Help - Photographing Birds

[Scarlettvegetable]

Hey,

As you may have guessed, I am new to these forums, so firstly - Hello! Im Sara btw

So anywho, I have a few questions that I am hoping all you guys can help me with!

Basically, I want to get into photographing birdies, but I have no idea where to start. For one thing I need a decent camera, and to get the camera I need to understand what I am looking at, which at present, I have no clue!

So, I was wondering if you guys could point me in the right direction of a decent website I can look at to start to get some idea of what I am doing, and also reccommend a camera that is good for a beginner, but that I wont grow out of as my ability increases, if thats possible.

I hope you will take pity on me and help! lol

So, I think that is what I wanted to ask, I had it all in my mind what I wanted to ask but it didnt come out like it was in my head...

Thanks in advance for any help!

Sara

[digi]

Sara

Welcome to the site

First you need to set your budget then decide if you want a compact camera with integral zoom lens or a DSLR with interchangeable lenses. Once you have answered these questions we can be of more help.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by digi

Sara

Welcome to the site

First you need to set your budget then decide if you want a compact camera with integral zoom lens or a DSLR with interchangeable lenses. Once you have answered these questions we can be of more help.

The Master speaks.

Under Digi's tutorage you will be up and running in no time, and putting most of us to shame.

[digi]

Originally Posted by Boddie

The Master speaks.

Under Digi's tutorage you will be up and running in no time, and putting most of us to shame.

And broke!

[Scarlettvegetable]

Hey Digi,

Budget-wise im not completely sure yet, obviously Id like to get the best I can afford, but it doesnt really help that I am not entirely sure of current prices.

Id like a DSLR with changeable lenses, I know that much lol

So, with regard to budget, maybe you could give a few examples of cameras that may be good for me and I can then set a realistic budget, because I know these things arent cheap...

Also, if you do give examples, please translate into idiot speak! lol

Thanks

Sara

[digi]

Originally Posted by Scarlettvegetable

Hey Digi,

Budget-wise im not completely sure yet, obviously Id like to get the best I can afford, but it doesnt really help that I am not entirely sure of current prices.

Id like a DSLR with changeable lenses, I know that much lol

So, with regard to budget, maybe you could give a few examples of cameras that may be good for me and I can then set a realistic budget, because I know these things arent cheap...

Also, if you do give examples, please translate into idiot speak! lol

Thanks

Sara

Its not so much the cameras as the glass you attach to it, most budget DSLR's give similar image quality but for good image quality you need a good lens.

I would recommend you look at the

Olympus E500 Twin lens kit
Nikon D50
Canon 350D
Konica Minolta 5D

Out of these the Olympus is my choice, do a search on the forums for the cameras and look at the image quality. Its no good buying an expensive camera only to stick a cheap lens on the front.

[Alan]

Welcome to the WAB Forum Beetroot...I mean Scarlettvegetable Never mind recommending websites, you're on the best one now! You'll get all the answers you'll need - if you ask the right questions!

Don't worry Sara, if we can, we'll give you all the help you'll need.

[Scarlettvegetable]

Ok great, I'll look into those! Thanks very much

And thank you for the welcome Alan!

Sara

[John D]

It's worth noting that Dixons (online) have a very good offer on the Olympus E-500 at £399 with the 17-45mm lens and for another £49.99 the 45-150mm lens. Unfortunately the 45-150mm lens is currently out of stock.
I have just ordered the Kit at £399 and getting the Sigma 55-200 F4-5.6 DC from another source at £105.99. This I feel is a very good deal.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by John D

It's worth noting that Dixons (online) have a very good offer on the Olympus E-500 at £399 with the 17-45mm lens and for another £49.99 the 45-150mm lens. Unfortunately the 45-150mm lens is currently out of stock.
I have just ordered the Kit at £399 and getting the Sigma 55-200 F4-5.6 DC from another source at £105.99. This I feel is a very good deal.

I reckon Olympus could corner the entry DSLR market at these kind of prices, as well as a quality product.

