Cameras

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Permalink Reply by Sam Crowe on June 11, 2009 at 2:10pm

The camera is not as important as the lens, if you are going to be serious about photographer. You need to be able to get up close, and magnification is the key. Also, how much weight do you want to haul around.

I see a lot of birders using the Canon EF - 100-400mm - f/4.5-5.6L IS lens - List is $1649.00 but available for less.

Many of the pros use the Canon EF 500mm or the EF 600 mm, but they cost real money. I have the EF 600 but wish i had gone with the 500 mm and 2x extender.

I also carry a Panasonic Lumix compact camera with 10x optical zoom, and it does OK. Not the range and clarity of the big lens, but fits in my shirt pocket.

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Permalink Reply by Bird Nerd on June 14, 2009 at 8:28pm

Thanks! How much is the last one you mentioned? I am a very casual birder so I don't want anything in the thousands. Plus I like something small. Anything is better than what I have......it's a nice little digital camera, but not for birds.

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Permalink Reply by Lorrie Machette on June 19, 2009 at 11:22am

I am a frequent visitor to the local wildlife refuge. When I first started going there I had a Canon PowerShot A560 with 4X Optical Zoom. It was not sufficient due to the birds being so far away. I saw other people at the refuge with cameras that had huge lenses. I asked different ones about their camera but they were much too expensive for my budget. I found a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7 on sale. It has a 15X Optical Zoom. I have been using this camera for the past year. It was more around the range of $180. It may not be the best camera but it serves my purpose. If you look at the pictures I posted - most of them were taken with the Sony.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Crowe on July 15, 2009 at 9:20pm

I would really like to get my hands on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera. I would like to see what the hi-def video would look like through my 600 mm Canon lens.

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Permalink Reply by John Weatherby on August 10, 2009 at 12:14pm

I'm an amateur on a budget as well, I presently use a Panasonic Lumix point and shoot with 12x lens. I have an idea I kind of been toying with. Has anyone used webcams to capture activity at feeders, nest, etc.? Are there any wireless webcams?

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Permalink Reply by Sam Crowe on August 10, 2009 at 1:55pm

There are a couple of commercial products but not sure if wireless.

http://www.birdhousespycam.com

http://www.wingscapes.com/ - uses a card that can be transferred to your PC.

Several years ago, every other ad on the web was a wireless camera. It sold for about $60.00. I tried it and it worked pretty well, but I do not remember the manufacturer.

Sam

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Permalink Reply by John Weatherby on August 13, 2009 at 10:01pm

I will probably set up my own webcams maybe during the fall. Being an amateur astronomer as well, I already have two modified webcams. One fits on a telescope/spotting scope and one has an adapter machined to take T-Mount lens. SLR optics really improves these guys. If interested, do a search for "quickcam 3000 modification" , Poor Meadow Dyke Observatory" or Mogg Adapter. Guess I will hang a feeder by an access wall to my computer with a USB extension. The fall and winter bring so many birds south to enjoy in Oklahoma City area.

Attachments:

• webcam1, 12 KB

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Permalink Reply by Sam Crowe on September 6, 2009 at 7:18pm

Interesting plans. Look forward to seeing some of the images.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Crowe on February 15, 2010 at 3:54pm

The new Canon 7D seems like a great camera. I am going to be purchasing one and will post images and video once it arrives.

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