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What is the best camera for birding?

reddit.com › r › birding › comments › 1ekblnf › what_is_the_best_camera_for_birding

Lot of cameras can do it. For birding, gear actually matters: so the good stuff is going to be expensive. Usually the best way to start is to define a number you are comfortable with and aim for that. Basically what you need is a long lens (anything from 300mm to 600mm or 800mm depending on brand) and a camera body. I'm a sony shooter, so that's what I can recommend today: best way to start with an equipment that won't disappoint but won't break the bank either is a Sony a6700 camera with a sony 200-600 lens. Not the best in the world, but will help you to take great pictures. You can get both for maybe 3.0k usd new. If budget isn't a concern, then I recommend a sony a9iii or a sony a1 (both of them are good but have different benefits) and the same 200-600 lens or a 600mm if you want the top notch stuff (but that's like 12k usd only for the lens). So, all that said, give us a budget and we can try to find something suitable. Answer from southern_ad_558 on reddit.com

reddit.com › r/birding › what is the best camera for birding?

r/birding on Reddit: What is the best camera for birding?

August 5, 2024 -

I love seeing the awesome photos of birds on here and I'd love to take some of my own. Any suggestions on what kind of camera/lens I should get started with? Thanks!

Lot of cameras can do it. For birding, gear actually matters: so the good stuff is going to be expensive. Usually the best way to start is to define a number you are comfortable with and aim for that. Basically what you need is a long lens (anything from 300mm to 600mm or 800mm depending on brand) and a camera body. I'm a sony shooter, so that's what I can recommend today: best way to start with an equipment that won't disappoint but won't break the bank either is a Sony a6700 camera with a sony 200-600 lens. Not the best in the world, but will help you to take great pictures. You can get both for maybe 3.0k usd new. If budget isn't a concern, then I recommend a sony a9iii or a sony a1 (both of them are good but have different benefits) and the same 200-600 lens or a 600mm if you want the top notch stuff (but that's like 12k usd only for the lens). So, all that said, give us a budget and we can try to find something suitable.

I have a canon 90d and the Canon EF 100-400mm II lens. It’s not the best but I get great pictures and was comparatively affordable. I bought my lens used, and when it reaches end of life, I’ll likely go mirrorless.

reddit.com › r/askphotography › best super budget camera for birding?

r/AskPhotography on Reddit: Best super budget camera for birding?

December 5, 2023 -

Hello! I am interested in saving up for a camera to use for bird photography. I don't need anything super high quality, mostly just something that can help me get okay quality far away photos for posting observations to inaturalist. It doesn't have to be super clear, just enough to tell that it's a bird pretty much. My budget is super low as I'm not in an outstanding financial situation right now. Like $200usd or less. "Your phone is your best bet" is a totally reasonable answer as I really don't know anything when it comes to cameras. Thanks in advance! Sorry for the sort of silly beginner question.

Wildlife photography is among the most gear-demanding types of photography. Your best bet for your budget would be to get an older DSLR crop sensor body (Canon 7D for example), and then the best telephoto lens you can find for your budget. The 7D is listed on eBay for $250 and is a good starter camera (although dated). You would then need to find a lens for it. You could get a manual telephoto lens (no auto focus) for a couple hundred dollars. Avoid some crazy zoom lens (20-200 for example) as it won't autofocus well, it won't let in a lot of light, and it won't be sharp. I believe this older setup is really the only alternative to your phone as you aren't getting anything made in the last 10 years with a telephoto lens for less than 1K that will be better for birding.

One option is used super zoom bridge camera. They weren’t good quality, similar to modern phone, but it will have a long telephoto lens which is what you need for birding.

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reddit.com › r/birding › camera recomendation for a birder in a budget

r/birding on Reddit: Camera recomendation for a birder in a budget

September 14, 2025 -

Hi! I'm a biologist (I work mostly with plants) and amateur birder looking for recomendations for a camera that is decent for birding but isn't crazy expensive.

