Camera Corner (What Kind of Camera Do You Use, Vol.5)

We came from here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1146178/
This list was compiled to help others determine what kind of camera they might want to purchase for bird photography. Perhaps you'd be interested in a certain camera and can see if anyone is using it.

This thread has also turned into somewhat of a discussion on other equipment and how to use it.

2dCousinDave= Canon 1D Mark IV, Mark III, the 7D, 5D, the 40D, the 20D, D30 LENSES: 200mm f/1.8, 400mm f/4 DO IS, 500mm f/4 IS and the 600mm f/4 IS. 1.4x TC.
2racingboys = Olympus E620 DSLR with the 40-150mm
adelbertcat = Pentax K100D
Beclu727 = Olympus OM-D EM-5 (Micro 4/3). Lenses 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 and 40-150mm f4.5-5.6. 75-300mm lens.
bluebirdsnbells = Nikon 3000, Sony CyberShot DSC-S75 Lenses: 18-55mm & 55-200 mm
brianguy = Nikon D90
bsharf = Sony DSLR A100
Burd_FotosCanon Powershot S5is, Canon Rebel T1i 500D, EFS-18-55mm and 55-250mm, 400mm f5.6
Burn_2007 = T1i with a 70- 300mm IS lens. Fuji FinePix S5700 s700
cshirsch = Nikon D300, Nikon D90 Lenses: 300mm Nikon ED f2.8, 400MM Nikon ED f5.6, and 500mm Nikon ED f4
claypa = Sony DSC-H2
crazybirdlady51 = Olympus Sp550UZ
critterologist = Nikon P90. Sony DSC-TX1
dellrose = Canon EOS 40D
dinu = Panasonic DMC-FZ8
ducbucln = Canon 7D , Canon XTi Lenses: Canon 100-400mm lens, Canon 70-300 mm lens with image stabilization. 1.4 Kenko teleconverter
duckmother = Nikon D60 200mm
Elphaba = Kodak Z740 Zoom
f_chisolm = Canon 400D: 300mm lens
gardenpom = Olympus Evolt 500 SLR with 70-300mm lens.
ginger749 = Canon EOS 500D Rebel T1i, Lenses: EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, EFS 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS.
Grasmussen = Panasonic DMC-FZ50
JuneyBug = Samsung 10.2 WB500
kennedyh = Canon EOS 300D
lilyfantn = Nikon D70
Lily_Love = Canon 7D, Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Lenses: 28-135 and 70-300
linthicum = Nikon D300, Nikon D200 and Nikon D70 camera bodies. Lenses include the Nikkor 500mm f/4D ED-IF I, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR, Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D-AF Macro, Nikkor 18-70mm AF-S DX Lens, Sigma 50-500mm f4-6 and Nikon 1.4x and 1.7x teleconverters.
lionhrt9 = Canon XSI. Lenses: 400mm fixed 5.6 Sigma, a 70-300 Quantaray, a 28-90 Quantaray and the 18-55mm Canon lens
MargaretK = Canon 40D,
Methodical = Canon 5D MkII, Canon 1D MkIII, 400mm 5.6, 500mm f4 IS, 300mm f/2.8 IS
Mrs_Ed = Kodak Z8612, Canon 7D, Panasonic Lumix FZ150, Wingscapes 2.0 Birdcam
Nanny56 = Canon PowerShot SX20 IS, Fuji FinePix S80000fd
NM_Jane = Canon Rebel XTI, Panasonic DMC-FZ28
OPbirder = Samsung Digimax L60, 6.0 mp, 3x optical zoom
PanamaCreel = Nikon D300
pelletory = Canon T2i w/ a Sigma 50-500mm lens.
Resin = Fuji FinePix E550
Shan71 = Kodak Z712 IS
Shelia_FW = Nikon D50
Tabasco = Canon PowerShot S30
tigerlily = Canon T1i
TheHackster = Cameras: Canon 7D. Lenses: (1) Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM, (2) Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM, (3) Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS USM, (4) Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM.
TXSkeeter = Canon 7D,, Canon SX50 Lenses: 100-400mm, Canon 1.4x III TC, Canon 100mm IS and a Sigma 150mm OS
Read more: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1327200/#ixzz2pq9ESQjW
VA_Wild_Rose = Canon T1i, Canon SD780 Lenses: Canon 70-300mm IS USM, 18-55mm, 55-250mm
WaterCan = Nikon D90 w/ Nikon 70-300mm Lenses: Sigma 150-500 telephoto


* This list is a bit old and many of these people aren't participating as they were. If you'd like information about a specific camera, please send a private Dmail.




This message was edited Jan 8, 2014 2:17 PM

Hi Marna,
Please remove the Oly SP560 from my list and add a 75-300mm lens. Thanks
Becky

For birding, Canon 7D, typically paired with a Canon 100-400mm lens and occasionally, with the Canon 1.4x III teleconverter attached. For macro, a Canon 100mm IS and a Sigma 150mm OS. For typical day to day shooting and vacation time, the Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS stays on my camera more than any other lens I own.

