Camera Settings for PRO Wildlife Photography!

[@louisvanzyl]

I enjoy the fact that Chelsey looks so relaxed with Jeans and a T-shirt. Tony looks like he can sit down and become a bush. :) Even the cameras matches the outfits!😀👍😜

[@Ownelitezorage]

I only saw Chelsea, isn't Tony just doing voiceovers?

[@joegowac4617]

Lol

[@juantobias8517]

i dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know a tool to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my password. I appreciate any help you can offer me

[@harlanterrell7929]

@Juan Tobias Instablaster :)

[@juantobias8517]

@Harlan Terrell Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out atm. Takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@mooncatt79]

Never been able to find a video like this one where everything is explain simply and clearly. Brilliant, thankyou. Really helped me!

[@LourdesVenard]

From one bird nerd to another, I love any tutorials about bird photography!

[@thomasscott]

Same! Wildlife is so fun to photograph; you never know what you're going to get. Keep crushing it!

[@rogerpoyner8183]

Love to see you are still so excited about shooting, like two kids at Christmas. Stay safe.

[@BogdanMichka]

Watched this video again after about a year, and it's a nice refresher on the basics required to get your wildlife photography goals accomplished. Thanks again for a great quick summary!

[@pieterdewit5335]

Thanks for your info ! I got a Canon M6 mk2 recently, with my 70-300 usm nano and got my cameras Custom 1 and 2 settings set to either: - Manual mode with 1/2000sec, f8 (much sharper than “wide open”) and auto ISO. Center area continuous auto focus, with one quick button press to change the areas or single auto focus. And high shutter speed (The M6 mk2 has high for tracking priority and high plus). I use it for flying/moving birds. - The other is manual mode with 1/500, f8, auto ISO. Center point focus with subject tracking (like you showed on your Sony) with one quick button to switch between continuous or single auto focus, and one other quick button to zoom in for manual focusing. Set to silent shutter. This mode I immediately switch to, when birds are sitting still ☺️ Works perfectly for me !

[@therealsergio]

OMG, Chelsea, you nailed that Osprey look. I have so many pics of “that look”

[@swapankumardey7246]

I am now more than 75 years old and I feel very difficult to control bigger telephoto lens. So I have changed to landscape photography. I am following your channel since more than four years. You both are fantastic!

[@GrandpaTom]

I forget to comment on any videos, but I have learned so much from you two that I need to because I know it will help the algorithm. I have bought all your books, a couple of t-shirts and have watched hundreds of hours of video. I think you two have a great life together because it shows. You deserve all you get in life because you have sacrificed so much and worked very hard. I love you guys!

[@bryzabone]

Under exposing by 1-2 stops is the best thing I did when shooting raw.. so easy to pull it up in post, with no loss of image quality to equivalent iso 👍🏻

[@thomasscott]

Absolutely true. Overexposing is the worst!! Keep crushing it this year mate.

[@perilthecat]

More Chelsea talk plz! More proportional screen time in the dual vids makes ‘em better imo. (I get it though, I also get excited and can use up a lot of words compared to my partner). Love you both, thanks for all the knowledge!

[@jacobharasymenko1916]

Thank you for writing your books, I've bought 4 of them and they are great, I really appreciate the time and effort you've put into writing such a great guide to photography

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Wow, thank you!!

[@jul232001]

Thank you to both of you, I have learned so mucho since I started watching your tutorials like 5 years ago. Please, keep doing this, for all of us who can’t get enough experience as photographers.

[@ntulsian]

Thank you for the simple, straightforward and yet brilliant explaination of the different settings. I've watched this video multiple times, I pickup more info as my learning progresses.

[@HR-wd6cw]

One tip I would say is time your shots. This can help especially if you have a slower camera. Maybe instead of spraying 30 frames quickly, try to time your shots and shoot maybe 10 or 20 frames instead, shorter bursts. Yes you will run the risk of missing some shots, but this also helps with the buffer so you have space when you need it versus filling the buffer, because some cameras actually will not let you take the next shot until the buffer clears which in some cases could mean 30 seconds or something. So timing your shots and taking "fewer" shots but giving yourself a small "break" to let the buffer catch up, can be a good balance.

[@meredithpottery]

Wonderful! Thank you! Especially the second button for focusing on birds against the sky. Gotta set that up right now. Stay well, you two!

