Need advice of camera (and lens) choice for taking photos of wild birds at short dist

[welly]

I’d like to buy a camera that would be good for taking photos of wild birds on my balcony. I’m going to take such photos from the balcony from the distance of about 10 feet and out of the room as well. I’ve tried with Nikon coolpix 8800 and find pictures quality very good, but it’s sometimes difficult to manage this when a bird moves fast.
I should be thankful for any advice about the choice of the camera. I’m thinking about Nikon coolpix 8800 or Canon EOS 350 D) and if your advice is „Canon 350 D” then which lens would be suitable as the first lens for this camera? Perhaps Canon EF 70-200 1:4 L USM?
Later I’ll be also interested of taking indoor photos of parrots.
__________________________________________________ ___
welly

[Art Thorn]

I own the 70-200 f4 and am quite pleased with the pictures on an 8 Mpixel 1D MK II. The lens lets you focus down to about 4 ft, and is very sharp. Canon's web site shows MDF curves for it's L series lenses, and the two 70-200 zooms seem to be better than the 200 f2.8 prime, and about equal in contrast, resolution, etc. So that combination is probably a good choice. I will recommend that you spend a fair bit of money on a good tripod and head also, as I've found those to be critical if you want sharp pictures.

[welly]

Thank you, Art, for your reply. Could you show here some photos made with this lens please?
With best wishes,
welly

[HoppyUK]

I agree with Art.

350D, 70-200mm f/4 L, Manfrotto 190Pro with 322 joy-stick head, would be my choice.

In the UK, there is a cash-back promotion worth £70GBP (€100Eur?) off the 70-200 lens. I think it is pan-Europe, so probably available in Germany. It has been so successful though, that you cannot buy this lens in the UK - completely sold out until the end of this month, I'm told.

This lens is very highly regarded. One of Canon's best, and at a very good price. There is a huge amount about this lens if you search the Canon Lens Forum of www.dpreview.com

Richard.

PS There is also £35GBP off the new Canon 580EX flash, which is a superb gun. Also the less powerful 430EX has money off.

[welly]

Hi, Hoppy.
Thank you for your reply. In Germany you can’t buy the lens 70-200 mm, either (sold out).
By the way, about prices: canon 350 d body costs in Germany 730 Euro (with 1 year Canon warranty), the lens 70-200 mm – 670 Euro (-100 Euro cash back), 100-400 4L – 1680 Euro… ( in photo shops, not online). In the USA the prices are much lower. You can fly and buy for the price! And what’s about the prices in the UK, are they as high as in Germany (not online)?
With best wishes,
welly

[tirc83]

Most of the photos here are taken with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L lens on a Canon 20D or Canon 300D. http://www.pbase.com/tirc/birds

[condyk]

350D is about the best DSLR for a reasonable price at the moment. 70-200mm f4 is a lovely lens if you're confident that light will be good. Sigma 100-300 f4 is as good optically, goes longer, and performs better in lower light and with a TCon. The Sigma 70-200 2.8 would be a good buy as it will work better indoors, though you really need flash with most lenses unless you start looking at the f2 and below primes. For PArrots indoors it depends on the situation. You could manage with a 50mm 1.8 Canon if you can control where you and they are and you're close enough. In such a situation, I would then get a 100-300 f4 Sigma for outdoors and a decent tripod and ballhead: I recommend Feisol tripod with a Manfrotto 488 RC2 ballhead. This is light, strong and flexible should you ever move from the balcony ;-)

[welly]

Most of the photos here are taken with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L lens on a Canon 20D or Canon 300D. http://www.pbase.com/tirc/birds

Thank you, Tirk, for your reply.Your gallery shows excellent skill and shots are very sharp! Should I then get canon 20d rather than canon 350d?
With best wishes,
welly

[welly]

350D is about the best DSLR for a reasonable price at the moment. 70-200mm f4 is a lovely lens if you're confident that light will be good. Sigma 100-300 f4 is as good optically, goes longer, and performs better in lower light and with a TCon. The Sigma 70-200 2.8 would be a good buy as it will work better indoors, though you really need flash with most lenses unless you start looking at the f2 and below primes.

Thanks a lot, Condy, for useful information.
With best wishes,
welly

[tirc83]

Thank you, Tirk, for your reply.Your gallery shows excellent skill and shots are very sharp! Should I then get canon 20d rather than canon 350d?
With best wishes,
welly

They are both excellent cameras and you won't go wrong with either one. It is generally accepted that the 20D has the edge over the 350D but for one off shots I'd say there's nothing to choose between them.

Regards
Gary