Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

Having just got a new digital camera, an Option E40 which I'm waiting for an SD card to arrive from amazon before I start using, I thought it would be interesting to see which cameras you're all using for the brilliant photos we get in the gallery.

Mine isn't an SLR, but should be brilliant for starter wildlife photography. I know that a few people here do have SLR's, which ones have you got?

I wish I could afford an SLR, I'm on incapacity benefits which just won't stretch. My camera is a Sony Cybershot with a 2cm supermacro, so although the ISO only reaches 1000 it can still take pretty impressive close-ups. It's useless for fast-moving shot however, I've been trying to take photos of my pets for months with no luck!
The Cybershot model I have has a wimpy 56mb internal memory, and I still haven't gotten myself an SD card for it so it's a pain to use.

I use a Canon 400D, with Canon EF-S 10-22, Canon EF-S 18-85 IS, Tamron 90 macro and Canon EF100-400 IS lenses.

I also have an Olympus 790 compact which is waterproof and shock resistant. I bought this for use when I'm canoeing, but carry with me at all times.

I use the Canon 30d with either a EF-S 18-55mm, 60mm or the 100-400mm IS. I also have the twin macro-flash for my close up work.

I have a regular Canon 1000FN SLR with various lenses but haven't used it for a few months. I desperately wanted a DSLR and was trying to justify the expense which of course is always falling, but I couldn't.

I spent a lot of time researching the market and think the Canon 400D is what I would have gone for. I could also use my current lenses so could start with just a body.

Anyway as a stop gap I went for a Canon Powershot A640 because it is a great little camera and I got a reconditioned model with 1 year warranty for about £150 from the fantastic Canon e-bay shop (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet). It has a rotating screen, 4x optical zoom and 1cm macro so great for minibeast shots. Not so good for close up shots of wildfowl for the March competition though.....

My friend swears by the Panasonic Lumix prosumer (kind of half way between compact and SLR digital) series with Leica lenses and I have to say he has taken some great shots.

I would also recommend dpreview.com as a great comparison website if you are looking to buy.

It seems like canon is very popular choice for wildlife photographers. Nikon is the other big SLR make, are their cameras generally not as good?

I think people generally go for Nikon or Canon. Obviously the name Nikon carries a lot of weight and they make very good cameras but I think Canon produces better value and more user-friendly cameras (or maybe you just have to pay a bit more for the Nikon name!) Look at dpreview.com to see a direct comparison.

One great thing about digital is the saving on film. I attempt shots now that I wouldn't have bothered when I was using film, because if it doesn't work, I can see straight away and either simply erase, or try a different technique. I have a shot on the gallery of an earthball fungus ejecting spores. I used two rolls of 220 film to get just one usable frame.

Does your 1000FN have EOS fit autofocus lenses? If not, then it's a waste of time trying to fit the lenses to the Canon digital SLRs. I used to have a couple of T90s plus loads of lenses. I managed to sell the bodies, but still have the lenses.

The new Canon 450D is good - I'm saving for one - it has live view facility, which will be very useful if there is live histogram view also, for getting the exposure spot on for close-up work for me.

With regard Canon over Nikon, I don't think there's a lot of difference quality wise, but originally Nikon only had ISO 200 as the slowest speed. The main difference in my experience is that Nikon customer service is lousy. I work part-time in a shop selling specialist optics, we won't touch Nikon. One particular reason - as we found to our cost - is that, according to Nikon, the warranty on their equipment is not transferable, so if you buy a bit of second-hand Nikon kit, no matter that it's still within the warranty period, there is no warranty. I know of no other optical manufacturer who makes such a stipulation.

By the way, I also own a Rollei 6006 medium format SLR complete with 50, 80 and 120 Makro Planar lenses, plus bellows, two Metz 45CT5 flashguns and other dedicated bits of kit. I no longer can be bothered with film, so this kit is for sale, but the value now is nothing like it was before digital came on the scene.

I was stingy with film photography as I recognised the expense of film and processing (often with images not being up to scratch).
I've tried my lenses on the Canon 400D and they work OK, at least well enough to start with if I were to take the plunge. For now my A640 is fine.

As I said I can't justify the expense of a DSLR(come to think of it I can't actually afford one either ) unless a large amount of cash falls into my lap that is.

Not that expensive - the canon 400D body is only £350

I agree, but I the large amount of cash is not just for the camera and I am starting from a negative financial position

Wow, is that how much you paid for your one?!?! I saw a deal, which had:
Canon EOS 400D
18-55mm
90-300mm
8GB Compact Flash Memory Card
Mini Tripod
Flash Gun
Lowepro Bag
all for just £400! Don't ask me where I saw the deal, I completely forgot!

Richard, is there a difference between the Canon EOS 400D, and the 'Rebel XTi' version? (I think that is what it is called)

The Rebel is what the camera is called on the US market.

As for that 400D kit, I would guess it's a grey import, which I avoid like the plague. I also won't buy from eBay, where there are often cheap deals.

The 18-55 kit lens that is offered with the 400D is dreadful, just not worth buying. Better to buy the body and the EF-S 18-85 IS lens, which is really good.

Ok then, thanks for your help. At the moment, I have got a Fuji Finepix S6500fd digital camera, which I purchased in October for £180 (my own money!)
My parents won't let me get a Canon EOS 400D for my birthday, which is 19 days away . lol.
They say it is a bit too early to get a new camera, becasue I have recently purchased the Fuji.
Do you think they are right in saying it is too early to get a new camera? I really want a DSLR, because with all the different lenses etc you can buy for them, they grow as your skill grows.

I bought my first SLR when I was 20, but I was working, so had my own money. Didn't consult my parents, none of their business!!!!

The main problem with buying a digital SLR is that you DO need lenses. Your current camera, I believe, has a good zoom and, unless you're going to buy something like a 400mm lens to go with the SLR, you will not be satisfied with the magnification you get with the short zoom that comes with the camera (or the alternative I suggested). On the other hand, if your in to close-up, then the SLR will win hands down.