I don't want to be a professional nature photographer or anything like that, just take some photos that look decent and can be used to ID small birds (I upload them usually to iNaturalist). Right now I'm using my bf's Canon EOS 1100, but I wanted to get one of my own and I need something with a bit more zoom and maybe something less bulky so I can take it on long hikes (But that is not as important). The most I can expend on a camera is around 300-400$, wich I know is not much but It is what it is. Thanks!

A bridge camera is a good bet. Surf ebay/facebook marketplace/used places for deals on the Nikon p950, canon powershot sx70, panasonic fz80, sony cybershot rx10iv. I shoot the p950, it's impeccable for stills in good lighting and the zoom isn't matched. P950, even used is probably out of your price range. Any bridge camera is good

Just a note first that with a DSLR like the canon EOS line, it's the lens that controls how much you can zoom and not the camera itself. Attaching a larger lens to a camera like that will give you more zoom. However! Based on everything else you've said, I would suggest looking into what's called a "bridge camera" such as something from the nikon coolpix, kodak pixpro, canon powershot lines. These prioritize zoom factor and portability but the actual image quality is certainly not amazing. There are many options that range in price so hopefully you can find something at your budget!

reddit.com › r/birding › camera recommendations

r/birding on Reddit: Camera Recommendations

February 5, 2026 -

Hello all! As the title states, I'm looking for camera recommendations. Ive taken some great pics with my phone but I'm ready to step up my bird photography game. I'd prefer to stay under 1000$ but I'm open to persuasion. Hopefully I'll be getting a decent tax return this year and its the one thing ill allow myself to splurge om with it. Adding obligatory pics, because birds!

Under $1000 is a fair but not incredible limitation. On Canons, on the DSLR side, you can get a used Rebel T7i for about $400, or 80D for about $475. A 75-300 lens will be about $150. L-series? A 300 F4 prime runs around $700 used. (EDIT: That 75-300 is a "kit" or kit-like lens. Quality is not horrible, but it's not great, and it's slow to autofocus.) That said, that's DSLR. A starter mirrorless body is really the better way to go. I got the R50 plus the 100-400 mirrorless lens, both refurbs, for about $1100 total. (Prices have gone up since then, but you can probably still do the combo for $1300 or so.) On Nikkon, its ultra-range 28-400 mirrorless, if you can find a steal, will probably run about $1,000 even or a bit more. Not sure what a budget mirrorless body, whether full-frame or crop factor will run. (That said, its f-stopping gets slow at anything above 200) Fuji makes a lot of crop factor (APS-C) bodies. Many of them shoot pretty fast with partially stacked sensors. I hear different things about their lenses. The former Olympus makes the "micro four-thirds" platform cameras, which "zoom in" (not actually zooming in, but that's totally non-technical) even more than an APS-C as compared to a full frame. But, you lose additional light than an APS-C as compared to a full frame. Others will surely weigh in as well.

Canon R50 and RF 100-400mm is a great low end option if you can find it used. This combo was once pretty easy to find under $1k, but I think tariffs have made it slightly harder.

reddit.com › r/wildlifephotography › whats the best camera for starting birding

r/wildlifephotography on Reddit: Whats the best camera for starting birding

September 5, 2025 -

If you can find around maxium 150 dollars

You’d have to multiply your budget by 10, and even then you’d get second hand gear, and bottom of the line. Bird photos is not a cheap hobby.

your cellphone camera shot through binoculars probably

reddit.com › r/birding › birding camera recommendations

r/birding on Reddit: Birding Camera recommendations

May 8, 2024 -

What is a good beginner camera for birding? I want to purchase one for my mom who just got into birding? Something that is good but fairly easy to use.

