How to capture birds in flight?

[SunderlandPhotography]

What is the best way of taking good photos of birds in flight?

I have a Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III lens. I always make sure the camera is set on the central focal point and is on 'Spot' itself.

[GeoffWessex]

The Tutorials on this website are now a mystery to me - there were dozens of them when it was PhotoRadar. However, keep your eyes open on the Home page - there are links to new tutorials, reviews, news and other stuff all the time - and this one about photographing birds in flight was on there a few days ago (and is still there if you scroll down).

I haven't read it, but I guess it would recommend:
a fast lens
get as close as you can
practice panning
tripod or monopod if possible.

[SunderlandPhotography]

Thanks for the link.

I'm not planning on buying a new lens.

[2Beers]

You could always try this link

http://digitalbirdphotography.com/windows/contents.html

[GeoffWessex]

Originally Posted by SunderlandPhotography

Thanks for the link.

I'm not planning on buying a new lens.

Fair enough..... but that's what you need for birds in flight (generally) - a fast, long lens - which can be very expensive. Failing that, at least a fast (like f/2.8) lens with at least some range (100mm at least). Zoom lenses tend to be quite slow, relatively. Depends what other lenses you have, though..... so what have you got?

[SunderlandPhotography]

I cannot afford to buy another lens. I chose between the wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens. But of course, I chose the wide-angle.

I only have the other kit lens, the 18-55mm.

This is my best photo using the 75-300mm lens.

[GeoffWessex]

Well that's a good job. So you actually have a 18-55mm plus a 70-300mm? The link that 2Beers gave has all the answers you need (though a lot of it is a bit 'techy').

[Markulous]

There's 'best for BIF' in which case Geoff's advised list is good and there's 'possible for BIF' in which case you can get away with pretty much anything - I initially used an M42 400mm telephoto, so requiring manual everything - which massively helped my DIFs (Dragonflies in Flight) but I've used 70-300 slow lenses as well as 100mm. Whatever you use, three things are pretty much vital: practice, practice and practice!

[SunderlandPhotography]

Originally Posted by Markulous

There's 'best for BIF' in which case Geoff's advised list is good and there's 'possible for BIF' in which case you can get away with pretty much anything - I initially used an M42 400mm telephoto, so requiring manual everything - which massively helped my DIFs (Dragonflies in Flight) but I've used 70-300 slow lenses as well as 100mm. Whatever you use, three things are pretty much vital: practice, practice and practice!

What does 'BIF' stand for?

[GeoffWessex]

BIF = 'Birds in Flight'?