Birding On a tight budget - should I buy less now or wait to buy right?

[kneale]

Hi all. I love nature and am tired of using only my iphone. I've had cameras in the past but it has been years. So long in fact, when I tried to hook my old Pentax DSLR up to my Macbook, it was incompatible, so no way to download my photos. So, now I am looking at Canon Rebels including the SL2, T7i and also the D77.

My goal, other than being able to take photos of my kids, is to shoot nature. I love to garden and we have many birds, bees and butterflies that come into the garden on a regular basis. I also have lots of flowers and want to capture them as well. My husband would like to use the camera for video capture of his Tankganyikan Cichlids (fish). 

My dilemma is I've watched so many Youtube videos and it seems I "need" at least the Canon T7i or D77 to be able to even get a mediocre shot (according to all of the "experts"), and I honestly can't afford the price point of either of these with all the lenses. I can afford the D77 body only, which obviously does me no good. The T7i is slightly better but only with the 18-55 lens. I can just afford the SL2 with the kit 18-55 and the 55-250. 

I'm at a loss. To hear most of the Youtubers anything less than at least one of these is a waste of money. No camera means no pictures but I am wondering if I should just hold off and save up for the better camera, the D77 or maybe even the D80. What are your thoughts and experiences?

Thank you!

[shadowsports]

Karen,

Glad you are gettng closer to a decision.

Ernie is right.  Many of the "kit deals" on Amazon should not be trusted.  While I have purchased a few lenses there, they were all either sold by Amazon or from a trusted authorized Canon reseller such as Digital Goja in FL.  These days I buy my equipment from B&H or Canon.  I did just buy a Sigma Dock "Kit" from from Amazon (Digital Goja) actually, but it was a cleaning kit bundle for the same price (with tax or without) and everyone needs a few lens puffers, cleaning cloths, etc. 

But definitely stay away from sellers offering a complete package that includes tripod, filters, flash, memory card, storage bag.. and so on.  These are often grey market or refurbished produtcs and you just don't know what you're getting.  While saving money is impotant, deals on Canon's site come and go.  Somethimes its timing.  Good luchk, you're in the home stretch.      

[ebiggs1]

This is not a super sharp shot as I had the snap it hand holding my biy Siggy S 150-600mm zoom. But it is sorta cool with the hummer chasing away the wasp from the feeder.

[shadowsports]

Great shot...  Bird >>> Bug!

[ebiggs1]

Thanx, it was a 'quickie' !

[kneale]

Love it! 

[kneale]

So I ended up buying the 77D. Here is my very first bird in flight shot. Please, I am aware it is awful. Just wanted to share because even though it is blurry and way sub par compared to what most here are probably capable of, it is my first and I am excited about it. It was taken through my living room window from about 25 feet away. I used the kit lens, Canon EFS 18-135 USM. 

Karen

[ebiggs1]

Hey, Kido, you have to walk before you can run.  We all were there once.

[kneale]

These are a little better today but fish are much easier. 🙂 

[Waddizzle]

Nice photos.

Every photographer has some place, or some type of subject, that they use as “reference standard” when evaluating new gear, or their technique.  For me, for most of my lenses, it is an outdoor landscape location.  It has become my “training ground.”

Pay special attention to these photos that you have posted, right down to the last detail.  Save them.  It will take you some time , through repeated photos as your technique, or gear, evolves to build a large enough sample of photographs to allow a critical evaluation of what you are doing.

in other words, keep shooting, and don’t stop.

[AndyMilnePhotog]

Congrats on getting into bird and wildlife photography! I am also a beginner photographer who is just getting started too. If you want a lens with good reach and is affordable, I would get the 55-250mm STM lens which costs $300 new. The focusing should be quick enough and allows you to get closer to the animals.

I also have 3 good tips that will improve your wildlife photos:

1. Fill the frame. In other words, get as close as you can on your subject, especially with smaller animals while trying not to disturb it.

2. Use a fast shutter speed. Set your camera in shutter priority (Tv Mode) with the aperture wide open and on Auto ISO. For fast action, set your shutter speed at 1/500 or in fact 1/1000 of a second or higher to freeze the animal's movement. For subjects staying still or on a perch, shoot at a shutter speed as slow as you can get away with while making sure that the subject is sharp and in focus.

3. Don't be afraid to raise the ISO if you need to. A noisy sharp photo will be better than a less noisy blurry picture.

I hope this helps you out. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask us.

Andrew