[Tweeters] Yes, it IS possible to buy a better birding camera

[Robert O'Brien]

Thanks to Jim for a very helpful birding camera review.  I'm still using an
older Canon EOS 7D Mark II which is a very good camera, but maybe not
"great"?
I'd say its weak point is autofocus, especially when the subject is in
a,say, a twiggy environment where the twigs confuse the AF system.
I'm guessing from the review that this is less-of, or not, a problem?  This
is always a major problem with bird photography.

But a more general question I've always had is why to buy a zoom lens for a
'birding' camera.  For a general purpose camera a zoom lens has the obvious
advantages.  But for a bird camera, would not a 400mm lens, lacking lots of
useless moving parts, be better.  Would you ever want to use the 100mm for
a bird?  This would be when  you're too close to the bird?  That has always
been a puzzler for me, why so many 'serious' birder photographers buy zoom
lenses.
Grateful for any and all answers to both questions.
Bob OBrien  Portland


On Sun, May 21, 2023 at 7:39 AM <jimbetz at jimbetz.com> wrote:


> Hello all,

>

>    Several months ago I asked "what camera do you recommend?" and

> several of you responded.  I found that I just wasn't able to

> make a decision - even though I also consulted my nephew who

> used to be a Nikon Tech Rep.  So I went dormant on the topic.

> But the desire to get better pictures, especially of birds in

> flight, was always there in the back of my mind.

>    I have made a decision and will make a purchase very soon.

>

>    There was something I did that was key to making that decision.

> My nephew recommended I consider renting a camera and lens - or

> two.  Since he was going to be here (lives in NYC) we used that

> opportunity ... and rented both a Nikon D500 and a Canon EOS R7.

> Both were with manufacturer zoom lenses in the 100-400 range.

> At this point it is important that I remind you that I own a

> Panasonic Lumix DZ-1000 ... which I still consider an excellent

> "entry level camera".  It is a mirrorless "bridge camera" that

> does not have interchangeable lenses but has a 25-400 zoom.

>

>    Sooooo, the R7 with the 100-400 lens is a clear winner.  It has

> an -amazing- auto focus system that really works.  Set up for

> "Sports and Animals" it finds the bird and focuses on it and

> follows it with razor sharp accuracy.  Even when the bird is

> flying across in front of you.  All I have to do is to keep the

> bird in the frame and hold the shutter down and the camera does

> the rest.  In fact one of 'problems' I'm dealing with is that I

> have far more images of BIF than I can use and have to select

> the one I want to keep/use based upon the timing of the action

> (wings up/down/folded/etc. or head up/left/right/etc.).

>    Is every picture "perfect"?  Of course not.  But by far the

> majority of them are "as good as this camera can do" ... which is

> very good.  If you take the time to look up my eBird checklists

> for the last 3 days you will find some examples of Great Blue

> Herons, Bald Eagles, an Osprey, Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks,

> Red-tailed Hawk, etc.  Many of them are BIF (birds in flight)

> which was one of the primary things I was disappointed in

> with the Lumix.  But the better sensor and better optics of

> the R7 are a big plus.

>

>    Yes, there are probably even better cameras out there that

> will do an even better job.  But perhaps not so much if you

> include my priorities?  I want (need?) handheld and ease of

> carry (low weight).  It's my birding camera.  Yes, even

> better pictures are available with a longer lens on a tripod

> with a gimbal mount while shooting from a blind that you hide

> out in for several hours ... but I'm not that kind of bird

> photographer.

>

>    Yes, this comes with a significant price tag compared to the

> Lumix ... but having seen the results possible that was an

> easy decision.  I will still keep and use my Lumix - for

> stuff like landscapes and grab style portraits.  But the R7

> will quickly become my 'only' birding camera.

>                                                       - Jim

>

> P.S. BTW, with the Canon 100-400 zoom this camera is about as

>       good as 4x or 6x binoculars would be.  It's not the reach

>       of our 8x      nor even close to our 12x ... but it still

>       does a useful job of being a "spotting scope".  Plus if

>       you like what you see you just have to push to capture.  *G*

>

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