[@nigelsearle8025]

I'm pretty sure I can't set up a button on a Canon (7D ii) to do a change of focus clusters like this, but would love to be proved wrong..

[@davidmonro-jones4191]

Simply one of the best tutorial videos I have watched. I really appreciate your relaxed, natural style with your great knowledge and experience. Please keep them coming. If you can also consider those who do not have the 'top of the range' camera and lens, that would be cool too. The book (photography) you mentioned is great.

[@paulinefollett3099]

I love all these tips. So good to see you get out a little bit.

[@thomasscott]

That's what's so great about wildlife photography, you can even do it from your back garden! Keep crushing it.

[@justinjames403]

Birds be like "Look those two have started tallking to the camera......lets have some fun with them."" 😂😂😂

[@KennyTelfer]

I like how you split this video up, easy to come back to and reference.

[@smaakjeks]

Such a great summary video!

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

Thank you, E!

[@NamNguyen-le5vd]

I always learn something new from watching your videos, even when I rewatch it. It would be nice to see your new version of tutorials: sport, landscape, night and portrait.

[@brucegraner5901]

Always sound advice and information from the two of you. A must-have subscription. 👽👍👍👍

[@howardduran4148]

I wish I would’ve seen this years ago!! Basically stopped using my 7DMK2 and now using the M50, until R5!! Thank you

[@kevindahlen]

I still love my 7Dii for it's speed. I like my 5Div sensor more but the 7Dii is faster overall. I consider myself lucky to have both available to choose from.

[@messylaura]

M50 with the sigma 100-400mm is a fantastic wildlife set up for me, always use the large jpeg , the canon setting for jpeg works well, less post editing more fun shooting.

[@danielson_9211]

Getting the R6, keeping the 7DMK2 for the range, more pixels on subject, unless the R5 has a crop mode like Nikons do.

[@howardduran4148]

Daniel Garcia doesn’t the R and RP have a crop mode? If so, I don’t see why the R5/6 wouldn’t. I’m counting on it.. HaHaHa

[@duschbrauser]

Tony is such a nerd 😅. Love them both. Great content...

[@vainoleppanen8971]

10:40 I had to learn the aperture lesson about long lenses and small birds the hard way. Could've skipped it if this video was around back then. Fortunately I had seen another old video. It discussed the idea of using the shutter speed that definitely works, and then progressively dropping to half. That has been very effective. Then again hopefully I don't have to think about this anymore. I only shot birds because COVID-19 restrictions meant that there was nothing else.

[@richerich8007]

The two things I got from this video is that the Nikon D850 has the loudest shutter I've ever heard and that is the biggest lens hood I've ever seen!

[@Topgunphoto]

So glad to hear you shoot SP/TV priority Chelsea, I shoot planes (Jets & props) and when people shoot AP and stop props but have a tack sharp image it drives me nuts as it's not showing movement because they props show no spinning.

[@TheNaturePhotoGuys]

Great video and awesome tips for shooting wildlife photography. Love that while you are recording the video, you are still focused on capturing wildlife! :)

[@chandrashekhara5555]

Outstanding tips great value of your experience and real habitat situations have a wonderful day of imaging

[@Richardisonline]

Awesome tips for great photography... thanks for sharing

[@jimmyqballs]

The focus limiter on your lens is really handy too, especially if you're shooting birds that are far away. That way if you're say from 7 meters to infinity, if you lose focus and it's hunting it'll take way less time to re-acquire focus for a distant subject. On the A7R IV, i agree i don't use hi+ for input lag reasons too, but on the A9 you can go full 20 FPS and it doesn't care and will hit just about every time because it's just that amazing. Also remember silent shutter for A7R IV doesn't have as fast of a sensor read out so it's more prone to rolling shutter than the mechanical shutter...

[@johnmurphy5421]

Outstanding as usual. 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

[@justinoertel345]

Thanks for the D7200 shoutout, Tony! The buffer may be small but the camera body is a workhorse... I love it! 💕 📸

[@Kevin-sg5xc]

Yes it is a fantastic budget wildlife setup. Gotta love that crop factor, can never get close enough!

[@jamieball]

Haha that lens makes Chelsea look so small! And the lens distortion made it look like she's holding a bazooka when it was in the corner of the video.

[@TomReichner]

I am so glad you guys made this video. It's great to see you post something that is just about wildlife. I like that you're interested in the kind of photography that I am interested in. You guys rock!

