BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[redrider]

I've contemplated getting a camara for taking wildlife and scenery pics for some time. After seeing some of the post lately of some spectacular places and animals i've been more inspired to start researching for a good camera. I would like recommendations for something digital that can take some long shots clearly. Thanks for your help!

[cowgal]

Over the years I've always been fond of Canon and have had film and digital and have been very pleased with the photos. For very good long range photos, you still can't beat a 35mm film camera with a good long lens. My Canon digital is an older model, the Power Shot G2. If I was to buy another Canon right now, I'd probably look at the Rebel line. I've read really good reviews for those, plus the lens is interchangeable so you can purchase a nice long lens for close ups of wildlife.

Just this spring I purchased an Olympus Stylus 720 SW primarily because of its size (fits in a pocket) and its waterproof. I've been very pleased with the photos, but my husband has a hard time using it because its so small.

[redrider]

Thanks for the info cowgal :thumbsup1: What can you tell me about the lens? I'm confused about all the #'s.

[gr8fuldoug]

The Olypus 720SW is a very good quality camera that can be dropped, is water-proof and will take outstanding photographs. Please see all features @ http://www.olympusamerica.com/.....oduct=1225
This camera or the Pentax W10 are the two cameras that we suggest to our outdoors crowd.

[redrider]

Doug welcome to BGH! Thanks for info. I have a good digital camera for close images, but i'm looking for something that can pull that deer at 200-300 yds in a little closer. What do ya have?

[gr8fuldoug]

OK, In that case, unless you want to get into a Digital S.L.R. I would suggest the Olympus SP500 http://www.olympusamerica.com/.....oduct=1189

[cowgal]

Redrider,

About the lens #s, well it varies from camera to camera. The less expensive a camera is the more likely it simply has a fixed lens, no close-up zoom capabilities.

The Olympus I just purchased this year, states that it has a 3X optical + 5X digital zoom. The way I understand that is that this particular lens can bring an object in up to 5 times closer.

My Canon digital has a 4X optical zoom and I don't recall the digital zoom.

My Canon 35 mm SLR film camera has several lenses, one of them a 500 mm telephoto. My favorite for photographing wildlife is a 300 mm lens. This camera is over 30 years old and still takes great pics. I unfortunately do not use it very much any more, because digital is so much faster & easier. So I'm contemplating a Canon Rebel.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consu.....goryid=111
Just wish my lenses from the film camera would fit on the new digitals! I have a lot of $$ invested in that old camera.

BTW welcome Doug! Maybe you can help out with the lens question. I'm not sure I explained very well.

[redrider]

I took a look at that Canon Rebel. That's exactly what I'm looking for :thumbsup1: Like I said i'm a little confused as to how big of a lense I need. I don't want to overkill yet I want to make sure I can get a great shot out to 300-400 yds.

[gr8fuldoug]

The optical zoom is all that you want to concern yourself with. Digital zoom is virtually useless because all that is doing is enlarging the image internally and degrading the quality.

If a digital SLR is your choice here are three packages that are excellent options:

1. Canon Rebel XT with 18-55mm Digital SLR Outfit (Your choice of Silver or Black)
Outfit includes a 1 GIG Memory Card, Card Reader, Photo Finale Software & Case.
Your cost is $829.99 and then you will get a $100.00 rebate after purchase directly from Canon. Rebates are on purchases thru July 15th, 2006

2. Pentax Digital SLR Ist DL Camera 2 Lens kit
Kit Includes:
Pentax Ist DL w/Pentax 18-55 AF lens
Pentax 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED DA Lens
52mm UV Filter
55mm UV Filter
Photo Finale Software
Guide to Digital Photography
Pro Gadget Bag
Promaster 1 GIG SD card
Promaster SD Card Reader
Only $829.99

3.Olympus E500 2 lens kit special. This great kit includes the Olympus 14-45 and the Olympus 40-150 Olympus digital lenses. This all you need kit also includes the battery, charger, cables, CD and 1 year USA/World wide warranty, a 1 gig 60x speed CF card (lifetime warranty), digital camera care kit, 2 UV filters, USB 2.0 card reader and a Pro Gadget bag all for only $899.99 and then get a $100.00 after purchase rebate from Olympus. The rebate runs thru the end of July.

If you would like to upgrade any of these kits to a 2 GIG CF Card and include an extra battery it is only $75.00 additional.


All three of these are excellent quality. The Pentax and Olympus kits will give you more for the money and because they are two lens kits offer more powerful zoom.

