Settings “standard”:

================================== Camera handling: ===========================

Underexpose structurally: -0.5 – -2.0 EV (protect detail highlights picture)

EV Increments: 1/2 stop (easy counting and resetting during actual photography)

Camera switch Lock: Lock (unless you use multiselector for AF-point selection)!

Language: English (matches camera buttons, keyboard shortcuts Lightroom, etcetera)

Release mode: Continuous high (be ready for fast bird action).

Beep: Pitch: low, Volume: lowest (useful signal that bird is in-focus if strong wind, etc.)

========================================= Light: ===================================

Automatic light measurement: Spot metering: we always position bird in centre viewfinder during photography and recompose in Lightroom. (You may do otherwise).

Centre weighted sensor area autom. light measurement: 6mm (average size bird in 24 x 16 picture).

Camera switch PASM: A (APERTURE Mode).

APERTURE value preferably f/2.8, … f/8 (reliable AF and AF 3D acc. to Nikons “F8 support”).

Quality: 14 bits RAW lossless compressed (files untouched by camera, edited in post production).

Colour space: Adobe Color Space: (also in Lightroom, ViewNX, Faststone, etc.).

========================================= Focus & track ====================—–=========

Autofocus mode: AF-Continuous 25d (25 AF points & continuous anticipating AF & tracking)

Autofocus parameter: a1=focus (priority focus, not Release)

Autofocus parameter: a3=1 (fast start, dive, etc. bird). Motion: steady (Kingfisher, Crane, Buzzard), erratic (Tern, Woodpecker) medium (our “default” setting)

==================== When shooting a (series of) picture(s): ===================

Press Release (camera performs automatic light measurement and starts autofocus (tracking).

================================== Thereafter: ================================

OR do nothing and wait while camera holds AF position …

OR Full press Release: camera shoots picture(s).

FINALLY Check result if you have the time.

IF YOU HAVE CHANGED SOME SETTINGS: reset settings and leave D500 as it was before !

• Underexpose structurally: -0.5 – -2.0 EV (protect detail highlights picture)
• EV Increments: 1/2 stop (easy counting and resetting during actual photography)
• Camera switch Lock: Lock (unless you use multiselector for AF-point selection)!
• Language: English (matches camera buttons, keyboard shortcuts Lightroom, etcetera)
• Release mode: Continuous high (be ready for fast bird action).
• Beep: Pitch: low, Volume: lowest (useful signal that bird is in-focus if strong wind, etc.)
• ========================================= Light:
• ===================================
• Automatic light measurement: Spot metering: we always position bird in centre viewfinder during photography and recompose in Lightroom. (You may do otherwise).
• ==================== When shooting a (series of) picture(s): ===================
• Automatic light measurement: Spot metering: we always position bird in centre viewfinder during photography and recompose in Lightroom. (You may do otherwise).