[@diegof.j.1228]

I'm sure Moose Peterson would dislike this video no matter what...

[@james09610]

I thought this same thing within 10 seconds of watching this!

[@quangpham4372]

Who is he/she?

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Quang Pham he's a wildlife photographer they had as a guest once a few years ago. He only shoots JPEG and he came off as very arrogant and condescending. Worst guest ever.

[@gewglesux]

"Moose here"!!

[@gewglesux]

@@JohnDrummondPhoto I'm going to watch that if i can find it.. i need a laugh right now.

[@cchoate10]

Always like when you guys update a previously covered topic. There is always something new to learn. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@kian8382]

Well said, in addition, if your lens comes with a focus limiter, use it, that way you don't have to worry about keeping your focus distance in the ballpark.

[@PaulKretz]

I love this topic and Tony's nerdy stuff!

[@4k4u99]

Great video , Learned Lot of Things

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Your videos are always great

[@cooloox]

One exposure trick that's never mentioned anymore, but was common knowledge in the film days, is to meter off a neutral object falling in the same light as the subject. So for birds in flight, meter off a patch of grass falling in the same light as the birds (even those in flight). If the bird is in direct sunlight, meter off grass in direct sunlight. If the bird is in the shade of a hill/trees, meter off the grass in similar shade. Never fails and I nail exposure EVERY time. No exposure compensation, no guessing. Manual mode, meter off the grass so the exposure dial is on zero (correct exposure) at the appropriate shutter speed you need. The only disadvantages of this technique are: (1) when the sun keeps going in and out of the clouds you have to keep taking a new reading off the grass, and and (2) if the birds are flying from direct light into shade (or vice-versa) then it won't work as you'll only be able to expose for one lighting scenario at a time. I usually meter for the direct light and make a quick manual adjustment as the bird reaches the shade.

[@capturethephotons2078]

I always like these videos but when they put up the lenses to take the 📷 photo, that's when I smashed the like button! 📷🐝🐲🐘🐦

[@singlereed]

One practical tip - a perched bird singing will vibrate and needs a faster shutter speed, otherwise there’s possibly motion blur on its body.

[@winsaratravelpixwinsaratra7984]

Very nice presentation.thank you 💕👍🙏

[@KGsPhotography]

Some great tips guys but at the end of the day it is all about what works for you. My personal preference with my wildlife photography is to set the camera on manual but with auto ISO. That way I can control the aperture and speed and the ISO will correct for the light levels. Most of the time my aperture remains constant so I just have to adjust the shutter speed depending on the action. I am also able to use exposure compensation whilst in those settings. Thanks for sharing guys. Cheers Keith

[@kevinarmentroutphotography7571]

4:55 - Love that checklist!

[@RogerZoul]

Wait a minute here. You say to use a single AF point in the center. I wasn’t going to argue that point as I assumed you were addressing the fact that most people have lower-end cameras and may not have better options (all of the XD Canon bodies do have better options than a single point in the center). But then you talk about using two back buttons. That is not a feature found on low-end cameras. It is an excellent idea but if one can use two back buttons than one can also use 4-pt and 8-pt expansions (Canon talk) and get much better tracking for moving birds than a single point. So, y’all just didn’t think this through fully. And, by the way, I am a Stunner and I learned everything I know from you guys. But y’all need to come down here to S.C. and let me give you a refresher course on wildlife! Ya been in the studio too much, guys! Spend some real quality time in nature to get your mojos back!

[@canjo7301]

The very best You Tube channel for wildlife photography and education on the subject is Steve Perry's Backcountry Gallery. He is a master wildlife photographer, not a jack of all trades. I only wish that I knew half of what he knows. He has been a Nikon DSLR shooter but now does some mirrorless work. If you want real life reviews on cameras, lenses, tripods and mounts you will get it from him...

[@benoloughlin1557]

Thanks again, Tony and Chelsea!

[@davidlewis5929]

Since I do nearly all wildlife these are things I will add. I use the memory modes. Mode one is set for action which has a shutter speed 1/2500(priority), a larger AF area with continuous, multi-area balancing, high frame rate and mechanical shutter with an auto ISO range limiter with a higher base level (400). Mode two is set for more still/perched which has a 1/500 shutter (still priority), small point AF area with continuous, center point balancing (largest size of this option), slow frame rate with electronic shutter and auto ISO with a lower base level (200). Why not use a base ISO of 100? Well I use Topaz denoise which is amazing.

