Best Camera for Bird and wildlife photography? What matters most when selecting a Lens and camera?
New Lenses and Cameras are arriving every year. When should you upgrade. What is most important when selecting a camera and lens for Bird and Wildlife photography? Hopefully some of those questions will be answered with this video.
#NikonZ9 #wildlifephotography #birdphotography
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Here is a list of the equipment I use.
F-Stop Backpack amzn.to/2Wykvuv
Drone DJI Air 2S amzn.to/3jnSwXJ
Nikon Z6II amzn.to/2SntkFK
Nikon Z6 amzn.to/3wy1IgC
K&F Concept Variable ND amzn.to/3gXMmf6
Wimberley gimbal amzn.to/3s2ABqE
Tripod Benro Mach 3 amzn.to/3uobYWE
Memory cards xqd amzn.to/3uygzG7
Rode video Mic Go. amzn.to/3gtkP5w
Nikon 20mm 1.8. amzn.to/3h1bSjG
Zoom H4N amzn.to/3kX0TJh
Tape wrap for tripod amzn.to/2Vobzb8
I also rent camera gear from Lensrentals. They are my favorite company to rent from. Always great gear readily available. I participate in the Lensrentals partner program and you will be helping me by using this link for your next rental.
www.pntra.com/t/SENJRktKRkhDS...
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/ bayou_josh
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This video was not paid for by outside persons or manufacturers.
No gear was supplied to me for this video.
All Aerial Photography and video was captured by me. I am a Part 107 UAV Pilot. Feel free to email with inquiries.
How much should you pay to get 10% better images. I've spent thousands and I wonder if it has all been worth it!
Af performance is where I am willing to pay more most modern sensors are capable of great IQ and low light performance.
I paid just the customs fees to get 99% better images....of our very own sun! But when it comes to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, it all depends on the glass, not about the camera itself. You can take stunning shots with a 20 yr old DSLR compared to modern mirrorless, as long as you have some high quality glasses available in your bag. Without them, the camera is just a point-and-shoot device.
My step No 1 was D7000 with a very very old lens af 75-300. Now I use z6 ii with 500 AFS II (I’m a poor student can’t afford the newer version lol) which brings me a lot of pleasure.
For me, it’s not just image quality but AF performance and lighter weight of big glass!
@@kurtkemnitzer man that lighter equipment sure is expensive.
Hey Nikon, there's a talented guy named Josh Bayou who makes inspiring videos and tries to convince himself that he doesn't need new gear. He's right, his actual photos are beautiful, but such motivation deserves the best gear. He would be a great ambassador in my opinion.
It`s the man behind the camera, who takes the photos (not the gear)!
that about sums it up.
Absolutely. As Ansel said: “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!”
Or woman! 🥰
@@VisualizeHealing 🤣that`s right.
Not strictly true, in the world of optics and electronics you get what you pay for
D500 coupled with any of this lenses is a beast combo.
exactly and it is DX! :)
INDEED !!! 👍👍👍✌🏻
D500 with 300pf + 1.4 III works well for me
@@ianharrison7837 NICE set up Ian! I guess it should, great combo you have there. I’m jealous! Ha Ha. Ive been thinking of getting the 200-500 as Nikon has a big rebate on it currently. I am told it plays well with the D500. Happy Shooting!
@@georgedavall9449 excellent lens but I don’t want to be walking with quite that much weight.
I’m very happy with my D500. My photos have improved through just getting out there and shooting.
I am with my D500 also! My keeper rate is higher with the D500 on birds in flight than with my D810 or my D850, but I get sharper images with the D850 on still birds and other wildlife.
D500 with the 200-500 and 300 mm f4 D are killer combos
Is nikobn D500 perfect for video wildlife shooting?
For budget conscious guys d 7500 is also fantastic choice..
This is exactly the journey I’ve been on. Been slowly upgrading from a Canon T7 and kit lens to now a R7 with the Canon 100-500mm L. I was hoping I was done but now I don’t know. 😆 You’re right about the resolution and clarity not mattering to anyone. My wife could care less. It’s all about the bird, colors and action in the photo. Some of my best and favorite pics do nothing for her. Lol. I guess in the end it’s just for me because im never going to be a pro.
Josh, you are CRUSHING IT with your Z6ii. These are among the loveliest bird pics I've seen. Those cedar waxwings ❤️❤️❤️ BRAVO!
