Which camera (1 Viewer)

Hello, i have just started out recently and am looking to get a camera i am choosing between nikon d3200 with the 18-55mm kit lens or a nikon coolpix p900, i was wondering if the p900 would be any good for bird photography im not too worried about crystal clear professional photos.just as long as the photos are decent enough for personal catalogue. Another question is how far away will i be able to take a photo of a bird using the 18x55mm kit lens and get a decent detailed pic of the bird, i know the p900 has ridiculous zoom and thats what has made me think of getting that. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, Callum.

Hi Callum and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I've moved your post to the Nikon forum where you're more likely to get the advice and information you need. I also subscribed you to the thread so that you can find it easily.

Meantime I hope you enjoy your time here with us, and I look forward to seeing some of your pictures in the Gallery when you're sorted!

The 18-55 lens would be OK for birds trying to steel food from your plate but not much more

Niels

As above, the 18-55 would be no use at all, go for the P900

Hi Callum and welcome to Birdforum. I think one of our members has a P900 for sale at the moment.

Rich

Here it is.

https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=372537&highlight=P900

If you could also get a long lens for the d3200, it would take better photos. Otherwise, the P900 is used by many for bird (or other small thing far away) photography. It's a good choice.

Hi bud,
The p900 is capable of great image quality.....look at the "p900 images"thread on here.You need a lens of at least 400mm realistically to get close enough to small birds and this is going to start costing.
Unless,as you say,you want ultimate image quality the p900 will do a great job for you.

The Nikon P900 ($597USD) would be ok on mostly stationary subjects in good light (how often do you get that in the UK where you are?), however the sensor size is very small ~ mobile phone sized. Don't forget, there are the startup, zooming, AF, and shutdown delays to deal with, and not having to deal with this is where the DSLR's shine. People do get quite good results with the P900 with familiarity and within the limits of environmental lighting /movement conditions - you should check the dedicated thread(s) for more.
https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=370653
https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=371851

If you are going to photograph anything moving, or even flitting around, especially in less than brilliant light, then you will want something much more capable.

There is a great special on the recently discontinued Nikon DSLR D7200 ($697USD = 36% off) https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3820165#post3820165
It is by far the best bang for the buck DSLR whose sensor is over 13 times the area of the P900, and the resolution is 150% (24 vs 16MP) as well . What this means is that you will get much better low light performance, as well as far superior tracking performance. The D7200 also has a 1.3x in-camera crop mode which gives an extra fps (7 up from 6) and a 2x overall crop (ie. your 400mm lens effectively becomes an 800mm one at 15.4MP). I would place it well ahead of the D3200, or any of the D3xxx series, or D5xxx series.

The 18-55 kit lens you mentioned would be pretty useless for photographing birds. You are going to need a 400mm lens as a minimum. Without spending mega dollars, your best bets are going to be the:
Tamron 100-400 f4.5-f6.3 (~$620USD) https://m.dpreview.com/products/tamron/lenses/tamron_100-400_4p6-6p3_di_vc_usd
Sigma 100-400 f5-f6.3 (~$620USD) https://m.dpreview.com/products/sigma/lenses/sigma_100-400_5-6p3_dg_os_hsm
Sigma 150-600 f5-f6.3 ($884USD) https://m.dpreview.com/products/sigma/lenses/sigma_150-600_5p0-6p3_dg_os_hsm_c

If you are more budget constrained, on the D7200, try the:
Nikon AF-P 70-300 f4.5-f5.6 ($597USD) https://m.dpreview.com/products/nikon/lenses/nikon_af-p_70-300_4p5-5p6e_ed_vr
(or the DX version at a pinch for $397USD which is a little slower with softer edges). https://m.dpreview.com/products/nikon/lenses/nikon_af-p_70-300_4p5-6p3_ed_vr

In general, lenses are not the place to try and economize money, and there will be far more joy if you invest here. Sometimes it seems you can never have a lens that is long enough ! :cat:

For a similar sort of total outlay, there is an excellent goldilocks type choice. It is a high quality bridge camera with a 1" sensor (one third the size of the APS-C sensor in the D7200, but still over four times the size of the sensor in the P900) that is pretty much the only bridge camera that can mix it with the DSLR's, lens and AF tracking wise, the:
Sony RX-10IV 24-600mm f2.4-f4 ($1598USD) https://m.dpreview.com/products/sony/compacts/sony_dscrx10iv

Sometimes it's worth stretching the budget to avoid some limitations and frustrations. The suggestions I have given are a pretty good starting point for beginners which will give reasonable to excellent results in just about all situations. There are a few other options of course, but these may be for the more adventurous and experienced. Things such as the obsolete Nikon 1 V2, or the just released, but more expensive (~$1098USD) Sony a6500 Mirrorless. Lots of practice will help your results with whichever rig you go with.

Good luck !




Chosun :gh:

For a walkabout camera which will enable very good shots of small birds at the normal distance you are able to approach them,30yards or so, then the 900 will do an excellent job

Set in Bird mode, point the camera at the bird, half press the shutter and the camera will instantly focus, and you get the shot. if you can get closer then it will take super detailed shots, and you can even use it as a telescope just to have a look around.
Forget sensor size and poor light, just point and shoot.

Den