Photo Equipment
Why do you want to take photos?
- Document my discoveries with my life list. Add them to my e-Birds list.
- Identify birds by reviewing photos in the field and later off-site.
- View distant birds using my camera rather than always with my binoculars or spotting scope.
- Share my birding for the enjoyment of friends.
- Display large prints in my home or office.
Which camera?
There are many cameras in use by birders. Many general purpose cameras can be used successfully, however most birders will benefit from a few special features. that will meet your birder needs.
“Ease of Use” is important – there is not a lot of time to capture quickly moving birds. Telephoto range is extremely important – birds are small subjects! This allows birders to get great useful and beautiful photos at normal bird watching distances.
Nikon Coolpix
Most of the photos shown in the Class Adventures and Quizzes were taken by Greg Baker without a tripod, using a Nikon CoolPix P900, 83X digital camera in “Easy” point-and-shoot autofocus mode.
This is an excellent camera and highly recommended for both beginning and advanced birders.
Greg enjoys this camera – and with its exceptional telephoto range can easily see closeups of birds that are difficult to see in the field. Much of the time you won’t see him carrying binoculars because he can use the camera for distant viewing.
Greg has updated his shooting equipment now to use the CoolPix 950. He has expertise in tweaking the photos for their best presentation so has benefited from the “raw” image format that this camera now features. This updated image format is not really required by many birders.
Nikon CoolPix P900, 83X digital camera
Extreme Telephoto range
Point and Click mode for easy and correct exposures
Lightweight and compact considering its large telelphoto range
Nikon CoolPix P950, Updated 83X digital camera
Successor to the wildly popular Coolpix P900, the P950 adds Raw capture, a greatly improved electronic viewfinder, 4K video, and a hot shoe so you can mount an external mic, flash, or other accessory..
Canon S70
This represents one of the many popular series of general purpose cameras
These SLR (single lens reflex) cameras are powerful and used by many advanced amateurs and professionals. They have a wide number of lenses available for them including long telephotos for bird closeups.
However, the the long lenses need for close-ups are expensive and are quite heavy to carry for many birding adventures. Using the camera as a spotting scope is awkward. The resolution is of these cameras is superb and even large scale prints are possible.
Canon EOS 70D SLR
Large number of available lenses
High Resolution 20.2 MP CMOS Sensor
DIGIC 5+ image processor
98% viewfinder coverage
Fast continuous shooting at 7.0 fps
Built-in Wi-Fi
LCD touchscreen
Maximum sensor to ISO 12800
precision phase-detection autofocus in live view, Full HD EOS Movies
HDR (Combines multiple exposures for best overall)
Exposure bracketing of up to 7 frames
SDHC/SDXC card slot supports UHS-I bus
External 3.5mm stereo microphone jack
Viewfinder level indicator.
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