Zoom Camera

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Blumen Posted: 11-16-2009 5:33 AM

I have seen all of these beautiful pictures posted on this site, especially the closeups with the birds. Are most of you using a powerful zoom lens with your cameras? I would like to get a new camera and checking prices with adding a zoom lens. It is very costly adding a lens, but seems if I want to get good shots of the birds I would need that.

Any help would be appreciated.........

Thanks, Debbie

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Ed Guthro replied on 11-16-2009 7:06 PM

Hi Blumen, Good bird photos do usually require a long lens, and slr camera. I prefer a prime lens as they are alot sharper in most cases, but there are some good zooms out there as well. You will want at least a 300mm. There are some good point and shoot type cameras out there now as well, but if you are going to get serious you will want a slr. You have heard the saying that you get what you pay for and I think that applies to optics more than anywhere else...Ed

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Blumen replied on 11-17-2009 4:29 AM

Thanks Ed for your help. It was not until yesterday that I found out the difference with the SLR. I didn't know that some cameras you could not attach a lens. I was looking at a new Canon Powershot SX20 Is, which has great reviews and is only $359. Can't add lens.

I figured that most of those wonderful closeup bird shots were done with a powerful zoom lens.

Yesterday would have been a great day here to have a zoom lens, a hawk was sitting forever in a tree overlooking the trap with two HOSP in it.

I will probably have to wait until after Xmas for sale on those SLR, and spend hours reading the reviews. What we do for the birds!!

Thanks, Debbie

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Hiker07_IL_5 replied on 11-17-2009 11:05 AM

I have the camera you mentioned on here but when it comes to bird pictures I prefer my 75-300 zoom lens on my Rebel XT, for me it's easier to focus on them. The lens cost me $300 and it's good to start out with.

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Blumen replied on 11-17-2009 7:18 PM

I had assumed most were using the 75-300 zoom. That Rebel XT has great reviews. I am glad I spent time and read about cameras, because I would have ordered that Canon Power Shot and then found out I couldn't put a zoom lens on it.

Thanks so much for your help. I will be watching the upcoming sales for the Xmas season.

Debbie

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Sherry8___WI replied on 11-24-2009 9:48 AM

I just read an article in one of the B& B magazines and he said he took his pictures from the bathroom window. He has a piece of wood cut so his camera can point out and he feeds them close-by, that way you will have them right in front of you...  Start feeding them early so they are attracted to the area and start shooting...This will help you until you get a new camera. I am having my husband cut me a board to fit a bedroom window so I can do just what I read about. It should help hold out some of the cold air too.

He also told about setting up different areas so all the pictures aren't the same...some evergreen branches to set on top of a board will change the setting....add different feeders to the area or just switch them often....

This will help you so you do not have to invest in a new lens or camera until you have money saved or until you find one on sale.....

I think the book had a cardinal on it and it was the last one I got.

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Hiker07_IL_5 replied on 11-24-2009 12:44 PM

I have a feeder right outside of the window above my sink and that's where I get my pictures. With my 75-300 lens I can get them pretty good from the middle of my yard, got the hawk last week in a peach tree.

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grannyfarmer replied on 11-25-2009 9:28 AM

Years ago I used to hang a branch over the feeder hanging right in front of the window and on days that I wanted to take photos I just opened the top half of the window and sat away from the window (with my winter coat on sometimes) and waited for the second bird that perched on the branch because it was waiting for the first bird at the feeder!

I used a 300mm zoom in those days but I didn't take as many photos because I had to buy film!  You can do the same thing with a digital camera if you are sitting in a darkened room.  If you want to take photos up close - you have the bring the birds in closer and you can set up a flower pot with just dirt and a couple of branches of evergreens into it, or other interesting branches then set it near your feeders, or even sprinkle some seed on the dirt in the flowerpot.  Then watch the birds for a while and pick their favorite perches then set the camera on a tripod and focus the camera on that spot then snap the photo when the bird gets to that spot!