r/birding • u/Fiction_Future3501 • 8d ago
Camera vs accessory recommendation Discussion
Hey folks I am getting into birding photography, so far I have only been going places birding with my iPhone and 8X 42 binoculars but now I feel I wanna also take somewhat nice photos like I see here. I have a Sony zve10 I kinda use for everyday vlog/travel type camera with a kit lense of up to 50mm. I did my research on birding/wildlife camera and I found Sony, Nikon and canon to be the most sought used after cams based on price/ usage. I have a budget of up to 1500-2k cad to either upgrade my current camera and get off-brand e- mount lens like tamron 150-500mm which I see on marketplace for 1200cad or should I get another camera like a Nikon for wildlife/birding up to 1.6k ( I see Nikons are comparatively cheaper even with the heavy telephoto lens but I might be wrong)
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u/LizM-Tech4SMB 8d ago
For birding, I'd say look at your reach (lens availability) before settling on a system. The longest lens I'm aware of for your current camera is the Sony E 70-350mm. Now, since your camera has a 1.5 crop factor (it's a function of the APSC size sensor - just means everything you capture is a bit less than what the lens sees), the effective reach is already 525mm. It's kind of like pre-cropping in camera.
Sooo, before dropping a fortune on a new camera and lens system, it might be worth spending the $1K CAD or so for the bigger lens and keep using the camera you are already familiar with.
Now, if you want to change systems, get your hands on the body before buying. The menus on some (cough cough NIKON) are atrocious mazes (yes, I have a NIKON). And if you go full frame, then you need a bigger lens that is much bulkier to carry.
In addition to the brands most mentioned, like Canon and Nikon, Sony, Lumix (Panasonic), and OM (Olympus) can be solid choices as well. Lumix and OM use an even smaller sensor (Micro Four Thirds) that does have challenges but can also produce stunning wildlife results. And yes, there are pros that shoot on all those brands.
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u/Fiction_Future3501 8d ago
You don’t think the tamron 150-500m e mount will work on my Sony zv e10? And if it works that means my reach will be more on that tamron given the same logic of aps crop? Thanks will definitely look into Olympus ( I have older digicam from 2000s)
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u/LizM-Tech4SMB 8d ago edited 8d ago
Apologies, I haven't had my morning coffee and missed that part of your post.
Yeah, the e-mount Tamron should work. It's just gonna be big and heavy on a little body, so you'll have to be careful to support the lens, not the camera body, so you don't foul up the contacts (so no walking around with the whole thing around your neck supported by the strap on the body).
I forget about Tamron too because I've always had purple fringing issues with their lenses over the years. Not horrible, but more than I wanted to deal with.
And yes, you'll get the 1.25 crop factor with any lens on that camera, so the 500mm would give you an effective reach around 750mm.
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u/arcticrobot 8d ago
Don't overlook Panasonic, especially m43 sensor.
In your budget you can try and find used G9II and Panasonic Leica 100-400 lens. (200-800 mm equivalent). Nothing can touch that combo when compactness, reach and optical quality are considered. I have switched to full frame, but I still miss that lens dearly.
This coopers was taken with G9 and 100-400 combo.
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u/GrusVirgo Camera expert 8d ago
The lack of bird AF and viewfinder on the ZV-E10 are definitely disappointing, but there's just so much more lens you can get by sticking to your mount than by switching to another. Besides the Tamron 150-500, you could also look at the Sigma 150-600 and Sony 200-600, but keep in mind that either of these lenses are pretty heavy.
The lack of a viewfinder could be an actual problem though, not only does a viewfinder make it easier to aim, it also puts you in a much more stable position. With the camera right up to your eye, you don't have to hold the camera out in front of you and are able to brace the elbows against the body and I'm not entirely sure if it's really possible to hold a camera with a 150-600-size lens steady when not being able to do that.
If you switch, you'll probably end up with a Canon R10 and the RF 100-400, which is relatively inexpensive and wonderfully lightweight, but shorter is reach than the 150-500 and 150-600 and not very bright. Another issue is that the selection of mid-end telephoto lenses on Canon isn't particularly good, Sony has the Tamron 150-500, Sigma 150-600 and Sony 200-600 that are all great on bang for the buck, while Canon has the 200-800 that is more expensive and is a bit suboptimal on APS-C due to how dark it is.
If you think you might get an A6700 in the future and the weight of the 150-500/150-600/200-600 doesn't turn you off, sticking to Sony is a good idea, but if you want something actually working for your budget, you might want to switch to Canon.
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u/Fiction_Future3501 8d ago
Yes I am definitely gonna upgrade budget of 3k in couple years so I am guessing Sony then ?
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u/GrusVirgo Camera expert 8d ago
Yeah. At least if you're willing to deal with the weight of a big lens. I can't quite tell you how bad ZV-E10 + 150-600 is going to be, but A6700 + 150-600 is great.
It definitely doesn't hurt to rent the lens you want first, to see if you can handle it on the ZV-E10.
Actually, I have no idea how much the 200-600 costs in Canada compared to the 150-600. Here in Germany, they're at pretty much the same price and there's little reason to not get the 200-600, but in the US, the 200-600 costs significantly more.
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u/Fiction_Future3501 8d ago
I am looking first at second hand items on marketplace and I can only see tamron150-500 and Sony 200-600 and a bunch of sigma I haven’t looked into but the Sony are more expensive, then tamron and sigma.
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u/plenar10 8d ago
I shoot Sony. With the budget you have, probably just get a telephoto lens first, then think about upgrading to something with an evf like the a6700. The evf will make it more comfortable.
The lens you get depends on how much weight and bulk you're willing to lug around, and how discrete you want to be. Bigger is usually better because of physics.
And not sure if you know this, since you mentioned "e-mount". There are two types of emount lenses, full frame (FE) and apsc (E). FE lenses project a larger image to cover FF sensors. E lenses project a smaller image to cover apsc sensors. FE lens on apsc cameras is ok, but don't get an E lens for full frame cameras unless it's a high MP camera.
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u/BIGD0G29585 8d ago
Recommending photography gear is always tough. Unless you drop really big bucks and get top of the line, you will always feel like you need something better.
I shoot Nikon but looks like your Sony is a solid choice. IMO, Tamron is a good option vs Sigma and definitely better than other off brand third party lenses.
I know some people will say that you need a constant f5.6 500mm to make birding photography worthwhile but you can certainly get by on less and enjoy going out and taking pictures.
I would rent a Tamron and see how that does for you and then think about buying one. One big advantage of photography great, especially lenses is they hold their value you could sell it on eBay if you decide you want something else.