Bird Photography

[Rob MacKillop]

Looking ahead a year or so, I can see myself getting into bird photography (yes, the feathered type!) and close macro (extremes, I know). For around £1000 (he said, hopefully) what camera would you suggest? It doesn't have to be a DSLR.

Is it better to attach a compact like my X100 to a viewing scope? Would that be a a cheaper option which could supply good results, or would a telephoto lens be better?

I don't want to have to buy a camera which for the most part doubles the use of my X100, so a fixed lens camera might be an option. I'm thinking of the Fuji Finepix XS1, which can be had for under £500. But I'm wondering what something twice that price might be...

Your thoughts appreciated, as always.

 

[Allan Batchelor]

just from my experience so far at bird Rob its an absolute pain in the erse getting close enough to get decent photos and thats using a 300mm lens. Ive often wondered if its posssible to attach a camera to the scopes and get decent pictures. Its that or a 500mm for me I think

PS if you get a chance Vane farm is worth a visit

 

[Paul Lange]

I can't really advise on a camera but I can say that I have a 70-300mm lens so on my crop frame DSLR that is 105-450mm. However, this is just not enough for small birds like ****, finches, etc even at relatively close distances. Saying that though I think if I was within 10ft I think it might be enough but I'm not really into sitting still disguised as a tree for 20 minutes waiting for something to come along so I guess its more of a question of how close you think you can get and how big the subjects are.

I have no idea if that is of any help to anyone but there it is anyway.

 

[Gavin Robert]

Rob I ordered the Fuji XS-1 two weeks ago but cancelled that order in favour of the Panasonic FZ150 instead.
There is an apparent flaw with the lens design where it droops and this progressively effects the AF whilst zooming in.

http://i.imgur.com/STBTW.gif

I took the Pana FZ150 out today with a mono-pod and was mighty impressed. Nothing like a DSLR but for the money and such a versatile lens (25mm - 600mm - 35mm equivalent) its looking good. For me it was only the XS-1 or FZ150 because of the RAW file capability but it just so happens that the FZ150 offers a lot more to boot, especially in the video department which I'm increasingly getting interested in.

If you want some honest test images of wildlife I would do them for you Rob. I'd simply pass the RAW files over if that's something you'd be interested in regardless of what camera you finally end up with.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Gavin, that would be great. Never heard of the FZ150 - I'll look it up.

I imagine there is indeed a lot of frustration getting decent shots, which makes the good ones all the more valued, I guess.

Well, there is no hurry. I'll look into it more.

 

[Hamish Gill]

If you have a hypothetical grand Id look at more serious kit the a hybrid cam like those mentioned
a dslr as simple as a nikon d40/60/3000 can be had very cheap s/h you could then look at getting a sigma long lens like the 150-500 Optically stabilised lens (750mm equiv on a nikon d3000 at the long end) and a tamron 90mm marco

nikon d3000 £200
sigma lens £650
tamron £250

£1100 and it will **** on any hybrid camera from the greatest hight, with the only compromise being weight

 

[Lesley Jones]

Probably not much use, but I just wanted to say you don't necessarily have to use a long lens. I got within five feet of our baby swallows way out in the open and the birds at the feeder will actually come to call. I've photographed them more than once from about the same distance. I wouldn't want a long lens and I must admit that I've never considered using a hide. I've done swallows, robins, great **** (I just know this is going to be bleeped out), red legged partridge and a green woodpecker. If you have to save up for the lens, you may as well start training your wildlife

 

[Pete Askew]

And they are one of the few things where paying peanuts helps!!

 

[Brian Moore]

I've quite enjoyed trying to decipher what the several ****s in the various posts stand for. I think the only one I got was Lesley's. Was it for Great **** ?

 

[Lesley Jones]

Peanuts aren't cheap these days - we get through a 20kg sack in no time. And yes Brian, you were correct and I see you got bleeped too!

 

[Pete Askew]

I guess we could go for the Mexican approach. Teets!!