I don't think there is another wildlife photographer that gives us what you do! Down to earth reviews, examples, taking care of our pockets and our photography quality as well ! Thank you Duade!!!
@@Duade She is RIGHT, you always try to show the good and bad parts of something, you can show us how we could take lovely photos with a 10mpx OLD 40D, AMAZING! You make reviews/recommendations for every single BUDGET, whether you are wealthy or not the richest person in the world!
Great piece Duade. Just goes to prove that you don’t need all the newest, most expensive and hyped up kit to great really great images. Yes, I’d like a brand new, top of the range mirrorless but for an amateur like me I cant justify that at the moment. I bought my 5DIV gently used (refurbished actually, from Canon) and it’s wonderful. Paired with the Sigma 150-600 C it’s perfect for birding. I also have a 24-70 and 70-200 Canon lenses (both 2.8) plus a 1.4 extender. I haven’t yet got to the point where my limited skills are restricted by equipment. When and if I do get that point, I’ll trade up. Great video Duade , thank you.
Thanks Martin, that is great to hear, the 5d4 sensor really is incredible and produces stunning shots, the Sigma is also probably the best value tele going so I am sure they will serve you well for years to come. Cheers, Duade
hi Duade I think the best apsc cams for birds in 2023 are followed under 500usd used 70d under 1000usd used 90d under 1500 usd R7 Ps your channel is amazing keep on going and stay save greetings Marx
Old DLSR's can produce superb photographs. I still use my 40D and my 5D MKII. Heck, I even burst out my 20D from time to time. For birds and wildlife I use my 90D and as long as these cameras will perform I see no incentive to move to mirrorless.
I am using Nikon D700 from 1year and its been such a great camera soo far... Currently i borrow Nikon 200-500mm for wildlife and it performs perfectly well.
I’m still using a DSLR which is a Nikon D500. I know it has a crop sensor but that suits me because I photograph a lot of small birds and also when photographing birds of prey, it means I can keep my distance thus avoiding disturbance. I have the camera coupled with the 500mm PF lens and the combination provides extremely fast AF. Someone described it as a Canon 7D Mk2 on steroids and I read an article by a chap who used a Canon 1DX Mk2 for his job in sports photography and he also owned a Nikon D500 for his personal use and he preferred the AF on the D500 - his opinion of course. I love it and will keep it for a good while yet.
I have the 1DXMk2 and the 7DMk2. I normally bring both out loaded with different lenses. I take videos of wildlife as well to record behaviour and the 4K video recording of the 1DXMk2 is amazing
Thanks, we have three Grebes down here and this is the most common, the other is the Hoary-headed Grebe and then we get the Great Crested Grebe which is found in many other countries. Cheers, Duade
My favorite DSLR is the 1D Mark IV. Arguably the 1DX is better, but the 1D4 has so many cool properties. It's a 1.3 crop so it's a compromise between FF and the normal 1.6 crop. In the hand it feels small and sexy vs a 1DX. It's size is similar to an R3.
So many great shots! Awesome! I was trying to get some good shots of little grebes, but they always were too spooky. Your Ground Pod with the GImbal is amazing, i will get one one of those
Thanks Benjamin, yes, some birds can be very flighty for sure, this was a town park so the birds are somewhat habituated to humans. Good luck with the Gimbal, Cheers, Duade
They certainly are not dead and I am absolutely enjoying that the market is being flooded with exceptional value. I just picked up a Canon 5DSR with a 16 to 35mm f2.8 lens $1200 for the lot. That’s a bonkers bargain. I reckon I’ll stay with DLSR’s for the next few years
Your videos are so soothing with the calmness that you radiate during taking birdshots. Somehow it even looks as if the birds are approaching you out of curiosity while you are laying down. Definitely will try that myself. Currently the weather here is not very inviting to lay flat on the ground but I will give it a go.
Thanks for this fun video. Great images. Having just accumulated a bunch of RF glass I don't see a DSLR in my future. Honestly, I enjoy the features of my R5 so much that it would be difficult for me to leave it home.
