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
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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.
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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
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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
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an -amazing- auto focus system that really works. Set up for
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"Sports and Animals" it finds the bird and focuses on it and
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follows it with razor sharp accuracy. Even when the bird is
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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
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the rest. In fact one of 'problems' I'm dealing with is that I
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have far more images of BIF than I can use and have to select
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the one I want to keep/use based upon the timing of the action
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(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
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very good. If you take the time to look up my eBird checklists
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for the last 3 days you will find some examples of Great Blue
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Herons, Bald Eagles, an Osprey, Oystercatchers, Harlequin Ducks,
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Red-tailed Hawk, etc. Many of them are BIF (birds in flight)
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which was one of the primary things I was disappointed in
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with the Lumix. But the better sensor and better optics of
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the R7 are a big plus.
>
>
Yes, there are probably even better cameras out there that
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will do an even better job. But perhaps not so much if you
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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
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stuff like landscapes and grab style portraits. But the R7
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will quickly become my 'only' birding camera.
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- Jim
>
>
P.S. BTW, with the Canon 100-400 zoom this camera is about as
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good as 4x or 6x binoculars would be. It's not the reach
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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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