Birding Photography Tips

[Cody]

Hi everyone,

  I am a newbie to Birding and I do not have a lot of experience with cameras (almost 2 years) so I was wondering if someone could give me some advice for Nature Photography.


Thanks,
Cody

[JTF]

What camera and lenses do you currently use? I use a Nikon D50 w/80-400vr as my main birding setup.

[Kin Lau]

I agree with JTF. What type of equipment are you using? How are you finding it?

We all love getting more/better/newer equipment, but understanding the limitations of what you have can often also teach you how to make  the best of what you have.

[Cody]

I currently have a Canon Powershot S5 IS with a 6.0-72.0mm (if that's a such lense :lol: ).

[Kin Lau]

The S5IS is a fairly decent digicam. About a 432mm equiv at the long end, which unfortunately, is just not quite long enough for birds.

It's certainly handy enough that you can carry it just about anywhere. You'll probably appreciate it more once you've lugged at 10lb camera + lens + support

The problem with most digicams, is how slow the AF is, so that if the bird isn't perched or just soaring, it'll be tough. I don't know how hard it is to use manual focus on this camera (I know from use that the Panasonic FZ20 was easy due to the use of a focus ring), but that might be something to try if you find the camera is having a hard time catching up.

I know the S5 has IS, but it's still worthwhile to make sure you're holding the camera relatively still. A monopod will likely help here.

[Cody]

How are you finding it?

 I'm not highly impressed with the S5 IS. Photographing Hawks flying near the Escarpment from my backyard, I find that majority of my pictures are not turning out very good. I understand that the Hawks are very far away but still at least it would be nice if you were able to ID some of them easily and not have to have a huge list of possibilities because of the quality. I find that shooting behind glass will usually produce low quality pictures. The S5 IS will occasionally produce a very nice photo but that is not very common  

The S5IS is a fairly decent digicam. About a 432mm equiv at the long end, which unfortunately, is just not quite long enough for birds.

  What kind of lense would be good but in a low price range?

It's certainly handy enough that you can carry it just about anywhere. You'll probably appreciate it more once you've lugged at 10lb camera + lens + support

:lol:

The problem with most digicams, is how slow the AF is, so that if the bird isn't perched or just soaring, it'll be tough. I don't know how hard it is to use manual focus on this camera (I know from use that the Panasonic FZ20 was easy due to the use of a focus ring), but that might be something to try if you find the camera is having a hard time catching up.

    Since I'm new to both birding and photography I may not know what certain things mean. For example, what's AF? The problem with the Manual setting on my camera is, that there is a 3 second delay between photos which will not work very good for me.

I know the S5 has IS, but it's still worthwhile to make sure you're holding the camera relatively still. A monopod will likely help here.

   What's IS and are monopods and tripods the same?



Thanks,
Cody

[Kin Lau]

Ah.. the fun stuff

AF = auto focus
IS = image stabilization
tripod = 3 legged support for your camera
monopod = 1 legged support for your camera

I think you'll have a really hard time trying to shooting flying hawks with the S5IS. A digital SLR is hard to beat for shooting birds in flight. Unfortunately, the cost of a basic setup is going to run you at least $1000-CDN.

[BillSimpson]

I bought the Canon Powershot SX10IS at Xmas and have had a lot of good use from it. I have got pretty respectable pictures at distances up to 30 or 40 feet, and a few good ones at longer distances. Beyond that, the pictures are good for helping identify birds after the fact but not for sharing. It is relatively light, easy to use and an ok price (~$450), so a good purchase for someone like me: a keen but occasional birder, not very good photographer and not ready to invest heavily right now.

The autofocus is not great and needs practice. I have had no luck with moving objects, and it will sometimes jump to the wrong place at the worst moment and ruin the picture. The other drawback is the viewfinder, which is really just a miniaturized lcd screen, and it can be tough to locate the target. If I can, I use the tripod and the fold out LCD lens which is a great feature.

I am planning to augment this with a DSLR and a real lens when I can gather up the motivation to invest the cash.

[ravynne40]

i'm using a fujifilm finepix S1500 with a 12x zoom lense, i'm not sure if i can change the lens on this thing but so far for learning about picture taking, its fun, it also gives me the choice of using point and shoot or manual.

i also have optical zoom and digital zoom, i noticed that when i use the digital zoom it goes a little farther but the pictures are very pixelly! so i try to stay within the optical zoom range.

i have also gotten a small tripod which helps with shaking (after seeing my video i now know i need the tripod)

IreneC.

[Kin Lau]

Stay away from digital zoom.

[mr.sharp-photo]

I agree with JTF. What type of equipment are you using? How are you finding it?

We all love getting more/better/newer equipment, but understanding the limitations of what you have can often also teach you how to make  the best of what you have.

just wondering if you've found the lens sweet spot?
it was suggested to shoot at f8 and no lower.
also playing with my d700 settings to try to get better autofocus to make things sharper.

[Kin Lau]

The sweet spot is different from lens to lens, but my main birding lenses are the Sigma 50-500, Sigma 400/5.6 (trunk lens - it's there all the time) and Canon EF 400/5.6L. I can use all of them wide open. I only try to stop down if I need the extra depth-of-field.

I also have an older Sigma 170-500 that I usually stop down to f8 if the light allows. Most of the time, I find that lack of shutter speed to freeze the action and/or camera movement (especially if I'm panning) is much more crucial than stopping down.

Even with a tripod/monopod or IS, good long lens technique is still vital.

[denis]

i,ll second all the great advice given here.i started with a rebel xt,then a canon 20-d,modified for astrophotography,and my current camera is a 40-d. for glass,of course i started with the kit lenses,that come with the packages,but soon outgrew those,poor,slow lenses.i just traded my canon 100-400 IS L,for a 300 f/4,since a month ago i purchased a used canon 500 mm f/4,a heavy duty tripod,and JOBU gimball head. i traded the 100-400,fot the 300,because the 300 is faster,and will take the 1.4x extender,and still autofocus,and is lighter.
i buy most of my stuff from the U.S.,where excellent deals can be had.so,cody,i,ve often seen canon 350d,or rebel xt,s,for under 400,with low actuations.
i would buy an excellent used body,and buy the best glass you can afford.it,s all about the glass.my 100-400,retails here for about 2200.00,with tax. i bought mine in mint condition,for 1250.00,USD.with duty,exchange,and shipping,the total was 1500.00,CDN,a savings of 700.00!there,s no need to pay exhorbatant prices! just shop around.by the way the 100-400,is a great birding lens,and probably the best zoo lens,out there,with a great range.
my 2 cents
denis