I recently got a Nikon Coolpix P950 and it’s extremely user friendly (I’m not experienced whatsoever), has a bird mode, and is all in one- no need to purchase lenses. Personally, I love it so much and have gotten fantastic pictures with it. It’s also a super fair price

This is super sweet of you, but I just want to ask if your mom asked for a camera or expressed interest in bird photography? Birding for the enjoyment of observing birds is really a pretty different hobby from wildlife/bird photography. If she’s a beginner birder and hasn’t expressed interest in photography, a quality pair of binoculars (or a scope and tripod, if she has some good binocs already) might be more enjoyable as a gift. Personally, I birded happily for 20 years before I decided a camera was a worthwhile investment for me.

reddit.com › r/nikon › best camera for birding

r/Nikon on Reddit: Best camera for birding

August 30, 2024 -

Hi everyone,

I have been trying to look into what camera + attachments I would need to get a good camera for birds. My girlfriend is a long time birder and has also made it her career in life. She has always dreamed of having a great camera to take pics, as unfortunately all she has right now to use is her phone.

I don’t have a huge budget, but maybe if I could get a decent camera and lens for $1kish that would work for me.

Is there anything in that budget that could work for this? Thank you for your help, I don’t know enough about this to spend that much without informed opinions.

EDIT : I can be somewhat flexible on budget, I just mostly want to know what would be best for her as it’s something she has always wanted. She’s starting her masters and I want to set her up well for it. Thanks again

If anyone is willing to let me pick their brain and send them a few camera listings I was looking at, I would appreciate it a TON!

"Decent" is in contradiction with specialised need. D500 is unsurpassable, check prices to see whether it fits your budget.

You're gonna have a bad time on that budget. Used 7200 and 150-600 maybe. The lenses alone cost more than that new. You might be able to find a used p1000 for less though too. Worse iq, but better zoom range.

reddit.com › r/birding › good camera for beginner birder?

r/birding on Reddit: Good Camera for Beginner Birder?

December 20, 2025 -

I have been birding for about a year now and I wanted to start researching some beginner cameras that are somewhat affordable, this is to help document stuff in my eBird account. If there are any recommendations, please let me know! I am also a college student and I know a good camera is well over a grand (money I do not have right now lol). Thanks!

I got a used Nikon p900 for 200 bucks and it’s everything I want. I just want a camera to take super far away photos to ID birds later, not to put in an art gallery. The newer models are good too, but more expensive. They all have a specific bird watching mode though which is nice!

An older 50x superzoom1200mm equiv. eg sx50 hs , a 30x eg fz150 or hs20exr will be a bit cheaper , just got hs20 for £35 ebay .

Find elsewhere

Google Bing Mojeek

reddit.com › r/birding › can you recommend cameras for birding?

r/birding on Reddit: Can you recommend Cameras for Birding?

July 9, 2023 -

Hi I need recommends for cameras Budgets are at most $2500 US Dollars have never bought or used cameras before idk anything about cameras (below are what others recommended me)

I'm considering Nikon P1000 or P950 or P900, Sony Rx10m3 or m4, Canon Sx70hs

OP, no one has truly explained your options yet, so I’ll lay a few out. You can either get a bridge camera or a DSLR (I’m ignoring mirrorless systems for cost). You can get a good bridge camera like the Nikon P1000 for about a grand or less. These have a lot of zoom, and make for good cameras for getting record shots. They are small, portable, and light. However, they tend to significantly lack in picture quality. Bridge cameras do not produce nearly as high quality images as a DSLR would. If you don’t care about picture quality and only want record photos of species, get a bridge camera. If you want to get into photography, get a DSLR. If you are considering a DSLR, I would recommend getting a Nikon D500. I know weight is a concern, so if you don’t think you can lug around a sigma 150-600 or a Nikon 200-500 lens, I would suggest a 70-300 with VR. It’s a nice small lens, doesn’t have crazy zoom but it’s enough for most situations and will take beautiful photos when you can get in close to the birds.