[@SusanSlattery]

Great video, thank you.

[@davidosborne11]

Very helpful.....many thanks

[@gabbyytname]

THANK you for this.

[@RogerZoul]

By the way, using two back buttons like Tony mentioned is a form of pre-focusing. Use the single (or 4-pt, 8-pt expansion) to get the focal plane set on a flying bird, then hit the other button to turn on all the AF points to let the camera grab and hold the bird. This doesn’t work well on most canon bodies but it does work great on the 1DX3! The problem is that only a relative few bodies are advanced enough to let you program two back buttons, sadly.

[@mikeramos8651]

Nice Tips on wild life

[@nightcoder5k]

I sometimes use a flash to get rid of the harsh shadow. Flash is great for low light or midday. I shoot with the Tamron 150-600mm g1 on the Canon 77D, and sometimes I have to zoom out, find the bird, focus, then zoom back in, and refocus.

[@messylaura]

Most of the people this vid is aimed at are beginners in wildlife as those been doing it a while know whats what, the buffer subject is spot on for those with entry level cameras with small buffers, i have the Canon M50 as my first camera and it is great for wildlife, i use the sigma 100-400 with and without the x2 and i always use the largest size jpeg in high burst, in that mode you can just take one or two shots or a string of shots,. i also find that with the canon jpeg settings its been perfectly fine everytime i tried raw and it took the fun out of photography for me as a hobbyist shooter. if i edit a pic its because i want to not because i have too like in raw, more time shooting less time in post works for me.

[@yugankkulshrestha3776]

That's very informative. Thank you ❤️

[@thomasscott]

Yea, they sure do bring a lot of value to us photographers. Hope to be like them one day haha. All the best!

[@billymays972]

You guys should do a shoot-off and each take photos of the same thing, have us vote which one we like the best and then reveal who's photo was who's. Just a fun idea long time fan!

[@rudyrodriguezjr.]

LOL, That's me and my wife at 3:42. Taking the same shot then we would look at each other like "Hey now"

[@SteebMo]

Any time I've missed a wildlife/bird shot it was because I was fighting with AF, not buffer (7D Mk2).

[@danielson_9211]

Have the same camera, never had a buffer problem, af is good just have to get used to it and adjust the case.

[@steveandrade5902]

Great info once again, thank you!!

[@PKWildwonders]

Awesome video. Thanks for all the details.

[@johnvalk]

Thank’s for the tips

[@bird271828]

Very nice video. Thank you Chelsea and Tony👏👏👏

[@colinpovey2904]

Thanks. Well done.

[@ForrestWest]

Great informative video as always guys! There's just something really sexy about how Chelsea says the word button without pronouncing the hard T LOL best of luck to you guys!

[@martyd5819]

I sometimes think when an Osprey gives me 'the look' their sizing me up for dinner. Then it realizes it can't pick up 250#.

[@kevinbuja4373]

Marty D not retaliated to photography, BUT, OH MY GOSH, someone that knows the other use for the number sign (#)!!!

[@quazisanjeed6395]

RAW or jpeg is not a dilemma with seasoned enthusiast nature & wildlife photographers. We are about 10 such photographers that use various gears and always shoot in RAW exclusively. We belong to various professions and post-process the files as per our convenience later. Quite often we set out on such missions in groups. BTW, two of us use MILCs, with one exclusively while the other uses both.

[@raleighmeade9104]

You two just 'fit'!! Thanks for the video!

[@nonrevhogan8938]

Great tips. Look forward to reading the books!!

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Wonderful summary. Thank you.

[@hymanlevy2265]

Very helpful video on settings for wild life. Thanks

[@anuragsrivastava3160]

We love you !!

[@urmumsgstring8254]

i have a pet turtle and this video will really help me thank you guys ... hugs.

[@waterman308]

Thank you so much!!!

[@shawnvine4918]

Nice set of tips, thank you.

[@st.michaelthearchangel7774]

I don't even need to watch your guys' videos, and I give a thumbs-up anyways! Wait, is that the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR Lens, a $16,296.95 lens? Lolz. xD

[@verokevi]

I use A7RIV spot metering small, and it has been incredibly good for finding bird eyes in crazy difficult situations, but I do have some exposure issues occasionally and would like to try "evaluative" metering, just to see if it avoids what you point out, the crazy under-over exposures. What I cannot figure out is where that setting is (what it's called) in the A7RIV menu.

