Canon R8 - Autofocus Setup and Button Layout for Bird and Wildlife Photography

On this episode we walk through my autofocus setup for the Canon R8.
It's a detailed walkthrough of each setting, why I am using these settings, and the button layout to move through the settings with the quickest way to access them and keep you focused on taking the picture as opposed to fumbling through menus.
www.stewartsphoto.com
Use the chapters to move around to the subjects you are interested in.
-------------------------Video Chapters------------------------------------------
00:00 - Intro - Autofocus needs for my workflow
01:05 - Camera settings - Red Menu
03:27 - Autofocus settings - Purple Menu
06:23 - Config settings - Yellow Menu
07:27 - Orange Menu - Custom buttons
11:52 - Video Setup
14:10 - Conclusion
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vello BG-C18 Battery Grip amzn.to/40wJt9f
BM Premium Battery Grip Kit amzn.to/45z4jZc
Canon EOS R8 amzn.to/3MNERbt
TERRAMASTER D5 Thunderbolt 3 amzn.to/3ofee54
Ironwolf 8 TB HDD amzn.to/40mhBEH
SmallRig AP-10 Carbon Fiber Tripod amzn.to/3Z5Ci86
Benro GH5C Gimbal. amzn.to/3X0RxNM
Accsoon SeeMo amzn.to/3PCNVzi
easyCover Camera Case for Canon R5 / R6 amzn.to/3i0s3kJ
Canon EOS R10 amzn.to/3nlJ8IX
Canon EOS R5 amzn.to/3xbg48A
Canon EOS R7 amzn.to/3ARWbow
Rode VideoMic GO II amzn.to/3DcKKtJ
SmallRig Black Mamba Cage. amzn.to/3Vs3f4j
Atomos Ninja V amzn.to/3DdzJZl
IFOOTAGE Cobra 2 C180-II amzn.to/3B53E31
Peak Design Travel Tripod amzn.to/3RqYlC6
DJi Pocket 2 Creator Kit. amzn.to/3RCrnPe
WANDRD PRVKE 21L Photography Backpack amzn.to/3BcYVg0
Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM Lens amzn.to/3p9JMtC
Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens amzn.to/3VtBlFk
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM Lens amzn.to/3nrI2va
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens amzn.to/3Lto4rO
Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens amzn.to/3AROFdm
___________________________________________________________
Affiliate links mean I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This helps support my channel at no additional cost to you.
_____________________________________________________________
SOCIAL MEDIA & WEB
Instagram: / sdwest11
Facebook Page: / sdwest11
Website & Shop: westakphoto.com/
WHO I AM.
My name is Scott West and I am a nature and wildlife photographer located in Alaska. I am very lucky to live in a place surrounded by amazing landscapes and even more amazing wildlife.
☊ MUSIC
All music licensed through Music Vine. musicvine.com/
Best Wishes
Scott

Пікірлер: 50

  • @Harry-tm2bt
    @Harry-tm2bt9 ай бұрын

    Just bought my r8 and this video was heaven sent. Thank you for explaining everything in layman terms and making the setup foolproof.

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    9 ай бұрын

    Glad it helped!

  • @dscottstoness2436
    @dscottstoness2436 Жыл бұрын

    Another great video, after I found your site today. You go a little fast and don't explain why you are changing until it becomes clear later. All of which leads to accept all suggestions or just listen to the video and decide afterward. So fair warning to viewers (and not to discount the learnings herein) - listen to the video until the end and then go back and pick the suggestions you want. And note that the settings you suggest are orientated to someone who just uses the camera for wildlife - most of us do more than wildlife. Great stuff!!!

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    I think it's due to the fact that the R7, R10, R6MKII, and this camera are almost the exact same setup. SO the 4th time around I'm flying through the setup videos much faster. Probably watching the R7 setup (which is almost identical to the r8) the explanations are better and more in depth . And yes I think I note in each one that its wildlife setup. Slam a C1 setting int there for your landscapes, people, etc. :) Good input also. Love constructive feedback. For your next video to watch, this is my favorite kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZoZmrdtuf7upiZM.html

  • @KoenKooi
    @KoenKooi Жыл бұрын

    Great timing, only 3 hours left till mine gets delivered :)

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    Very cool. Let me know how the camera works out for you.

  • @lorilopez6806
    @lorilopez6806 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for so much great info on the R8, enjoying learning about my new camera

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    Great to hear!

  • @CollinStimpson
    @CollinStimpson Жыл бұрын

    Perfect! Mine’s coming in the next few days!

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    Cool. Stay tuned, 3 more videos this week on this camera!

  • @mcdicky
    @mcdicky Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing 🙏

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @ivanfojan8859
    @ivanfojan885914 күн бұрын

    Liked and subscribed :)

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    12 күн бұрын

    thanks

  • @ImRockShot
    @ImRockShot11 ай бұрын

    Thank u sir! 🎉

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    11 ай бұрын

    Welcome 👍

  • @bornfree8487
    @bornfree8487 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation. You have a gift for teaching My question is for video mode. I have my R6 mk2 setup the same. However there are many occasions when the tracking doesn’t recognise the animal or tracking drops off unexpectedly . How do you focus in video mode when the tracking plays up

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    hit the af-on button to force it focus again

  • @vadymstrike83
    @vadymstrike83 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video. Can you tell me the speed of burst shooting with speedlite?

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    I don't use flash, but here's the page in the manual for the settings and info. cam.start.canon/ky/C013/manual/html/UG-04_Shooting-1_0180.html

  • @Vollpflock
    @Vollpflock Жыл бұрын

    Could you already try the bre-burst? If so, does it have the same problem as the R6 II? Like that it's only possible with full raw files and doesn't take pics for 2-3 seconds after pre-burst?

