Camera talk what do you use??

V Bull

Saw this guy about 2 weeks ago.

sables2

V Bull wrote: »

Saw this guy about 2 weeks ago.

Hi V Bull. Super images! How did you take 'em? Digiscoping...or a camera? So clear. Where was it taken too? Cheers, and well done

V Bull

sables2 wrote: »

Thanks V Bull. Great info. Your new to birding....(the image of that buzzard was a good start) :eek:

Thanks, just got into it a couple years ago, always liked birds & animals & stuff. I still have big problems identifying alot of birds, particularly the smaller type and waders, all very enjoyable I might add.

The photo's were taken between Clonee & Dunboyne on the old road with a Canon 400D but had to crop & adjust.

I always keep the camera in the car when driving about, you never know what might jump out of the bushes........:P

sables2

V Bull wrote: »

Thanks, just got into it a couple years ago, always liked birds & animals & stuff. I still have big problems identifying alot of birds, particularly the smaller type and waders, all very enjoyable I might add.

The photo's were taken between Clonee & Dunboyne on the old road with a Canon 400D but had to crop & adjust.

I always keep the camera in the car when driving about, you never know what might jump out of the bushes........:P

Thanks for that . I'm not long into birding either. Very enjoyable i will add. I like you, find it almost impossible to I.D a lot of birds. I'm getting there. For instance, i will confuse a: tree sparrow from a house sparrow. My favourite birds are without a doubt raptors. They're graceful and powerful.
PS: would your Canon 400D be better than a Canon EOS 450? I have the latter. I'm brutal when comes to camera's. What binocular/scope do you use too? I want a pair of Nikon 8x32 SE's Currently i use Zeiss Jena porro's 8x30...they're nice and fairly sharp. I have a Nikon ED 50 angled scope - lovely travel scope and i HIGHLY recommend one!! I'm a bit if a 'binoholic' .

ender ender

Sables, is your EOS 450 a digital camera? As in a 450D? If so it's the replacement for the 400D, so slightly better (newer anyway, so probably with a few improvements).
Saw my second buzzard today at Ballealy land fill near Lusk. Scanning the skies for buzzards has become my new favourite pastime...

sables2

ender ender wrote: »

Sables, is your EOS 450 a digital camera? As in a 450D? If so it's the replacement for the 400D, so slightly better (newer anyway, so probably with a few improvements).
Saw my second buzzard today at Ballealy land fill near Lusk. Scanning the skies for buzzards has become my new favourite pastime...

Hi ender ender. Thanks for that info on camera! Mine IS the EOS 450 D. Truly a lovely camera and extremely sharp end to end!! love it. Just wish i know more about it. Like can i get zoom in lens..like a scope. I want to look at raptors without disturbing them, etc.
PS: A lot of boys on here tell me off/on the M50 is best for looking for buzzards and kites, etc. Is that the case in your opinion?

ender ender

Sables, I don't use Canon cameras so I wouldn't be the best person to advise you, but possibly something like a 70-200mm or 70-300mm focal length lens could be good. Most modern Canon lenses should fit a 450D.

I'd imagine a lens with a longer focal length than 300mm would be ideal for wildlife photography because it'll give you greater magnification, but anything above this size and you're talking silly money! But you can get extension tubes that can boost magnification too, and they're fairly inexpensive.

Maybe someone else here could give you better advice, I'm not a wildlife photographer, I prefer subjects that don't move around so much!

E39MSport

I've got a Sigma 50-500 with my 300D. It's very heavy but quite effective. Doesn't let much light in though so ineffective in low light situations.
Also have a 1.4 iirc extension which is good but lets a lot less light in again.

sables2

ender ender wrote: »

Sables, I don't use Canon cameras so I wouldn't be the best person to advise you, but possibly something like a 70-200mm or 70-300mm focal length lens could be good. Most modern Canon lenses should fit a 450D.

I'd imagine a lens with a longer focal length than 300mm would be ideal for wildlife photography because it'll give you greater magnification, but anything above this size and you're talking silly money! But you can get extension tubes that can boost magnification too, and they're fairly inexpensive.

Maybe someone else here could give you better advice, I'm not a wildlife photographer, I prefer subjects that don't move around so much!

Thanks for that Ender. I only want something reasonable...will look into it. Some others here might have some sufficient camera lens knowledge.

snowstreams

sables2 wrote: »

Thanks for that Ender. I only want something reasonable...will look into it. Some others here might have some sufficient camera lens knowledge.