[digi]

Originally Posted by John D

It's worth noting that Dixons (online) have a very good offer on the Olympus E-500 at £399 with the 17-45mm lens and for another £49.99 the 45-150mm lens. Unfortunately the 45-150mm lens is currently out of stock.
I have just ordered the Kit at £399 and getting the Sigma 55-200 F4-5.6 DC from another source at £105.99. This I feel is a very good deal.

The 45-150 is a very sharp piece of glass and its made in Japan.

The only problem with the Dixons kit is they do not include a Lithium battery or charger but they can be purchased on ebay for around £30

BTW if you search online you will find a £25 of £300 spend at Dixons online which will save you more money and free delivery. Total £374

[Scarlettvegetable]

Is it worth a metion that I do already have a camera? Its a Fuji S5500, does me well at the moment, but I dont use it for wildlife and the great outdoors. I use it mainly for taking some very nice - if i dont say so my self - photos of my lizards.

I have been to a few wildlife parks and have some nice shots of Zebra Finches in their aviaries, and some of some nice Bali Starlings, and Java Sparrows. But they were all enclosed in a walk through aviary and not very far away from me.

How would this camera fair in the great outdoors? As I have not used it in proper wild situations I am not sure how good the zoom really is. I think I could probably get some quite decent shots of the more common birds, but not if the shy ones that live high in trees or across rivers etc. the ones that are too far away.

Its a nice enough camera, and Im going to have to keep it for a while before I can get a better one. Now I have got to find a good place to take some nice photos, and some obliging little birdies! Any advice as to any particular bird species that are good for beginning photographers? I guess it would be those that are not too scared by any activity.

I live in Berkshire, and the river Thames runs right near where I live, so there are plenty of Mallards, Canada Geese, Swans, Tufted Ducks, Mandarin Ducks in summer - lots of mandarin ducks - Grebes, Herons, Cormorants, Gulls, there were some Terns, okay so you get the picture - lots of water birds. There are also a lot of Robins, Starlings, Wood Pigeons, Blue Tits in the gardens around the flats where I live, and there are masses of Red Kites around the area, and rooks and jackdaws to name but a few. There is also a fairly large group of Kingfishers, I just about see them whizzing past so I know I wont be able to take a photo of them!

So out of the above Im guessing that the slower moving and non flying of the lot would be the best for me to start with, with this camera.

So, sorry for the essay, a bit bored lol

Thanks

Sara

[carlj]

Sara, many of us here have had similar bridge cameras, I myself went from Minolta Z10 to Panasonic FZ5 and now own a Minolta 5D. The bridge cameras never focussed quickly enough for me.

One thing about the Oly is the 2x factor - a 70-300mm lens would become a 140-600mm lens - perfect for wildlife!

Carl

[glsammy]

One of the easiest birds to try is the Robin. Find where one is singing and just stand and wait. Within a few minutes It'll probably come to you! In fact that's one of the best tips I can give. Don't run around too much looking for birds, find a suitable spot and wait. You'll be surprised how close they will come if your still and quiet.
Go to a site where feeders are, there you'll get most of the tits and finches. Certainly give the S5500 a go, you may be surprised!

[life through a lens]

You haven't said if you have a garden or not ?!?!

If so the best tip I have seen for photographing birds is to make a perch out of a log/tree trunk/branch within a suitable distance for your camera. Introduce food into the cracks (if none exist you could make some), peanut butter is a good option as it is spreadable. You can then hide yourself away (a shed or camo netting is useful) and wait for the birds to come to you.

The benfits is that you control the composition and don't end up with bird feeders in all your pictures. It also provides a handy food source for the birds.

If you don't have a garden then see if you can find an alternative location (friends garden, local orchard etc) that won't be overly disturbed.

You could also try having a read of 'The art of bird photography' by Arthur Morris. This covers equipment as well as techniques.

All the best and let us know how you get on.

