Digital Camera For Wildlife Photography

[Geekfreaklover]

Hi,

Can any one recommend a camera? Would have to be digital, with super zoom and relay shutter action for taking picures of birds / animals in the wild.

Thanks for any recommendations.

j.

[The Vulcan]

Hi,

Can any one recommend a camera? Would have to be digital, with super zoom and relay shutter action for taking picures of birds / animals in the wild.

Thanks for any recommendations.

j.

You need to be a little more specific viz, budget, are you familiar with digital cameras, have you shot this type of stuff before, are you wanting to sell or merely for your own keeping?

In reality, and especially if the subject is moving, you'll at least need predictive focusing to ensure you can track the subject and keep it sharp.

Tell us a bit more

[Geekfreaklover]

Hi,

Can any one recommend a camera? Would have to be digital, with super zoom and relay shutter action for taking picures of birds / animals in the wild.

Thanks for any recommendations.

j.

You need to be a little more specific viz, budget, are you familiar with digital cameras, have you shot this type of stuff before, are you wanting to sell or merely for your own keeping?

In reality, and especially if the subject is moving, you'll at least need predictive focusing to ensure you can track the subject and keep it sharp.

Tell us a bit more

Hey,

Budget; Will be buying in thailand 20-30k. Not familar with digital apart from compacts. Am not an expert in wildlife photography, so need a model to get started with taking pictures fo my own use, not selling pictures to begin with.

But guess, I need a model that can capture motion with a high power zoom. Something easy to use.

Thanks,

jim.

[baahjun]

Jim, if it's only for birding and you want to use a P&S google on digiscoping

[Bard]

The budget is pretty tight for dSLR but if you buy now while still in stock you can buy;

Canon EOS 400D Body for 15,800,- Baht, very good 10 megapixel digital SLR

and add upp with a zoom lense

Tamron AF 18-250 Di II for 16,800,- Baht (35mm film equivalent is about 28mm - 400mm Zoom) not top notch but should get you started out fine, you can add up with better lenses later on.

Total 32,600,- Baht if you buy it at www.fotofile.net

Cheers Bard

[Jimmyd]

Or he could get my 30D for only 17,000 baht.

[Geekfreaklover]

Jim, if it's only for birding and you want to use a P&S google on digiscoping

Thanks. I am so new to this.

Had a look at digiscoping, but am thinking would a point and shoot be good enough through a standard scope?... Should probably upgrade the camera also.

[Goshawk]

one of the current favourite p & s among digiscopers is the Nikon P5100

fotofile have it at 12000 baht..

look here to see some results / listen to the discussion. With a decent scope, it aint a bad choice...

[Geekfreaklover]

one of the current favourite p & s among digiscopers is the Nikon P5100

fotofile have it at 12000 baht..

look here to see some results / listen to the discussion. With a decent scope, it aint a bad choice...

Thanks Goshawk,

Do you know where I could get hold of a decent scope in Thailand?

[Goshawk]

Do you know where I could get hold of a decent scope in Thailand?

good question.

Fotofile used to do the Leica Televids (these have been around for years and although good, will be replaced by some newer models next year) don't know if they still do.

i've yet to find a reliable retailer of Swarovski, Kowa or Nikon in Thailand.. I'm sure they exist, i dig around some more..

I've used a Swarovski HD65 with a Fuji F30 P&S but recently looked through this and it's got my mouth a watering..

If you decide to go the DSLR way, then i hope you have deep pockets.. a good 500mm prime lens (often used with a tcon) is the absolute minimum for top quality captures with most bird photography, this one is a popular choice for many.. Attach this to a full frame sensor body and you're talking big bucks!!

There's a famous bird photographer in the Phillipines who takes some of the very best images in the world. Here he is with his 'Sigmonster'

i'm not in the slightest bit jealous....

[Jimmyd]

Interesting--he's using the 5D mark II in video mode, then using single frame captures.