I have a 300mm lense too. Its the best value for a decent picture. Anything more than 300mm costs 500euro plus.

i took this buzzard pic with my Tamron 300m lense to give you an idea of what i can do. Cost 160euro for it.

sables2

snowstreams wrote: »

I have a 300mm lense too. Its the best value for a decent picture. Anything more than 300mm costs 500euro plus.

i took this buzzard pic with my Tamron 300m lense to give you an idea of what i can do. Cost 160euro for it.

Hi snowstreams,
That's a truly beautiful image of the buzzard. SO clear and crisp. I have a Canon EOS 450d with a ES-F 18mm/55mm:(with camera) lens...(i'm not a camera buff) can i get one of these Tamron lens at this price: €160 and fix to my EOS, and would it attach on? Are they worth the the money if i got one too? Thanks a lot

snowstreams

sables2 wrote: »

Hi snowstreams,
That's a truly beautiful image of the buzzard. SO clear and crisp. I have a Canon EOS 450d with a ES-F 18mm/55mm:(with camera) lens...(i'm not a camera buff) can i get one of these Tamron lens at this price: €160 and fix to my EOS, and would it attach on? Are they worth the the money if i got one too? Thanks a lot

Im not that sure of how it would work with a canon camera because canons work best when the lense has image stability built into the lense. I have a sony camera so the stability control is built into the camera instead. I your using a tripod then you wont need any image stabilty, but i prefer to be quick and take the shot freehand, so stability is important then.

Here is a link to a canon compatible tamron 300mm lense without image stability.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-AF-70-300mm-F4-5-6-Macro/dp/B000HDZAUA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291926222&sr=8-1

Any 70-300mm lense would be good for taking images of buzzards and other birds of prey. And you may be able to get some lenses with Image stability built in too.
This is a link to some other raptor photos i took with this lense. http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowstreams/sets/72157622509712652/
No matter what lense you get though, you will still have to be able to get up reasonably close for a good shot!

ender ender

I didn't think a 2-300mm lens would be much use but the photos on here prove otherwise - great work. Sables you could always have a look in Gunn's on Wexford Street too, I don't think they do Tamron or Sigma but they give great advice without trying to sell you stuff you don't need. They were a great help to me when I started in photography and didn't know much (still don't!).
Be careful though, photography can very quickly start sucking all your money out of the bank...

snowstreams

ender ender wrote: »

I didn't think a 2-300mm lens would be much use but the photos on here prove otherwise - great work. Sables you could always have a look in Gunn's on Wexford Street too, I don't think they do Tamron or Sigma but they give great advice without trying to sell you stuff you don't need. They were a great help to me when I started in photography and didn't know much (still don't!).
Be careful though, photography can very quickly start sucking all your money out of the bank...

Ive rented out a 400mm lense before for a weekend. It was a lot better for getting birds in flight. But cost over 500 euro to buy if i remember correctly. Thats the main reason i recommend a 300mm lense, you can learn alot using it without having to spend too much money.
Thats a good idea about going to a decent camera shop, they will know whats a good lense for wildlife photography alright. Best of luck with it.

littlebug

I find the 70-300 (sigma) great for things that aren't that far away ie I can get decent close ups of birds in the garden, at the feeders etc.
Other than that there'll be some serious cropping required and at full zoom the quality won't be good anyway unless it's on a tripod which I wouldn't normally carry around. I have a little mini table tripod which doesn't really hold the full weight of the camera but it does help if I can manage to get it wedged on a wall or something. Occasionally with birds flying i'll just get lucky!

Does anyone have any tips for the best settings for birds that are moving? I know a little bit about aperture etc but when on the spot it takes too long to figure out and I just stick it on auto (Canon 450D).

I'd love to get a 50-500 and was browsing around to look at prices but at €1500 for the sigma :eek: that aint gonna happen anytime soon!

trebor28

ye could always venture over to the photogaphy forum on boards and have a root around and ask some q's over there

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=27

Trizo

littlebug wrote: »

I find the 70-300 (sigma) great for things that aren't that far away ie I can get decent close ups of birds in the garden, at the feeders etc.
Other than that there'll be some serious cropping required and at full zoom the quality won't be good anyway unless it's on a tripod which I wouldn't normally carry around. I have a little mini table tripod which doesn't really hold the full weight of the camera but it does help if I can manage to get it wedged on a wall or something. Occasionally with birds flying i'll just get lucky!

