Budget Wildlife photography set up

[Newtosavage]

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

I understand what you're saying and you're not wrong. But you can spend over $750 on a single repair pretty quickly.

The 7D/150-600 Tamron is a damn durable combo. I had one riding in my passenger seat for about 6 years and birded with that on a harness at my hip for countless miles on foot.

You could replace a 7D/150-600 combo every year for 5 years for the cost to get in to Sony.

 

[Camera Land]

Since you mention crop sensor then in crop sensor then you can go Canon R10 body and the lenses u mention with the $99 adapter from Canon. Win/Win. Sony at the price you mention would be Full Frame

 

[mwh624]

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.

Panasonic G9 with the limix 100-300mm ii. That lens should be noticablely sharper in the corners than the Tamron.

 

[Newtosavage]

Panasonic G9 with the limix 100-300mm ii. That lens should be noticablely sharper in the corners than the Tamron.

We’ll it’s a 100-300 so…

 

[Newtosavage]

Since you mention crop sensor then in crop sensor then you can go Canon R10 body and the lenses u mention with the $99 adapter from Canon. Win/Win. Sony at the price you mention would be Full Frame

Yup the r10 would be a nice option

 

[mwh624]

We’ll it’s a 100-300 so…

So 200-600 equivalent full frame

 

[Newtosavage]

So 200-600 equivalent full frame

ah, you're right. So it's a 4/3ds sensor?

Still, 600 vs. the 960 f/6.3 equivalent of a 150-600 Tamron/Sigma on a crop sensor 7D

 

[Jazzbo66]

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

Are you going to be running any deals like this any time soon?

 

[Camera Land]

Are you going to be running any deals like this any time soon?

Call me at 516-217-1000. I will do the best we can. The Olympus rebates on these items ended 12/31. I will work with you on a kit special, as we always do. I am here most weekdays from 7:30-5:30

 

[Roy_H]

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?

The consensus budget/beginner wildlife setup on many of the photography forums and review sites has been (for a long time) a Nikon D500 paired with a Nikon 200-500mm lens. Used, this system will be in the $1500-$2000 range which I know is above what you said, but I wanted to suggest this if you had price flexibility as this would get you pro quality images. If you wanted to compromise a little bit and get some cost savings,. I would suggest you look at the Sigma 150-600mm zoom and the Nikon D7500. FInally, if you want an all in one camera, I would look at the used Sony RX10 versions III or IV.

 

[Newtosavage]

Used Sigma or Tamron 150-600 + Used Canon 7D or Nikon D7200 will be very hard to beat under $1500 total. You could probably get either combo for under $1200 used actually.

I'm still using a Sigma (contemporary) 150-600 and D7200 for my daily driver and have no plans to change. I have a Nikon 600 F/4 AF-S that weighs 10 lbs. and is razor sharp wide open, but it needs support and is very limiting when I think about actually using it. I'm about to go to the Z7ii and Z 800 PF lens for my high end kit. Just going to wait about a year for them to show up on the used market.

 

[Camera Land]

Regardless of brand the best way to go is mirrorless. Canon and Nikon, quarterly are cutting back DSLR lenses and bodies as they increase their mirrorless options. By 2025 they are telling us they will have no DSLR bodies and as their lenses sell out they will go away. Sony (Formally Minolta) is only mirrorless, Olympus and Panasonic are also only Mirrorless. According to my Canon rep over 90% of their sales are now mirrorless,

That said, while buying used is a great way to go, so is long term support if you have any issues. Nikon and Canon cut off support as soon as they legally can. For example Nikon no longer repairs D3100,D3200, D3300, D7000, D7100, D300, etc. Canon no longer fixes any D series cameras except the 80D and 90D. The only Rebels they touch are T7 and T8i. They no longer work on Eos 6D or the earlier 5D cameras
There are some independant repair centers that will work on old models as long as the parts are available

Feel free to contact me with any questions