Please help!!!

[Bigwigg]

I have just been informed by somebody (not of this forum) that there is probably no point in photographing birds until I have more experience, and professional equipment.

This bothers me a little, as I know that I need to upgrade my equipment, but I also know that I cannot afford to spend a very large amount of money. And I WANT to photograph birds (and other wildlife).

Yes, I am a total beginner when it comes to photography, and I do have a huge amount to learn. I only have an Olympus D-490 at the moment, but I have £600 to spend on an upgrade.

I own PS 6, which I am working my way through at the moment.

Can I produce decent bird shots, with a digicam, at this budget?

[cjay]

Rubbish. anyone can photograph birds with the minimal of equipment. By using filed skills it is amazing how close you can get to birds. But not ones that are on a nest.

CJ

[Bigwigg]

I have very good field craft, and have no problem in finding and getting into fairly close range of most birds and animals.

You just mentioned "minimal equipment", it's obviously going to be a massive help if you have a zoom lense for instance (and a decent one).

What do you use?

[cjay]

400mm or above would help,a fast film say 800 ASA is a good start. You can use a 200 zoom with a two or three times convertor but you will lose two stops & the quality is not very good. For record shots I expect it would be ok.

CJ

[Henry H]

I cannot advise on equipment but agree with the sentiments above. Everyone starts off as a beginner, and the only way to progress is by trial and error (and perhaps taking good advice) but get out there and enjoy!

[Andy Bright]

Again, as Colin says, absolute rubbish. Many of the photos on the gallery are taken by people who have only had a camera for 12 months or so.... many less.
Much of it's to do with opportunity, being in the right place at the right time... and that's very much the skills that a good birder has. You're off to a big head start with your experience birding.

Get yourself a decent scope... and put the Olympus 490z to good use. I have seen some amazing digiscoped shots on the web taken with that camera, though they were taken just by holding the camera up to the eyepiece of a scope, as the camera doesn't have a filter thread to attach a typical adapter... you may have to improvise or purchase a support bracket type device for consistant results.
Andy

[Bigwigg]

Besides being a great looking site, I'm here to try to find some "direction" from more experienced photographers, I have recieved an enormous amount of advice so far, but I still have the problem of what Digital Cam to upgrade to (and the additions to go with it).

I can see that there's going to be plenty of trial and error in the next couple of months!

[Bigwigg]

Andy, I have the money to upgrade, I know that it's going to be a wise investment. The D-490 is fine for what I have been doing up to now, but I would like to take things a step further.

[IanF]

I like Olympus cameras as I have had them for years. Your D-490 is of similar spec to my old C2000Z. I have taken some lovley shots with that camera, but I found the 3x zoom underpowered. Fortunately the 2000 series could take the CLA1 adapter which meant additional lenses could be added such as the EagleEye 5x optic zoom, and the Tcon series of converters. However I don't think the D-490 can take the CLA1.

Fieldcraft will get you within range for some birds, but unless you are very fortunate and skilled with plenty of time on your hands, there are a lot of species that you will never get close to.

With a budget of around £600 you have a few choices. I set myself an £800 budget earlier this year and picked up a Nikon 4500 and a Kowa 823 with 32x eyepiece to use as an intro to digiscoping buying from reputable sources off eBay, but there are plenty of photo dealers out there doing used equipment as well - just for example Jessops .... That's only if you want to get into digiscoping though - without doubt an acquired technique.

An alternative route would be for now getting a more powerful zoom lens camera - optical zoom that is. I have the Olympus C2100UZ which has 2.1mp and a 10x optical zoom lens. I have been very happy with this set up and have added two converter lenses to gain a bit more reach. The C2100 has been discontinued but has been replaced by the C700 series such as the 730, 740, 750 etc all with a 10x optical lens. The converters such as the Tcon17 and Tcon14 fit all these cameas and together will be well inside your budget - even when buying new !

To my way of thinking an ideal set up would be a 10x zoom plus 6 mp camera, but as far as I can see, the C750 is the closest thing without getting a Digital SLR which is a whole new price bracket.

The are one or two other camera brands out there with longish optical zooms, but I don't know how they compare.

Something to think about anyway.

[Bigwigg]

Ian, that's great, many thanks.....

I was just looking at a C750, you have just help me come to the decision to buy it.

I have been pulling my hair out over this for a few days now. RELIEF!!!!!!!

The next step is in getting Photoshop 6 to work for me!

[Andy Bright]

Persumably digiscoping isn't going to be your 'thing', so it's possibly best if you make your way down to the photography forums on here... expect you'll have plenty of responses.
Good luck,
Andy

[Bigwigg]

I will do that, cheers Andy.

[janetclark]

I agree absolute rubbish, no mature what camera you have. The most important thing is just to go for it, you can get lovely photos from just about any camera at all. I hope you go out and really enjoy a hobby most of us are now well and truely addicted too.

[Candice]

Everyone was a beginner at one time. Don't let anyone discourage you. Take the pictures. So they may not be the greatest right now, but you will learn. Background is also important. Eventually, you will learn what you want and what looks good and how to achieve it. It is alot of practice. For every fantastic picture you get, you will get dozens of so-so to mediocre pictures. No one is a perfect photographer 100% of the time. But we like to try!

[Bigwigg]

I have been practicing for a while now and have found the points that you have just made to be absolutely true. I have taken a hell of alot of bad pictures...But I have taken one or two good ones in between, so I know that the phrase "practice makes perfect" applies to photography just as it applies to most things.

I have trouble with bird shots, I'm far from happy with that, but my other areas of photography are improving and it's nice to know that.

Thanks Candice

[Nina P]

If this is any consolation to you I have been trying to take pictures from a digital camera, and due to me being a lousy photographer, I am about to embark on a course of digital Photography, and PC workings, and with any luck I will obtain a digiscope to get me close up shots of the birds I see.
I usually admit to being to photography what Hitler was to peace,
So despair YE NOT if you are even half as bad as me, take heart, as this forum will remove gremlins in your pictures with the help and guidance of other forum members.
Enjoy your birding and good luck with photography, Nina.