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Post by gabriel buluran on Nov 9, 2009 2:11:54 GMT
Hi! Some of my friends are getting interested in birdwatching and bird photography after I told them how exciting, challenging relaxing it could be.
The question they would ask however is if they can use their P&S cameras with so many mega pixels and so much magnification capabilities for bird photography. My answer would always be: Of course you could use it, but there would always be trade offs. Other than lens limitations and limited setting capabilities, what should I be warning them about when using P&S?
Regards,
Gabs
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Nov 9, 2009 3:17:31 GMT
limitations aside, the best thing to do is bring them on a sortie  and probably on an area where there are lots of birds a newbie can enjoy. am sure after their first encounter, there will be no turning back. and in no time they would forget about their P&S and empty their pockets. all that thanks to you! and they will blame you for the rest of your life haha. |
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Nov 9, 2009 4:19:20 GMT
Gabs, I too started out with a "Prosumer" P & S - a Panasonic FZ30 I think. The main "limitation" if you call it that, is that sooner or later, you will realize that you want better quality, more reach, faster AF, and all of the other advantages one can find in the SLR type of camera.
Once they compare their images with those in this forum, they will undoubtedly strive for the higher standards, and if they get bitten by the "Bird Bug" they will find that their pockets have limits too - and this will hurt even more! :-)
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Post by gabriel buluran on Nov 9, 2009 4:20:27 GMT
ha, ha, ha... true! they'd be blaming me for the one-full-meal-a-day-only diet.
not to mention stiff neck and eyestrain from 6 to 7 hours looking upwards towards the trees and often against harsh light.
let's see if my powers are enough to lure them into birding.
cheers!
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Nov 9, 2009 4:55:18 GMT
ha, ha, ha... true! they'd be blaming me for the one-full-meal-a-day-only diet. not to mention stiff neck and eyestrain from 6 to 7 hours looking upwards towards the trees and often against harsh light. let's see if my powers are enough to lure them into birding. cheers! baptize them! |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Nov 9, 2009 5:09:28 GMT
YUP! And they will also start calling you Ninong! Isn't that right Ninong Toto? ;D |
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Nov 9, 2009 5:17:18 GMT
YUP! And they will also start calling you Ninong! Isn't that right Ninong Toto? ;D You mean to say that you are still blaming me? heheh. |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Nov 9, 2009 5:37:59 GMT
Yes toto, I still "blame" you for bringing me into birding. But since I love it so much, I now thank you for introducing me to the avian virus. Hence, the term "ninong" hehehe.. It is toto who baptized me into birding.
BUT.. if gabs' friends end up with golf-pockets (may 18holes haha!) I don't think they will call him ninong.. or call him ever again. hahaha! Kidding!
@gabs,
Sir, it is great that you adviced them to use a P&S first. IMHO, starting small is good. This more than triples the fun!
Step 1. P&S
Step 2. Get 100 lifers using the P&S
Step 3. Get a DSLR and long lens
Step 4. Get the same 100 lifers with the DSLR and long lens
Step 5. Get a longer long lens
See! ;D
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Post by Sylvia Ramos on Nov 9, 2009 5:42:44 GMT
Hi Gabs, I also started with a P&S, a Panasonic Lumix that has super zoom that I sold recently in this thread: birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=buysell&action=display&thread=4228&page=1My best shots with this camera were with a tc and some kind of support, like a car window or a monopod. I didn't have a tripod, but it would have been better with a tripod. The camera could also shoot raw, but it would take a very long time to "write". If they want to upgrade their current P&S set-ups, they can get a tc (if there's a compatible one for their camera) and tripod. Of course, there's only so much you can do with a P&S. You can also digiscope with a P&S, but you need a high quality scope for that, so you might as well buy a DSLR!  Sylvia |
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Post by gabriel buluran on Nov 9, 2009 6:51:14 GMT
Thanks Bobby, Edu, Toto and Sylvia! These are all encouraging. I hope to bring them along in a sortie.
Would anyone know of one that would fall in Toto's recommendation - lots of birds - for newbies to enjoy? As they say, the first one would leave the most lasting impression. The more they see and capture with their current cameras, the more encouraged they would be to pursue the hobby.
Cheers!
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Nov 9, 2009 7:06:30 GMT
Thanks Bobby, Edu, Toto and Sylvia! These are all encouraging. I hope to bring them along in a sortie. Would anyone know of one that would fall in Toto's recommendation - lots of birds - for newbies to enjoy? As they say, the first one would leave the most lasting impression. The more they see and capture with their current cameras, the more encouraged they would be to pursue the hobby. Cheers! I brought Edu and myself to Candaba. ;D |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Nov 9, 2009 7:06:48 GMT
Gabs, Am not sure if this is good advice tho.. But my first ever birding sortie was in Candaba.  UPD is a good place to start as it will also show them how one can bird even in the city. |
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Post by Ronnie Dominguez on Nov 9, 2009 16:34:40 GMT
its the sensor size of PS that is very limiting as compared to DSLR.
As a result, the image cannot match those of DLSR.
just take a look at some or all my posts, they are all taken with a PS. limitations include CA and fringing too.
There are few minor advantages also that I can think of-- you get live view in the manual mode from both the EVF (you get to see instantly what the actual exposure will be as you adjust the settings) and LCD.
This can help very much when one is a newbie to photography in understanding AV and TV settings and when they upgrade to DSLR they will have a clear idea on the settings.
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Post by Chris Lavina on Nov 15, 2009 18:44:47 GMT
It might be frustrating if birds are moving since P&S have a long lag between acquiring focus and snapping the frame. Unless of course the subjects are relatively stationary.
I would also suggest using video mode if the P&S has one. This may not yield high res stills but the point is to get them interested. And a video might yield a more encouraging capture. The delivery medium will most likely be screen/email anyway, so something on youtube vs flickr is neither here nor there.
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Post by Ronnie Dominguez on Nov 22, 2009 9:00:11 GMT
the worst limitation for me is that P&S AF and lens need to refocus each time you change the zoom.
This is unlike some DSLR lens that retain focus even if you change zoom setting. There is a technical term for this type of lens but the term eludes me right now.
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and probably on an area where there are lots of birds a newbie can enjoy. am sure after their first encounter, there will be no turning back. and in no time they would forget about their P&S and empty their pockets. all that thanks to you! and they will blame you for the rest of your life haha.