[redrider]

Hey Doug thanks for the options. If i'm looking at covering several hundred yds would the 200mm lense be enough? How well does the 55mm bring in an image? As you can tell I know absolutely nothing about the SLR. If i'm spending that much money I want to make sure i'm getting exactly what I want. Should I go to a store and look through these lense to see how these different lenses compare? Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

[gr8fuldoug]

The way it operates with digital SLRs the focal length of the lens is actually magnified by a factor of 1.5x (except for Olympus which is 2x)
With this said the Pentax 55-200mm is actually a 80-300mm. Your vision view is rated at 50mm, so 300mm will bring and object 6 times closer.

[Don Fischer]

Well I'm a Nikon shooter but were I to start today, I think I'd chose Cannon. It seem's that Cannon sets the standard in digital SLR's. I have Nikon because I always have.

I would encourage you to concider only Nikon or Cannon and stay mid range price wise. The Rebel and the Nikon D50 are entry level DSLR's but work very well. Problem is that for a couple hundred bucks more you get a lot more camera. I shoot a D70 and fooled with a Cannon D20 a little. Both are great cameras and the biggest difference will be which one you like to use. I'd avoid the Olympis. They have been around for years and just recently made an entrance to digital SLR's. They are expensive, lenses are expensive and after market lenses may be limited.

Pentax D-ist is supposed to be a good camera but not many pros using it. Don't know why for sure, Pentax has always made good cameras. I have a Pentax 645NII filn camera. You'd have to kill me to get it.

Little edit here. You really should have a photo quality printer also. HP, Cannon and Epson are all excellent. But HP print's will spot and/or run if hit by water. My Epson , Epson 300, and the Cannon's won't do that. I also have an Epson 66 that works well and was cheap! Also an Epson Picturemate for 4x6's, very nice. I had the HP 4x6 printer but got rid of it when I found the ink ran if wet! Both the Epson Picturemate and the HP 375 (4x6 printer) will work on optional batteys. Speaking of batterys, get an extra for the camera and an extra card.

Let me say, look at the Cannons and Nikons that you can afford and chose the one that is easiest for you to use and feels good handling. Don't be overcome by those special programs, most, the vast majority you'll never use. One program I like on my D70 is the "commander" mode. with the right flash, I can set it off with my camera, wirelessly and remote.

For lenses, you should probally have a wide angle that comes with the camera and two telephoto's. I gave my 28-200 to my neice and wish I still had it. It was a Sigma but Tameron and Tokina also make excellent lenses in that range. I also have a 150-500 Sigma that I couldn't do with out. It comes out to about 240 -700 on a digital. It's optimised for 35mm as most are. They may make it in digital optimised now. Digitat optimized lenses will be note with a "D". By the way, if you stop at a 200mm lense, you'll come away wanting for longer shots at animals in the wild.

The longer lense, 150-500 or Tamrons 200-400 or Tokinas 80-400 all really should be shot off a tripod. If your feeling rich, Cannon and Nikon both make lenses with "vibration reduction" built in, very expensive tho, well over $1000.

I'd stick with Sigma, Tameron and Tokina lenses over the Cannon and Nikon lenses unless you a pro, maybe even then. You'll likely not be able to tell the difference in the finished photo's.

One thing not to be taken in by is the mega pixel race. Anything over 6 MP and the difference is just not that obvious to the average guy. I've blown up many photo's to 8 1/2 x 11 and they look fine. Photo's bigger than that, I shoot on film, med format film. Until you get up around 10 or 12 MP, you won't gain much. Then at 10 or 12 MP, the cost of the camera goes up, way up!

[gr8fuldoug]

For the record, Olympus SLR's are the only SLRs that completely digital designed SLRs. Canon, Nikon & Pentax took existing film cameras and converted them to digital media. Olympus designed a digital SLR system from the ground up including the complete line of digital lenses.

No, the Olympus is not a pro camera like the Nikon D2x or a Canon D30, it also costs much less. If you are comparing apples to apples the Olympus E-Volt 500 would be in the same price range as a Nikon D50, Canon Rebel and a Pentax ist DL and the Olympus would be the most advanced camera in that group.
Please see:
http://www.olympusamerica.com/.....oduct=1192
http://www.usa.canon.com/consu.....elid=11154
http://www.nikonusa.com/templa.....ctNr=25216
http://www.pentaximaging.com/p.....l_camera--*ist_DL/reqID--6552159/subsection--digital_slr

The best way to decide is with the facts. Check the above websites, read about the cameras, compare technologies and features and see which one is best for you.

[redrider]

You guys are really giving me some great information. Thank You :thumbsup1: Lots of choices to make, but thats what I was looking for. Hopefully I will come away with something I can enjoy for years to come.

[Don Fischer]

This camera deal is kinda like rifles and cartridges. To many choices and none really wrong. A good pro will take a disposable, shoot a scene and leave you wondering how he did it with junk!

You might go to gr8fuldoug's web site. His family ownes a camera store in the "City".