Does anyone have any tips for the best settings for birds that are moving? I know a little bit about aperture etc but when on the spot it takes too long to figure out and I just stick it on auto (Canon 450D).

I'd love to get a 50-500 and was browsing around to look at prices but at €1500 for the sigma :eek: that aint gonna happen anytime soon!

I had the 450D and used to use it with the canon 400 5.6 lens its a great lens and would recommend it to anyone thinking of taking wildlife shots (it was know and the canon birding lens), has a great focal range and is lighter than most of the other canon L lens useful for following a bird in flight.
the only lacking feature is image stabilisation but just use a high enough shutter speed if you can and this won’t be a problem. costs around 1000 :eek: so its not cheap.

i used to use the Sigma 70-300 lens also very good and great for walking about but didn’t have the reach or sharpness of the 400 and the autofocus is considerably slower. but for its price its a bargain, i think the newer model has OS (sigma's image stabilisation also).

tips for moving birds
-Use a fast shutter speed 1/1000 or more if you can although you can take good shots at lower. remember that the brightness of the sky may fool the cameras sensor so you’ll get a really dark bird against a bright sky , you need to exposure compensate for this. Focus points are important too if the background is clear you can happily use all/most the focus points if there are trees and such in the background you may be better using just one of your focus points.Canon's AI servo focus tracking works good not sure what it’s called on other makes but they all have something similar.

sables2

ender ender wrote: »

I didn't think a 2-300mm lens would be much use but the photos on here prove otherwise - great work. Sables you could always have a look in Gunn's on Wexford Street too, I don't think they do Tamron or Sigma but they give great advice without trying to sell you stuff you don't need. They were a great help to me when I started in photography and didn't know much (still don't!).
Be careful though, photography can very quickly start sucking all your money out of the bank...

Hi ender,
I'll look into Gunn's Wexford Street and see what they have or say. I'm brutal when it comes to cameras 300mm and focal lens,etc boggles me :rolleyes:. I REALLY appreciate your help though. I'd LOVE to get a images like the guys here have snapped with convicton and a lot of patients no doubt! Much easier said than done...for sure.

ender ender

No worries Sables, Gunn's are probably the best shop in town for advice, particularly if you're not too sure what you're after.
Oh god, all this talk of 300mm lenses has put the idea of getting one in my head now. I'll have to add it to the list behind the studio lights, new computer and 24-70mm lense (€1200!)!

Hope to see some nice images from you soon...

BrianD3

My opinion on this is that good results can be achieved with a fixed lens camera with a big optical zoom. I have a Fuji S8000 with 18x zoom lens and in favourable light I think the results approach that of me using a DSLR. I do not claim to be anything like an expert and I'm going to leave myself open to ridicule by posting a photo taken using the Fuji. My next camera will probably be the Canon SX30 IS with a whopping 35x zoom (24 to 840 mm)

sables2

ender ender wrote: »

No worries Sables, Gunn's are probably the best shop in town for advice, particularly if you're not too sure what you're after.
Oh god, all this talk of 300mm lenses has put the idea of getting one in my head now. I'll have to add it to the list behind the studio lights, new computer and 24-70mm lense (€1200!)!

Hope to see some nice images from you soon...

Hi ender again,
Listen that's the best advice...going to the shop in person. Nice one . I have you going now, so you are 'gagging' to get a new one yourself. Do, and i prefer to see YOUR images than mine...if i get one :rolleyes:

sables2

BrianD3 wrote: »

My opinion on this is that good results can be achieved with a fixed lens camera with a big optical zoom. I have a Fuji S8000 with 18x zoom lens and in favourable light I think the results approach that of me using a DSLR. I do not claim to be anything like an expert and I'm going to leave myself open to ridicule by posting a photo taken using the Fuji. My next camera will probably be the Canon SX30 IS with a whopping 35x zoom (24 to 840 mm)

Hi Brian. That's a TRULY stunning image...and you claim: " not to be an expert"...:eek:. This image should be on BWI (Bird Watch Ireland site) in my humble opinion.

Trizo

Hi BrianD3 you can get excellent results with point and shoot & bridge cameras i used to shoot with an Fuji S7000 although there are a number of advantages with DSLR's which means ill never be going back. The shutter lag used to be one of the most annoying limitations but non dslr cameras are getting closer all the time and there is no reason why you cant get some stunning images from these.

ender ender

I've only got one half decent image ever - and I only got it because the robin was about 2 feet from me

That's a great image BrianD3, as Trizo says P+S and bridge cameras can produce great results. I mean, 840mm focal length? A Canon 800mm lense costs about 8 grand and weighs 4.5kg!