Thanks a ton! My wife gets all the credit for that cedar waxwing image. She spotted that scene and called me over as it was developing. that is my favorite image of the last 12 months. such a sweet moment!
Hi Josh, absolute amazing videos. I constantly look at for your videos and appreciate the amazing content that you put out. A big thanks from Peter, all the way from South Africa 👌
Thank you Josh :) Absolutely agree with your summary and your conclusion 👌
The advice in this video is really, really on point. I will refer people to this video from now on as it was able to crystallize my thinking on the subject and he does it so well, with examples and clarity.
Thank you! Your work is an inspiration. Your humility is an example.
Absolutely sir. Your summary should be taken to heart by everyone looking to improve, spot on.
Excellent advice. I owned a D7200 for 7 years before getting my Z6ii last November. Never invested in the big glass since any travel I did required a more compact kit. In the new year my purchases will be slightly different-multifocal IOLs to replace cataract affected lenses. The laser surgery is not cheap but I’m looking forward to really enjoying photography and life without thick and heavy eyeglasses. Post-COVID, I hope to get out much more and enjoy life. Thanks for your lovely example photos!
Great content as always. One extra tool I ran across years ago was I met a landscape painter. In doing so I spent hours in discussion about the differences between the two crafts. It helped both of us to just learn from each other. Plein air painters if they are good completely digest a scene. It changed my outlook. So if you ever run across a painter that interests you spend time with them if you can.
Excellent, once again. Thanks for posting
Nailed it Josh..excellent stuff
Great video! You nailed it! That's exactly how it is. I like how you explain it and how you tell us your impressive journey. I have pretty decent equipment and you could always buy more and better stuff (for example the brand new A7IV is soooo awesome). But it's not always needed. And next time when I think about it, I will also think about your video... 📷😊
Great and honest vid, really like that! Best regards from Germany
I always enjoy your videos and narration. This video is a darn good piece of advice. In fact, when you started off with the 600mm f4, that was quite a step forward, and that inspired me a lot. Thanks Bayou.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Danke, dass Du Deine Erfahrungen mit uns teilst. Ein schönes Video und tolle Fotos
Awesome advice... stunning bird photography
Awesome advise!!! Thanks!
Great vídeo mate! Thank you from Austrália
Very straightforward and honest advise. Liked it. 👍🏻
I have recently discovered tour channel and I appreciate that you are keeping it real and honest. Your comments were spot on. Not everybody cam afford a 600mm prime and these lenses are not for everyone. For amateurs that do not need to sell their kidneys to buy a lens, there are some very good options out there to enjoy their hobby. Personally if I were to buy a lens I’d get a tamron 150-600mm and it would be more than enough for me. The important thing is understanding where you are at your photographic journey and buy accordingly.
It’s all about the journey .. the experiences and learning … I started with D7200 and I loved it . Yes the 300mm f4 , still can’t let go for compactness … cheers
The beauty of your photos brought tears to my eyes. Nature is so beautiful! Thank you!
You are so kind. thank you so much David.
Love the video ! Thank you
Great video as always, probably the best advice guys like me can get. I’m close to changing all my gear out, hopefully 2022. Thanks for these videos
I can't wait to see which direction you go.
Josh I've been following your work since early days of KZhead channel of yours. Since I can correlate most of them are things that you put in the content. Glad that your channel growing...
Thank you my friend.
Great video I agree with everything you said! I am excited for the z9 if it’s autofocus is on par with the competition I do think bird in flight shots, especially smaller birds, will be much easier to get. Great job!
Fingers crossed! I hope you're right.
Thanks for some off the best advice ever. Enjoy your photography
My pleasure!
Awesome stuff, thanks! :)
Great advice... Thanks for your time and effort
great video and some stunning images
Great Video, Amazing images.
Wow, another fantastic video and story, images are superb, I started going through all your videos and watch some more than once.
Glad you like them! Thank you my friend.
Amazing Photography Bayou!!!
Good info here also your video production keeps getting better. Keep it up
thank you so much Jake.
Your photo's are fantastic. The cardinals, egrets and herons make me want to go back and visit the mid west.
listening to you is just like meditation to me along with the wise advise that you put in your videos. Your skills like yours define the camera and not the other way around. Its only after your videos that i decided to buy a Z6ii (my first camera after waiting to accumulate funds for 6 years).Thanks!
