canon eos 350d+ef-s 18-55 ef 55-200 usm

[terryeyre]

anyone using one of these cameras with the lens above for taking bird photos can you please let me know how good the photos are thanks.

[postcardcv]

Hi Terry

The 350D is a fine camera, however the lenses you are talking about really are too short for most bird photography. Generally a 300mm lens is about the shortest you can get away with for bird photography and then you'll want something longer. I normally use a 500mm, often with a 1.4x tc attached, most of the time this is fine, but even with this I still sometimes want more reach.

I think that you'd fine a 200mm lens very infuriating for trying to take photos of birds. Also teh 55-200 usm is not a very fast focusing lens which is another big disadvantage. I have used this lens on a 350D but have never got any bird shots with it so cannot show any examples... sorry.

[terryeyre]

Hi Terry

The 350D is a fine camera, however the lenses you are talking about really are too short for most bird photography. Generally a 300mm lens is about the shortest you can get away with for bird photography and then you'll want something longer. I normally use a 500mm, often with a 1.4x tc attached, most of the time this is fine, but even with this I still sometimes want more reach.

I think that you'd fine a 200mm lens very infuriating for trying to take photos of birds. Also teh 55-200 usm is not a very fast focusing lens which is another big disadvantage. I have used this lens on a 350D but have never got any bird shots with it so cannot show any examples... sorry.
thanks for the information

[baillieswells]

anyone using one of these cameras with the lens above for taking bird photos can you please let me know how good the photos are thanks.

I have a 350D, and a Canon 70-200mm L f4 lens (this is a superb lens) but even with the 1.4 teleconverter which takes it to a maximum of 280mm (or 448mm taking into account the cameras 1.6 factor) is just right for large game animals, and large birds close up, it is totally unsuitable for small birds. The cheapest long focus lens I could find was the Sigma 170-500mm lens, others I on this forum are in favour of the Tamron 200-500mm lens. Obviously if you can afford it, go for the long focus Canon prime lenses, 400, 500 or 600mm, for a zoom lens the Canon 100-400mm is popular. Even with these lense one has to get pretty close up to say a Wren to get a full frame photo. Best of luck.

www.baillieswellsborderterriers.co.uk



lens

[JohnZ]

If you get a Canon, prime or zoom, lens you should find that you get a more acceptable result if you have to crop to increase the size of the bird.
I have also seen some very good results on here taken with the Tamron and Sigma lenses mentioned by baillieswells but I have no experience of either lens.
It really depends on how much you want, or are prepared, to spend in pursuit of our feathered friends !

[Chris Galvin]

I have a Canon 20D and sometimes use a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO HSM lens. I use it mainly for portrait work of people but have used it to great effect when trying to get decent images of birds in flight, particularly this summer whilst getting images of Swift in flight. However for general bird photography this lens is too small. If you really want to enter into the worl of bird photography then you really should consider either an EF100-400 Canon lens or take the leap and purchase a 500mm Lens. I still use my Sigma 500mm f4.5 and get great results with.

As for the EF-s 18-55mm lens (I have one too) then that really is for family shots or scenics

[terryeyre]

I have a Canon 20D and sometimes use a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO HSM lens. I use it mainly for portrait work of people but have used it to great effect when trying to get decent images of birds in flight, particularly this summer whilst getting images of Swift in flight. However for general bird photography this lens is too small. If you really want to enter into the worl of bird photography then you really should consider either an EF100-400 Canon lens or take the leap and purchase a 500mm Lens. I still use my Sigma 500mm f4.5 and get great results with.

As for the EF-s 18-55mm lens (I have one too) then that really is for family shots or scenics

thanks for the advice