BrianD3

Thanks for the kind words lads The sparrow image was taken at full zoom (486 mm equivalent on the Fuji F8000) and as you can see from the sky it was a bright summer's day.

The Canon camera I mentioned with the 840 mm lens is this one, check out the pics of Alcatraz prison at full telephoto :eek:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sx30-review/look-and-feel

artieanna

Hi folks I'm curious as to what equipment people here use to take some of the great photographs posted here...

Some of you probably have the pricy DSLR's, or others

Please share what you use and the pros cons etc... if you can post a link to your type of camera, please do.

I use...
Up to recently I was using Fujifilm FinePix 2800, I loved this camera and I have it for years but I found I needed more zoom to capture birds or anything in the distance. Fuji don't do rechargeable batteries and this camera was heavy on batteries, so it was expensive to run.
http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-2800-Digital-Zoom/dp/B00005QI59

Recently I bought a fujifilm hs20exr, I am still getting the feel of it but so far I am really happy with it, Huge x30 zoom. fuji still using regular batteries but this camera is not heavy on them, it has a manual zoom and the flash can be turned on or off . http://www.safari-guide.co.uk/fujifilm-finepix-hs20exr-digital-camera-review.php

swifts need our help!

I dont have a digital SLR but hope to have one soon but ...

my point and shoot compact Canon 900Ti is excellent especially for macro/close up shots
http://www.marksgardenplants.com/dactylorhizas.htm

littlebug

I have a Canon 450D which I'm not altogether happy with considering how much it cost. It has has a tendency to overexpose which means having to mess with it and pics a bit too much for my liking.
I have a sigma 70-300mm lens which is a pretty good zoom....but not quite good enough. I think I "need"* :pac: a stronger zoom.

I also find it's not great for macro and have trouble focusing on the small stuff so I also "need"* a macro lens.

* I can also dream on :rolleyes:

ppink

LB we picked up a canon 450D (?) in US with all the different lens for really cheap money. Now as you will see I have still not learned to drive said camera:rolleyes: but if you are looking for lens etc for it we found them miles cheaper over there.

littlebug

ppink wrote: »

LB we picked up a canon 450D (?) in US with all the different lens for really cheap money. Now as you will see I have still not learned to drive said camera:rolleyes: but if you are looking for lens etc for it we found them miles cheaper over there.

What lens(es?) do you have ppink?

ppink

I have a 28-135, 75-300 and a little wide angle lens with macro.

these all came with the camera.....and a tripod and other bits and pieces. we did see that you could order lenses separately.

we got everything on ebay and had them shipped to my sister in the US before we were due to go out there on holiday.
I would like to get a bigger zoom also, the 300 is great but then you just want to be closer and closer:)

V Bull

I had a Canon EOS 450D with an old second hand 75-300mm f4-5.6 111 USM lens, upgraded to a 550D with a Sigma 150-500mm lens, they were pretty good and I was happy with them all, Sigma lens was a bit heavy, slow to focus, sturdy but ok. Then just over a month or so ago I traded in the 550 & Sigma along with selling off some other sporting gear, and bought a new Canon 7D with a Canon EF 300mm f4 IS USM lens.

Very happy with the package, lots to learn about them both but getting there. I do think however that I need a longer lens, most of my photo’s are cropped to the last, maybe a 400mm at least. I’ll have to sell off more of my other toys to finance it I think….or I could write a letter to Santa maybe….

whyulittle

Investigate a 1.4x converter V Bull, before selling such a nice lens.

A quick google says the lens will retain AF with the 1.4x, but not the 2x. You'd end up with a 420mm f/5.6 lens.

1D + 100-400mm in use here.

Half-cocked

whyulittle wrote: »

Investigate a 1.4x converter V Bull, before selling such a nice lens.

A quick google says the lens will retain AF with the 1.4x, but not the 2x. You'd end up with a 420mm f/5.6 lens.

1D + 100-400mm in use here.

+1 on the teleconverter.

I use the 300mm f4L with a 1.4x t/c and its the biz. AF is a bit slower but otherwise its fine. The image quality from most of the L series lenses is amazing.

V Bull

Thanks a mill Whyulittle & Half-cocked, you have saved me a packet. I think Santa might be able to afford the t/c..

