What camera do you use when birdwatching?

[Stacey32]

Hello,
My camera is absolute crap. It's an old 2.0 megapixel cannon power shot A40.

I am planning on getting another camera to capture better photos and be able to print some out in larger sizes.

What cameras do you recommend? I am willing to spend up to $1000 but not more, and I'd obviously prefer to spend less if there were quality ones for less available. I know nothing about cameras. Can i get a fair one with a good optical zoom?

I am not a photographer but may take a photography class from a local university for fun.

Any advice is appreciated .

stacey

[Tiki]

Stacey, I have a Kodak DX7590 which has 10x optical zoom 5 mp. It really gets up close, I have some video clips of wild cockatoos taken with that camera on my thread about Queensland Bird Week. The software is pretty easy to use too. I just saw a similar model Kodak Z740 on sale somewhere for $299 but I tossed all my junk mail. It might have been Harvey Norman.

[spectre]

www.dpreview.com

My pic for your needs http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz30/

my own- Canon EOS 20D with canon 24-70 f2.8 l series, 70-200 f4 l series, Sigma 50-500 but this runs ~ 5000 US (although it is what I will bring to Alaska next year for the Eagle Festival in Haines).

Also look into the Canon Rebel or Nikon D50 they are costlier and require seperate lenses but are MUCH MUCH better. You are probably only thinking of fixed lens prosumer cameras. The professional models offer much better high ISO quality. The site above has a wealth of info but expect A***hole responses, they are vitriolic there.

PM or email me jaredjen@comcast.net for more advice if interested.

[Tiki]

Jared, that is an excellent camera but would be very expensive here unless she gets lucky at a Boxing Day sale. I love that website, I used it extensively to determine which camera would suit my needs. Here is the one I was recommending http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/kodakz740/ and at the bottom it compares it to the one I have, which is not easy to find here. I got mine at Harvey Norman for $499 special mid-year stocktake sale, otherwise it was $699.

Stacey, I recommend you use this online guide to choose a model you want, then scope out the local stores and see who carries it. Then wait for the big Boxing Day sales, you and your hubby each go to a separate store, keep in touch by cell phone and see who gets the best price.

[Tiki]

Oh yeah, Stacey and the money you save.............get one of those little Princess Parrot siblings of the one I will be picking up next week. Or a handreared baby Quaker!

[Alika]

I feel your pain.

I never get the pictures I want, because I am still operating with a snapshot camera.

There is a pair of wild cooper's hawks down in the park, and some kestrels that constantly mob them to get them to go away. I have wished for a good camera more than once.

One day, perhaps.

[MiniMacMum]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...kodak_p850.asp

I searched for 2 weeks to decide on a digital. I got it down to the Kodak DX7590 or the P850, I like the Kodaks. Love the Kodak Talk forum also. Those people are soo nice there. There are really so many good digitals out there, it's like being in a candy store. Take your time & look at the different ones out there & then if you can visit some stores & try them out.

[Stacey32]

thanks everyone. i will be doing more research into them with your suggestions before hassling anyone for more info. I appreciate it.

tiki, you ARE funny!

[Tiki]

Actually I was dead serious about the shopping strategy. You have never seen a Boxing Day sale, have you? Think Friday after Thanksgiving x 10! Last year, the Target Chermside was so `busy, the Eftpos (ATM) terminals crashed, it took over an hour to get checked out!

[spectre]

Tiki, are the prices that much higher in Australia? I naively assumed they would be the same.

MiniMacMum- It's good the Kodak people are nice. The DSLR forums are populated by ravenous pixel peepers and nit pickers. I generally just use the search engine to find things because there are good posts but asking questions can go either way.