Thanks Robert, I totally agree that the R5 is superior to anything I have used previously and I will be using it going forward. However it is interesting to see what you can achieve on a budget if you cannot afford the switch to mirrorless. Cheers, Duade
With respect Duade, DSLRs would be in the hands of amateurs/hobbyists (your main audience) for a whole lot longer if yourself and other photography TH-camrs hadn't already so enthusiastically adopted mirrorless! ... Of course we understand your motivation to maintain and grow your relevance and how that influences your content. Nevertheless, there remains a very strong argument for recommending beginning and intermediate users to DSLRs over mirrorless. Many used DSLRs released by Canon and Nikon from as far back as 2016 will, in ways that really matter in the real world, still out perform the current mid level (affordable?) new mirrorless offerings from those producers ... at a fraction of the cost. The extensive lens options, not to mention the sheer volume of used units available for sale, is another very strong factor pointing to the excellent value Vs performance equation in favour of DSLRs. Yes, The R3 and the D9 are amazing devices. But seriously, in October 2022 how relevant are they, considering just the cost alone, to the average wildlife shooter? ... Thanks for the video. I commend your attempt to show some love and deserving respect for DSLRs in a scene dominated by "the latest and greatest" mentality. Let's hope more of the other prominent wildlife photography TH-cam gurus follow your lead.
Thanks Greg, I appreciate the feedback and understand what you are saying. If you go through my catalogue of videos I have used the 40D, 90D, 5d3, 5d4, 1dx a number of times and do try to show what less expensive gear is capable of. But as you allude to people are always interested in the latest and greatest which gets the views and feeds the algorithm so as a content creator we need to be cognisant of both ends of the market. I guess it is just finding the balance and I am happy to create this video and my upcoming one. Thanks for the suggestion, the D500 is a beast of a camera for sure. Cheers, Duade
You truly are the master of your craft to pull such shots out of a 40D. You didn't specify if you mean bodies only or kits with lenses, but of course the 7D2 that I got recently (following your advice among others) is a no brainer. I got it for A$600, so well under US$500. I think with a bit of luck it could be had with something like a Sigma 16-300mm lens which could be a good all-rounder to start with. I'm still using my carryover Tamron 18-400mm and with the incredible AF I was able to shoot welcome swallows in flight at a local beach on the first weekend after purchase. They were not 100% sharp, but probably as sharp as the lens allows. Since then I also managed to get a few more interesting trophies in more than adequate quality for my IG or iNaturalist accounts.
I really like to get out my Olympus E-5. With the 50-200mm you have a 400mm equvalent with f3.5 speed at the long end. Fully weather sealed and really nice feeling. That old 4/3rds sensor struggles above 1000 ISO but with modern noise reduction, I've come away with really nice results at 1600-2000. The camera never let me down, since I got it and takes amazing colours and very crisp images. The old 4/3rds lenses are dirt cheap for what they are! I got my E-5 with 50-200mm and the EC-20 Converter for about 900€ and I have 800mm at my disposal as well as a camera that I can put a nail into a tree in the pouring rain, without giving a damn! That 1DX sounds really nice by the way. I really like the shutter!
Under 500, would be the Canon 7D, under 1000 the Nikon D500, and under 1500 (just) has to be the king of all DSLR's; the Nikon D850, though a lower res 1DX II would be my choice if I shot more than wildlife and getting close wasn't an issue. Lens-wise, I'd have the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 iii on the 7D, whilst the D500 and D850 would both get the brilliant Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR. All of this would be got secondhand.
Loved this video. It only reinforces my decision to keep going with mine. I am a long, long, time Canon user and now have that in question with Canon's decision concerning their RF lenses. I like some of the functions that mirrorless brings into our field. I also don't want to jump to a new brand. I have some Sigma lenses that I think have performed greater than the Canon counterpart and some lenses I have purchased to see if they are a good fit in what I shoot before getting the $$$ Canon version. Canon RF line has put a stop to that. Bad, bad on you Canon!!
Hi Dear Duade can you make a comparative video for Sony A7 IV + Sony FE 200-600MM and Canon R7+ Canon rf 600mm f11 with regard to bird photography especially in low light. 😀
Canon is all I've ever used, so while other brands might well be great, I can only have an opinion about Canon. (Except that I find it ridiculous that Nikon lenses screw on the "wrong" way). I don't know about these price brackets. But no matter what, if you're an amateur, you should definitely go with a crop sensor DSLR! A used Canon Eos 70D is an excellent choice. 20 megapixel is more than enough, and the autofocus is very good, I think. However, it cannot do manual mode with auto ISO, so if you can afford the Canon Eos 80D, it's an even better choice. The 90D which you can still buy new, is of course even better. You'll need a very sharp lens to take full advantage of its 32.5 megapixel sensor, though. (Famously the original Canon EF 100-400 mm L lens is not sharp "enough", while the mark II version of the lens is. Not that the old lens would give any worse results than it would on a lower resolution camera - it cannot possibly do that! Even though you might get that impression when pixel peeping, but that's only because you've enlarged the image more. But the older lens just isn't sharp enough to exploit the full potential of the sensor.) What lenses to go with for wildlife on a budget? The Sigma 150-600 Contemporary is the obvious choice! Still, it's not cheap, only less super expensive than many other attractive lenses. So an often overlooked lens is the Canon EF-S 55-250 mm STM. It's now more expensive than it used to be, but it's still incredibly low price for what you get. Small and very light and sharp. The 250 mm is the equivalent of 400 mm, so it can just about bring you into the world of super tele. It focuses nice and close, so although it isn't a macro lens, it can give you spectacular photos of butterflies. MIND! You MUST make sure it's the STM version you get. There's an older version which is not nearly as sharp.
