Mirrorless Camera for Birding? (Page 4): Look on youtube for Thomas Stiff. He had some BIF shots with the Nikon 1 V2 mirrorless.

Saleavitt10 Loc: Maine

Fergus wrote:

Lots of really good shots there. However I still have not seen any of birds in flight. I wish I could find some of them.

Look on youtube for Thomas Stiff. He had some BIF shots with the Nikon 1 V2 mirrorless.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Peekayoh wrote:

I have to chip in here because this is typical of ... (show quote)

The difference in cost between a 36MP Sony A7r and a 24MP Sony A6000 does sound somewhat impressive, though. Many of us cannot justify spending $2K+ on a camera.

Peasant1 Loc: Chicago

Far North wrote:

I was inquiring specifically about the GX-1. I know it's "older," at 2 years of age, but it is still a good camera. I was coming from a budgetary point of view. I just haven't read anything about it here, although there have been numerous posts regarding other well-thought-of older cameras.

From a budgetary point of view, you might want to look for a G5. The major drawback to the G5 is that it takes awhile to clear the buffer once you fill it, but otherwise it does great for birding and general use. At least in my opinion. I bought mine with the kit lens for $299 from Amazon a year ago.

Reviews I read of the G6 say it is faster at clearing the buffer, but it is a pricier model still.

Oly Guy

If you a larger sensor you can shoot with a 200 mm lens and crop the birds image and many larger sensor cameras will still retain a sharp image. The Nex handles cropping well with an adaptor and larger lenses -the 2x factor is simply the camera cropping the shot within the camera before downloading. No I know it does not really increase the lens range.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

jrbissell wrote:

If you a larger sensor you can shoot with a 200 mm lens and crop the birds image and many larger sensor cameras will still retain a sharp image. The Nex handles cropping well with an adaptor and larger lenses -the 2x factor is simply the camera cropping the shot within the camera before downloading. No I know it does not really increase the lens range.

The em1 has the 2x too, however it only applies to jpg files, not the RAW files. I find that I much prefer cropping myself in LR/photoshop so I can then uprez the file a bit if need be.

spphoto Loc: Long Island,N.Y.

I shoot with my Sony A6000 and a Minolta 100-400 lens

Fergus wrote:

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.

yellow rump

(Download)

yellow rump 2

(Download)

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

spphoto wrote:

I shoot with my Sony A6000 and a Minolta 100-400 lens

Anyone have experience with putting a long lens on a Pentax Q?
I suppose that might require using an adapter, so you might have to focus by hand.
The sensor is a little bigger than on a bridge camera, but it would be the same idea.

Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

Peasant1 wrote:

From a budgetary point of view, you might want to look for a G5. The major drawback to the G5 is that it takes awhile to clear the buffer once you fill it, but otherwise it does great for birding and general use. At least in my opinion. I bought mine with the kit lens for $299 from Amazon a year ago.

Reviews I read of the G6 say it is faster at clearing the buffer, but it is a pricier model still.

Thank you very much for the practical suggestion. I'll look into it.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Cdouthitt wrote:

Olympus is releasing a 40-150 f2.8 (80-300mm in ff... (show quote)

There is to be a release of a 7-18mm f2.8 by Olympus. Olympus is trying for extremely sharp pro zoom lenses. I only wonder if they will be bring out pro prime lenses with f1, f1.2, or f1.4 values. That is the only way that I see them improving their pro series. They already have 4/3rd lenses that are f2 and f2.8. Now they need to increase the micro 4/3rds line. Still, I would love to have the 75-250 f2.8 (150-500mm f2.8 equivalent in full frame).

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Peekayoh wrote:

I have to chip in here because this is typical of ... (show quote)

rehess wrote:

The difference in cost between a 36MP Sony A7r and a 24MP Sony A6000 does sound somewhat impressive, though. Many of us cannot justify spending $2K+ on a camera.

Although my post was addressing the fallacy about the 2x reach of the m4/3rds, I hear what you say about the cost of FF, it's not everyone's choice. That's the thing though, it's a choice. I have a friend who squanders (IMO) more than £2,000 a year on cigarettes and a neighbour who drives a £60,000 Range Rover and wouldn't be seen dead in anything over two years old. On the other hand, I decided against replacing my car and spent some of the saving on a £5,000 300/2.8 lens. Choices.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

wdross wrote:

There is to be a release of a 7-18mm f2.8 by Olympus. Olympus is trying for extremely sharp pro zoom lenses. I only wonder if they will be bring out pro prime lenses with f1, f1.2, or f1.4 values. That is the only way that I see them improving their pro series. They already have 4/3rd lenses that are f2 and f2.8. Now they need to increase the micro 4/3rds line. Still, I would love to have the 75-250 f2.8 (150-500mm f2.8 equivalent in full frame).

http://www.43rumors.com/terada-interview-says-fast-aperture-prime-lenses-are-in-the-works/

As long as they are weather-sealed. Right now I wish my 75 and 25 were weather-sealed.

jburlinson Loc: Austin, TX

You might want to consider the Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom, if you have a MFT camera. It's modestly priced -- <$300 on Amazon now and has terrific reach. I have the Panasonic 35-100 and it works great on my OMD EM5, but I'm not a birder. Having used a friend's 45-200, I'd guess it would meet your needs pretty well. Best of luck.

Bob2020 Loc: Winter Park, Florida

You might want to look at the NIKON V2 and V3 Mirrorless camera. I know it isn't getting a lot of press but I have been using my V2 for two years now and love it.
Just received new 1 Nikkor 70-300mm VR lens . That is equiv. to 189 - 810mm. It took me almost 4 months to get it. Just started using it. I am sure it will be a real game changer in the field of nature photography. Cost around $1000.00.
I can also use any of my current Nikkor lenses on the camera with adaptor. 2.7x mag. When using the adaptor you do loose the VR feature.

Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

jburlinson wrote:

You might want to consider the Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom, if you have a MFT camera. It's modestly priced -- <$300 on Amazon now and has terrific reach. I have the Panasonic 35-100 and it works great on my OMD EM5, but I'm not a birder. Having used a friend's 45-200, I'd guess it would meet your needs pretty well. Best of luck.

Thanks JB. I'm making a list of all the good advise that Ive been give the past few days. Your's will certainly be there. I think we all are moving into a new world of photography. Maybe not as drastic as film to digital was but close. There were naysayers then and there will be naysayers now. Let's see how it pans out. Thanks to all of you out there. I know that a lot of time spent on your responses and the good advise you gave came from your experience. That's the best kind. I have to get through family Christmas then tax time. If I can do that I'll be looking at a camera set-up of of my own....maybe in time for a trip FL to do some birding in Ap/May. That's a fair piece of time in the tech world. Who knows what will be available by.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

While not the em1, there's a decent deal on the refurbished em10

http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/outlet/outlet-featured/e-m10-silver-body-reconditioned.html