What Kind of Camera Do You Use?

Ha. NICE! Did you spot the bird?

real nice cloning along the walkway. If you had not mentioned getting rid of the people I would not have noticed.

Yep thanks!

No photos of my own though . . . think kinglet, and then twice as hyperactive.

Here's one person's photo, not sure if you'll be able to see it (may be password protected):
http://www.birdguides.com/birdnews/docs/OR169278.jpg

Resin

it worked

Loved that lizard shot, Trois....great detail.

Thanks, gardenpom.

You're welcome....actually I should have said AMAZING detail.

I was pleased.

I just saw the review for the Nicon Coolpix P 80. It sounds like what some of you may be looking for.

I have to build back up to something useful for birding/wildlife.

Most of what I shoot is studio still life, architecture and street. And almost entirely film. (4x5, and 120 mostly and a bunch of 35mm for my street work).

I do have a Nikon D100. But it mostly sits unused - partially due to a derth of good lenses. And partially because I just don't enjoy using it.

Maybe I'll just get a nice telephoto and make it a dedicated birding rig. :)

I've been enjoying the wonderful work on this forum. And look forward to much much more.

Cheers,
Liam

4 x 5. you are a geek!!!

HA. Good thing you are not my manager at work anymore Liam!

Ha indeed. Now I know what you really think of me. ;P

This message was edited Apr 15, 2008 6:13 PM

I have a Nikon Coolpix and love it . . . except that it takes so long for it to be ready to photo again. I had read that that was its only downfall before I bought it in 2002, but didn't realize what frustration that would be. Otherwise, thought, it's been great. It's been seriously dropped a couple of times and is still ticking - even with a dent in the case.

I have just seen the easiest camera I absolutely "need" it's the Canon SD 860, my son has it and I "NEED " one too, it's called the Canon IXUS here, but I will wait till I get back to US where it's half the price or in customs where it might be available.

hee hee. Yes, Basic Needs. Food, Shelter, Camera

Oh absolutely that is a NEED! I am trying to decide which one I NEED next!! LOL

Nanny if in doubt, "need" diamonds, then if you decide on something else later you can re-need them!

Got a new camera several weeks ago. Still too chicken and cheap to go the DSLR route. I picked up an Olympus SP-560 refurbished on ebay for a good price. Just learning how to use all the bells and whistles. I really like th 18x zoom. I could barely see this hummer with my eyes, but the camera got it.

Thats a good one Becky!

Excellent! Always good to get as much optical zoom as you can! Even though I have a DSLR, I still use and love my Kodak point and shoot.

Nice one!

Wow. I love all the green.

Thanks everyone. The green is from the acre of hardwoods behind the house. Great for bird watching, especially in the winter.

At Last when I was at Niagara Falls this little sparrow caught a moth and decided to pose for me. Must be because he is a cockney too!

I've used Olympic cameras in the past for the super macro, but when my last one broke I bought a Sony DSC-H2 and have been very happy with it. It has a great macro for my bugs and blooms and a decent zoom for birds.

Well, you can add my camera to the list. From about March or April '08 to early October '08, I used the Panasonic Lumix FZ18 (18x) P&S camera. In August I began my search for a DSLR and then in October '08 I took the leap and purchased the Canon 50d with the kit lens (28-135mm IS). Then I purchased 2 used Canon L lenses (70-200mm f4L and 300mm f4L IS). I then purchased Canon's 1.4 extender to extend my reach. I must say, to be able to purchased 2 such good lenses used, was a blessing and a biiiggggg jump start for a beginning DSLR'r who wanted to shoot birds and wildlife. One day I may step up to the 400 or 500mm but for now I am totally satisfied.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2008 8:36 PM

This message was edited Dec 15, 2008 8:39 PM

ahaa...I thought you must have gotten a new camera. You are getting some spectacular shots.

LOL, Meth. that's so funny… "and then I purchased… and then I purchased… and then I purchased"


Isn't that JUST the way it is with birds and photography!!

Thanks Nanny. I was getting envious of all the spectacular bird photos you all were posting and said I need to step up my game a bit and then took the leap.

Yes Mrs. Ed the purchase bug has gotten me. I am looking at another lens - Canon's 17-40mm L lens or save up for the 70-200mm 2.8L IS. Just not sure if I want to buy used or new.

Me and my daughter are hitting the woods tomorrow. I am going to see what kind of bird photos I can get with the 70-200mm non IS lens. Wish me luck.

Take care.

I'm trying to sort through all the info on superzoom cameras, mostly with an eye to getting better bird photos. Not quite ready to step up to a DSLR.

I've currently got a little Sony cybershot t-200 (with 8 megs and a 5x zoom), and I love it. One of my favorite things about it is being able to say "focus *here*" by touching the screen, so having some way to choose the main focus point is important to me in a superzoom compact also. 20X optical zoom would be lovely, but I'd settle for 15X, and I don't really want to pay more than $500.

Suggestions? Anybody else recently purchase or start looking for a new superzoom?

I've heard good things about Lumix but have no experience with them myself.

I've been considering the Panasonic Lumix DMC fz18-k. I hear its resolution is excellent (they went for "better" pixels rather than "more" pixels, so even at 8 megs it should be better image quality than the 8 megs of my current camera). It also can take digital video and still photos in the 16:9 format that fits a wide-screen TV, although I think to get actual HDTV video (nice but not vital to me) I'd need to step up to a more $ camera.

Here are the technical specs for the Lumix z18: http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-FZ18K.S_11002_7000000000000005702#tabsection

It says it has a "joystick" for manual focusing, which should take care of my occasional issues with auto-focusing on something other than my intended subject.

Oh, and it looks like the Lumix cameras can take an additional 1.7x zoom attachment... also nice!

Hmm, then again... I just came across the Panasonic G-1 camera (the almost-like-a-DSLR one) and now am wondering if I should just save up a bit longer (it lists at about double the fz-18, plus the cost of the telephoto lens, so I'm guessing $1200 or so... but not spending $350 on a superzoom would get me part of the way there!).. it may be time to go shopping in person and actually handle a few different models.

I really appreciate all the help and input I've found in this thread!

I have a Fuji Finepix S700 with 10 power zoom and just love it. Here is a Mockingbird on my Holly Bush. BEV

I use an Olympus Sp550UZ but it is not the greatest camera for taking bird pictures. I dream of owning a Canon or Nikon

I have the Olympus SP560. It has image stabilization which is good for taking pics at full zoom (18x). The main problem with Olympus vs others is that they take the xd card instead of sd or cf. I got mine on ebay refurbished and have had no problems so far. Had it since July.

eeek, I'll have to update the list in a while. PLEASE remind me if it isn't done in a couple of days. I'm not at home now.

Congradulations Methodical on finding two used L lenses. Neither is cheap and the teleconverter works great on both. The 4.0 aperture of the L lense will come in real handy when trying to get bird pics in low light conditions.

Beclu, my Olympus has ISO too but really doesn't seem to help much. I got mine on Ebay, too. also, refurbished. Maybe it's just too complicated for my little pea brain. ;)) It'd be nice if I could find a Point and Shoot with a good zoom lens on it.
Sometimes it takes great pics and others it doesn't
What settings do you use for taking bird pics?