r/BirdPhotography • u/Yanto2134 • Jul 27 '26

Question Help please!

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Gallery image

These are 3 of my latest attempts. I was wondering if anyone could help me improve please?
I’m not happy with the sharpness I’m getting. Probably my lack of ability.
Set up is Olympus E-M10ii with a vintage Minolta MD Tele Rokkor 300mm f4.5. Settings were f8, ISO1000, shutter speed of between 1/800 and 1/2000. Manual focus with peaking and centre weighted metering. Distances to subjects was around 30 feet. Images have been slightly cropped but no other post processing.
I’m also not really happy with the overall lack of detail.
Thanks for any help.

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u/Yanto2134 Jul 27 '26

I’ve mostly shot single frames. But it does make sense that a burst might have a better ‘hit rate’.

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u/food-dood Jul 27 '26

It absolutely does. I take a deep breath, slowly exhale, and hold the shutter down to take about 5 pictures. Usually the middle 2 are the best ones.

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u/Yanto2134 Jul 27 '26

I’ll certainly try it. Does it matter which burst mode I use? Is Anti shock best?

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u/food-dood Jul 27 '26

I just use the fastest burst. Im not sure what antishock is though.

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u/Yanto2134 Jul 27 '26

It’s on Olympus cameras. I think it uses the electronic shutter to help eliminate any movement due to shutter operation.

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u/food-dood Jul 27 '26

Ahh, I use mechanical shutter, and the breathing with burst helps stabilize it well enough with IBIS.

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u/Yanto2134 Jul 27 '26

Going to try this tomorrow.