[Goshawk]

Interesting--he's using the 5D mark II in video mode, then using single frame captures.

the 5D with its 1080i is nice.. look at this from Romy Ocon. But this "black dot" problem is putting me off one (together with the price)

very likely i'll be getting hold of a Nikon D90 soon.. its 720p is rather a nice touch as can be seen here

another option for you, Geekfreaklover..

why not go for a superzoom bridge cam ?

here's a Pied Fantail i took in the grounds of Silpakorn University with my Panny FZ18 at full (18x) zoom, roughly 500mm equivalent. OK, tiny sensor = noise, but its a great 'tool' to have in your arsenal & it takes decent pic..

The newer FZ28 also shoots HD video too..

choices... choices...

[baahjun]

There's a famous bird photographer in the Phillipines who takes some of the very best images in the world. Here he is with his 'Sigmonster'

and it comes with a free membership at the local gym

[Geekfreaklover]

one of the current favourite p & s among digiscopers is the Nikon P5100

fotofile have it at 12000 baht..

look here to see some results / listen to the discussion. With a decent scope, it aint a bad choice...

Hi,

Am thinking if I can digiscope with a degital SLR?, then buy a low range SLR and have both options. Upgrade with lenses later if need be. Just looked at a EOS 1000D that has the required 10mg pixels and 3fps and under 20k. Can I use this with a scope ?

Cheers,

Jim.

[Goshawk]

Am thinking if I can digiscope with a degital SLR?, then buy a low range SLR and have both options. Upgrade with lenses later if need be. Just looked at a EOS 1000D that has the required 10mg pixels and 3fps and under 20k. Can I use this with a scope ?

yes, you can use it with a scope.

Depending on what scope it is, you then need to purchase an appropriate adaptor.. look here for the very basics of digiscoping..

[Geekfreaklover]

Am thinking if I can digiscope with a degital SLR?, then buy a low range SLR and have both options. Upgrade with lenses later if need be. Just looked at a EOS 1000D that has the required 10mg pixels and 3fps and under 20k. Can I use this with a scope ?

yes, you can use it with a scope.

Depending on what scope it is, you then need to purchase an appropriate adaptor.. look here for the very basics of digiscoping..

Thanks for the advice.

Finding the adaptor might be an eBay job.

But yes, think I'll have a go at digiscoping with a DSLR.

Will let you know how it turns out.

Cheers,

Jim.

[Bard]

500mm lens extremely expensive, well on a cropped camera I've seen lot's of photographers with Canon's 300L IS f/4 which is equal to a 480mm, you can also put a 1.4X converter on it making it on a crop sensor 672mm f/5.6 This is expensive lens but lens and converter totals 42k baht for the lens and 11k on the converter. It's not cheap but hey that's what lot of Pro is using.

Anyway the Tamron 18 - 250 should be good for starting out, plug it on a 1000D / 400D / The second hand 30D on the forum and you have a great camera with a fully usable lens, when you feel you exceed the ability in the lens go for a pro system. I do not see any point in going for a full frame sensor when you shoot wildlife at all, you get free longer reach which would cost you and arm and a leg for full frame.

P&S is probably OK if you are taking snaps but you outgrow them fast and regret not buying a dSLR with all the value added features they bring along in the first place.

Good luck Bard

[hanno]

I have a number of Thai friends that digiscope and buy their Swaros in Thailand; if you want I can ask them for the contact details.

[Goshawk]

I have a number of Thai friends that digiscope and buy their Swaros in Thailand; if you want I can ask them for the contact details.

nice one hanno...

[Geekfreaklover]

I have a number of Thai friends that digiscope and buy their Swaros in Thailand; if you want I can ask them for the contact details.

Thanks. If i get hold of a Swaros in Thailand that would be perfect.

By the way, after much thought I bought a P&S Canon A650 IS. Understand the narrow lense is more suited to digiscoping. Seems like a good piece of kit; digital and optical zoom 12.1m pixels, continous shooting. Plus, its light to carry.

Just need to get hold of the scope and adapter now!

[hanno]

I'll get back to you. They are often in the field and it might take a couple of days.

[hanno]

Geekfreaklover,

Here is the link to the Swaro Dealer: http://www.fotogear.net/html/index.php?opt...3&Itemid=26

And here is his e-mail:

Hanno