Mileagemaker Loc: Jackson NJ

Have a nikon Z-50 with a Nikon 18-300. Also have a Canon SX60 bridge camera that I have been using for birds due to the optical zoom to 1000. Looking at a Tamron or Sigma 18-400 or 100-400 for my Z-50 or the Sony Rx10 iv bridge. Thanks for your comments.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There is a spectrum of price vs capability. The 18-400 superzoom is more a general purpose lens that happens to extend to 400mm where the 100-400 lens is more a dedicated telephoto more appropriate for wildlife. But, your still better options will offer focal length beyond 400mm, and cost more. The Tamron and Sigma brands offer these longer lenses, still at prices lower than the native Nikon offerings.

Mileagemaker Loc: Jackson NJ

Thanks for the input. The Z-50 is a cropped camera . The 100-400 would give me 600. Do you think that this lens would be a sufficient?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Yes, your crop-factor makes the lens seem longer than 400mm on a full-frame. Still, longer is always better, but that generalization depends on the size and distance to your subjects. Also, the longer lenses are much, much larger and heavier causing you to need to consider if you can hold / use for a long time without also needing support like a tripod / monopod. Therefore, my initial comment about a spectrum of price vs capability. What do you want to accomplish, how much do you want to spend toward that goal?

SparkyNYC Loc: NYC & Coconut Creek,Fl

Here is what I shot this morning with the Z-50 and a Tamron 18-400.
I'm not to happy with the focusing.

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CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

SparkyNYC, both images are wonderful compositions. They also both seem to have been shot wide-open for the variable aperture lens at the zoom focal length used at the time. The output from Photos 2.0 doesn't retain the original EXIF data, so I'm unsure of the AF mode and AF point position. Try a smaller aperture while adjusting the ISO and / or slower shutter to compensate for that smaller aperture. Both images show 1/1000 sec that is unnecessarily fast for wading / preening birds, allowing for adjustments to the speed while changing the aperture.

Our OP can judge from these images (185mm and 400mm, respectively) if these are representative of their own intended target birds, by distance, type and size.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Bridge cameras won't get you super sharp keepers that most people want. If you just want a record of seeing a bird for your bird log, a bridge camera is fine. But if you really want to be a cut above, you'll spend what it takes to get stunning pictures of birds. This means spending a lot of money for top notch equipment, and a lot of effort and patience shooting birds. I used to be really into birding with my Canon 7D with the original 100-400mm lens. But when Canon came out with the improved the 100-400 Mk II, I found out just how much better and sharper my images were. You can start out with lower cost equipment, (I did) and then sell it and spend more for better equipment while making sure your interest doesn't wane and your skill improves, or you can spend a ton of money right off the bat. Keep in mind, if you do spend a ton of money right off the bat, you may not have the skills to get those stunning pics that you expect from all that money you spent.

I met a fellow that was interested in the same and he had a lot of money and bought all top of the line Nikon equipment. I could tell when I met him that he was a newbie simply because he still had his camera in one shot focus and the little beeping sound emitted from his camera when it achieved focus. Expensive cameras are complicated and take a long time to get to know how they function and for you to learn to quickly make the necessary changes for birding. So going top of the line equipment isn't what I'd recommend.

I'd recommend medium high end equipment with a native lens. If you like Nikon then the D500 with one of the 500mm zooms will work great. They have some good mirrorless equipment to but I'm not familiar with Nikon stuff since I'm more into Canon. My Canon equipment has the mirror. It's all but obsolete now but I've got a lot of money wrapped up in it and I'm not going to upgrade unless it dies. Sony also makes great mirrorless stuff but again, I recommend going with at least a 500mm lens and to stay with native lenses. Native lenses are all designed for the manufacturers bodies and they tend to be very sharp, focus fast and won't or shouldn't have any quirks. Many of the 3rd party lenses might be a little soft and have little quirks.

Ollieboy

I disagree. I have a Sony RX10 IV with a Zeiss lens and it's razor sharp with phase and contrast autofocus at all focal lengths up to 600mm.

MDI Mainer

And has been said in other threads, prejudice against the current crop of third-party lenses is not at all rational in 2022.

BigDale Loc: Seymour CT.

I bought the Sigma 150-600mm last year and have been happy with it. It is a bit heavy on a hike but I hate to leave it home. The autofocus is probably slower and the shots a bit softer than a big white Canon lens would be but at more than double the cost that wasn’t an option for me.
We had a nesting pair of GHOs in the woods behind our house last year. The male would roost in the top of a hemlock tree near the nest and the second shot is one of the two owlets a day or two after fledging.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

The RX10 has a 600mm (35 equiv) lens while the SX60 bridge camera goes to 1365 (35 equiv). Only you can tell what magnification you need. On a Nikon APS-C body the crop factor is 1.5 so the 35 equiv of a 400mm lens is only 600. Is that enough? That is up to you. Many of us want more for birding. However, would the size and weight of high power tele lenses on an APS-C camera be more than you want? Again, that is up to you.

As with most things in life, it is a trade-off. High magnification with high resolution vs cost, size, and weight. I have a 150-600 mm lens on a Canon APS-C body (960 mm 35 equiv) but find I often go to my SX50 bridge camera for those high mag shots. Only when I want the best quality do I go to my DSLR.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Until Nikon comes up with the announced 200-600mm Z, birders are stuck with f mount glass. The most popular glass for birds are the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6, Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 G2, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary, Sigma also has a 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 S, and the Nikon 500mm f/5.6 pf. The 500mm pf is the hot ticket right now for it's small size and lite weight and works with a 1.4x teleconverter. You will hear some birders happy with their 400mm zooms and primes, but as has been mentioned, you never have too much reach for birding.

From what I have read, all of them work as well, if not better, on Z bodies with FTZ adapters. I just got my Z9 last week and have tried my 200-500 f/5.6 and Tamrom G2 with an FTZ II adapter at the backyard bird feeder and am pleased with their performance. I do have the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 that I use with a D7200 and D500 and like it. It's a bit quirky (the narrow focus ring is at the very front of the lens and spins when AF engages and you can't override the AF, but must flip the switch to manual focus) and it's not the sharpest birding lens out there, but I've taken some great shots with it. I mainly use it for family vacations because of it's versatility.

All will do the job, some are sharper than others, some AF faster than others, but all will give good results. It comes down to how much you want to spend. You might be able to find the lens of your choice used at KEH.com and save a few $$.

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

I would prefer if you went with a winner. You will be happier in the long run. It was specifically designed from scratch to work with your Nikon Z50. Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1669885-REG/nikon_niz1004004556_nikkor_z_100_400mm_f_4_5_5_6.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

markwilliam1

Agreed! I also have the Sony RX10 M4 razor sharp at All lengths. I disagree when someone generalizes all bridge cameras and has No experience with them! Obviously the other poster has No experience with the Sony.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Great advice. Thanks for the plug for Tamron and Sigma. I have 4 Tammys and one Sigma and for me any way they do very well.