Birds in Flight Settings for Lumix Cameras
Editorial Note: As of 1/31/2018 I’ve changed a few of the settings, for Birds In Flight Settings for Lumix Cameras, listed below to reflect the newer cameras I’m shooting including the Lumix GH5 and G9. Any text shown in GREEN reflects the new changes I’ve made when shooting the newer cameras.
There’s been a lot of interest in my birds in flight settings for Lumix cameras that were used for my recent photos from Japan. To answer those questions in a useful manner that many others can also access, I’m posting them here. Keep in mind these settings are nothing different than how I use my GH4, GX8, and G7 virtually 100% of the time, whether shooting birds
White-tailed eagle in flight, Hokkaido, Japan. Lumix GX8 with Leica 100-400mm zoom, ISO 640
in flight or not. But there are a couple of key settings that help any kind of fast-moving action whether speedy birds or a child on the soccer field. In other words, these birds in flight settings will also work for junior scoring a goal on
Steller’s sea eagle in flight, Hokkaido, Japan. Lumix GX8 with Leica 100-400mm zoom, ISO 500
the soccer field, dunking a basketball, beating defense-men on the blue line, or racing down the sidelines to the end zone in a Friday night football game. All items listed in RED are very important for action photography. If I haven’t changed anything from the way it came from the factory, it won’t be listed.
White-tailed eagle in flight, Hokkaido, Japan. Lumix GX8 with Leica 100-400mm zoom, ISO 500
Camera Settings
- AF switch set to AF-C
- Focus Mode set to Custom Multi with a medium size group selected
- Program Mode with shutter speed set to at least 1000th depending on lens I’m using. Remember the age old rule of Shutter speed equal to or greater than the lens you’re shooting to stop action. I use Program to be able to quickly dial in a slower shutter speed if I want to convey motion by PANNING
- ISO based on light and shutter speed
Custom Menu Settings
Record Tab
- Photo Style= Standard
- Aspect Ratio= 3:2 ( I use 3:2 to match the aspect ratio of my Nikon cameras so presentation images are consistent)
- Quality= RAW+Jpeg Fine (Jpeg is for a backup image as well as to easily load to my iphone if needed)
- AFS/AFF= AFS ( Don’t confuse this with the SWITCH for AF which should be set to AF-C)
- Metering mode= Matrix or Evaluative
- Bust Rate= High
- ISO Limit set = 2000
- ISO Increments= 1/3 EV
- Extended ISO= On
- Long Shutter Noise Reduction= On
- Color Space= sRGB
Motion Picture Tab
- Photo Style= Standard
- 4K Photo=On when Needed (Manual Exposure)
- Rec Format= MOV
- Rec Quality= Depends on every shoot
- AFS/AFF= AFS
- Continues AF= On (Sometimes Off if I’m using Manual focus which is almost never)
- Metering= Matrix or evaluative
- Sound Output= Recorded Sound
- Mic Level Display= On
- Mic Level Limiter= On
Custom Tab
- AF/AE Lock= AF On (This is the option for using rear button AF) I sometimes turn this off and just go with front shutter button AF for birds in flight
- Shutter AF= Off (This needs to be turned off if you have the above option set to rear button AF)
- Quick AF= Off
- Eye Sensor AF=Off
- Direct Focus Area=Off
- Focus Release Priority=Balanced which is a new option on the G9, GH5, GH5s. Prior cameras I use “Release”
- Peaking=off
- Histogram=On
- Zebra Pattern=Zebra2
- Constant Preview=Off
- Monitor Info Display=On
- Auto Review Duration Time=Off (Very, very important to turn this off for action photography)
- Fn Button Set-None other than what is default.
- Eye Sensor=high
- Touch Settings
- Touch Screen=On
- Touch Tab= On
- Touch AF=AF
- Touch Pad AF=OFFSET (This has to be set to move AF sensor around LCD with finger)
Setup Tab
-
- Live View Mode=30Fps
- Battery Use Priority=Battery Grip
- Menu Resume=On