Picture quality for bird photography: I would like to ask the readers for their experience shooting birds. What will give the best picture quality using a fixed focal length of 400mm...

49bentley

I would like to ask the readers for their experience shooting birds. What will give the best picture quality using a fixed focal length of 400mm lens: a Canon crop senor (7D mk II) or a full frame sensor (5D mk IV) after processing where the full frame sensor pic will have to be cropped more than the crop sensor? Thanks

In-lightened Loc: Kansas City

Somebody will weigh in with important information about the pixel size on crop vs. full. I am not that technical. But this is how I thought through my decisions when using my 400mm. The full frame I have is 47mp...plenty of room to crop if need be. If I can get close enough, then I get a larger resolution picture to print from. I think you will see the differences in print mostly. I'll be interested to hear what others have to say. It teaches me new ways to think.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

For Birding google Stokes Birding. Ms Stokes is a professional and praises the Canon SX50 vs her heavy equipment.

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

49bentley wrote:

I would like to ask the readers for their experience shooting birds. What will give the best picture quality using a fixed focal length of 400mm lens: a Canon crop senor (7D mk II) or a full frame sensor (5D mk IV) after processing where the full frame sensor pic will have to be cropped more than the crop sensor? Thanks

I have shot extensively with both cameras. Certainly the extra "reach" of the crop sensor 7D2 is nice, but I find that is outweighed by the better low light performance of the 5D4. I often crop heavily but virtually all of my photos are only displayed on a monitor/TV so the lack of pixels is not as critical. I usually use a 500 mm f/4.0 lens so I am more willing to lose a stop of light with a 1.4 telextender than lose the better high ISO performance with the 1.6 crop camera.
I recently sold the 7D2 and shoot exclusively with the 5D4. We will see if there is a 7D3 in the future.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

From the people I follow on Flickr I would have to say the most consistently, outstanding, detailed images are shot with a Nikon 300mm f 2.8 lens on a Nikon D7200 camera (not a lightweight setup!). The photographer obviously is excellent at what she does and the combination works for her.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

The crop camera will be better than cropping the full frame camera. I did a test with that scenario and you an see the results for yourself here:

https://backcountrygallery.com/cropping-full-frame-vs-shooting-a-crop-camera/

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I had a 7DII, have a 5DIV and a 1DX, and have a 400mm DOII. I got rid of the 7DII. I am very picky about noise and IMO the 7DII simply had too much of it at higher (>800) ISO's. Much prefer the full frame images and especially, and from what I found, the sensor provides IQ sufficient to allow significant crops to get the same reach you get on the 7DII. Of coarse the frame rate on the 7DII is faster and you will get more images to select from which can be important for BIF. I don't know this for a fact, but the focus capabilities of the 5DIV might be a bit better than the 7DII. Also imporetttant, with the 5DIV, you will get all the focus options up to f/8 which allows for better options with extenders. If I had it to do all over, I would not get the 7DII. The 5DIV is a great all round camera, but, assuming you are sticking with Canon and you are serious about birds, consider a 1DX or, if budget allows, a 1DXII. I am moving to Sony (a9) for flight, I have a 1DX I am considering selling. Send me a private message if you have any interest.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

49bentley wrote:

I would like to ask the readers for their experience shooting birds. What will give the best picture quality using a fixed focal length of 400mm lens: a Canon crop senor (7D mk II) or a full frame sensor (5D mk IV) after processing where the full frame sensor pic will have to be cropped more than the crop sensor? Thanks

It depends on so many other things. Available light, distance from subject, functional f-stop, photographer's ability to track, amount of cropping needed, etc...

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Steve Perry wrote:

The crop camera will be better than cropping the full frame camera. I did a test with that scenario and you an see the results for yourself here:

https://backcountrygallery.com/cropping-full-frame-vs-shooting-a-crop-camera/

Great comparison...thanks!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I now shoot with a full-frame Canon 6D and use several telephotos (70-200 and 100-400). The quality of photos compared to when I was using my 70D is so much better, even when cropped, that I never use the 70D any more other than as a back-up.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Steve Perry wrote:

The crop camera will be better than cropping the full frame...

Certainly have not done as extensive of a test as Mr. Perry but my findings are in alignment with what his link shows.
The only thing I might add is the result from my "findings" are I wasted about 1K on the latest version extenders. Using either or both together with the latest version premium 400mm f2/8 lens is nowhere as good as a severe crop out of a crop sensor image captured with the same lens & camera.

49bentley

Thanks to all.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Steve Perry wrote:

The crop camera will be better than cropping the full frame camera. I did a test with that scenario and you an see the results for yourself here:

https://backcountrygallery.com/cropping-full-frame-vs-shooting-a-crop-camera/

Problem with this analysis is that there was no attempt to duplicate the environment of shooting birds. And that is the subject of this post. To create a relevant comparison there has to be motion, subject tracking and focus acquisition at likely shutter speeds. The ability of cameras, even within a single manufacturer, vary quite a bit on these factors. If these items are not included the results are of limited value. For instance it might be easier to track with a full frame while focus acquisition might be better with an APS-C (since the subject is filling more of the frame.)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

49bentley wrote:

I would like to ask the readers for their experience shooting birds. What will give the best picture quality using a fixed focal length of 400mm lens: a Canon crop senor (7D mk II) or a full frame sensor (5D mk IV) after processing where the full frame sensor pic will have to be cropped more than the crop sensor? Thanks

It is mostly a balance between noise and physical resolution of the specific camera's sensor. The 7D II can be better in better/good light. The 80D will be better yet - but lacks the frame rate.

..

sergio

bajadreamer wrote:

I have shot extensively with both cameras. Certai... (show quote)

I did just the opposite!