Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

I've been reading rave ratings on mirrorless cameras. Are there any birding people on this site who use a mirrorless camera for birding? I am concerned about the reach of the lenses that are now available for mirrorless cameras.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, there are no native long/fast AF telephoto lenses for APS-c or larger sensors ! ( that I am aware of) I am now using/testing a Sony A3000 with 300mm f4.5 Nikon ED IF manual focus prime lens. The Sony 2X clear Image Zoom takes me out to 600mm f4 - but the manual focus is still challenging ! The 300 Nikkor is a great lens !

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I'm sorry, should be 600mm f4.5 !

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Olympus is releasing a 40-150 f2.8 (80-300mm in ff terms) this month along with a 1.4x teleconverter making it a 56-210mm (112-420mm).

http://www.43rumors.com/olympus-40-150mm-pro-review/

Couple this with an EM1 and HLD-7 and 12-40, and you cover quite the range with just 2 lenses, and it's weather-sealed to boot.

Next year a 300mm f4 will be released.
http://www.43rumors.com/first-pictures-of-the-olympus-300mm-f4-0-prototype-lens/

In the meantime there is the 75-300mm

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I shoot m43 but only very rarely shoot a bird unless he is walking about and part of a landscape scene. But I do try to keep up with what others are doing out in the big old photo world with this fun equipment.

The reach of the lens is not a problem. The m43 100-300 is comparable to a 300-600 at 35mm. With a 1.4 teleconverter you have plenty length. The system is not at its best for birds in flight, however, and folks who are big into birding sometimes prefer other cameras. All mirrorless are not equal in this though. For instance, the Olympus EM1 is far more capable at continuous autofocus than the others in the same Olympus OMD line, due to the way its sensor is designed.

The new Oly pro version lenses may make a real difference, especially on the EM1.The 40-150 is out and the longer lens is coming. Look at the clarity of the bird shots with the new pro 40-150 on this German site (can't read any of it, but like the pictures) http://pen3.de/40-150/40-150.html
I've always been a fan of Jay Dickman, a Nat Geo photographer who shoots m43, and birds both still and in flight - of course he is not a typical user but his photos are wonderful with that equipment. http://www.firstlightworkshop.com/wheres-jay/

Hopefully those who keep up with other brands of mirrorless will offer some links to give you more info too.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

The new 1.4 will only with with new 40-150 and future 300mm f4. The element of the mc14 protrudes too much to work with other lenses.

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/m-zuiko-digital-1-4x-teleconverter-mc-14.html

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

The Olympus OMD EM1 with a 75-300 f/4.8-6.7 II will get you out to 600mm due to the m4/3 2X crop factor. The combination will cost just under $2K.

Attached is a sample image.

A Pro 300mm f/4 is due out in 2015, cost unknown at this time.

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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Stunning shot ! !

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

^^^^
what he said!

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Check out this example

http://photographylife.com/sample-bird-images-using-1-nikon-cx-70-300-lens

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

sample - A3000 full frame, Nikon 300 ED IF, f6.3 , 1.6X clear image zoom....( effective 480mm) equivilent 720mm from monopod.

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Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

Image Meistersinger,
Thanks for your quick response. I learned a lot from your description your equipment. For instance, that I can use my Nikon lenses on a Sony mirrorless! But, one thing I want to get away from are the weight of the big lenses. I have a 70-200 2.8 with a 1.4 TC that I dearly love but the weight kills me. There's a lot to think about and learn before I make the switch.

Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

Cdouthitt,
The package you describe sounds great except that the 40-150 costs about the same as the camera BUT two lenses pretty well cover all I need.
Have you tried any of the Panasonic LUMIX series?

Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

Joer,that one sparrow shot make me want your camera. So you have any in-flight shots?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Only the 20 and 25...both excellent lenses, but not for birding :-)

However, if you are close enough, the 75mm crops nicely...

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