Mammals Coyote in Winter - Edmonton, AB

[brphotographycanada]

My dad and I were hoping to find a snowy owl but instead we came across a coyote just outside Edmonton. I'm quite pleased with this shot.

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 125

However, I had a bit of trouble getting the camera to properly focus on the coyote and not the snowbank in the background. I would be open to any suggestions on how to improve my "hit rate". From this current set, there's only 5 out of about 50 that are decent. I had the camera set on HI+ drive, AF-C, Focus Area: Tracking: Expand Shot, Recognition Target: Birds, Electronic Shutter/Silent Mode. Do the "Birds" vs "Bird/Animals" vs "Animals" tracking modes make that much difference? Part of the reason I'm asking for feedback is the green focus square(s) were on the animal almost the whole time.

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
• 200.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 160

 

[Unframed Dave]

Personally, I don't rely on tracking for wildlife, but then I'm a bit of a luddite. I would not have expected your coyote to present too much of a challenge, it's big and presents plenty of contrast.

I use centre spot small for animals on the ground such as this and use the joystick to move the spot round as required. I do use eye recognition.

For birds in the air, I switch to expanding group and keep it in the middle of the sensor.

 

[Unframed Dave]

This was a rare occasion when I did use tracking. These birds were very distant and I suspected they were Pallid Swifts. I just wanted a shot to confirm. It was beyond my abilities to hold onto them using centre spot or expanding. I range found the reeds they were flying over at 150 metres, a bit of guess trig puts them at 160 mtres plus from the camera. Absolutely phenomenal how the camera held onto them. These files started at 19GB ish and have been cropped to less than 100KB to give an idea of how far away they were. I have also included the full frame shot of the first.

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/6400 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/8000 sec
• ISO 400

 

[AllardR]

@brphotographycanada Can't help you with your question. But photo 1 is sure a good hit. For more than sharpness only. Worth a series of failures...

 

[iamdlewis]

I had the camera set on HI+ drive, AF-C, Focus Area: Tracking: Expand Shot, Recognition Target: Birds, Electronic Shutter/Silent Mode. Do the "Birds" vs "Bird/Animals" vs "Animals" tracking modes make that much difference? Part of the reason I'm asking for feedback is the green focus square(s) were on the animal almost the whole time.

I don't have a camera with that AF system yet but on the A1 there is a noticeable between the Bird and Animal settings when targeting the other type. Also I don't think the Expand Shot is as good as the other AF modes. Finally you may want to do testing with the sensitivity to see what level work with your shooting style.