Thanks for your detailed response Lau, a number of people have suggested the 55-250STM paired with an APSC body. I agree the 80D-90D are nice cameras for sure and it is hard to go past the Sigma 150-600C. Cheers, Duade
Bye! If I understand correctly the Skimmer Ground Pod you used is suitable to support a Benro GH-2 Gimbal with Sigma 150-600 Sport and Nikon D500 right? I am interested in the object and I wanted to know if it can do for me, for my equipment. Is the screw 3/8 "? Do you recommend buying it? Thanks, bye
Thanks Max, yes it uses a 3/8th both that will support any gimbal or ball head. basically you just screw a gimbal/ballhead onto the 3/8 bolt and away you go. Many people make their own with frying pans or woks. My mate Brian made his own which I show here th-cam.com/video/0lmjC07v8yI/w-d-xo.html and the video on the ground pod th-cam.com/video/by1WvMSmkEQ/w-d-xo.html Cheers, Duade
....And NEVER will they be!! Watching and reading about these new fangled mirrorless cameras were quick to hit the shelves and in doing so, were followed by alot of problems. Like anything new in the world we live in, it's a good idea to be patient and give the new technology a break-in period. Although these big manufacturing companies will eventually phase out the DSLR all together and therefore render it unusable. Just the way 'consumer' technology makes their money and if you don't keep up with technology, you basically get left behind. 😐 I wonder though.... Does the same go for those who own a $60k hasselblad??
DSLR are relatively cheap onnthe used market and useable for some small subsets like wildlife. But that is all. DSLM have capabilities that are superior evenninnthat small subset, just a bit costlier. An R7 or R6 beat all the DSLR shown here with a better AF, better sensor in low light etc.
Thanks, yes, the latest mirrorless cameras do have a lot of advantages without a doubt. But if I only had $800 to spend I would likely get the 1DX. It all comes down to budget, in saying that the R7 does offer a lot at that price point. Cheers, Duade
I agree with you on value for money, but that is not the case with all the DSLR‘s. The Canon 5D Mark IV for example is hughly over priced in my opinion. A Canon R6 costs used around 2.000$ and a Nikon Z6 II costs used also around 1.900$. And they are both way better cameras then the old DSLR. And if you look on used prices for the Nikon D850, they cost the same as a new 20-24 MP DSLM... 😅😂 But fair play, it was probably the peak of the DSLR technology.
Thanks E D, yes, the 5d4 is a little expensive as is and the 1DX, 5d3 offer better value for sure. The R7 is a very capable wildlife camera and at $1500 offers pretty good value. Cheers, Duade
Cheers Duade, for making this video. You’re a brave soul! Ha ha Thanks to all whom have commented in a positive and mature manner. Yes, Mirrorless will rule this day, real soon, and the trusty ole’ DSLR’s will be sitting on shelves or stuck in moldy old camera bags. No Love lost on the ole’ 5D4 Duade? I understand, as an owner of that camera. The 5D4 is a fine camera, but it could have / should have been so much more. 32-36 Mp, with the SD card slot being a UHS-II, and ability to have a crop in viewfinder, ala 5DS/ 5DSr. 4K video should have been done better, and so on and so forth. I probably will never part with mine, as I co shot my only Son’s Wedding with it, and made decision not to use flash, to avoid interfering with the main shooters. Besides, I was there to enjoy the wedding, and snap the occasional photo. Some of the shots at ISO 12800, were great! I had to go that high, with the light levels available in an outdoor covered venue. ( Fancy remodeled Barn). I was using my 24-70 F4.0 L IS lens. As an aside, why do Canon’s shutters have to be so ‘Clackaty clack?’ 😆 I have two 1D series Relics, I probably will never part with, mainly because they wouldn’t net me much in a sale. Enjoy your passion and your knowledge of birds, and your videos. Cheers
Hello Duade Paton you have been an insperation for me to start bird/wildlife photgraphy! iv'e been asking around in search of a beginner camera i have gotten recommended the 70d but opted against due to the lack of RAW file format, after loking around i fond the d50 but decided against it thanks to the lens mount. I'm currently looking at budget mirrorles cameras but havn't found anything. So i am asking you what is your recommendation to me if my budget is 1000-2000$ (lens included in the budget but i thinki found 1 that i like/ a way to find one)! Thanks Duade Paton Cheers Linus
Hi Fliluren, it is tough with so many options. I think the R7 and RF100-400 would be my pick if you can afford it, the R7 is a much better camera than the R10. In terms of DSLRs the Nikon D500 and Sigma 150-600C would be a great combo. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade well even tho it is technically with in my budget it will take me a year and a half to save up to and i belive it would be more worth it to get a 80d or something of that retail price point so i can strat sooner rather then later! Thank you for your respons Lovely videos have a good day !