Was there a reason you wanted to get a bridge camera, like the ones listed, over a camera with interchangeable lenses? I personally use a Nikon D500 ($1100 used) and a Sigma 150mm-600mm Sport lens (also about $1100 used). I have had minimal complaints with either of these.

reddit.com › r/birding › looking for bird photography camera

r/birding on Reddit: Looking for bird photography camera

February 6, 2023 -

Hello fellow birders,

I'm looking for a camera to enhance my kit (now consisting of 10x42 binoculars) and would like your opinion. I don't have much experience with photography but experimented a bit with a Nikon D3300 with a NIKKOR 55-200 1:4-5.6 lens. I have no clue how much optical zoom this translates to, but it's not enough to determine species from a distance, but it still makes nice pictures from medium range.

I think I'm better off with a bridge camera instead of buying a zoom lens for my d3300, and buying a new camera body will be even more expensive. I'm interested in a few options:

- Nikon P900 Coolpix (great zoom, could but second hand for €400, not sure about quality in full 84x zoom)

- Nikon p950 Coolpix (same zoom as p900, better options but probably won't use RAW, €900)

- Nikon p1000 Coolpix (best zoom, quite expensive at around €1000 but great quality overall)

- Panasonic Lumix FZ 300 (24x zoom is not that much, better body, second hand pretty cheap at €200-250)

- Panasonic Lumix FZ82 (60x zoom, cheap (new €350), don't understand why it is cheap?)

I'm leaning towards a p900 but are intererested in your opinions, are there any other options? What are your experiences or recommendations? I would use it mostly to determine species but taking cool 'in flight' pictures would be nice as well.

Here are the maximum focal ranges in 35mm. (Don't worry about why 35mm, it's just to make an apples to apples comparison across different sensor sizes) Your 55-200 - 300mm The Panasonic - 600mm The P900's - 2000mm The P1000 - 3000mm I think any could be a great fit to identify birds. I don't have any experience with any of these cameras first hand. I personally am not a fan of superzooms, but I understand where you are coming from. Perched birds should net you some good pictures in good lighting. In flight pics will be quite tough and will take a lot of practice. None of these will focus as fast as your D3300 and will have more shutter delay as well. Atmospheric conditions will have a large effect on images at such long focal lengths as well. Another option is to look at a used 70-300, 80-400, or 100-400 for your current camera. The D3300 really does have a pretty good sensor that is better than any bridge camera for capturing detail. To compare to the above at 35mm 70-300 - 450mm 80-400 - 600mm

These small sensor, long zoom bridge cameras are probably good for proof/ID pics, but won't make really good looking photos, especially in suboptimal light. A 1" sensor bridge camera would be a more balanced choice. Unfortunately, many of them are discontinued, like the Canon G3 X and Sony RX10 III (Canon is lighter and cheaper, Sony has better quality and a faster lens). The more recent Sony RX10 IV is a very good camera, but also pretty expensive. All of them have a 24-600 mm equivalent zoom range. At a somewhat more reasonable price, you'll find the Panasonic FZ2000, but it has less zoom (24-480 eq) than the others. Buying a new zoom for your existing camera might actually be a better idea than you think, especially considering that you don't need to learn a new camera. There is the Tamron 18-400 (27-600 eq), which has an absolutely enormous zoom range (for DSLR standards) that will allow it to replace your standard lens and give you lots of reach on the long end. However, it also comes with compromises in image quality and will not give you the same sharpness as a "real" 400 mm telephoto lens. It also has a rather weak image stabilization. Your existing body + 18-400 should however be mostly comparable in price, weight and performance to a used RX10 III, probably with slightly better autofocus, slightly worse image quality and higher bulk. Tamron and Sigma also have great and reasonably priced 100-400 (150-600 eq) and 150-600 (225-900 eq) lenses, which offer better image quality than the other options, but are fairly heavy and have to be carried in addition to your standard lens. The 100-400 already weigh over 1 kg and the 150-600 weigh almost 2 kg. Depending on your standard lens, there could be quite a gap between the longest setting of your standard lens and the shortest setting of the tele lens. TL;DR: Don't care about weight at all? Sigma or Tamron 150-600 (Sigma is better) Don't care about weight that much? Sigma or Tamron 100-400 (Sigma is slightly smaller, Tamron is marginally lighter) Want to pay more money on a really good bridge? Sony RX10 IV RX10 IV is too expensive? Tamron 18-400 or used Sony RX10 III Want something rather lightweight and affordable? Used Canon G3 X

reddit.com › r/birding › whats a good compact budget friendly camera for bird photography?

r/birding on Reddit: Whats a good compact budget friendly camera for bird photography?

