mike_clinard1 Posted May 27, 2001 Posted May 27, 2001 I have been photgraphing feeding hummingbirds for some time now with my Canon A1 with fair success. However, I recently started using my Elan IIe and have noticed that when the pre-focus infared beam is fired, the hummingbirds are alarmed, sometimes to the point that they fly off. My A1 doesn't alarm them at all. Anyone have any thoughts?
will_perlis Posted May 27, 2001 Posted May 27, 2001 It wouldn't surprise me to find out hummingbirds see enough infra-red to be scared off before you can shoot. They have fast reactions. I'm quite convinced they react to my Canon's ETTL pre-flashes and can leave the frame before the shutter opens. I get a much higher percentage of hits using all manual settings.
frank_kolwicz Posted May 27, 2001 Posted May 27, 2001 A teacher I worked with years ago used crossed infra-red beams to trigger flash for hummingbirds and some birds quite deliberately avoided the beams.
mr Posted May 28, 2001 Posted May 28, 2001 Ditto. I scared the crap out of a mother robin with the IR focus light on my A2--she hadn't minded m presence, the sound of the USM, etc., and then that damn light went on. She "remembered" me and scolded me every time I came near that tree for the next week!
pixseal Posted June 1, 2001 Posted June 1, 2001 Some species of hummingbirds see red as a challenge from a male protecting his range. Can you disable the AF-assist lamp?
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