My 3 budget wildlife camera(2nd hand) -Canon 7D mark II (850 SGD>590 USD) -Nikon D500 (1400 SGD>990 USD) -Sony A7 III (1700 SGD>1180 USD) My 3 budget wildlife lenses (2nd hand) -Sigma or Tamron 150-600mm. -Canon EF 300mm f4 USM IS(700 SGD>480 USD) using 7D mark II will give an equivalent range of 480mm. - Nikon 200-500mm with coating(950 SGD> 660 USD) Sony 200-600mm(1700 SGD>1180 USD) These are what I found in my country Singapore, what are your budget choices?
Oh, I Almost forgot. Contrary to what many say, Canon’s LP E6N batteries are garbage. And the 5D4 eats them like crazy. My view is shared by others. Peace
DSLR's will never die, and will never be obsolete. Film cameras are still alive, and very much sought after. Photography, photo gear, does not have an expiration date. When so-called photographers on TH-cam have video titles with "Still worth it in 2022?" i do an eyeroll. They clearly are not photographers. BTW, love this channel. You sir clearly know the art of photography.
Thanks Frank a great comment and very true, we sure are lucky to have so many options and like you say we can capture wonderful images with any camera. Cheers, Duade
They die when they are no longer easily available for the majority of people. Film using cameras are an example,,those are old and when something breaks you can no longer fix them due to lack of critical spares. Same with DSLR, production for most has been stopped, what you get is the rest of the stock and then used gear till spares for shutter and mirror run out.
I shoot film and digital. I like the film look. The photos seem more human and real. I also like vintage lenses. Again, they produce an image which is distinctive. As photographers we want to create images that are our own and different.
Nicely illustrated that you don’t need huge amounts of money for superb photos. For me, the key to better photos is going out in the field more. Your enthusiasm and great results inspire me! Thank you!
Hi Duade! I’m 14 years old and I’m a wildlife photographer from Denmark. My first camera was a canon rebel xti and my lense was a 75-300mm. When I started on wildlife photography I was only 11 years old and I didn’t knew anything about settings for my camera. But then my friend told me about you and he said “I can totally recommend Duade Paton. He is my favourite TH-camr”. And then I saw your videos and since then I’ve been watching every single video on your TH-cam channel! Thank you for your inspiring videos! Magnus
G'day Magnus, thanks for the lovely comment and great to hear the videos are helping, it is great to hear young people like yourself are enjoying wildlife photography. Thanks for sharing, Cheers, Duade
What you did with the 40D is amazing. You live in R3 / R5 world and with the 40D you got very nice results with the pigeon eye in focus ! That's talent!
Excellent video as always Duade talking DSLR's I'v just brought with less the 200 on the shutter counts 1 Nikon D3, 1 D2H and a D300 with 20,000 clicks on it all for less than £500 GBP, thanks for sharing your images etc...
Great video to watch, as always. How does the 40d work with the 150-600mm? The AF works at 600mm? I'm considering buying the 150-600mm to use with my Canon sl3, and I'm worried about the AF at 600mm. What do you think about this?
I still have my 1DX and 1D4. I sold my 1D3, 5D3 and 7D2 (somebody got some really nice cameras) and will be parting ways with the 1D4 soon. I will keep the 1DX because it's a beast. I plan to always have at least 1 DSLR because most of my lenses are EF lenses that I do not plan to convert to the RF version at this time and I only have 2 RF lenses (100-500 and 400 2.8). Plus, with a DSLR, I can use an EF with either the DSLR or Mirrorless, but I can't use the RF lens with the DSLR (do they have a backward compatible adapter), which makes the EF lenses doubly useful. I wish I could find a brand new 600III because I'd rather have the EF version over the RF because I can use it on both camera bodies.
