Kingfisher in Flight

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MalcolmP

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Best attempt to date on capturing a darting Kingfisher in flight. Any suggestions appreciated.
D850 Nikkor 80 -400 f/4.5-5.6 1.2x 1/640 f/8 {max available with teleconverter} ISO 2200, Manual, Pattern Metering
PS Noise Reduction
210808 Poudre King Fisher DSC_0185 copy.jpg
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Best attempt to date on capturing a darting Kingfisher in flight. Any suggestions appreciated.
D850 Nikkor 80 -400 f/4.5-5.6 1.2x 1/640 f/8 {max available with teleconverter} ISO 2200, Manual, Pattern Metering
PS Noise Reduction
View attachment 23266
I think the image is very good as an attempt, but the shutter speed is simply too slow to capture such a fast-moving bird. I would suggest bumping the ISO a tad more. somewhere around 3200 or more, if D850 can handle that well. That should increase the shutter speed a bit, though I still admire that you have managed to capture the moment. Is the image cropped in the post?
 
Any suggestions appreciated.
As posted above a lot faster shutter speed would have helped a lot. FWIW, I start for birds at 1/1250" but for something small and fast like a Kingfisher or Swallows I'll typically shoot between 1/2500" and 1/4000" and run Manual Mode/ Auto ISO. Your D850 can produce great files at much higher ISO than you used so I'd float ISO for a shot like that and dial in a much faster shutter speed. The f/8 wide open aperture doesn't help, but you've got to work with what you have for lenses.
 
Next time open up aperture as wide as you can, bump shutter speed to minimum 1/2500 sec, preferably even 1/3200 sec, and fire away. ISO will go high but a grainy sharp image is better than a blurred one. If light is strong enough so that ISO can be held to a reasonable amount you can close down the aperture a bit. I've gone up to ISO 11400 with my Z6II and got a remarkably noise-free image. The D850 should be able to handle ISO up to 6000 or more.
 
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Great information. Thank you all. I've been hesitant to exceed about ISO 3000 so I'll give higher a shot. In strong light I'll crank up the speed as well.
 
Great composition and capture, but I shoot flying birds at 1/2500 to 1/4000 to gat them in focus. If noise becomes a problem at that point, I use Topaz DeNoiseAI in post processing which works very well. Keep shooting!
 
Great attempt Malcom! And, good suggestions from the group. I know exactly how you feel. Those Kingfishers fly at about 700 miles an hour….hahahahaha. I was in a moving boat when I saw this one darting across the water. By the time I picked up my camera, pointed, focused, and fired, I was only able to get about five images, this one being the sharpest. Don’t give up…keep shooting!
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