Olly

[Scarlettvegetable]

Hey,

I kind of have a garden. Its shared as i live in a flat. Laid with concrete, but does have a few trees/big bushes round the edges. Even though it isnt very garden like, the birds still come into it as there is a woodland area to the side of the flats which is home to a lotof birds. Theres a lovely Robin, lots of blue tits, chaffinches, great tits, blackbirds etc

With regards to the peanut butter, which birds are attracted to it? Do I just spread it on a nice looking branch? Crunchy or smooth? lol

Also, are mealworms of any use for attracting birds? I know some eat them, but will they come to them? I keep reptiles you see, and am currently breeding mealworms, they are miniscule at the moment but will grow in no time! If i were to put some out, what should i put them out in?

Thanks

Sara

[carlj]

Robins and blackbirds will thank you for the mealworm - especially the robins. Believe peanut butter will encourage woodpecker and nuthatch Sara.
Carl

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by Scarlettvegetable

There is also a fairly large group of Kingfishers, I just about see them whizzing past so I know I wont be able to take a photo of them!

If you can find one of their regular perches and conceal yourself close by then you may get lucky Look for over-hanging branches with obvious white patches on them (dropping).

[Scarlettvegetable]

Originally Posted by carlj

Robins and blackbirds will thank you for the mealworm - especially the robins. Believe peanut butter will encourage woodpecker and nuthatch Sara.
Carl

OK thanks. I have plenty of mealworms, and i bought some peanut butter when shopping last night lol. I know for a fact there are Woodpeckers around here, 6am and they are drilling away! It would be nice to see some properly, so fingers crossed i'll get some new friends!

With regard to the kingfishers, I did find a nice spot yesterday, sat on the big roots of a tree, and leant up against the tree trunk, right on the banks of the river, they didnt seem to spot me there until I moved, but i forgot I had my camera

Thanks

Sara

[Alan]

Also if there isn't a suitable perch for photographing the Kingfishers, find a stretch were there's a lack of perches, and put one of your own in! Just an old branch will do, pocking over the water. They'll really take to this, especially if there's plenty of fish where you put it.

Cheese pushed into crevices in the bark of trees is also good for Woodpeckers.

[John]

The poor old Digiscoper gets left behind again.

I have to offer my discipline. First of all do you own a scope and if so which one. If you don't then you will possibly be best going with the above recommendations. If you do there may be a cheaper way into getting into bird photography.

The difference between the two disciplines, apart from cost, is that the DSLR is limited to the distance of the subject. i.e it has to be relatively close, whereas the digiscoping camera, attached to the scope can take images at extreme distances.

The other area of difference is birds in flight. Again the DSLR wins hands down as digscoping is not condusive to flight shots.

Close up the DSLR wins hands down for quality but overall the digiscope can get you images that you have no chance of getting with a DSLR.

The camera I use is no longer in production (Nikon Coolpix 4500) but Warehouse Express are doing an amazing deal on new ones. For £299 you get the camera, case & battery. For a cable release you can go to Jessops and buy one for about £20 I think. For the adaptor I would need to know what scope you have before recommending where to go.

Here is a link to Warehouse Express. http://www.warehouseexpress.com/

When you go onto that site click on the search button (top right hand corner) then type in Nikon Coolpix 4500. When it opens up the one you are looking for is the third one down. Have a look at it and see what you think.

If you look at my album you can see what can be acheived at distance. Some of these photos are of birds and animals that are 100's of yards away, well outside of the capabilities of DSLR.

I hope this alternative has been of some use to you.

John

[digi]

Originally Posted by John

If you look at my album you can see what can be acheived at distance. Some of these photos are of birds and animals that are 100's of yards away, well outside of the capabilities of DSLR.

I hope this alternative has been of some use to you.

John

Just wait till I get my 4/3rds Bigma!

[John]

Originally Posted by digi

Just wait till I get my 4/3rds Bigma!

You still ain't gonna get a bird at 400 yards plus.

John

[Alan]

Originally Posted by John

You still ain't gonna get a bird at 400 yards plus.

John

Yeah but only noisy twitchers have to take photos at 400 yrds+