Hi,
currently I'm using am a Panasonic GX80 I initially bought to have a lightweight camera on trekking trips for landscape photography (with the 12-60mm kit lens). Since my dad switched from a Panasonic G9 to a Sony full frame as his main camera and I got interested in birding last year I mostly used his Panasonic/Leica 100-400mm lens (H-RS100400) which I am really happy with.
But as much as I like the GX80 it's not really great for birds as the autofocus is quite slow and as a result taking photos of birds in flight is difficult. Oftentimes it takes seconds to focus on a raptor when slowly circling above my head.
So right now I'm thinking about upgrading my camera. The Panasonic G9 (tested my dad's old one and liked it) seems like a good option. Getting a G9 would have the benefit of being able to keep using my dad's Panaleica for the moment or maybe even buy his camera plus lens as he isn't really using them anymore. But I am not sure what else is out there and recommended for birds. So what other camera plus lens combination are worth considering in roughly the same price range?
Some other things to consider besides being good for bird photos :
Thanks!
David
currently I'm using am a Panasonic GX80 I initially bought to have a lightweight camera on trekking trips for landscape photography (with the 12-60mm kit lens). Since my dad switched from a Panasonic G9 to a Sony full frame as his main camera and I got interested in birding last year I mostly used his Panasonic/Leica 100-400mm lens (H-RS100400) which I am really happy with.
But as much as I like the GX80 it's not really great for birds as the autofocus is quite slow and as a result taking photos of birds in flight is difficult. Oftentimes it takes seconds to focus on a raptor when slowly circling above my head.
So right now I'm thinking about upgrading my camera. The Panasonic G9 (tested my dad's old one and liked it) seems like a good option. Getting a G9 would have the benefit of being able to keep using my dad's Panaleica for the moment or maybe even buy his camera plus lens as he isn't really using them anymore. But I am not sure what else is out there and recommended for birds. So what other camera plus lens combination are worth considering in roughly the same price range?
Some other things to consider besides being good for bird photos :
- I don't want a bridge camera (I am aware that there are some excellent options available but I want the option to get a lens with a larger aperture later on)
- should be dust and splashproof and not too fragile (I am mainly traveling by bike and also doing some mountaineering). For me the missing weatherproof is the main drawback of my GX80 (besides the already mentioned slow autofocus)
- weight and size is important (I want to haul as little heavy, bulky things around the mountains as possible)
Thanks!
David