January 30, 2026 -

i recently had my camera stolen and got an $800 payout from my insurance. i had been looking to upgrade from my sony rx100III for a bit and thisll have to be the opportunity. i love photographing animals, especially birds, so a good autofocus would be good. i do also travel a bit and do street photography, so having something i can put a pancake lens on and store in my pocket would also be nice, but i could also make a small bag for it so its not everything. id appreciate any suggestions

For $800, it will be very hard to find something that works both for birds and for travel/street photography. A used Nikon D7100 with an 18-55 (travel) and 100-400 (birds) would go for $800 on MPB and if you take a bigger 150-600 instead, it's still under $900. But it's not exactly particularly compact. If you want something under $900 that's specifically pocketable in travel configuration, look at a used Sony A6000, 16-50 (travel) and Tamron 70-300. The 70-300 is less powerful than the 100-400 and 150-600 you could get with the Nikon, but at least you're in a system that's still in use and could keep using your lenses if you upgrade to something like the A6700 later on. If you want a decent modern camera, the cheapest option is the Canon R50 (or the slightly more expensive R10) with the 18-45 (travel) and RF 100-400 (birds). It will be around $1500, but it's worth that money, the R50 is the cheapest body on the market with bird detection AF and the 100-400 has solid reach for it's relatively low price and weight.

You could try r/birdphotography and possibly get some better answers

reddit.com › r/birding › beginner birding camera recommendation

r/birding on Reddit: Beginner birding camera recommendation

February 2, 2025 -

I’m just starting this hobby and I love it. I am a fisherman but I want to start hiking and birding more. I get out in nature all the time and I see such beautiful birds by the lake constantly. I have just used my phone by itself and I am always so saddened by the quality. I am pretty cheap and just starting out. So my budget is gonna be on the lower end. Could I find a passable camera to explore my new hobby for 1-1.5k? Just trying to use my tax return on something fun and not have to sell my car. Is this possible?

In my opinion, the Canon R7 with the 100-400mm f/5.6-8 is the best for that range. The R7 goes for around $1k used, but you can honestly get a brand new one on Greentoe for a steal if you try, and the 100-400mm can be found used for $500. This combo is ridiculously good for the price range if you can swing it. There are obviously cheaper options but for $1500, I would highly recommend this combo if you can swing it. Another option would be the Canon R10 and the same lens as above. Used, it should easily be within your budget. I am recommending mirrorless and newer setups. You can get an old DSLR and lens for cheaper, but given your budget, I highly suggest you consider my recommendation. You will be blown away by performance and IQ. Here's a decent review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqazzuyadyo

There's the Canon R10 + 100-400 RF for about 1.5k. But if you're just starting out, binoculars might be a better investment.

reddit.com › r/cameras › $2500 birding camera recommendations?

r/Cameras on Reddit: $2500 Birding Camera Recommendations?

June 19, 2023 -

Hey everyone, was looking to buy my first camera that will be used primarily for birding and wildlife. I was looking into purchasing the Canon Eos R7 and the 100-400mm RF lens. Are there any other cameras that would do better in this budget? Thanks for the help :)

I can recommend the Sony A6600 with the Tamron 150-500. Its an excellent bit of kit. Weather sealed, 11fps, fast Autofocus and the tracking is really sticky. The battery life is incredible, by far one of the longest I've seen. Tge dynamic range and low light capabilities are among the best I've seen in apsc cameras. I've shot thousands of photos with the A6600 and have never once had any complaints. You also get IBIS, which works great with telephoto lenses and in low light scenarios.

