digital camera for wildlife

[dakota]

reviews.cnet.com/Canon_EOS_30D_with_18mm_to_55mm_lens/4505-6501_7-31755772.html?tag=tpr

[klsm54]

Yikes! Way too steep for my blood.

That 18-55mm lens wouldn't be much good for wildlife. On an SLR type digital, or film camera, you would want a minimum of a 200 mm lens, 3-400 is better.

This is what I have. Not an SLR, but takes darned good pictures, for an amateur like me... ;D ...............

Panasonic FZ-7

It has a 12x Optical zoom lens, that is equivalent to a 432mm SLR lens. It also has image stabilization to aid in off-hand photos at full zoom.

Don't get trapped in the Mega-Pixel battle. A 4 or 5 MP camera will take fantastic pictures, if it has a good lens. Unless you are going to blow up the pictures larger than 8.5"x11", 4.0 MP is plenty. Unfortunately, many cameras today are being crammed with more MP's, to add perceived value, in models that have the features you desire, especially in a zoom camera.

Here is a Canon model with similar pricing and features... Canon S2 IS

Either of these can be purchased for under $350.00 and will make an excellent wildlife or outdoors camera. I chose the Panasonic because it is smaller and lighter. Wish I had a camera like this 25 years ago. It will fit in a vest or jacket pocket and you won't even know its there, not so with my old Nikon SLR.

[dakota]

Thanks! Actually the one I was looking at closely was the Cannon but I think they came out with a S3 for the same money. Little difference but a little.
For me, I start looking at things long before I am ready to purchase. It seems that there are lenses available for extra $

[klsm54]

You're right Dakota. The S3 is a slight improvement, for a little more money. I wasn't aware of the price reduction on the S3's.

When the S3 first came out, it was about $200.00 more than the S2. Must not have been many suckers out there... That is another big reason I bought the Panasonic. The FZ-7, almost a twin in features to the Canon S3, was actually a little cheaper than it's predecessor, while Canon tried to gouge it's customers for a while.

You can buy extra lenses for the SLR type digitals. That is a big plus in their favor, but at that $1000.00, and up, price tag, plus several hundred for a half decent zoom lense, I get a nose bleed ... ;D

The compact big zoom models, like the S2, S3, FZ-5 & FZ-7, have fixed zoom lenses. But with their 12x optical zoom, they cover the same range that it would take 3 different SLR lenses to duplicate.

Here is a great site to read some in-depth evaluations and compare different cameras.................................. Digital Photography Review

[Bill]

You know, I wish they would make a digital back for some of the higher end 35MM's that they use to produce that could be taken out and a standard back put on.
I still use my Ricoh XR7 which has Tamron lenses from 50MM macro to 200MM telephoto. Its terrible to let it set and go to waste. Right now the shutter is dealing me fits and needs cleaning and the whole camera looked over. I should send it back to Ricoh or to some reputable camera shop.
Other than that the rest of my pics are taken with a Vivatar digital that I have used for 4 or years now. Its getting a bit outdated too just like the Ricoh.

[dakota]

It has come down to the Kodak EasyShare Z612, Panasonic fz7 and the Cannon S3 right now.

Anyone interested in an Argus Box camera bought in the 1930's - easy to use - minimal auto features (as far as that goes minimal manual features). no zoom, no flash, no batteries to worry about, no.....

Does anyone prefer the AA batteries or the rechargeable miniture batteries? I am sort of used to large cameras. It seems that shirt pocket cameras are the rage. Perhaps the miniture cameras are the way to go.

[twomoons]

Gee
I gave my dog a camera and he hasn't used it yet. Do you really think a deer could catch on to it?

On the other hand if YOU want to photograph wild life (animals I assume) I would opt for the Nikon SLR digital. The low end ones are about $450 and they will take the same lenses as the 35's. The high end ones are what Nat. Geo photogs use in the field. For lenses a good macro and a good 50-135 should get you off the ground. For a long lens i like the 300mm with a good quality doubler and after that the Cannon telescope attachment. I have used the telescope to take good snaps of licensplates at 400 yards or more.