Wonderful! you will thoroughly enjoy that camera.
Awesome video. Thank you. Canon user here but I found the exact same thing It was when I upgraded to full frame from crop sensor I started paying so much more attention to depth of field and composition and editing in lightroom, then next i got addicted to the L-series glass lol
Great video. I like your summary of the different cameras and lenses you went through to get where you are now. I'm currently on my 3rd camera but I'm pretty happy with it. I started with a Canon EOS T1i. A couple years ago I made the jump to full frame but on a budget and bought a used EOS 6DMKII. But recently I bought a brand new R6. It was a drop in pixels, but the improvements in autofocus, ISO capabilities, and dynamic range compared to the 6DMKII were well worth it. I also just recently bought my first expensive lens, the RF 100-500. Haven't gotten out to shoot with it a lot yet, but the few times I have, I've been very happy with the results. Now I just need to get out a little more often and continue practicing. Really enjoying your channel. Both the story style videos, and the straight talk to camera videos. It's a good combination to have both styles.
thank you so much Noel. You make a great observation about the lower pixel count. I went down from 45mp to 24mp and I have noticed a limit in my ability to crop images. However, the ISO performance has been fantastic.
Josh, we enjoy your videos very much! The advice in this video is on-point for birding and wildlife enthusiast photographers. My husband and I started serious photography when we both retired. First DSLR was Nikon 3400. As time went by, we traded up and hubby uses the 850, 750, & 7200. I use two 7200's and am totally happy. We buy good lenses! We have found our comfort level and no-stress fun birding photography. It should be fun and thank YOU for helping beginners to understand the latest and most costly gear is not necessary. Best Wishes to you, your wife, and this channel.
thank you so much.
Just a quick shout out to tell you that I very much enjoy your channel and the down-to-earth approach to bird photography. You're very authentic and stay true to yourself, unlike so many photography channels trying to monetize every last thing that they do. Also, nice images of lovely critters. Another bird photographer from Germany.
Thank you kindly! I really appreciate it.
Love your intro...so true!
You are the world most greatest wildlife photographer.I love your photography .In your adventures photography is rarest
Great advice and video Josh, I did much the same as you mate but started with a Canon 40d and a second hand 400mm f5.6, I upgraded my 40D for a 7Dmk1 and used that set up for many years, it taught me so much, learn your craft, learn bird behaviour learn conditions etc etc much like you say, more valuable than any new gear
Good stuff!
Josh, I am 63 and I do have a Nikon D500 and also a nikon D600, and still have my trusty D300.... in lenses a do have the Tamron 70-300 f4 to 5.6 VC and also have the Sigma 150-500 with image stabilization.... I am not rich by no means but with these equipment I do have equipment till my last day over earth. I might try mirorless in my next life, this one I will enjoy what I have. Have a great day, week, month, year and live!!!😎😎🤠
Really great video Bayou. I'm a Fuji shooter and use a lot of vintage glass (I like the look) using adaptors. I'm glad I found your channel.
Thank You Matt. I am glad your are enjoying the videos. Fuji makes a great system.
Pretty honest review. Thank you so much.
😀
Great video and all valid points! I really enjoyed the images you showed and what goes into it. Your images show the work you have put in to improve massively - more than any camera can help! Here are my thoughts about what to get in terms of value. I think the best "value" in wildlife photography today (assuming you do not need video capability) is a Nikon D500 with the stellar 200-500mm. The crop sensor gets you greater reach (very welcome), it's fast at 10fps with full size images and tracking, and it's very inexpensive when purchased used in good condition. I doubt you will get 10% better quality from anything you purchase above this. Full frame makes the biggest difference, but it is truly small for this type of photography. Should you "aspire" to it or start there? I think it depends on your budget. As for the rest of the possible 10% improvement, as Josh said, it's better glass. Again, depends on the budget.
Great video Josh.
We share your philosophy and as you comunicate is ahead of most YTubers. Your images tell how you are and feel doing what you love and represent many of us. Similar gear experiences, tried all brands and Nikon Z system is the most stable one and impress with the balance in image quality (Use Z6 and Z6 II + ZZ lenses: 14-24 2.8S, Z35 1.8S, Z50 1.8S, 70-200 2.8S and waiting for the Z zoom lens). Also Z differs much over others when you edit on 4K monitors, these are points that add up to final results. Salute from Uruguay!