[@WSCOMPUTER]

Great to watch both of you. Perfect video.

[@anthonyhershko]

Amazing video as usual!!, Can you talk about Aviation photography? Thanks!

[@swarnabhagoswami5559]

Could you please discuss the various AF area modes. Especially 3D tracking vs Dynamic area AF.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Check the tutorial for that specific camera at sdp.io/tutorial

[@youknowwho9247]

I recommend looking for the channels by "Steve Perry" and "Mark Smith", they both have great explanations of the Nikon af system.

[@thedondeluxe6941]

That bush sounds a lot like Tony Northrup.

[@oosteveo315]

I bought your book!

[@pedromeza2398]

Thank you this is very important to learn, because I have had the issue with my camera slowing down, and I blamed the battery so I stopped to check the battery; doing so gave the camera time to process.

[@DreamyBongos]

I wouldn't be surprised if Tony owned a Gillie suit.

[@TonyAndChelsea]

I don't but I kinda want one. CT people would definitely freak out and call the police... IF they spotted me :D.

[@nigelsearle8025]

@@TonyAndChelsea What I find amazing is how easy it is to conceal yourself from people (but sadly not many animals) - a muted colour beanie hat, camo long-sleeve shirt, and lower body moderately hidden behind a bush in a hedgerow and I've had 90% of people walk past completely unaware of my presence - which saves having to explain what I'm up to..! The rest of the animal kingdom lives to a completely different set of contact rules to human-kind, confirming our 'top predator' rating.. And I've got a gillie suit (it was passed on to me, honest!) but don't wear it out of embarrassment of being spotted (by humans!) in it.

[@krislee3861]

Thanks so much

[@WolferAlpha]

10:22 I only have my smartphone to take pictures and a teleconverter lens that you can imagine (the picture is not so sharp, but for a smartphone it's more than fine) and I went to photograph a Great Kiskadee and he looked at me, took a picture it doesn't make any noise in my case, but imagine: you're having a good time and someone stops by your side with a contraption in their hands

[@CamillaI]

Great video for beginners and advance photographers alike the Sony system looks lighter than the Nikon? Great to see more folks getting into wildlife. So these videos are super useful. Keep up the good work LOL

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Nah they're about the same size and weight. I have a 500mm Canon lens on my Sony. It makes no sense.

[@RogerZoul]

Is it distortion that makes Chelsea’s lens hood look so long or is that real!? Man, when she holds it up toward the sky, it seems huge!

[@ricarmarques]

Think about the nocturnal wildlife. Tips for photographing at night would be great

[@sctm81]

I'd just set the mode to manual (M), set max ISO to the ISO invariant point (400 for the D850), shoot RAW, set the desired aperture for appropriate depth of field and then expose to the right as much as possible.

[@michaelhunter7780]

OMG Chelsey you are back to Nikon D850, So good to see.

[@obitum]

do you what lens she is using? is that a 800mm?

[@chelseanorthrup8787]

I always kept it for wildlife. I love it.

[@Bushcraft242]

Thank you

[@ForrestWest]

Thanks so much guys for the tip to boost my shutter speed even higher. I've been moving between 1/500 or so for perched Birds and around 1/1000 and 1/2000 at the highest for flying birds trying to keep my ISO as low as possible. Now I see in sunny situations and anytime except in the lowest light it's better to bump that shutter speed on up to get rid of those tiny Bird movements and motion blur. I watched your video yesterday and today saw an Osprey with a fish in bright sun in a dead treetop beside the lake and with a faster shutter speed every shot with the d500 and sigma 150-600mm was so sharp and in focus! I could just pick amongst all of the usable shots which ones I wanted. Some butterfly and bees moving among flowers images came out great also. Thanks so much for all of the help that you give to so many photographers, take care and be safe!

[@Paul-iq6pw]

C: shoot RAW plus JPG T: better shoot JPG only with a small buffer C: just shoot RAW plus JPG and learn to control yourself T: ... 😂

[@kian8382]

Jared Polin comes in: "listen to your wife Tony."

[@nottambula79]

very useful, good job!

[@smilsmff]

also depends on Lens and Camera, do not think to use f/6.3 lens and or a aspc camera to capture the best pictures. expand and see for yourself at 1:1