The Canon R5’s animal/eye detection isn’t infallible but sometimes it surprises me with an incredibly quick recovery.
1/6400, f/5.6, iso 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Because the meadowlark is so soft, I’m almost embarrassed to have this first photo see the light of day. But including it helps to make my point.
Several weeks ago on Antelope Island I had this singing Western Meadowlark in my viewfinder for a long time. “He” was in good light and he was relatively close but I simply could not get any sharp photos of him. Many of them were significantly softer than this one.
Even though my active focus point was centered on his eye, I could tell through my viewfinder that I wasn’t getting sharp focus on him. I believe the sagebrush stem to the right of his head was confusing my focus point, which caused everything in my photos to be soft.
In frustration, I was about to leave him to look for other birds when he took off.
1/6400, f/5.6, iso 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Just that fast I got a hard lock on the bird, which resulted in a sharp takeoff shot. The problematic sagebrush stem is in an even worse place for confusing Canon’s focusing algorithm but somehow the R5 (not the photographer) triumphed in the end.
1/6400, f/5.6, iso 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The next shot in the burst was almost as sharp.
In my photography I like to know the reason why things don’t work, which gives me a better chance of finding a workaround for the next time. But sometimes I can’t figure it out, so I just have to be grateful for a good result and hope the unexpected recovery continues to happen in the same situation.
You know, serendipity.
Ron
Serendipity is one of my favourite words (and things to happen). I am so glad that your take off was when the problem mysteriously rectified itself – and glad to be back delighting in your photos.
“I am so glad that your take off was when the problem mysteriously rectified itself.”
So am I, EC. Far too often the timing isn’t nearly that good.
Praise be to the Gods of Photography
🙂
What started out looking soft ended up sharp and that is all that counts. Guess the R5 can pinpoint the subject regardless of the presence of the sagebrush – nice shots.
Thanka, Everett. Sometimes it can. Other times, not so much.
If you ever figure it out do share! When it happens to me I just keep hitting one of the three back buttons and pumping the one I have set for eye detection. Sometimes it grabs others times the auto focus does not, low light is often the culprit but not always. What I find irritating is when the focus square is blue, denoting sharp focus rather than red square it is not sharp, and I can darn well see though the square is blue it is not sharp. I am finding some mammals the eye detection does not work on at all. The lower the contrast say like on a bison, horse or similarly one colored animal there is not enough contrast to trigger the eye detection sensors.
What you describe is pretty much my experience, April. Overall, I think the animal/eye detection.is a big plus but I sure get angry at it when it doesn’t work well.
Maybe your camera was so mesmerized by the Siren’s song, no way it could work. Then the little beauty stopped singing, the spell was broken, and it was “I’m Back!” for your camera.
In the first photo, that sagebrush stem looks just like a microphone, with Meadowlark singing right into it – you were filming a rock star and didn’t know it😄
“that sagebrush stem looks just like a microphone… you were filming a rock star”
You’re right, it does, Carolyn. Thanks for helping me see that photo differently, even though it is a bit of a stretch of the imagination… 🙂
Frustrating to say the least! 🙁 Beautiful shots that did cooperate! 🙂
Thank you, Judy.
Not the first time your R5 seemed to have a mind of its own. Sleeping on the Job? What is the camera version of a cup of coffee?
Sometimes in life we just have to content ourselves with the mystery, and happy endings when they come along.
Really like that last one.
“What is the camera version of a cup of coffee?
Maybe it’s the blue streak of invectives I directed at it when it wasn’t focusing. That seemed to wake it up.
Thanks, Michael.
Serendipity indeed – two great shots. Just keep shooting!
Thanks, Burrdoo. I intend to.