Thanks for that, some lovely cameras you have and have used, I have used all of those except the 1d3 and have many wonderful images. I think the 600 II is still an awesome lens and is more affordable than the III but it is very heavy indeed. I also wish we could use RF lenses on EF. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thanks...I have decided to settle down with just a couple camera bodies these days (a mirrorless and the 1DX) vs in the past when I accumulated about 5 camera bodies before I knew it. I held on to them thinking I would return to them but never did, especially after getting the 1DX, so I figured they'd be better served in the hands of someone who would put them to use. The last holdout is the 1D4. I'm going to see if my buddy is interested who just recently got into bird photography and give him the 1st right of refusal. He will a chance to get into the 1D body for a very reasonable price.
I still use my Pentax K3 and the IQ IMO is as good as a mirrorless. I use my Pocket 2 to record music/bands....Marty Sender You Tube. DSLRs? if it ain't broke, why fix it? give u LIKE mate
Ah, the 40D and 400 5.6, my trusty combo since 2009 (I got the camera cheaper when the 50D came out). Avoid using it above 400 iso and it still produces great prints, A3+, though I wouldn't say no to an R6 for the ibis and the massive 20mp.
Duade, in considering used DSLRs, what about shutter life? I seem to recall when I started out (I have a 7d mk 2) that the shutter life was about, what? 250,000 clicks? And then you have to have the camera sent to a Canon shop to get it refurbished?
Each camera has a recommended shutter life and is different for each camera. The 7D2 is good for 200,000 but will often go much higher than that. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Duade, yes that is the "standard" information. But the 'fun' just BEGINS when that happens! The shutter fails, ergo the camera fails, correct? So how does one deal with this? Will Canon accept these "dead" cameras for restoration? That is, charge to install a new shutter? Things go into a new decisions-tree.
@@fgb3126 Yes, most shutters can be repaired at a cost. Trouble is with old cameras you have to decide if it is worth the repair cost given you can pick up those bodies pretty cheap second hand. Cheers, Duade
The fokus in 5DIV is almoust like that is in 1DX mark2. I would never sell my 5DIV, and vith the 400DO II it is perfekt for wildlife. Also with the 1,4 extender. For landscapes i use 5Ds and 5DsR. For birds I use OM1 and 150-400 with buildt in converter (1000mm). Buth I am not on TH-cam with my work. Only old fims and some mc tours.
Great video as always Duade! Love how you're always out in the field to test all your gear. I always come for the birds, stay for the info! I'd be interesting to see how the nikon bodies and their great 200-500 do. I don't know much about them but I'm sure people will have great suggestions. I know the d850 was their flagship and is often compared to the 1DX but used prices might be more expensive still nowadays. On Canon DSLR the APSC king always was the 7d ii of course 🙂 still the best built APSC Canon ever made so far! I don't think canon made any lens equivalent to that 200-500 though, so perhaps it'll be the old trusty sigma on them too! It'd be cool to see how the two compare. I know many people are on the 90D and are wondering if they should take the plunge to mirrorless, so maybe that's another option. I believe it's pretty similarly priced used to a 7d ii but I'm not sure. Imo if you're buying new today the R7 is the better buy to a 90D, but for folks who have it or are looking at it used I'm really not sure Personally I started wildlife on a Canon EF 70-300 USM ii. It is an incredible lens and performs pretty similarly to the the RF 100-400 AF/OIS wise, and is also pretty sharp. Lacks that bit of reach though of course, but when I started with I was only a biology student and bird watcher at heart, never watched a tutorial on photography and just went out with it in full auto jpeg and got pictures I'm really happy with to this day. I'm really happy I started on something lightweight that "just worked" and got me great pictures from the get go, it encouraged me to get more in the photography aspect of it and it became a passion on its own! I think the 70-300 USM ii really is the RF100-400 equivalent on DSLRs as f8 was too much at the time and they couldn't squeeze the extra 100mm at f5.6 for the budget/form factor. It's still a favorite of many people I know, and I still reach for it for regular telephoto use like concerts as I don't need the extra reach and the aperture beats my RF100-400. Surely your trusty 400 5.6 will beat it in reach and IQ, and might be the better buy today used, but if you have to buy new or find a good used deal on it I'm sure it's a very worthy option for a