Hello, I have started to take a liking to nature photography and would like to upgrade from my phone camera. I am mainly looking to take photos of herps, inverts and birds and would appreciate any recommendations for a camera, my budget is around $500 AUD. I know nothing about cameras so any help is appreciated. Thank you :)
Welcome to iNat (and the Forum)!
There are several good discussions of cameras for nature photography to be found here: https://forum.inaturalist.org/search?q=camera
I personally use, and very much like, the Nikon P900, because it has a decent macro and a very good zoom, all with the one built in lens. It also, unlike most other non-phone cameras, has a built-in GPS, which is extraordinarily useful for iNaturalist users. The sensor is not as good as a professional photographer would need, and it is no longer in production, but used ones are often available for about your price.
Also, I too am enthusiastic about monitor lizards.
While I have no personal experience with them, I’ve seen multiple people on the forum recommend bridge cameras.
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/bird-photography-with-bridge-cameras/28482
Another option, which I have used, are clip on lenses for phones. At least for macro they are actually quite good.
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/macro-and-telephoto-lenses-for-smartphone-cameras/9112
Yes, I had a clip on macro for my old phone (Nokia) and it was really fun searching for tiny insects in flowers. When I needed a new phone, I sprung for a Pixel Pro 8 which has a built in macro. LOVE it. I do have a used Canon SX60 but this summer - when I knew I wasn’t going to see any new or remarkable bird - I often went out observing with only my phone and was pretty happy using it to take the surprise Pileated at a distance.
But, this summer especially, I focused primarily on insects and spiders. I went small.
After reading through those threads as well as looking at some photos and other info about the nikon P900, it looks like a perfect pick! Thanks to you and the other people who gave suggestions and shared their thoughts.
Monitors are my favourite animals, Varanus forever!
I know a few birders who have the Nikon P950 here in Northeast Ohio, U.S.A. They really like that camera. They didn’t want to invest in a DSLR or mirrorless camera. One even switched from a DSLR to the P950 because it’s easier to use. They get some fantastic photos including flight shots. The zoom is very good. They aren’t too heavy. These birders carry binoculars as well as the camera with no problems. (Some are older women.)
If you’re doing some birding on that budget a used DSLR would fit the bill. I Just did a quick search on ebay and there’s a Nikon D5300 with a 70-300mm lens and a 18-55 thrown in as well for $464AUD. It’s also got built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. You can even get a Canon 7D for about $200-$300 which would allow you to spend the left over cash on a lens. I’d say stick with a DSLR, but as others have suggested a bridge camera would be a good option too if you can find one at a reasonable price.
To go against the current - with a DSLR you have more flexibility with the ability to change the lens. You can use an extension tube and the kit lens to shoot macro, and a nice telephoto lens for the birds.
The disadvantage to this of course is that swapping lenses in the field is an invitation for dust.
Second hand DSLRs are pretty cheap, and even some of the mirrorless are reasonable.
I just recently stopped using a 2005 Canon 350D because the memory card was a pain, but changing lenses kept the body usable for quite a while.
If you decide a new camera is the way to go rather than used, I definitely recommend looking for deals on the second-newest model. I found my Lumix GX85 kit with two starter lenses for a good $300USD under list price!
The downfall of interchangeable lenses…is then you’ll want to buy more lenses :)
Hi, and welcome, @varanus_enthusiast!
You indicated that you’re a beginner with photography; while I agree that a good, secondhand DSLR would be a good choice, I recommend a good superzoom bridge camera for a starter. What you’re looking for is something that has manual controls than let you set the lens aperture and shutter speed. (Manual override for focus is a good option to look for as well.) The reason is this: it lets you get accustomed to setting those things without throwing you into the deep end of the photography pool. Think of it as a DSLR woth training wheels.
My current main camera is a Nikon Coolpix P520; it’s the most single lens reflex-like camera I’ve shot since I was shooting film with my old brick of a Pentax Pentaflex. (Side note: even a digital SLR is heavy; if you choose to go that route, look at mirrorless.) Yes, a bridge camera will mean a downgrade in sensor size and megapixel resolution, but unless you want to shoot for publication, it’s not that big a trade-off. What you want to look for is fast zoom, quick autofocus, a set of manual settings that let you adjust for a wide range of shooting conditions, and good battery life. I chose the P520 because it has all of these. It doesn’t have the zoom capacity of some of the newer models, but it is fast, and image stability is good at maximum zoom.
Let us know what you decide on!
Hahaha! Even though I’m definitely an “older woman” I routinely carry a DSLR, a phone, binoculars, a day pack with water and snacks, and trekking poles, and often have a dog in harness to help on the steep hills. Joking aside, the phone is good for quick shots and fun times with friends and dogs and the DSLR is good for the high-quality shots when conditions allow (think fast-moving butterflies on flowers) and gorgeous landscapes when out hiking.
All good points.
Dust isn’t too much of an issue if you’re careful, but I have had some problems with it at times - the easy fix is to just buy a sensor cleaning kit (about $25-$30), and facing the camera down when changing lenses can help to some degree.
It’s easy for rank beginners to get caught up in the technicalities of buying cameras. The important thing is to just get a good camera, good is good enough as most cameras made in the last 15-20 years are across that line I think, and learn how to use it properly - that’s probably the important thing to get the most enjoyment out of whatever camera you decide to buy.
That’s great. Just keep in mind that while the P900 has a built in GPS, the P950 and P1000 don’t.
We have the P900 and 950 here. The 950 is heavier but not as ridiculous as a dSLR. My other half used the 900 hiking across Spain. The batteries run down quickly due to the motorised lens especially if you are switching around constantly between little things and birds.
The quality of the photos is not as great. If you are just using them on FB and IG ie small screen, you won’t notice. On a desktop you will.
Will we take the bridge cameras on our next Spanish Camino? No. We are taking our mirrorless cameras with big lenses ( and hiking shorter days!) despite much increased weight ( my camera gear is 2.4kg).
It all depends on what you use the camera for and how frustrated you get with the quality. For the price the 900/950 are great.
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