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    Its the same on the R7, R6MKII, and the R8. I have a whole video up on the subject from the R7. GO watch it here and it answers your questions and more. kzread.info/dash/bejne/poGopbJqfaWtlrA.html

  • @alexandrelafontaine6789
    @alexandrelafontaine6789 Жыл бұрын

    Have you found a quicker way to change the aperture while keeping ISO and SS on the two main dials? Interested in upgrading to the R8 but concerned about the lack of a 3rd dial. I, like you, don't change it very often but it can still come in handy in certain shooting situations. Thanks!

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes assign it to the control ring (lens or adapter) or assign it to the d-pad

  • @alexandrelafontaine6789

    @alexandrelafontaine6789

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WILDALASKA Thanks I was wondering if the D pad was an option!

  • @dreamy_songs

    @dreamy_songs

    5 ай бұрын

    @@alexandrelafontaine6789 I set D-Pad for exposure compensation, auto subject detection and it is easy...

  • @soheilmasoumi3009
    @soheilmasoumi30096 ай бұрын

    Thank you for this video.Which camera's autofocus is better? Canon r8 or sony a6700?

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    6 ай бұрын

    r8

  • @soheilmasoumi3009

    @soheilmasoumi3009

    6 ай бұрын

    @@WILDALASKA Thank you

  • @vonrbdeleon
    @vonrbdeleon8 ай бұрын

    Torn between R8 and R for first full frame and hoping to use it professionally too. What would you choose?

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    8 ай бұрын

    r8

  • @keremalbayrak5916
    @keremalbayrak59169 ай бұрын

    Merhaba r8 de video kaydı yaparken otomaik odaklama (AF) hızını kontrol edeibliyor musunuz? teşekkürler...

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    9 ай бұрын

    you can set it up in the af menu

  • @dalahobbies
    @dalahobbies3 күн бұрын

    Just bought an R8. Trying to set it up in manual mode just like this however, my menu option for the back (middle wheel above at 10:26) only has 3 options: TV, AV, and Off. The shutter wheel as all the options. I had updated to the latest firmware 1.3.0 so not sure if there has been a change along the line somewhere for some reason. Anyone have any suggestions?

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    3 күн бұрын

    Not sure, a friend has my R8 atm so cant check. makes sure you are in Manual mode and you may need to reset the camera and start over. could be a weird conflict setting. 🥺

  • @dalahobbies

    @dalahobbies

    Күн бұрын

    @@WILDALASKA Thank you for the reply! So I went back through the menu and discovered I had somehow activated the "Switch the camera wheels when shooting setting". I turned this off and now all works as it should. Just wanted to add this update incase it helps someone in the future. Have an awesome day!

  • @jsmith0924
    @jsmith0924 Жыл бұрын

    I also have one one on the way. How’s the battery life been?

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    not bad. Watch for tomorrows video on just that subject.

  • @southbridgeforestHOA

    @southbridgeforestHOA

    Жыл бұрын

    I just watched a video titled bird photography with the R8 and that guy says 900 shots per battery about.

  • @BrentTouchstone
    @BrentTouchstone7 ай бұрын

    I'm not sure if your still shooting this camera or not. I'm wondering if you've had any problems with missing focus? I've had great luck with birds, but I went out and shot wild horses and the focus is supper soft. I didn't have this problem with the R10. The red focus box on playback shows the focus locked onto the eyes. I'm shooting R8, 1/000+, f8 at 400 with the 100-400mm f5.6-8, ISO 500-. The horses where standing still so the shutter speed wasn't the issue. Zooming in I can't even tell where the focus was sharp anywhere in the picture. These are the worst wildlife photos I've taken since starting with a t3i 12 years ago, but my bald eagle, duck and smaller birds are sharp. I'm stumped.

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    7 ай бұрын

    I have 0 issues with focus on the R8. I shoot moose and horses from time to time and they are never soft or missed focus. The r8 actually has the best AF out of the canon line currently also. Now the EF 100-400 will be slower with the AF and at times misses the correct spot with the AF. I would also suggest with large animals to move the Aperture to f8 or f10 to help with the DoF.

  • @AtaBoraBasar
    @AtaBoraBasar Жыл бұрын

    The only thing I wonder about this camera is what the shutter read out speed is.

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    VERY fast. rolling shutter is very small. if you whip pan very hard you will see a lean. Its fast than the R5 on readout speed if that helps I will have the full review out this weekend and a R6MKII vs R8 out probably Thursday or Friday.

  • @AtaBoraBasar

    @AtaBoraBasar

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WILDALASKA That would be great, I'll be looking forward to your video.

  • @2010micko

    @2010micko

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@AtaBoraBasar o

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AtaBoraBasar yes the guts of the R8 are pretty much the same on the 2 cameras. probably Fridays video will be the r6mkii vs r8. putting it together now

  • @southbridgeforestHOA
    @southbridgeforestHOA Жыл бұрын

    If one shoots electronic shutter most of the time I bet this camera will last a very long time. I killed the shutter on my old 1dMII, never got aroudn to getting it fixed and now it's worth pennies on the dollar.

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    true

  • @auxmike718
    @auxmike718 Жыл бұрын

    Hmm. I shoot jpeg and never do video. I’m here to learn about animal eye focus and how to shoot continuously

  • @WILDALASKA

    @WILDALASKA

    Жыл бұрын

    👍

Келесі