beginner. Wouldn't surprise if it beats it in some regards! In places like India where it's hard to find used deals on anything it's still what a lot of people go for. For for an ultra budget option, the EFS 55-250 STM will always be the value king for shooting near feeders! To this day I think it's one of the best ultra budget options Canon ever made. I know a few folks that are great photographers and never upgraded from that and get amazing photos with it, especially for semi macro and insects, I'd be nice to throw it in the mix for comparison since it's so cheap, and even easily found at bargain basement prices used since it is so popular. The 75-300 for a similar price is a bit of a lemon and better avoided. Sigma makes a really good 100-400 on DSLRs, but knowing the 150-600 is the same price, it's the one I recommend for obvious reasons 🙂 probably not for a beginner though! I really appreciate your initiative of bringing wildlife photography to more people! It does get tiring a bit sometimes seeing all these rich folks on forums gatekeeping the hobby and saying it's not worth it unless you spend all the money on flagship cameras and L glass. Some of us are still students or simply can't afford L glass, or aren't invested enough in the hobby to make it seem worth it. All the more reason why good affordable options are even more important. When I started I never thought I'd ever even buy an R7 and sigma 150-600C, even that at the time it seemed way, way too expensive for me to justify that purchase. If you're truly a birdwatcher at heart, a decent setup for not much more than a good pair of binoculars can certainly get you good photos. Even bridge cams can be good, but that's probably beyond the scope of your next vid. To me what matters the most will always be the memories from every picture I take, even if I've become a bit of a photography nerd over the years! Oh and one last thing, for people looking for used DSLRs, I think something like a new R10 and RF100-400 or the bigma (that one can be bought used but the adapter adds an extra cost) could still be in the equation, so it's true that perhaps budget used options should be compared against that. Just a thought. Is the cheap new tech so good that there's even a point to buying a used DSLR combo more expensive than that? I'll leave the answer to you! Cheers as always and looking forward to your next video 🙂
Thanks for sharing you thoughts, much appreciated as usual. The 70-300 has had a few mentions and is a lens I wish I had tested. I was similar to you when I started, no way I was spending huge amounts on a camera and lens. I think I paid $1200 for my EF400 5.6L and that was a huge investment at the time, however on reflection if I think of the hundreds of hours spent with the lens it was a good choice. Yes, the R10 RF100-400 is a viable choice, I am not a huge fan of the camera to be honest and it is tough to recommend but gives you access to the RF100-400 which is the future. I look forward to making the video, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I'm sure it was! That 400 5.6 really looks like a nifty little gem of a lens, better ofc than the 70-300. I did feel at one point like I really needed more reach with it. That's when I got the sigma 150-600. Re R10, can't say as I haven't tried the R10, so it'd be really nice to see if a used DSLR is in your opinion a better choice in that price range. Lots of mixed reviews coming out about it, so it'd be really nice to hear about the alternatives. Looking forward to seeing it! Cheers 🙂
A lot of folks over in the Nikon camp doing bird & wildlife always speak of the D500 (crop sensor), or the D850 (full-frame). The 200-500mm f/5.6 is often considered good value for money despite some shortcomings, and is often paired with the D500. There's better prime Nikkor glass than the 200-500mm such as the 500mmPF or the 400 & 600mm primes, but these are often way above the budget of most enthusiasts. People who go third-party go for the Sigma C or the Tamron G2. Some prefer the wider 150-600mm zoom range over the 200-500, others prefer the native Nikkor glass despite being 100mm shorter. Lucky folks are also coming across older flagship D3s or D4 bodies that are still in good condition, and these have gone down in price considerably, especially since the Z9 came out. :)
Thanks for sharing the Nikon perspective, the D500 is the most popular camera so far and the D850 was without doubt an incredible camera. Cheers, Duade
When used DSLR’s fall to prices a common non professional photographer can afford we have infinite choices. Just purchased a Nikon D200 for $125. US and only purchased it to replace a Fuji S2 that used my Nikon lenses. I am a Canon photographer with my original 40D, 5D mk1 and 7D mk2. Lenses for the D200 are reasonable especially when purchasing “D” and AIS versions. Thanks for a great video.
