Upgrading from Canon Powershot sx70hs (1 Viewer)

[Smenos]

Hi all!

I bought a Canon Powershot sx70 hs a few months ago as my intro to bird photography camera. Small enough to take hiking with no hassles, capable enough to get some pretty good pictures… and only a few hundred on ebay.

While I love the size and ease of use of my current camera, I am starting to find myself wanting more- more distance, better quality, etc. I always figured I would eventually want to get a better system overall, just didn’t want to make the financial commitment at first. Now that I am more committed, I want to start looking to upgrade.

I’m starting to save up money for a better setup, hoping to spend ~$1000-1500 for a camera body and lens.

I recall recommendations for bodies like the D500/D5600/D7200 with a lens ~70-300mm. Are these good paths that would offer an appreciable improvement over my current powershot sx70hs? Is there one that stand above the others, or other recommendations for lenses to use?

I also recognize these are all DSLR, but am understanding the mirrorless is becoming the way to go, but typically more expensive. Are there mirrorless options in this price range?

I should also mention if the answer is to wait and save a bit more to the ~$2K range that is ok and understandable!

Just starting out my path of looking through all this so any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[njlarsen]

While I love the size and ease of use of my current camera, I am starting to find myself wanting more- more distance, better quality, etc.

I think you are here asking for the impossible. Most dSLR and mirrorless systems would have less reach than your current camera, but in return you get the improved quality.

One problem with the DSLR you mentioned is that it will have a different lens attachment to the mirrorless cameras, even from the same brand. There are adaptors to attach a legacy lens to a mirrorless camera body, but eventually you will want to go all out with that change.

Try not to get too hung up in one brand or another before you really have decided what is best for you. Look at total weight and cost of a camera+lens that will do what you want from different brands and systems. I strongly believe the latest m4/3 cameras have AF and other functionality that is at par with the larger sensor cameras, but the latest models are not yet available at the budget you mention. Performance of smaller sensor will suffer a little bit in the poorest light, but it is all a question of compromise - can you afford a lens with long enough reach in the larger sensor system and can you carry it around with you once you have it.
Hope this is some food for thought.
Niels

 

[Smenos]

I think you are here asking for the impossible. Most dSLR and mirrorless systems would have less reach than your current camera, but in return you get the improved quality.

One problem with the DSLR you mentioned is that it will have a different lens attachment to the mirrorless cameras, even from the same brand. There are adaptors to attach a legacy lens to a mirrorless camera body, but eventually you will want to go all out with that change.

Try not to get too hung up in one brand or another before you really have decided what is best for you. Look at total weight and cost of a camera+lens that will do what you want from different brands and systems. I strongly believe the latest m4/3 cameras have AF and other functionality that is at par with the larger sensor cameras, but the latest models are not yet available at the budget you mention. Performance of smaller sensor will suffer a little bit in the poorest light, but it is all a question of compromise - can you afford a lens with long enough reach in the larger sensor system and can you carry it around with you once you have it.
Hope this is some food for thought.
Niels

Thanks for the insight!

When you say that most dSLR/mirrorless would have less reach than my current, is that more a function of the lens i mentioned or the budget? For instance if i held out and saved for a different system say with 100-400 or 200-600 would that change the narrative?

 

[njlarsen]

Thanks for the insight!

When you say that most dSLR/mirrorless would have less reach than my current, is that more a function of the lens i mentioned or the budget? For instance if i held out and saved for a different system say with 100-400 or 200-600 would that change the narrative?

Your Canon has a reach corresponding to 1365mm In full frame equivalent. A 200-600 would almost get the same reach on a m4/3 camera (2x crop factor) but less on larger sensors. There is likely to be more ability to crop using the larger sensor, so you would lose less than the math indicates, but you would need an impossibly large and heavy lens to exceed the reach you have. The only option I know which would give additional reach is the Nikon Bridge cameras such as P950 or P1000.

Also, please be cognizant that additional distance to the bird tends to decrease the quality because of random air movement between you and it.
Niels

 

[Smenos]

Your Canon has a reach corresponding to 1365mm In full frame equivalent. A 200-600 would almost get the same reach on a m4/3 camera (2x crop factor) but less on larger sensors. There is likely to be more ability to crop using the larger sensor, so you would lose less than the math indicates, but you would need an impossibly large and heavy lens to exceed the reach you have. The only option I know which would give additional reach is the Nikon Bridge cameras such as P950 or P1000.

Also, please be cognizant that additional distance to the bird tends to decrease the quality because of random air movement between you and it.
Niels

Gotcha. So in the non bridge categories essentially I can get close to the current reach, but improve the quality with a 200-600 (which would be a fair chunk of change). Only realistic way to improve reach would be the bigger badder bridge cameras.

Not quite what I expected but good information nonetheless. I guess my next steps are to really consider what I’m looking for and if the quality improvement would be worth.

I really appreciate your help Niels!

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

More distance = lower quality images. No lens can defy this rule. Increasing the magnification of the lens will rob the image of saturation and contrast. Also when there is more air, water vapor, dust, between you and your subject, image quality suffers again.

Larger camera sensors will give you shallower depth of field, better low light performance (greater dynamic range, less noise). And a larger/higher quality lens will have better resolving power. This will cost you.

A lot of image "quality" has to do with the quality of the light (hitting at the right angle), and proximity to the subject. It cost nothing but time and effort to develop the skills to become a good photographer.

I was in your position and I spent $1600 for a used Micro 4/3 system. I don't regret it; it's been a fun learning experience. If getting a new camera will motivate you to go out and take photos, go for it.

 

[Smenos]

More distance = lower quality images. No lens can defy this rule. Increasing the magnification of the lens will rob the image of saturation and contrast. Also when there is more air, water vapor, dust, between you and your subject, image quality suffers again.

Larger camera sensors will give you shallower depth of field, better low light performance (greater dynamic range, less noise). And a larger/higher quality lens will have better resolving power. This will cost you.

A lot of image "quality" has to do with the quality of the light (hitting at the right angle), and proximity to the subject. It cost nothing but time and effort to develop the skills to become a good photographer.

I was in your position and I spent $1600 for a used Micro 4/3 system. I don't regret it; it's been a fun learning experience. If getting a new camera will motivate you to go out and take photos, go for it.

Thanks for the response! I totally understand and am definitely thinking I will hold off for now and focus more on my skills of actual phot taking/editing before investing in equipment.

Just out of curiosity, what did you go for at that price point?

 

[MelospizaMelodiaFan]

Just out of curiosity, what did you go for at that price point?

E-M1 mkii, M.Zuiko 100-400. the 100-400 can be bought new for what I paid for used last year 🤷‍♂️

 

[Steve Babbs]

A quick look used in the UK and you could get an OM1 mark 1 and the 100- 400 for about £1600 which is around $2000. I presume it would be similar in the US.