Great advice Josh!! I totally agree with you. Camera company's now days are trying to spec us to death, but the quality of the image isn't that much better. If the image already looks great with the camera you have, then it will look great 15 years from now.
Thank you. Truth. "spec us to death" yeah. so true.
Spot on and honest. Great video.
Much appreciated
You have summed up perfectly my own journey into wildlife photography. I began with a d3100 and then upgraded to d7200 and now d500. I wish someone had told me to beging with a better body as I quickly discovered the limitations. Fieldcraft and editing are definitely ways of improving your images ten-fold. Patience is the most valuable tool in any photographers kit bag.
It’s a great journey! Don’t get me wrong, if I had unlimited funds I would have gone straight to the full frame pro model with the most expensive lens I could buy.
Great vid! Very similar story.I was told by my mentor, when i started out, upgrade your skills before you upgrade your equipment. Starting out with that shorter reach lens certainly helped me hone my fieldcraft. Great point about the editing, too. You need a digital lightroom and it's a whole new discipline to use it, and use it well. Anyway, great stuff, I'll look back, as a new subscriber, at your other content....then look forward to some new. Take care.CB
Sounds like you had a great mentor.
Great video, very humble, hat's off!
I appreciate that!
Josh, I am truly enjoying all of your videos! The last time I was doing serious photography I was using a Nikon 8008s, a 500mm f4 manual focus lens and Provia 100iso FILM. Since I am looking to pick up photography again and the new world of mirrorless is overwhelming I greatly appreciate your down to earth thoughts on what works. I looked but could not find you on Patreon. You might think about starting up there....
thank you so much. I am glad to hear you are enjoying the videos. The Patreon idea has crossed my mind and I appreciate you thinking about that. I'm just not sure what else I'd have time to offer. I have a career and a loving wife that both mean a lot to me. I have to be careful not to get too involved in my hobbies. Have a great day!
No truer words said. I’ve been on a similar journey myself starting with a canon 200D and what has changed the most amongst constant upgrades is my knowledge of photography and editing just like you said. I can go back to some of my early images and make them look pretty good if they have potential. Back then I couldn’t see that potential and to me they were all bad images because my gear was inadequate. I now know that the gear had way more potential than I thought.
Your images are incredible! I live near the Everglades and this inspired me to take bird photography more seriously 😀
Best camera is the camera you enjoy using, Josh. Keep churning these great videos.
Thanks a lot for this video. i just bought a d850 and the 200-500 5,6. and honorestly i have been a little insecure if it was a bad buy in 2022.. but it seems like you kind of said it all in your video. thanks a lot! subbed and liked :)
Good advice wonderful images. 👍
Nice summary and photos.
Great video :) Very good advice, subscribed :)
Very good and informative video. Nice photos too.
Great video. I’m on early on in my progression. Started with Nikon d5600 crop sensor with the kit 300mm lense. Moved to a 150-600 Sigma 5.6 to 6.3 lense. Now with the z6ii and the same Sigma. Would love to go prime but will need to wait now till there’s a second hand prime z lense ! 100% agree that lense is 5he best investment. I would argue though, that a Crop sensor isn’t such a bad thing to start with, as it give you that extra reach for “free”… my sigma had an effective reach of 900mm on the D5600.
