Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

All I can say is whenever I see a generic thread title, I'll check it out if it looks like it might be interesting to me. If not, I move on to something else. No big deal. Besides, if you don't investigate, you might miss an interesting thread. Thread titles can be misleading or just generic in nature, but it doesn't bother me.

John42

To sum up, so far, the 70 to 300mm lense won't get me closer than the p850 or p 900 ?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

A cropped sensor DSLR at 300mm lens has a field of view of 300mm x 1.5 on a Nikon yielding 450mm (Canon at 1.6 being 480mm).

The P900 has a zoom covering 24-2000mm 35mm Equivalent Focal Length with a 16MB CMOS sensor.

For the question of zoom and 'closer', the P900 is the winner.

The P### line can and does create excellent images in the correct hands, particularly in situations it's best suited for use. The high quality bird images you see here and elsewhere? Those don't come from a camera with a 83x Optical Zoom, regardless of the camera vendor.

If you have a nearness to a relatively small subject such as birds, insects, etc (example: a feeder in your backyard where birds are conditioned to your closeness), then your 300 lens with a field of view of a 450mm lens on a 35mm camera, this could work even with a $600 budget with some creative shopping in the used equipment market. But, a walk in the woods and finding wild birds, you'll find 300mm way too short for this intended use.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Sony HX400V, is around 1/2 that price, and comes with a 24-1200 Zeiss T* lens. And, it is sharp through out it's zoom range. If your looking for something smaller I would suggest the Sony HX50V that has a 24-720 MM zoom. Now the HX50V has the Sony G glass, which, is still very sharp. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

Lowrider Loc: Kennesaw, GA

jaywallace, I feel your pain. But I think Ralph is trying to make a point that these generic questions benefit no one but most of all, the responders make it much, much worse. By law, the person buying stolen merchandise is guiltier of a bigger crime then the person that steals it. Without the buyer, there would be no one to steal unless a thief stole only for themselves which we know is not true. IMO, the first person to respond should not offer advice but ask the questioner to be more specific so that they can get the advice they need not just what people that think they know what they are asking. Personally, the worse part of this forum is people replying to generic non-specific questions that neither help the person asking the question or anyone else that is interested in what the person may be asking. i.e "What's the best camera?" Capiche?

dyximan

I have the Nikon D 5300 and find the kit lenses especially for birding to be too slow and did not track well even when on spot focus

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Note: That crop factor applies only when using an FX lens on a DX camera body.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Since you are on a self confessed crusade, perhaps private messaging would be more effective in policing thread titles? I find your little drop ins a bit time wasting as I'm drawn in to read replies that do not pertain to OP's question.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you.

Dennis

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

You have made this same incorrect statement in several different threads.
I can tell you from personal experience that crop factor applies to all lenses, DX and FX.

JPL

Here are some Nikon P900 birding samples for you. Just to give you an idea of what to expect.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Absolutely NOT! The larger the focal length, the more magnification. A 300mm lens on a DX (APS-C) body gives an image equivalent to a 450mm lens on a full frame. The P900 has an full frame equivalent of up to 2000mm. You would be hard pressed to find a DSLR lens that strong, even for an DX model and the price would be astronomical.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

No it won't.

Not even close.

Go to a camera store, ask to see the 70-300, bring your P850 and do some comparisons.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I it sometimes more helpful and easier to understand, to use angular field of view, rather than focal length/crop factor, to explain the differences.

http://www.nikonians.org/reviews/fov-tables

barbie.lewis Loc: Livingston, Texas

The P900 (or the even better in my opinion Canon SX60hs) are very lightweight, easy to carry, and offer incredible reach with their built-in non-interchangeable zoom lenses. Each can take very good pictures. (And the Canon does have the option of using RAW as well as JPEG).

BUT they also have their limitations. The small sensor size is not good in low light and the auto focus won't work in shadows. The built-in lenses are miracles of modern lens design but they can't compete with the quality of the top of the line lenses that can be used on interchangeable lens cameras like the Canon T6 and the Nikon 3400. But those cameras and lenses come with a price too, they can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars and they weigh a lot, making them more difficult to carry.

The Nikon P900 and the Canon SX60hs also offer simplicity. Turn on camera, touch power zoom control, press the shutter release, and you can have an acceptable picture.

When the big guns are used properly the results will be better but they require learning and practice, and you can be fiddling with the lens when the bird flies away.

So, if you like the magnificent long reach of the built-in zooms, light weight, and ease of use, then you will be happiest with the Canon SX60hs or the Nikon P900.

If you want to move to the next level of the photographic art, with more options but with more weight, cost, and learning curve, then move into the world of more sophisticated cameras and interchangeable lenses.

Have fun and have a wonderful photographic journey!