Cameras for Birdwatching: What's yours?

[Neil Rigby]

We'd all like to take nice clear photographs of the birds we see, but what sort of of camera should we use and what budget should we allow for amateur use.

Join me in this discussion and let's explore the credit crunch options is as well as the lottery winning piece of kit!

[Dave H]

Well, not so much about the camera but about the lens you might want to get those shots.

With very capable cameras in the £200 to £400 range, it came as no surprise that a friend and keen wildlife watcher had spent about £250 on his Canon and then was very pleased with himself when he snagged a 300mm f2.8 lens for over £1400. He thought that he had got a bargain.
That is a fast lens for its size, but really! he must be keen indeed!

Would you consider such a purchase?

[kennethw]

I find 300mm too short, for birding and wildlife, unless your subject tolerates people such as mute swans or the garden robin, you have to get close to your subject, which in most cases flies off by the time you are close enough to get a decent shot. 400mm at least, pref. 500. I'm looking at spending around £1k, maybe second hand, canon, maybe Sigma, studying others opinions online as while some like the Sigma, one person said the best thing that happened to his Sigma was its theft

For real credit crunch photography, some, like myself are turning to older MF lenses such as Carl Zeiss, with a sutiable adapter to fit modern DSLR bodies. OK, you sacrifice AF and IS and your subject has to be slow moving or predictable, but you can get a lot of glass for little money - Yashica 135mm prime, cleaning marks to rear lens £1.20, Vivitar 135 prime 99p from that online auction site, ps I do more than wildlife photography so realise this focal length is again restricted to obliging subjects

[paul2009]

I use a sony A450 dslr with either 55-200, tamron 70-300 or my sony 500mm F8 AF reflex lens when i`m going to do something definate. If i`m just doing walk about i use a fuji HS10 that cost £219 new which does ok for id uses with its 24-720mm of reach and a 2x zoom on top. Cheers Paul

[paul2009]

this shot was taken with the 500mm for those looking for a cheap AF lens. Mine cost £295 second hand.
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[MIKE THROWER]

Nikon D300 and D7000, 500MM F4.5

[PeterB]

Like I said, 99% experience.