If you can push your budget another $300, you can get the Sony A7III. It is everything I've said above, but with a full frame sensor. Also you get two card slots, even better low light performance and slightly better dynamic range. You also have the option of adding a battery grip, there are a lot of third party options available along with the OEM one. Personally I used the Meike one and would recommend that.

The Tamron 150-500 f5-6.7 is an excellent lens. It is compact compared to other telephoto lenses. It is weather sealed, it has internal stabilization (you also get three modes of stabilization depending on how you want to shoot.) You also get a range limiter. The lens is fast focusing and very sharp. Its well built and even has a zoom lock.

Comparatively the RF 100-400 has a far smaller aperture (f8 vs f6.7), doesn't have the switch options and can't use a tripod collar. In extended usage the tripod collar becomes a necessity and for lenses so large, you can't mount the camera itself on a tripod. Weirdly the RF 100-400 doesn't even come with a lens hood in the box. Hope this helps.

That’s a good combination to start. I noticed on B&H that they’re having a sale if you bundle (maybe elsewhere too, not sure). Just under 2K for those at this time.

reddit.com › r/birding › best birding camera?

r/birding on Reddit: Best birding camera?

July 15, 2025 -

Hi! I’m looking for good beginner camera recommendations for birding. I absolutely love taking pictures on my phone but it doesn’t always work great for smaller or further guys. I’m also a student so on a budget, but I understand how expensive these can be.

Thank you if anyone can help! Cute pic from my bird feeder for anyone just scrolling:)

This is going to depend on a looooot of factors. First of all budget (need an actual number to be ANY help at all) and second of all how far away are you wanting to shoot them? There is no "best" camera and your answers will also be vastly different depending if you want new or used gear, what kind of situations you want to use the camera in. For reference I got my first "entry level" birding setup a few months ago and it cost around 2100 CAD new.

You might want to consider a super-zoom or bridge camera instead of a DSLR plus lens setup since it sounds like you’re on a budget. I use the Canon SX50, and while it has some major limitations compared to a DSLR, it has treated me relatively well. It is fairly old now, so there are newer superzooms out there that will presumably have better performance.

reddit.com › r/birding › beginner camera advice

r/birding on Reddit: Beginner Camera Advice

March 28, 2023 -

Hey everyone, I've been away at college and really getting into birding as my campus is super lush. My birthday is coming up soon and my dad suggested that he could get me a camera cause these phone photos through my binoculars really aren't cutting it. Does anyone have any recommendations on good cameras and lenses for birding?

Budget max 2k preferably below 1.5k

If you are new to photography, a very good entry point is a good superzoom camera. A Panasonic FZ300 is about $475, has a fast aperture, reaches out to 600mm, and has more advanced modes for serious users. Critically it's also an order of magnitude less heavy and bulky than an interchangeable lens camera. For interchangeable lens cameras, a modern Olympus body and their 70-300 or 100-400mm lenses is a powerful combination due to the 2x crop factor. This is also a reasonably lightweight setup that should be in budget. Another decent (albeit "slow") option would be the Canon 100-400mm with an RF-mount body. That gives you decent reach, and at $600 it gives you $900 for a camera body and accessories. Generally, reach is king for birding. 70-300mm lenses, even on crop sensors (1.5x multiplier to 450mm) feel too short in many cases.