Josh: A well prepared video describing your journey. Some of your advice is right on the money. Fast primes for wildlife are certainly a bonus. Learn how to process! Yes. I teach post processing and am a firm believer in good processing is a critical digital skill. Here's where I think you missed. I teach and lead workshops. The VAST majority of clients are 60+. Duh... That shouldn't surprise anyone. That is the demographic with the time and the money to go on workshops and do a fully immersive photographic adventure. The number one complaint by a factor of at least 100:1 is "my equipment is too big and too heavy, it's hard to travel with". Yep. I get it. As a result their images suffer because they can't get in the right position, they can't carry the gear to the location, they are too tired when they get there.... and so on. I'm always seeing people struggle with the size of equipment. Anyone who has never seen a full frame 600 f/4 and tried to deal with it is in for a rude awakening when they begin to see the challenges it presents. Yes, great lenses, but.... I've used nearly every format for wildlife. APS-C, Full Frame and now Micro 4/3. My full frame lens of choice was my 500 f/4 with a 1.4x. Fantastic image quality and a fantastic lens. My camera of choice today is my Micro 4/3 system. I challenge you to go to my website and figure out which images in any of the galleries are from APS-C, Full Frame or 4/3. Here's the major difference. My wildlife lens is the Olympus 300mm f/4. With the 2x crop factor the field of view is the same as your 600 f/4. It weighs 3.25 pounds. Easily accepts 1.4x or 2.0x converters. Oh... and a new one is $2900. Or, when I want to carry a zoom option I use my 40-150 f/2.8 with or without any of the converter options. $1500 and weighs 1.67 pounds. Oh sure, I know all the full frame youtubers who scoff at 4/3. They have never used the system. Frankly I don't give a damn what camera people use, but I'm always disappointed in the KZhead mantra of you need full frame. Here's a link if you care to take on my challenge: www.keithbauerphotography.com
Keith, thank you for weighing in on this. first of all, beautiful website. You make some gorgeous images! I may need to sit through one of your Lightroom workshops because your post processing is fantastic. (that sandhill crane shot with the backlit setting! awesome!) Second. I appreciate you pointing out the fact that full frame equipment is much heavier and it is certainly more difficult to get in good positions to get that good image. I'm not quite 50 and I can certainly appreciate that. I concur with everything you said with one additional note that I should have covered in the video. Low light. the biggest difference I noticed when moving over to full frame equipment is the ability to shoot later in the evening in lower light conditions. It certainly came at a cost. However, I would argue that some of my best images were taken in low light conditions and the APS-c and micro 4/3rd systems may have struggled in those settings. I really value your opinion and I thank you sincerely for offering up some advice. stay in touch. I may be looking you up the next time I make it to your neck of the woods. Have a great day!
@@BayouJosh Thanks for your kind words on my work. It would be great if our photographic paths crossed some day. Not sure which backlit sandhill shot you're referring to for sure. There are a few out there. If you do make a trip to New Mexico, please give me a shout!!
@@KeithBauerAbq Your website is an inspiration! I just took delivery on a new E-m1 III yesterday. As much as I love Josh's channel andimages, at 72 yrs old with a bad back and knees, that just won't work for me. So m4/3 it is.
@@j16m02 Thank you for those nice words. Don't let anyone let you believe that you can't take ANY image with your EM1-III. A fine camera with a remarkable set of lenses. Even for high ISO night work, your EM1-III is a great solution. In the Colorado gallery under Places-Landscapes-Wildlife there are two recent images of the Milky Way over some mountains in Colorado. One of those is with the EM1-III, the other with the EM1-X. Congrats on your new camera.
Insane photos! Especially the hummingbirds are mind blowing good.
Thank you so much! It was really useful!
You're welcome!
I just finished your video interview with Jeremy. Awesome video. I am a Canon user but I enjoy and learning a lot on your channel. Have a blessed 2022.
Thanks for watching Peter. thank you my friend.
Interesting! Beautiful photography
I started with the D7000 with 70-300 5.6 , little by little I upgraded to a D850 with the 24-70 2.8 ,,,, 70-200 2.8 and the 200-500 5.6 I really love them, I would love to get the 400 2.8 but that cost an arm and a leg, thanks for sharing your videos!
The best information ℹ have found bar none many thanks a fantastic help to me .
Honestly I wouldn't completely dismiss crop. I started with a few Nikon APS-C bodies, moved to a D610 with a a few primes and 70-200 (I'm a landscape photographer), and have recently switchd to Micro Four Thirds and couldn't be happier. Brand new you can get a LUMIX G9 for about $1000 and a 100-300 (200-600 equiv) for about $600. So for $1600 new (or buy used like I did), you can get a pretty decent wildlife kit.
Thanks for a great video. I'm a few paces behind you: I have a D810, which was a retirement present, but I'm about to buy some better glass - my lenses are previous generation D lenses - which were great in their day, but not designed for high resolution digital. In the last 18 months of lockdown I've been shooting a lot of macro in my backyard, but I've found some great bird-watching locations here in the centre of France, and I'm about to dive in. I loved your wisdom about learning the craft, and your images spoke for themselves. And thanks also for the low key music... Liked and subscribed!