I have no plans to give up my DSLR's in 2023, and I think there are some insane values to be had in that market for people who either want to approach photography as a hobby or professionally. Under $500, how do you beat the Canon 5D Mark II? You can get them for under $300 now. I have owned 3 of them, and they were workhorses. Definitely shoot no wider than f/1.8 for usable autofocus, but the files are lovely, and MagicLantern turns them into *very* capable cinema/video cameras and adds many creature comforts of more modern cameras to this old battleaxe model. With a $500 budget, you can even get a nifty 50 and a nicer lens without breaking the bank! I do not think Nikon really competes in this price bracket especially in full frame. The immensely popular D750 hovers around the $500 price point in 2022, so maybe it will fall a bit in 2023, but who knows? The D700 is sort of legendary, but I would not consider a 12MP camera with no video capabilities a competitor to the 5D Mark II. Under $1000 I split it between the 5D Mark III and the 5DS on the Canon side of the house. Choose the 5D Mark III if you need a camera that does double duty as a hybrid cinema camera and jack of all trades stills camera. It also can be used with MagicLantern for a boost in performance over the 5D Mark II. Some of the features include 14-bit RAW video at 1080-3K resolutions, 10-bit and 12-bit internal video, focus peaking, waveforms, focus magnification on the fly, dual gain, and more. Beyond that, it takes the success of the 5D Mark II and just improves it in every way. At around $650, you can even afford to get a high quality lens to pair with it or a couple of Canon's USM gold-ring lenses for your kit. If video is not super important to you, but you crave resolution, you can usually find a 50 MP 5DS for just under $1000 if you are persistent. It is essentially a 5D Mark III with a 50 MP sensor, quieter shutter and mirror, and the focusing system of the 1DX in a single body. The files from it are gorgeously detailed. Opting for this camera at this budget assumes that you probably already have L series lenses in the EF system because you will want new, sharp glass for this body. As for Nikon here, my go-to recommendation is the D810 workhorse. It splits the difference between the 5D Mark III and the 5DS with a superb 36 MP sensor with no AA filter. Video is nothing to be impressed by on this camera, but it does have it, and Nikon made some marvelous lenses for the F mount. Where this camera shines is with its sensor's dynamic range and shadow performance. It also shoots ISO 64 natively, so you get super clean files compared to Canon's offerings below this price point. These sell around $800, so you have enough for a nifty 50 afterward, too. An honorable mention that I would not personally consider is a Nikon D3S. Longtime Nikon shooters will rave about this camera as a pivotal model for Nikon, but, again, a 12MP sensor with 720p and lower resolution video is not what I would deem competitive in almost any price bracket among DSLR's Under $1500 you have quite a few options. The 5D Mark IV is decent here, but it would not be my choice. I would stick with a 5DS or 5DS R and add a lens like the EF 135mm f/2 L to my kit. Also, a 1DX or even a 1DX Mark II are excellent options here. The 1DX is probably my favorite Canon camera of all time, and I shoot on a 1DX Mark II today as one of my primary cameras. If I did not need video autofocus for personal projects or work, I would probably still have an original 1DX in my kit. It was the camera with which I felt invincible as a photographer. Additional lenses are also an option if you swing for the older 1DX at this budget. A nice 24-70 2.8 L or 16-35 f/2.8 L II can be yours in this price bracket. On the Nikon side, it is difficult not to recommend the D850 at this budget, but that assumes that you already have existing Nikon lenses. Some call this the greatest DSLR of all time, and it does have a great deal going for it. It misses for me without usable video autofocus, but the sensor is stellar, and the focusing and buffer performance is world class among DSLR's. Another camera to consider here from Nikon is the D4S. While it only comes in at 16MP, the exquisite files you create with those huge photosites on the full frame sensor are quite well renowned. If you can sacrifice some resolution in your work, this camera will serve you exceedingly well in low light shooting scenarios and where speed of capture is of any importance. These bodies tend to be priced a trifle higher than their Canon 1DX counterpart, so they leave less in the budget for adding lenses, but that is the cost of going with Nikon in this category of camera.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed comment, I really appreciate the time you took to leave it. I agree with many of your suggestions and loved my 5d3 and 1dx, both amazing cameras. Cheers, Duade
Surprised you got rid of your 5D4, but understand about the 1Dx, was tempted to get a 1Ds3, but I have too many bodies anyway. Only looking at back catalogue I was still using a 1D and 1Ds in 2010, and the crispness from my 1D was brilliant, even though it is only 4mp. I gave a talk at a local camera club recently and one of my favourite shots ever was taken on a 30D, 3mp. Neat video as usual. Cheers, Derek
Thanks, I also have the R5 which is the superior camera so I just don't need the 5d4 anymore. Yes, I took many wonderful shots on older gear, Cheers, Duade
Best wildlife DSLR currently under $1500 new or Under $1000 used - Nikon D500. This is the camera I still use, so I admit a bias. Cool video, Dude. I have considered finding a used "Flagship" DSLR like the 1D-X. Maybe a Nikon D4s since I have all Nikon glass. The problem, though, is these older cameras use different memory cards and batteries, and so there is an extra investment in order to have a couple of spare batteries and cards.
