tedthetrumpet
New member
That's the short version, here's the full question!
I'd like to be able to identify wintering/migrant wildfowl/waders that might be 200-500m away. The 20x Kowa TS-502 that I have is great, but doesn't quite cut it at that sort of range.
I was on the point of either buying something like the Svbony SV406P ED (£370) or an RSPB Harrier 80mm ED (£499). However, I stumbled upon this article…
A Guide to Birding with Long Lenses
… where there are some very experience birders talking about not using bins/scopes at all any more, but just bridge/superzoom cameras made by the likes of Nikon, Canon and, particularly, Panasonic Lumix – not for taking pictures, necessarily, but just for, well, birdwatching!
The cost comparison is very favourable: there are lots of perfectly ok looking s/h bridge cameras for sale online at under £200, even new I could get a Lumix FZ330 for under £400.
Thoughts? What is it really like peering at distant birds through a camera viewfinder instead of a scope?
(For clarity: I'm not particularly interested in taking actually taking photos, and, yes, I do have a good tripod. Also… sorry, not sure whether to post this in cameras or scopes!)
I'd like to be able to identify wintering/migrant wildfowl/waders that might be 200-500m away. The 20x Kowa TS-502 that I have is great, but doesn't quite cut it at that sort of range.
I was on the point of either buying something like the Svbony SV406P ED (£370) or an RSPB Harrier 80mm ED (£499). However, I stumbled upon this article…
A Guide to Birding with Long Lenses
… where there are some very experience birders talking about not using bins/scopes at all any more, but just bridge/superzoom cameras made by the likes of Nikon, Canon and, particularly, Panasonic Lumix – not for taking pictures, necessarily, but just for, well, birdwatching!
The cost comparison is very favourable: there are lots of perfectly ok looking s/h bridge cameras for sale online at under £200, even new I could get a Lumix FZ330 for under £400.
Thoughts? What is it really like peering at distant birds through a camera viewfinder instead of a scope?
(For clarity: I'm not particularly interested in taking actually taking photos, and, yes, I do have a good tripod. Also… sorry, not sure whether to post this in cameras or scopes!)