You are very Kind Christopher. That old D glass still has a great quality about it. Don't discount it too much. that big 600mm is an AFSii-d lens and it still makes beautiful images. AF motors are a bit slower but I move at a slow pace. 😉
A great budget setup for birders in my opinion is the D500 and the Nikon 200-500mm f5.6....You can buy new and still come in under $3k with gas money left over or buy nice used for $2k....This is the setup I still use while I save for the D850 and 600f4....We went down a very similar road, I started with a D3300 and the 55-300 and then to the D7200 and the 200-500 and now i have been shooting the D500 and the 200-500 for about a year and a half...
that D500 is fantastic. I had it for about a year. It was great in good light but I really struggled with image quality when It got above 1600 ISO. i guess i was spoiled with the full frame low light performance.
@@BayouJosh 👍
@@BayouJosh The D500 has always been a balancing act between noise and brutal highlight clipping but it's a stellar action camera for the price - nothing else gives you 10 fps and that AF performance for what you can buy a D500 for today. I don't know if you have tried DXO Pure Raw in your workflow but it's amazing what it does to those ISO 6400 D500 files - I am reprocessing a bunch of older pictures and not only does noise go way down, micro contrast goes up and color accuracy is much improved. I used to be an avid Topaz Denoise AI users for those files that are beyond my skills, but I have completely switched to Pure Raw - it works better (no artifacts that I can see, better detail retention, better colors), and you retain a Raw file as the output.
Bass Angler, you’re sure right about that camera-lens combo. I follow a number of Nikon groups on Facebook. My unscientific survey of bird and wildlife images on those groups is more great images are posted from the D500/200-500 5.6 than any other combination. Other cameras and lenses that are well represented are the D850, D750, the 500 5.6 and, of course, the big fast primes. But images from the other combinations are much less represented than the D500/200-500, at least in my unscientific opinion. Interestingly, the Nikon mirrorless cameras are much less represented in wildlife images, except for some on the mirrorless camera forum itself. I think Nikon is playing catch-up and needs to seriously up its game for its mirrorless autofocus system. Hopefully, the Z9 and ensuing enthusiast bodies - the Z6iii/Z7iiis? - close the gap. I’m holding off my next lens until I see what they deliver.
@@brianlemke6017 I'm kind of laying back myself...to me Nikon's Z series are lacking but I'm hoping they get the AF right because I am interested in the Z mount 200-600mm
hey, nice channel! I liked your story. Good story to hear for us who do not have the big budget.
Great video. I am not a wildlife photographer, but I love looking at great photographs. Thanks for sharing. I’ve owned many Nikon dslrs from the D70 I purchased in 2004 to my D850 as well as a Z6 and what I have learned is great technique, composition and photo editing skills trump equipment every time. I recently put together a project I started in 2004 and finished in 2018 with images shot on a D70, D200, D300, D800 and D850 and I found my early crop sensor low megapixel images held up very well against my D800, D850 images. It was a real eye opener. Much like you showed in your video
It can be surprising.
Wow, content of this video is amazing!! I got my first ever camera (R5 and RF 100-500 L IS USM lens) about 8 months ago. I’m getting better with every photo I take.
Thank you. congrats on the R5 and 100-500! awesome Kit. Though to beat that set up.
Josh thank you for being completely upfront with your opinion. When you said "I am a consumer" you hit the nail on the head for most photographers. We see the latest thing or option on the new camera, and we lust after it. Thinking it will change our photography and bring us to a Zen like photo experience. But in reality, we all could shoot with 10-year-old gear and get really great pictures. I would wager if we didn't look at the new stuff, we would never care about it at all. I really wish we as photographers would use our equipment to its fullest before moving to the next "New" thing. I really believe we would all be much better photographers if we stopped and honestly ask ourselves do I need "X" new lens or camera. Hope all is well, and your just busy with life.
I think the problem is also the "definition" of photography! I am photographing since over 10 years.... mostly family, travel and sometimes "hobby" landscape photography. I was never really happy with my gear, mostly because proper wide angle full frame lenses are barely affordable, and if, they are still huge and heavy. Luckily i never invested in expensive "regular" lenses, just something like 70-200 2.8 recently since they get affordable finally. I found out recently - as much i began to use my "regular" photography gear properly - that i just prefer wildlife photo and videography so i got rid of some of my hardly if at all used lenses and got a Sigma 150-600C which is by far the best purchase i did when it comes to wildlife photography (best bang for the buck!) Its often that we just try out something, as i did with a nifty fifty, but even if there are some usecases left (for example low light video of my reptiles and cats in the dark), the interests and needs change, and so, even if we dont want to sell the older stuff... we just have to. I sold my RF 50 1.8, i had my fun with it before i sold it without much loss so its fine since i have now something more usable for my needs!
At all... when we think about always better getting smartphone cameras... I am using for regular photography, so anything like wide angle or regular focal ranges like 35-50mm just my smartphone its not much worse if at all (DR of some smartphones is incredible!). So i absolutely get it when people get rid now more and more of "basic" photography gear and lean towards more specific gear as i did.... over the past 3 years my whole camera gear changed radically to macro and some lenses for astrophotography, and since a while im also into wildlife. I also think thats a typical way you go in any hobby. I also began shooting with a bow. Had fun with a 75lbs compound, but after about 2 years i found myself into longbow/classic bow shooting. Much more rewarding and you LEARN something, compound bow shooting is like shooting a crossbow with proper sights or any projectile weapon (far away from shooting "bow"). Sometimes you just need to find your way in the hobby. And lets be honest... something like wildlife or astrophotography related gear make sense and will make sense the next years at least, If there are more radical camera designs as recently with telezooms on smartphones... there need to be just a good, small sensor and one lens manufacturer which build a nice 90° angles zoom lens mechanism and a phone will be on par with as expensive camera/lens setups! Since i dont have much regular photography gear anymore, i even found myself photographing more (since its a difference between a big 2 kg camera i cant always have with me or the smartphone i always have with me!). With the smartphone and a compact DJI gimbal i can do basically very good 4K video and pans, as well as automated timelapses which need only a little bit processing to introduce a bit motion blur (DJI apps internal time lapse looks ugly, no motion blur at all!) And especially in wide angle i see a big advantage... i really enjoy sometimes my EF 16-35 F2.8 on full frame, but in that case im also dedicated to photography 90%+, thats it. With the phone i am doing not much worse and its as fast and easy done as any snapshot ("out of the pocket") and i can enjoy anything else!
Damn... i even have a Canon EF 100-400 II (for "convenience" and light weight) and a Sigma 150-600C for more specific stuff and more reach for wildlife when i dont care as much about the 2kg (2,7 with camera!) or even a RF 800 F11 with just 1,2kg for hiking etc. Thats another problem... i began with the RF 800 F11, changed to APS-C for wildlife so the RF 800 was just nonsense with 1280mm so i needed to adapt to something more universal with less focal lengh like 150-600C Sigma. But as awesome the Sigma was then... its bulky/heavy, its AF is bad, its MF ring isnt much better/precise to control, NO weather sealing, stabilizer is garbage. But anything else is fine. So tripod usage or when weight isnt much of a problem - superior lens! So i got the 100-400 II... 1 meter MFD! literally a 400mm "macro"... lighter, much better for auto as well manual focussing, MUCH BETTER stabilizer, "weather sealing",...so THE PICK when i care more about weight and usability and less about the 200mm extra. Not every gear is fitting all the time or will be fitting all the time. Damn its sad that i need 3 tele lenses (4 with the 70-200 2.8^^) to have all the capabilities i want. But they are still cheaper than a single RF 100-500L which doesnt have enough reach or aperture! Thats another thing... the 100-400 II is better than the RF 100-500L... at least when you dont need it as small and light as possible. full zoom range with EF extenders (and it is easily sharp enough for a 1,4x TC at least!)
wow thats one honest video. take my sub! good job!
Thanks man. I appreciate it.
Awesome video. The D5600 was my first camera. Just like you with the 3100, I definitely noticed a difference when upgrading to the D7500. When I sold the D7500, I ended up getting the D500 which I feel is the best APS-C DSLR ever made across all brands, while my wife got the D810. Noticeable difference in image quality between our cameras. At the beginning of 2020, we got rid of our cameras and my wife opted for the Z6, while I ended up jumping over to Fujifilm with the X-T4. One bit of advice that you gave that I absolutely agree with is getting quality glass. That will outlive a lot of cameras. Sure cameras can help assist a photographer better, but studying composition and checking for backgrounds will definitely help photos. Look much more interesting. Awesome video and excellent photos. You’re doing an awesome job.
great insight Daniel. thank you for sharing. I am very intrigued by that Fujifilm GFX lineup. I'd love to dip my toes into medium format.
