Completely Cluelesss about Cameras

[SylvanaRowe]

Well, I do a lot of birdwatching, but it's almost entirely from binoculars... a camera phone if the bird is something like a heron that's inclined to stay still long enough for me to get a (low quality) shot.

Anyway, I need to find a high quality digital camera that'll get me quick and excellent images, plus any add-ons that might help with zooming in and such. Tripods are also a good idea, since my hands have a tendency to shake a little.

Can anyone give me some good model suggestions (with add-ons)?

[John P]

I would suggest a Canon S3is as a starting point for something to look at.

It gives you 12x optical zoom and will accept lens converters to increase that by X1.5 or possibly more.

Some discussion on the camera here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=64791&highlight=Canon)

Further discussion on some similar spec bridge cameras here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=72351&highlight=Canon)

[scampo]

Well, I do a lot of birdwatching, but it's almost entirely from binoculars... a camera phone if the bird is something like a heron that's inclined to stay still long enough for me to get a (low quality) shot.

Anyway, I need to find a high quality digital camera that'll get me quick and excellent images, plus any add-ons that might help with zooming in and such. Tripods are also a good idea, since my hands have a tendency to shake a little.

Can anyone give me some good model suggestions (with add-ons)?
If you mean a non-digiscoping camera, then little comes close to the new Fuji S6500fd. It has the most noise free sensor there is which translates to you taking better photos in lower light than is otherwise possible. Here is a quotation from a review:

"Image quality is superb compared to most other 6MP cameras, thanks mainly to the quality of the lens. Despite its huge zoom range it manages to produce virtually no distortion at the wide angle end and is pin-sharp right across the frame."

[RAH]

I agree with John P - the Canon S3is is the camera for you!

[snowyowl]

It's tough to answer your question without knowing more about how you want to use the camera. Are you thinking of digiscoping? Do you just want to take quick snapshots as a record of a sighting? How much to you plan to spend? If you want really high quality pictures you need to go to a DSLR rather than to one of the point-and-shoot cameras that have been mentioned. That way you can have changeable lenses etc. Sony has out (or is bringing out) an image stabilized one. They bought out the Minolta/Konika line. I can't tell you much about the camera but if shakey hands are a problem then it would be worth checking the camera out.

[JeffMoh]

I think it depends on whether you want to focus (sorry) mainly on birdwatching or on bird photography. If the latter, you'll certainly need a DSLR. However, unless you're an Amazon, the weight of a DSLR and long lens plus solid tripod will certainly change your approach to birding.

If you want to still concentrate mainly on birdwatching, I go with John P and Rah: get a Canon IS S3. The camera is easy to handle, it fits in a reasonable size pocket and it has amazing image stabilization, which avoids the need for a tripod.

The tele-converter would be very useful, particularly if you wanted to make good sized enlargements of small subjects. I don't know whether / how well the stabilization would work with a converter, though; so you may need a tripod if you use the latter.

Another possibility would be a video camcorder with a 20+ zoom and a 3 MP still camera function. A tripod would definitely be a plus here again.

Jeff

[RAH]

I think that someone who describes herself as "completely clueless about cameras" and has been taking shots with a phone, should definitely not get a DSLR, even for taking bird pictures (as opposed to ID helpers). A DSLR would be MUCH more camera than she needs at this point, weight-wise, feature-wise, and cost-wise. I think it is much better to get your feet wet with a point-and-shoot, especially a super-zoom like the Canon S3is.