Best Bridge Camera for Birds in tropical forest (1 Viewer)

[Dave B]

Some friends will be doing hornbill surveys in primary forest in South-east Asia. They'll be in the field for days at a time in humid, hot conditions, where lighting will be challenging. They have a budget of about GB£1000 (US$1300). Photos don't need to be Nat Geo standard but good enough for recording and reporting purposes.

The camera they're looking for should:
1. Have ok zoom (400mm equivalent or above)
2. Be decent in low light
3. Be lightweight
4. Be weatherproof
5. Have detachable rechargeable batteries so they can carry extras
6. Be in budget

Any recommendations gratefully received!

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Hi Dave, I know next to nothing about cameras (apologies in advance!), but I would probably look at the Sony RX10 - it is weather sealed, and the images friends have obtained using it rival those taken with a DSLR to my untrained eye.
I've owned a Lumix FZ82 for a few years now, and although not weather sealed, it has held up against use in some tough conditions (both in the UK and overseas), and may be a decent budget option (approx. £250).
Hopefully someone more experienced will be able to offer a more insightful answer!

 

[MiddleRiver]

I've used and RX10 and know fellow birders that use that and other superzoom options.
As you go up in image quality, the cost, size/weight, hassle goes up accordingly. The RX10 (and its brethren) produces very nice images, better than just 'identification quality' ("recording and reporting purposes") and more than suitable for social media etc.

The decision - for me - boils down to sensor size vs zoom. Both have advantages, but having done some research (and tried both), I would fall in favor of the RX10. That said the incredible zoom of the competitors can permit some incredible shots (from what I've seen friends accomplish).

FTR, I've been on the fence for over a year. I'm currently carrying a FF Sony with 100-400 zoom, and although results are superior to what I was able to get with the RX10, it's relatively speaking, a beast to travel with.

Birders, Consider a Bridge Camera

A field biologist explains how a superzoom camera can enhance your birding experience without weighing it down.

www.audubon.org

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-bridge-cameras

 

[Andy Adcock]

As big as they are, seeing Hornbills in Asia can be VERY, challenging, never mind photographing them! I remember out trip to Borneo, twenty five years ago when we were advised to learn the tail patterns of each species as the typical view is of birds, flying over the canopy.

Find a wide river and wait for birds flying across the river would be my advice.

 

[suschoi]

If that's the case, I can't really think of anything other than the Sony RX10M4.

 

[MalR]

As someone who has been using the RX10 IV for a good while (although never in the challenging conditions that you describe), I can highly recommend it.

Malcolm

 

[Montereyman]

I own a Sony RX but it is for photographing people and not small birds. The Nikon Coolpix 1100 that sells for $1097 is the bare minimum for such use. The built-in lens provides a 24-3000mm f/2.8~f8. It also records 4K video and has internal image stabilization which is very important for best image quality when shooting hand held. Have your friend get a couple of extra batteries so they can shoot for multiple days without needing to recharge them.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1877284-REG/nikon_26541_coolpix_p1100_digital_camera.html

 

[MiddleRiver]

I own a Sony RX but it is for photographing people and not small birds. The Nikon Coolpix 1100 that sells for $1097 is the bare minimum for such use. The built-in lens provides a 24-3000mm f/2.8~f8. It also records 4K video and has internal image stabilization which is very important for best image quality when shooting hand held. Have your friend get a couple of extra batteries so they can shoot for multiple days without needing to recharge them.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1877284-REG/nikon_26541_coolpix_p1100_digital_camera.html

To be clear, when you say 'Sony RX', exactly which one do you mean? RX1, RX100, RX10, etc.?

The best quality superzoom pics I've seen taken (by local birding friends) are with RX10IV. That said, I've not had opportunity to compare side by side so perhaps user skills (both birding and photographing), made a difference...

 

[Ruff-Leg]

The RX10IV has a sensor that is more than twice the size of the Nikon super zoom sensors, in a smaller form factor. I've used mine successfully in Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador.