There’s been a lot of interest in my birds in flight settings 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 a defensemen 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
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
- Metering mode= Matrix or Evaluative
- Bust Rate= High
- ISO Limit set = 1600
- 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 activation)
- 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=Focus
- Peaking=On
- 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=Low
- 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)
- Shoot without lens=On (this is so I can use my Nikkor 600mm F/4 with an adapter)
Setup Tab
- Live View Mode=30Fps
- Battery Use Priority=Battery Grip
- Menu Resume=On