Just bought a new Canon SX50 compact before Christmas and am still trying to see what it will and won't do. The 1200mm zoom feature was rather enticing in theory but is far harder to use than just holding up the camera and popping off a few frames as I would with my DSLR's.
Steve...

Steve,

I went through the same learning pains with the Canon Powershot. The biggest difficulty I had was getting it to focus on what I wanted and stop jumping around to whatever it thought was a good place to focus. I finally got it set to just have the focusing screen in the middle of the frame and that's what I use.

It is hard to hold that little bitty thing steady at 1200mm. I need to get a tripod, but I resist it because my main reason for getting the camera was so I wouldn't have to always carry around my heavy dSLR, 400mm lens and tripod. I also keep pushing buttons on it when I don't intend to because it is so small.

I did find that it is quite easy to tweak the exposure up or down if you are shooting a dark bird against a light colored sky or an egret in a dark pond.

And video comes out fairly decent.

I'm starting to like it a lot.

Patti

Patti, try one of the little Benro travel tripods for the SX50 OR find a cheap little lightweight monopod to mount the camera on. I think my 'pod came from Wally World for like $12 or so and weighs maybe 10 or 12oz.... I wouldn't put my big cameras and lenses on it but for the little bitty cameras, it works just fine when needed. For my bigger gear, I have bigger support options of course.
By placing the camera strap around your neck and pushing the monopod away from you, the focus jumping becomes more easily controlled, especially if you've using the back viewing screen. Not perfect but better than trying to hold such a lightweight object still in front of you just by hand.
And I agree, they could/should have put a lot more forethought into placement of the camera controls instead of assuming that all small camera users have hands that would be better suited to a Keebler Elf. Nice camera and neat idea with the 1200mm zoom, just not practical in some regards although, if you're patient and can control the camera, it does take some nice images.
ps: don't see you on Pixtus much of late.
Steve

Most of my posted pictures were taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. Advantage is that it is small enough to fit in my pocket, so I always have it with me.
My new toy is a Moultrie motion-activated game camera (optional downloadable software free).
I got it because I am as interested in the birds I am NOT seeing as the ones I am seeing, and why. I want to be able to watch for missing species in suitable habitat when I'm not there.
Here are my first test photos - only one bird in 6 hours, but I think the birds were unhappy about me moving the feeder.

Steve, I haven't been on Pixtus in ages - just too many forums and not enough time. I have heard good things about the Benro travel tripods, so I will take a look at them. Thanks for the recommendation. I don't use the LCD for anything but chimping. I can't imagine trying to hold a camera out in front of me at arm's length and keep it anything close to still. I still use the viewfinder - old habits and all that. ^_^

Pollengarden, Wheeeee! You got a dove and in flight no less. How cool is that! I have some game cameras too, but I haven't had much luck catching birds on them. I think I am putting the camera too far away and it can't detect those little birdies. I do catch the deer and raccoons and squirrels though. And I have caught some larger birds - vultures, crows and a great blue heron. I've tried Moultrie, Reconyx, a homebuilt Nikon and a couple Bushnell game cams and my favorite is the Moultrie one.

I've been using a Sony A77 with a 70-400 mm lens since May. I wanted to try the translucent mirror technology. Had trouble at first and thought I was to blame. Turns out the camera was broken. Had to send it in when it wouldn't focus at all. Many repairs were made. I was very annoyed as you can imagine.

While waiting for the repairs, I took at trip to west Texas and bought a point-and-shoot -- Lumix 60X for the trip. It's broken now also -- actually, it works fine except that you cannot see the focus in the viewfinder. Initially, you could but now it takes a clear, focused photo but the image you see in the viewfinder is blurry. Like Patti, I prefer the viewfinder. Haven't sent it in to be repaired yet. Also, the battery life is not great. The 60X optical zoom is pretty amazing though.

So, I'm not super happy with either camera. FYI, when I was buying the point-and-shoot, the salesman said he had tried all the cameras that he sold and while he loves the Canon dslrs, he did not care for their point-and-shoots. Said that their images were not as clear as the other brands.

I've been using a monopod with my Sony. I made sure it could carry the weight of my camera and lens and that it was carbon fiber, so it would be light weight. I think maybe I should have gone with a sturdier one as it is still hard to hold steady in windy conditions. On the plus side, it was only $30. Also, a monopod is easy to move around while following a bird and easy to carry in the field.

What I have learned is that you're not really going to get that totally awesome shot unless you are pretty close to the bird no matter what camera you use or how long your lens is. I've also learned that you can't expect the camera to do all the work. There's know-how involved. Even with the point-and-shoots. It's not just how to use the camera and what settings to use under what conditions, but it's also predicting bird behavior. I used to be better at that part when I had a slow point-and-shoot. I would predict where the bird was going to land, focus on that spot and wait for it. When I purchased fancier cameras I forgot to use that skill.