a video about that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3-uonaViLZnhMU My wrist strap is a leather Gordy's wrist strap.

[@leoyoung6]

@@ImageMaven I am using firmware 2.7 for the camera and the 100-400 lens firmware 1.4 so I am not sure why I am not getting that icon. Thanks for your response.

[@leoyoung6]

Ok, I got it, thanks for the video. I need to use the touch screen to activate it.

[@leoyoung6]

@@ImageMaven What kind of mount did you get for the Gordy's wrist strap? I tried you setting and it really help with sharpness of the photo.

[@ImageMaven]

I got the Lug Mount style on my Gordy's wrist strap. I keep it on all the time. If you like to take it on and off a lot, you might want a quick release type of strap. Peak Designs has one. Glad to hear your photos are sharper! Cheers.

[@jparnold1]

Does the lens work 100% with Olympus OMD MII ??? Thanks

[@ImageMaven]

I think so. It works 100% with my OM1 original.

[@jparnold1]

@@ImageMaven Hello thanks for the info, see you @the next video 😀

[@MrGb5084]

Great video. I have the same kit. I love the kit for birding however for birds in flight, mostly soaring eagles, hawks etc I find this kit really struggles to get high percentage sharp images. I have tried all settings to up my usable bif sharp images but have not found any settings that accomplish this. The kit is near perfect for birding save for bif. If you are shooting bif against clouds you might as well forget getting any useable images. A blue sky helps but unfortunately the continuous AF really struggles. If anyone has found different for bif using this 100-400 and g9 please share.

[@ImageMaven]

Hello, Mr Gb. I completely agree. This lens/camera struggles with BIF and I need to do more testing. Larger slower birds like flying swans and pelicans, aren't really a problem with a blue sky. In the past I've used Back Button Focus with good results. That's going to be a good subject for a future video. Thanks for the nudge!

[@pvannuys]

Hi, for bif I often reduced the zoom to 200~250mm. That makes it easier to catch the bif and the sharping results are much better. After that I crop the image to a accepteble format.

[@vikkitempleton9157]

Do you use back button focusing with this set up??

[@ImageMaven]

As I mention in the video, I have the AE/AF button (back button) set up to AF-ON Far as I find it works better for me.

[@paulheindricks4976]

Hi Marlene, since you are the only birdphotographer, I know, who uses the Lumix g9, I would like to ask you, whether you know any rumor with regard to a potential successor of the G9 ? Thanks a lot.

[@ImageMaven]

Not that I know of. But my fingers and toes are crossed!

[@frankiefalci8735]

i would like to buy the 100-300 for my gx9 do you think i do well?

[@ImageMaven]

Yes, I think that should make a good combo. I'm just a bit concerned about birding with that camera. For sitting birds, shouldn't be a problem, but flying ones might be a bit challenging. It would be nice to test it out before committing to the purchase. The 100-300mm lens might seem a bit large for that camera body at first. What sort of focus settings does the GX9 have? Hopefully some bird/animal detection settings. I'd be interested to hear how this works out for you. I wish I had picked up a GX9 when they came out! But I have enough cameras now. Let me know what you decide!

[@frankiefalci8735]

@@ImageMaven thank you very much for the answer. unfortunately the gx9 does not have animal recognition, and since I don't have the opportunity to try it I will buy it and let you know. a warm greeting.

[@bernym4047]

The zoom tip works on other panasonic lenses.

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you for adding this to the conversation. Cheers.

[@kingdom777866]

Why dont anyone talk about the REMOTE operation on the G9 ? is it a taboo subject.. how to set it up for photos as well as video. at the moment i can only record video on remote, although my camera is set on M manual for photos, it still records video ? i want a self portrate shot not a video.. im hoping you can help ! Thank you.

[@ImageMaven]

Maybe Graham Houghton has some answers for you. He's a Lumix expert! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHLZp3aqhJqFfaM

[@rogerbrown7659]

Once I started using a shoulder strap I could never go back to a neck.

[@ImageMaven]

Agreed! Thanks for watching Roger.

[@kingdom777866]

You don’t use a telephoto lens on a push-pull system, you will damage it, I’ve had this lens for 2yrs without a hitch because I use it the way it was designed for. You keep mentioning that this lens is heavy, it’s not, it’s because your used to those titchy little things.. if you think that’s heavy you want to carry a Nikon body and 500mm lens around all day ! That’s why I changed to micro four thirds…

[@ImageMaven]

It's heavy for me.

[@mk1photography62]

Sadly my nerve disease has forced me to sell everything 😭

[@ImageMaven]

Sorry to hear this Mark. I hope you can find other suitable ways to express your creativity.

[@mk1photography62]

@@ImageMaven I bought a Samsung S22 Ultra and now use that

[@mk1photography62]

If you could send me your email I could send some samples

[@taiwik]

Thanks!

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you very much David 😊

[@uphollandlatic]

Thanks

[@ImageMaven]

Thank you so much for the Super Thanks.

[@DanielCurious]

Thanks!

[@ImageMaven]

And thank you too! 😊

[@VK184]

Thanks!

[@ImageMaven]

Wow! Thank you so much! ☺️