Sony a9 iii Bird-Face/Eye Detection Autofocus
With bird’s flying from one side of the frame to the other in either direction, most of today’s high-end mirrorless bodies will occasionally (and understandably) grab the bird’s near wing. As you see in the short video, the a9 iii handles those situations “better than most.”
Better Than Most!
If you are in a hurry and wish to skip the lead-up and the drama, start watching from the 2:10 mark. Better than most for sure. Young Tiger’s confident smile as he was approaching his peak is one for the ages.
From the Jacksonville.com/Florida Times-Union article by Garry Smits of the Florida Times-Union here.
Be sure to watch the video and hear Gary Koch’s call!
“Better than most,” is the phrase NBC 17th-hole tower announcer Gary Koch uttered three times — twice when Woods’ 60-foot, triple-breaking, downhill putt at the par-3 17th hole was on its way and one more after it caught the right edge of the hole and dropped in, to the amazement, delight and unabashed joy of the thousands of fans ringing the Island Green.
The next day, Tiger Woods won his first Player’s Championship.
What’s Up?
I headed down to the lake on Thursday morning. It was clear and sunny and the wind was howling at 30+ MPH from the NW. I did not make a single image. On Friday morning, it was clear and sunny with a gentle breeze that swung around from the NE to the SW. As always, I learned a lot. And I created 2883 images. As is usually the case, understanding wind directions and sky conditions is the key to becoming a great bird photographer. Join me on an IPT toward that end.
Today is Friday 5 April, 2024. Whatever you are doing, I hope that you also have a great day. Be sure to watch the Sony a9 iii Bird-Face/Eye Detection Autofocus video that opens this post.
Don’t look now but this blog post makes six days in a row with a new educational post just for you.
If you plan on purchasing a Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera (or anything else for that matter), please remember to use or write for either my Bedfords discount code or my B&H affiliate link. Folks who use one of my two affiliate links to purchase the a9 III will receive my .DAT settings (the complete camera set-up) along with a Buttons and Dials Guide.
Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
If an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
B&H
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but greatly appreciated. And, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. B&H will reopen on Fri April 14. Thanking me for the past 4000 educational blog posts could not be any easier and will not cost you one penny. Please shoot me your B&H receipt for major purchases.
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. When I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Either is greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, prior purchases.
Visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often stave you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
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For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93. Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print. |
The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide
Impressed by my Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images from the last three posts? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.
If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.
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This image was also created on 3 April 2024 down by the lake near my home in Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be 1/3 stop short of perfect. With the sun going in and out I wanted to make sure to avoid toasting the TV’s white bill tip. AWB at 8:06:11am on a variably sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Fly-by Turkey Vulture |
Piece of Cake
I love walking around with the handheld 300mm f/2.8/1.4X/a9 iii rig down by the lakeshore. With the wind on Wednesday from the east/southeast, I approached the vultures by walking from south to north knowing that they would take off towards me. And this morning, I played around with the 2X while photographing Cattle Egrets foraging and in flight. Photos soon.
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This image was also created on 3 April 2024 down by the lake near my home in Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing at full height, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter and the ridiculously amazing Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/3200 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. When evaluated in RawDigger, the raw file brightness was determined to be 1/3 stop short of perfect. With the sun going in and out I wanted to make sure to avoid toasting the TV’s white bill tip. AWB at 8:06:11am on a variably sunny morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. A7INFO screen capture for the Fly-by Turkey Vulture image |
Thanks Wolfram!
When I first got my Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera, I opened a folder of images in A7INFO and noted that the program had not been updated for the a9 iii. I wrote Wolfram Söns and asked him if it would be updated. He replied that he was very busy. So I took the bull by the horns and sent him a few a9 iii raw files. He wrote back in ten minutes and told me that the deed was done. How’s that for service? A7INFO is the only program I know of that shows you the AF points for all or most Sony mirrorless cameras bodies.
While you can download A7INFO for free, do consider leaving a $10.00 donation to support Wolfram’s efforts.
The Image Optimization
The a7INFO screen capture immediately above shows the AF point squarely on the vulture’s eye. And it shows the original framing of the raw file. Note that I moved the bird back in the frame by adding canvas and re-crafted the marsh grasses. All of the techniques that I used are covered in detail in the Digital Basics III Video Series.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
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