Budget Wildlife photography set up

[jnawalaniec]

Anyone have recommendations for a budget wildlife photography set up? Closer to $1000 is ideal and used is ideal. I got sucked down the rabbit hole today and was looking at the Canon m50, Sony a6000, and Sony d7000. Anything else that should be on my radar?

 

[Camera Land]

Good morning. I assume the last one is a Nikon. The A6000 and Nikon are no longer made. All of the indicators are that Canon will abandon the M series this year as they expand the R mirrorless system. Used is fine but I would only go mirrorless as Nikon is leaving DSLR as is Canon within 2 years. Leaving only 1 or 2 Pro cameras for now. Canon had stopped production of about 40% of their DSLR lenses already and Nikon's not far behind. Sony and Olympus have been only mirrorless for over 10 years.

The best value within your budget would be the Olympus E-M10 Mark 4. It has built in 5 axis image stabilization with any lens on the camera. No camera from Canon, Nikon or Sony have that within your budget.
The E-M 10 Mark 4 with the 14-42 (28-84mm in 35mm terms) and a 40-150 (80-300mm nice telephoto in 35mm terms) thru 12/31/22 would be $829.98 for anyone. Members here would get a free case and get it for $799.99. If you wanted the Olympus 75-300mm, Super Telephoto. like having a 150-600mm in 35mm terms. The basic kit and this lens, would be $1149.98 to anyone, members here would pay $1089.99 with a free case.
Nothing touches this kit.
Closest to the first kit would be the Nikon Z30 with a 16-50 (28-75mm in 35mm terms) and a 50-250mm (75-375mm in 35mm terms). Thru 12/31 it's normally $1046.95. Call me for the Rokslide promotion as we are not allowed by Nikon to put it in print

I am here all day, every day thru Saturday

 

[twiceborn0]

i was recently given a sony dcs-hx300. I would love to learn wildlife photography, i do a lot of hunting and fishing, and would love to capture stuff i see. I know this is a very beginner camera and not very capable but a great way to learn. do you know a good basic photo editing software i could play around with?

 

[Camera Land]

We don't sell software. There are reduced versions of Photoshop on the market that are reasonable and easier to use

 

[jnawalaniec]

Good morning. I assume the last one is a Nikon. The A6000 and Nikon are no longer made. All of the indicators are that Canon will abandon the M series this year as they expand the R mirrorless system. Used is fine but I would only go mirrorless as Nikon is leaving DSLR as is Canon within 2 years. Leaving only 1 or 2 Pro cameras for now. Canon had stopped production of about 40% of their DSLR lenses already and Nikon's not far behind. Sony and Olympus have been only mirrorless for over 10 years.

The best value within your budget would be the Olympus E-M10 Mark 4. It has built in 5 axis image stabilization with any lens on the camera. No camera from Canon, Nikon or Sony have that within your budget.
The E-M 10 Mark 4 with the 14-42 (28-84mm in 35mm terms) and a 40-150 (80-300mm nice telephoto in 35mm terms) thru 12/31/22 would be $829.98 for anyone. Members here would get a free case and get it for $799.99. If you wanted the Olympus 75-300mm, Super Telephoto. like having a 150-600mm in 35mm terms. The basic kit and this lens, would be $1149.98 to anyone, members here would pay $1089.99 with a free case.
Nothing touches this kit.
Closest to the first kit would be the Nikon Z30 with a 16-50 (28-75mm in 35mm terms) and a 50-250mm (75-375mm in 35mm terms). Thru 12/31 it's normally $1046.95. Call me for the Rokslide promotion as we are not allowed by Nikon to put it in print

I am here all day, every day thru Saturday

Thanks for the info, i’ll give you a call later today!

 

[Camera Land]

Thank you
I am here until 5:30

 

[Camera Land]

Thank you
I am here until 5:30

 

[gav]

Good morning. I assume the last one is a Nikon. The A6000 and Nikon are no longer made. All of the indicators are that Canon will abandon the M series this year as they expand the R mirrorless system. Used is fine but I would only go mirrorless as Nikon is leaving DSLR as is Canon within 2 years. Leaving only 1 or 2 Pro cameras for now. Canon had stopped production of about 40% of their DSLR lenses already and Nikon's not far behind. Sony and Olympus have been only mirrorless for over 10 years.

The best value within your budget would be the Olympus E-M10 Mark 4. It has built in 5 axis image stabilization with any lens on the camera. No camera from Canon, Nikon or Sony have that within your budget.
The E-M 10 Mark 4 with the 14-42 (28-84mm in 35mm terms) and a 40-150 (80-300mm nice telephoto in 35mm terms) thru 12/31/22 would be $829.98 for anyone. Members here would get a free case and get it for $799.99. If you wanted the Olympus 75-300mm, Super Telephoto. like having a 150-600mm in 35mm terms. The basic kit and this lens, would be $1149.98 to anyone, members here would pay $1089.99 with a free case.
Nothing touches this kit.
Closest to the first kit would be the Nikon Z30 with a 16-50 (28-75mm in 35mm terms) and a 50-250mm (75-375mm in 35mm terms). Thru 12/31 it's normally $1046.95. Call me for the Rokslide promotion as we are not allowed by Nikon to put it in print