Hey Josh, this was a well considered video - honest and full of good advice. I wish I had seen it some years ago when I was starting out with bird photography. I bought a 300 mm 2.8 because it was cheaper than the 5000 f4, and people said the 300 was better for birds in flight. That may be true, but it doesn't factor in that lots of small birds are usually further away (particularly here in the UK). The other point is that once you add an extender, the longer the focal length to start with, the more the increase in focal length. After a few years I sold the 300 and went for the 500. Ive not looked back, but i wish I had gone straight for ththe
@@GeraintDafis this is gold :)
Great video. I love your shots. Your editing is amazing. I shot with the Sony 200-600 for a little while on my a7RIV and I never really jelled with it. It's definitely a decent lens, but between the weight and the fact I'm a landscape and street photographer first and a wildlife shooter second, I wasn't getting what I wanted out of it and returned it. Generally now when I shoot wildlife, which 90% of time involves me sitting on my front porch aimed at my bird feeders, I shoot with the Sony 100-400GM in the a7RIV's crop mode to give me a 600mm equivalent. Never been happier with the quality I'm getting.
thank you John, that is a wonderful combination as well.
Just watched this again - really like this one.
Thank you so much 😊
Très intéressant! Merci 🙏 🎥🎥🎥
Great video and your images are amazing.
Thank you so much 😊
Thanks for sharing sir. Great video. I heard your each and every word. I'm gonna buy z6ii in November. Although I'm a beginner hybrid shooter. Just love wildlife and birding. Just subscribed sir. God bless you ♥
Glad it helped. thanks for stopping by. You're getting a great camera.
I'm just blown away, Your shots are remarkable! I think the way you started birding from D7xxx/300mm to Z/600mm and your great effort led to these awesome photos as most professional photographers did the same in the past. Most of them started with mid to pro crop DSLR and ended up with a modern high fps full-frame camera as well. High MP/fps full-frame camera with a f/4 super-telephoto prime is must have to get pro grade wildlife photography especially very difficult and challenging bird photography, even a slow full-frame camera like D750 leaves the mighty D500 in the dust with ISO performance, Image quality, Dynamic range and important blurry background in wildlife photography. Loved your video Josh, Good luck 🥂
thank you so much my friend. Just trying to get a little better every day. I'm just thankful that I'm to a point where I can consider some of the nicer stuff. 😀
Stumbled on this channel by accident. Glad i found you. Subscribed.
Thank you Andy
Fantastic work !
Thanks a lot!
Glad I found your videos. Good stuff. I use a Nikon P950, but not because of budget. I have serious back issues, and carrying around multiple lenses and loads of other stuff is not an option. I've seen videos of pro nature photographers that use it with excellent results. Keep up the good work.
Watching you carry that rig made me happy I sold my FF and went M43. I agree agree agree that good glass is a game changer.
It is certainly a lot of camera to carry around.
Spot on advice Josh. The nikon AFS 300mm f4 is a great budget option, works well with the TC14Eii as well. Wedge a cut piece of cork between the lens and lens foot mount (to add stability) plus with a good tripod lovely sharp images are possible. I got a bargain mint 2nd hand 300mm f4 with AF motor not working - tests your skill level ! Also more recently using a 300mm f2.8 AF + TCs for BIF and action. D700 now bargains, D850 great value, older F mount lenses now low priced . Photographer = most important, then the Light, then Lenses and finally Cameras, and don't forget a decent tripod and mount.
always good stuff Josh. i always enjoy your vids. Im a nikon guy, have been for a loooong time.. since about 2005 when i bought, from best buy the D70. now I shoot with the D500 but do lots of other things besides wildlife, like severe weather, some weddings and portraits. Looking to make that jump to the mirrorless at some point, just not in the cards right now. what I would love to see though, is some start to finish editing that you do. I struggle with it even still for some reason and just enjoy your work, id love to see how you edit today. thanks for your hard work!
I've gotten a lot of editing requests. I guess I need to just make it happen. Thank you so much Jesse.
@@BayouJosh alway bro. I like the fact that you say you’re not a “professional” but show us how you can shoot like one if you just put your mind to it and do it. Too many want it to happen over night, and I mean that with everything in this world today.
Plainly said - I like your laid-back attitude to great bird photography. Like every other thing out there if you put your time into it you will get better! And, it doesn't hurt to have some good equipment too but you also need to know how to use them. Take care and be safe out there....
well said, thank you
Good advice. Another great video. Love my 200-600mm Sony lens!!!!!