sethro84 Loc: Iowa City

I have been shopping around for a new camera since I killed my cannon elph 100 last summer kayaking. It was nothing special but it did the job. Since then I've been using my phone which also has obvious limitations. I figured this would be a perfect time to upgrade to something nicer. I am looking for a camera to use for birding, wildlife, landscapes etc. I am a novice photographer but have always enjoyed it and am looking to expand my knowledge and skills. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. My price range is $700 or less. Something not to bulky but with a decent sensor and zoom.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Sethro, welcome to the Hog. This may be a bit out of your price range but look for a good used(cheap) Canon 7D mkl(not the new mkll) and a used kit zoom lens till you can get a better lens. The 7 has a very important feature for bids, it's called "spot focus". Not to many cameras have that!
Good luck, and again welcome!! ;-)
SS

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Canon SX50.

Haydon

I think this is a great suggestion for someone on a budget and first starting out.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

In your price range you can't get much for serious birding. But several bridge cameras would fill the bill. Some of these are out of your price range but this article gives an idea of what is out there.
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-bridge-camera-1259503
The Panasonic, Fuji, the Canon SX 50 and SX 60 and the Nikon all have followers on the hog and each has strong features.

Skipping to DSLRs the idea of a used Canon 7D mk 1 with one lens to start and build gradually is a good one. You need to understand that below $2500 or so it was the king of the hill action/bird wise until just over a year ago. It was replaced by the mk 2 and now Nikon has what looks like a great one in the D500. But those are way out of your price range.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Hello Seth! Welcome to ugly part of UHH! Where you ask a reasonable question, you think anyway, and get several answers that are absolutely conflicting!

So I'm going to give you some background about your question.

Here in Barrow we see several examples of "Birders" and of "Bird Photographers" every spring when the snow melts. Birders are very different than Bird Photographers.

A Birder wants a picture where the bird can be seen. It doesn't have to have any detail, it can be the size of a golf ball at the other end of a football field. But the Birder points a finger at it and says, with absolute authority, "That is a Caped Triple Breasted Red Wishbone, in breeding colors!". Good enough, it is! But a Bird Photographer will take a picture of the same creature and say, "I've never figured out what this is, but look at the wonderful detail on the wing feathers!".

Well, the Birder can use an inexpensive basic Point & Shoot camera with a 30x zoom lens, shoot in JPEG only, and never process anything. But the Bird Photographer needs $30,000 worth of camera and computer equipment to get 4000 pictures of one bird so that 2 can be selected to print.

Which do you actually want to be?

A DSLR with a lens that has "decent" zoom at a $700 cost puts you barely above the average Birder, into the area of a photographer, but nowhere close to a Bird Photographer!

But I'll tell you what I think of all the advice you've gotten and are going to get here about which camera to buy. It's like the Bird Photographers I see here every spring (they are all the same). They have more money invested in the clothes they wear than you want to spend on a camera! Camouflage hats, shirts, vests, pants, boots, coats, lens covers, and tripods. It's a sight to see when they tromp out across the Arctic Tundra alone or as a group. There is nothing that grows more than 8 or 10 inches high, so these 6 foot tall "camouflaged" photographers can literally be seen for two or three miles.

Almost all of them have Canon cameras too. Same reasons: they aren't thinking and they react well to good marketing.

I don't have anything that is camouflaged, my equipment is made by Nikon, and I ride a 4-wheel ATV instead of walking. Experience counts!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I would think the Canon SX-60 would be right up your alley.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1080919-REG/canon_9543b001_powershot_sx60_hs_digital.html

However for kayaking you want something water proof. So that would be the Canon D30.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1029031&gclid=CITT266NnMoCFVJufgodloQJjw&is=REG&ap=y&A=details&Q=

Both can be had for slightly over $700.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

$30,000 worth of eqt :shock: and full camo and tactical gear. Darn, I only own one piece of camo, my helmet cover from Nam. I have a cheap photo vest I seldom use. and I only paid about $7000 for all my photo gear, including printer. Guess I can never be a bird photographer, I'll stick to my pets and flowers. :oops:

How many of last year's birders and bird photographers do you find each spring when the snow melts? :wink: 8-) :roll:

Yes, it is late and I am in a weird mood.

Seth, I didn't notice you just joined today.
Welcome to the Hog, enjoy!

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Bears and wolverines keep things clear of idiot scraps.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

You can purchase a used 7D Mark I for about $500 and if you shop hard you should be able to find a used 70-300 lens, not the 75-300 but the 70-300 either Tamron or Canon for about $300... that would be a really good starting kit.

mikeg492 Loc: WIlmington, NC

Nikon P900

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I enjoy the Canon sx50 for distant birds and critters, but have found it frustrating for trying to capture birds in flight.

UHH user just purchased a Nikon P910 and has posted some great shots:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_topics_listing.jsp?usernum=36298&page=1

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Here is what I recommend: go to Canon's refurbished Powershot cameras website and order the SX60. This camera has been thoroughly examined and made practically brand new by its technicians AND it still comes with a 1-year warranty. Next, get yourself some filters to attach to the lens . Then, if you don't already have one, get a tripod plus a remote and you'll have a VERY NICE setup for capturing wildlife. The best news? You'll only be paying less than $500.00 for this whole setup.

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-powershot-digital-cameras#facet:&productBeginIndex:36&orderBy:11&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&

http://support-hk.canon-asia.com/contents/HK/EN/8202164700.html

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Includes-Adapter-Replaces-FA-DC67A/dp/B005C4Z4CI

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Remote-Switch-RS60-E3/dp/B00004WCID/ref=pd_bxgy_421_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0HB02CA0ZY9V6M6PQQ7M

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Welcome. You will get a lot of help here ( I did). For a novice The Canon 7D (original) and a descent zoom (Tamron 18-300 ) will set you back at least $1,000, even used. Plus it was Canon's top APS-C camera before the MK2 (as previously stated). It Is still a terrific camera, I use one. But for a novice it is too complicated. So I would go for a Canon sx50 or 60. Or Nikon's equivilant model. Go to a brick and mortar shop and handle all the cameras you might be interested. Play with them nd find which is more comfortable for your hands. Plus, sincenyou will be using long zoom settings a tripod is a necessity, unless you have very steady hands. Enjoy shopping and most of all have fun.

RRS Loc: Not sure

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