I am here all day, every day thru Saturday

Do you have any advice for a good large zoom bridge camera

 

[Camera Land]

Right now the option is the Canon SX70. It has a 65x optical zoom, 4k video, image stabilization. Sony, Nikon and Olympus have all stopped shipping this category.
The Canon retails for $599.99, would be $564.99. I got in a bunch that we ordered almost a year ago a week ago and I have 1 left.
Sony does make the RX-10 Mark 4. It's a FAR better camera, larger sensor, faster lens. The zoom is a 25x zoom. This retails at $1699 and would cost you $1625.00


Hope that helps

 

[gav]

Right now the option is the Canon SX70. It has a 65x optical zoom, 4k video, image stabilization. Sony, Nikon and Olympus have all stopped shipping this category.
The Canon retails for $599.99, would be $564.99. I got in a bunch that we ordered almost a year ago a week ago and I have 1 left.
Sony does make the RX-10 Mark 4. It's a FAR better camera, larger sensor, faster lens. The zoom is a 25x zoom. This retails at $1699 and would cost you $1625.00


Hope that helps

Thank you

 

[Newtosavage]

Anyone have recommendations for a budget wildlife photography set up? Closer to $1000 is ideal and used is ideal. I got sucked down the rabbit hole today and was looking at the Canon m50, Sony a6000, and Sony d7000. Anything else that should be on my radar?

Tamron or Sigma 150-600 on the used market are about $600.

A clean used Canon 7D will run you about $300-ish.

Or get a Nikon D7100 or D7200.

90% of my best wildlife and nature shots over the past 6-7 years were taken with that combo and some days I wonder why I ever "upgraded."

Look to KEH and MPB for used gear. Adorama and B&H Photo also have used gear. I've had good luck with all of those.

 

[Newtosavage]

Those camera models you listed above are one of the best in the canon and Nikon series

They were top of the line "prosumer" models and often used as backups by pros. Those are crop-sensor bodies which effectively extend the range of any telephoto lens by 1.5x (Nikon) or 1.6x (Canon). That means a 150-600mm lens on the 7D has the view of a 960mm lens on the long end.

I use a D500 Nikon now and many days I miss that 7D body.

 

[Camera Land]

Keep in mind. As good as they WERE, all of the camera companies have moved or are moving away from DSLR's to mirrorless cameras. Canon already announced there will be no new DSLR's and they will all be gone within 24 months except for the EOS 5D Mark 4. All the reliable rumor sites say the same about Nikon with the D850 still being in the line up. Both of them have been taking lenses out of the line up at a rapid pace.

With the reasonable prices of new mirrorless and the MUCH better technology there that is the way to go if you are getting into this for the long haul.

Happy to answer any questions you may have.

 

[peterk123]

What little I know about photography, go mirrorless. Your phones are mirrorless and look what they can do. Now imagine a legit mirrorless camera. And also think resale. You won't be able to give a dslr away for free in about a year.

 

[Camera Land]

What little I know about photography, go mirrorless. Your phones are mirrorless and look what they can do. Now imagine a legit mirrorless camera. And also think resale. You won't be able to give a dslr away for free in about a year.

Well said!!!

 

[mwh624]

So long as you aren't trying to photograph birds in flight, I'd lean towards the micro four thirds eco system.
Tons of offerings from Panasonic and Olympus.

The Panasonic G9 is a very good value. If you want something a little smaller, the Olympus EM5 series would be worth a look.

Nice thing about micro four thirds is there are tons of quality lenses available at reasonable prices.

 

[Camera Land]

Actually the Olympus E-M5MK3 , OM-1 and OM-5 are designed to shoot birds in flight. They are the 3 of the fastest focusing cameras on the market under $2500. You would have to go to the Canon R3, Nikon Z9, Leica SL2 , SL2S or the Sony A1 to get as fast or marginally faster

 

[Newtosavage]

Mirrorless is the future but mirrorless and budget don't go in the same sentence at the moment.

A mint 7D and mint 150-600 Tammy or Sigma on the used market will run all of about $750 shipped and will serve the OP for many years to come. It's a proven platform millions of times over in amateur photographer and birdwatcher's hands.

You can't even get into a mirrorless body alone for $750 and you won't find a lens for one under $1k that can touch the Tammy and Sigma 150-600's.

Again, it is the future but there will be 20 years of overlap between DSLR's and mirrorless. It's not like we went through with the transition from film. Digital files are digital files.

 

[Camera Land]

The issue is Nikon stops repairs after 7 years of production, as does Canon. Long term, shorter for used, DSLR is not the answer. It was a great run, so were my hated New England Patriots, but the run is over

 

[Newtosavage]

This and the Sony are the only reasonably priced 150-600 lenses for mirrorless that I know of, and this Sigma Sport is still over $1300 alone.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1655503-REG/sigma_747965_150_600mm_sony.html

At that point you may as well get the Sony combo, but then you're talking $3500 cost of entry.