Thanks again..:)

littlebug

Do you know if you can you use the converter with a sigma lens?

whyulittle

littlebug wrote: »

I have a Canon 450D which I'm not altogether happy with considering how much it cost. It has has a tendency to overexpose which means having to mess with it and pics a bit too much for my liking.
I have a sigma 70-300mm lens which is a pretty good zoom....but not quite good enough. I think I "need"* :pac: a stronger zoom.

I also find it's not great for macro and have trouble focusing on the small stuff so I also "need"* a macro lens.

* I can also dream on :rolleyes:

Sigma have their own, here is a compatability chart.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/sigma-lens-teleconverter-compatability-chart

For cheaper Macro, check out Kenko Extension Tubes LB. They let you focus closer than normal, so you get closer than normal. They don't contain any glass, so don't deteriorate the image.

This was taken with just a 50mm lens, with extension tubes.

Half-cocked

littlebug wrote: »

Do you know if you can you use the converter with a sigma lens?

Probably not the Canon t/c, but Sigma make their own, check for compatibility on their website. Not all lenses are able to accept t/c's.

trebor28

i have this camera.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePix-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B00342UTPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316555306&sr=8-1

its ok, the zoom is obviously the best part of it.
pic quality can be quite bad.

would love to upgrade to a dslr, but wouldnt be able to afford a lens to get good shots of birds.
would the dslr with your standard 18 - 55 lens be any good for birds that arent 20 feet in front of you?

littlebug

whyulittle wrote: »

For cheaper Macro, check out Kenko Extension Tubes LB. They let you focus closer than normal, so you get closer than normal. They don't contain any glass, so don't deteriorate the image.

This was taken with just a 50mm lens, with extension tubes.

interesting. I have a 50mm lens. I wonder how the macro on that with extension tube would compare to macro with the standard 18-55mm lens. I just find it really hard to get decent focus.

Half-cocked wrote: »

Probably not the Canon t/c, but Sigma make their own, check for compatibility on their website. Not all lenses are able to accept t/c's.

I'll do my homework on both t/c and extension tube in time for santa :cool:

trebor28 wrote: »

would the dslr with your standard 18 - 55 lens be any good for birds that arent 20 feet in front of you?

In my experience no which why I got the Sigma which is good but I feel I still want more!
Quality may be down to lack of skill though. I do think tripod is probably one of the most helpful things but not something you tend to carry round with you when out for a walk in the woods. I do sometimes carry around a little mini table tripod which can help to stabilise things.

Also ... what software do others use? Any alternative to picassa? (which I love).

whyulittle

You can get a one-legged tripod, called a.....monopod - funnily enough.

It just takes the weight of the camera/lens to keep them steady, which is all you need for wildlife.

I'd just handhold though, unless your gear is very heavy or it was particularly windy like it has been the past week.

artieanna

I bought a tripod recently from Aldi around €15 will use it for photographing art, but really its not practical to drag around when photographing wildlife etc.. I like to point and shoot and walk :O)

Some of you dslr guys have completly lost me talking about different lenses etc, but thanks for sharing...

The software I use is an inexpensive programme I bought on disc on ebay called "gimp2" very easy to use and works well, does all I want anyway...

see gimp here
http://www.gimp.org/

cscook

artieanna wrote: »

I bought a tripod recently from Aldi around €15 will use it for photographing art, but really its not practical to drag around when photographing wildlife etc.. I like to point and shoot and walk :O)

Some of you dslr guys have completly lost me talking about different lenses etc, but thanks for sharing...

The software I use is an inexpensive programme I bought on disc on ebay called "gimp2" very easy to use and works well, does all I want anyway...

see gimp here
http://www.gimp.org/

GIMP is free :eek:, you shouldn't have had to pay for it. It's pretty good, and there are plenty of tutorials on the net as well as a couple of good books. Now one of those IS worth paying for, IMO.

whyulittle

Keep an eye on your local Tesco for good deals on batteries/chargers/memory.

There is a thread in Bargain Alerts.

artieanna

cscook wrote: »

GIMP is free :eek:, you shouldn't have had to pay for it. It's pretty good, and there are plenty of tutorials on the net as well as a couple of good books. Now one of those IS worth paying for, IMO.

It is I realised that when I looked up the link, Paid very little for it and the disc was handy to put on a few computers. At the time I never thought of looking up freeware stuff...:(

littlebug

Santa came early Sigma 50mm F2.8 D Macro acquired today. Now I just need the weather to change so I can go out and take photos of small things:rolleyes:

cscook

You need the wind to die down too!
Have fun - a macro is a great addition to any lens kit.