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Wickmiester
Having a little trouble shooting pics of hummingbirds. I'm using a Fugi S5200 and shooting in automatic mode. The closest I can get is about 10'. Any suggestions?
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeFUJIFILMCamera ModelFinePix S5200Camera SoftwareDigital Camera FinePix S5200 Ver1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/3.2Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaMaker Note Version0130Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:05:20 16:05:48Exposure Time1/300 secF-Numberf/3.2Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating400Lens Aperturef/3.2Brightness4.8 EVExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length63.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2592Image Height1944RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknownSharpnessNormalWhite BalanceAutoChroma SaturationNormalFlash ModeOffMacro ModeOffFocus ModeAutoSlow Synchro ModeOffPicture ModeAutoContinuous/Bracketing ModeOffBlur StatusOKFocus StatusOKAuto Exposure StatusOK
>> Anonymous
photograph hobos instead. they move nice and slow and rarely try for escape. wait, hobos... hoboes... how do you pluralize hobo?

my suggestion is to take it off of automatic mode and use shutter speed priority to take nice fast blur-reducing shots. then if your problem is that the little peckers tend to take off on you, use continuous shooting mode and blast away at the shutter as you approach, keeping your eye on your framing and composition as you do so. when the little shit finally decides it's time to avoid the strange, one-eyed monster approaching him, you'll have obtained the closest possible shot that you could, and might even be able to get some nice take-off shots with a little panning action.

of course i'm assuming your camera can do that stuff because mine can.
>> Wickmiester
Thanks for the info. Not sure how my continuous shooting works (I think it's 1.5 frames a sec.)Framing is a pain. I can only shoot from one position and shooting through the window is even worse.
>> Anonymous
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Leave a chair and a brightly colored towel near the feeder for a few days - they get used to having something disturbing there and will therefore be fine with you sitting in the chair when you want to take pictures.

Depending on the style you want, go for a fast shutter speed for crisp, defined wings or a lower one for a blurred look.

Here's a shot from my really really old camera. It's not that great of a shot itself (mostly the choice of background), I took it when I was getting into photography. I was literally right beside the feeder, and this shows how quickly they get used to a presence.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeOLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTDCamera ModelC700UZCamera Softwarev357-78Maximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Image-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:05:21 12:11:10Exposure Time1/200 secF-Numberf/3.5Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlashFocal Length58.00 mm
>> Anonymous
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>>49237
and then this one (better background this time)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeOLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTDCamera ModelC700UZCamera Softwarev357-78Maximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Image-Specific Properties:Horizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:05:21 12:12:55Exposure Time1/200 secF-Numberf/3.5Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating114Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0.3 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashFlashFocal Length58.00 mm
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
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Hang out around flowers and be patient. Have a lens ready. Also, the brighter colored flowers, the better, and a long telephoto lens. They're gonna zip in real fast, then zip out again within a matter of seconds. I've never been able to capture a hummingbird at a feeder, though. I'll also agree with>>49220might want to manually focus, too,

Camera-Specific Properties:Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop 7.0Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution200 dpiVertical Resolution200 dpiImage Created2007:04:23 19:52:13Color Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width1146Image Height1213