I would invest most of that budget into a quality lens. Something like the 150-600 from sigma or tamron. That will run ~$800 then get a body to go with it. I use a nikon d3500 that ran $400 used but you van upgrade that a bit. The important thing to remember is that you can always change out the body way cheaper than changing out the lens. Ideally you buy lenses and keep them forever

reddit.com › r/birding › camera recommendations for birders? preferably with good zoom

r/birding on Reddit: Camera recommendations for birders? Preferably with good zoom

May 6, 2025 - It was a really good camera 5 years or so ago, but it's missing useful features that newer mirrorless cameras have. The Canon R10 + 100-400 RF (about 1.5k) outperforms it as a pure birding camera at the same price and weight, while the Tamron 18-300 and Sigma 16-300 on a good mirrorless body ...

reddit.com › r/birding › best birding camera on a budget?

r/birding on Reddit: Best birding camera on a budget?

February 9, 2024 -

I currently have a Sony A6000 with a 55-210mm lens and it’s alright. Just looking for something stronger especially for smaller birds. I’m looking at around $1000-1500, don’t mind if it’s used.

I’m not well versed in cameras either so if you can explain why they’re better I would appreciate it. Thank you!

May I suggest a bridge camera if you are just photographing birds?

Something like the Nikon P900 or P1000 will give you a super telephoto lens. Pros are that you cannot get this magnification(24-3000mm for P1000, 35 mm equivalent) for your a6000. Price is well below a 100-400 lens for your a6000.

Cons are that lenses are not interchangable. Another con is sensor is a little smaller.

I own an Sony a6000 and I use a sigma 100-400 lens with it for birding. The price is about $1000, so within your budget.

I also use the a6000 for landscape and portraits using other lenses. If I was starting out, id buy the Nikon bridge camera.

Sony 70-350 is a great lens for Sony apsc. That plus the best 6000 series body that still fits the budget.

Possibly the a6600 if you get good used prices on both, definitely the a6400 should fit the budget.

The autofocus system of the a6000 is pretty dated and both cameras above will be much faster and better at focusing on the desired subject if used correctly.

reddit.com › r/birding › best bridge camera for birding? (around $300 used)

r/birding on Reddit: best bridge camera for birding? (around $300 used)

April 20, 2026 -

I know this has been asked before, but I am curious if the landscape has changed at all. I'm currently considering a used Nikon P950, Canon SX70 HS, or Panasonic FZ80.

I realize a sensor this size won't produce pro-level results and am mostly interested in documentation and viewing, but it would be nice to be able to get some in-focus flight shots with decent color and minimal fringing or noise.

It's fairly sunny most of the year where I am, so light is pretty ideal a lot of the time, and I have a tripod and monopod if I wanted to shoot still subjects very far away.

Is the extra length of the 950 worth the price?

Do the features of the others, and especially their smaller size make up for it?

Is there anything better that I'm not aware of?

I have a P900, I know next to nothing about photography outside of a few YouTube videos about the camera settings, and I have been able to take some pretty stellar shots of stationary birds in the last month that I’ve had it. I have not had much luck with birds in flight; maybe that’s user error or maybe the camera isn’t very capable—but for $400 I love this thing. The zoom + a cheap tripod has created some results I did not think I’d be able to get starting off.

If it helps at all, I have an FZ82D (which I'm pretty sure is the same as the 80, just the Euro version) and it takes great pictures in good lightning. I have absolutely no point of reference though, since this is my first dedicated camera. Took this with it and I'm pretty happy with the results:

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January 24, 2022 - Whatever you want to call it, if you are looking at or listening to birds, this is where you should be.

reddit.com › r/askphotography › best camera for birding?

r/AskPhotography on Reddit: Best Camera for Birding?

July 9, 2024 -

I just got into birding and I’m now obsessed with wanting to capture my finds with a photograph.

I’m selling my X100VI and wanting to buy…something. Any thoughts on the best sub $2k camera? My gut says the ZF, but I’m open to suggestions.

I just got a so-called “bridge” camera - a Nikon P950. Super zoom. Quite amazing quality photos. Plenty of manual adjustments possible. I love its ability to capture distant object with clarity. I still have a Nikon DSLR with a 150-600 zoom lens. It’s just a little too bulky/heavy for my bird hikes.

Second the r8 Glass is quite expensive unfortunately