Thanks Woody, yes the D500 has been the most popular camera and for good reason, it is a beast. Yes the d4s would be fun to play with. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
Thank you for the video. Recently, I bought little used Canon 90D for under one thousand dollars and happy with it. My other DSLRs are 5D, 5DII, 1DIV and 7D. All are very much capable cameras. I use native L super telephoto and wide angle lenses. I don't think there are compelling reasons for me to go mirrorless.
40D was my second body after an oh-so-ancient-now 300D, and still gets to be used as a backup from time to time. Can confirm - still can show some teeth! :)
Excellent video with some great images. I picked up a 1D MkIV last year secondhand of course for a research project and the intention was to sell it on afterwards and get my money back. That never happened because heavy though it is, it is a total blast to handle, use and I'm never going to sell it ! I use, mainly for video a Canon M6 MkII plus a Lumix G90/95 so am very familiar with the undoubted benefits of mirrorless cameras, especially for video but for my wildlife and landscape photography, I still far prefer using my DSLRs if only because it is a more engaging experience. :)
Thank you for defending the DSLR! I have owned many Nikon models but have stuck with my D500, which ran me around $1500 new but have come down slightly in price. And for about the same amount of money, pair it with the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 and for a modest investment, you have a combination that will give you everything you need for years of enjoyment.
I have been thinking of upgrading to mirrorless from my Nikon D750 but keep seeing video's from people who say that DSLR's are still the way to go and many have swapped back after using mirrorless. Also do you know anywhere in Australia to purchase that gimbal and skimmer. The links are for US sites. And I know you won't tell me, but I would love to know where that lake is. The only lakes I know of (Bendigo) that have that much variety of birdlife are WAY too public for me to want to lay on the ground in.
Hi Tracie, the best bet in Australia is to possibly make your own groundpod using a wok or frying pan, my mate Brian made his own which I show in this video here th-cam.com/video/0lmjC07v8yI/w-d-xo.html, in regards to the Gimbal you can pick them up in Australia from different camera shops, they are expensive for what they are though. You can get cheap ones from Amazon and Ebay via China but the quality does have some issues. The lake is in Rutherglen in the North East, Cheers, Duade
I would not consider switching from DSLRs to mirrorless so soon, if it wasn't for the outrageous prices of DSLRs in my country. I was expecting a massive drop in prices after R5 and R6 were released, followed by a trend of major manufacturers shifting their focus to mirrorless. I was waiting and waiting but the price of 5D Mark IV never dropped. Currently one of the major photography stores lists Mk IV at a slightly higher price than R6... It makes no sense to me. I switched from 90D to R7 this year and I love it, but it sucks that many new photographers will not experience DSLRs, because it makes more sense to just go for mirrorless, since the pricess are similar.
Thanks Alsmir, the 5d4 is an odd one as they still sell it new for close to an R6 which is bonkers. The 5d3 used is a far better option or even the 1dx. Congrats on the R7, a great camera for sure. Cheers, Duade
1dx , 7D .... Still retain a credible value ...still not seen affordable 2nd hand of ethier ..... i think the 1dx looks like a R3 Size wise ... Do you remember the 300-800 Sigma lense ?? Saw a few appear on the 2nd market sadly still out my reach ...
So far what I consider the best sub $500 dslr setup is the Sony A200 with kit lens (~$200 on ebay) paired with a Tamron 200-500mm (~$300 on ebay). I got an A200 for free from a friend and I have been amazed at what this older camera can do.
I'm here waiting for DSLR prices to hit rock bottom as everyone else is going toward mirrorless cameras. Same thing for DSLR lenses too as they're not really great on mirrorless bodies compared to native mirrorless lenses. The best part of any DSLR from a decade ago is that they can still take excellent images. It doesn't mean new is always better in that regard. Heck, you probably can't tell the difference between an old 12MP sensor from 2008 versus a recent 45MP sensor unless you scrutinized the image down to the pixels and that completely takes the joy out of photography.
I have all kinds of cameras, DSLRs, mirrorless, and film. I have and use a GFX100 too. But when I am asked to do 'event photography,' which is capturing the people and happenings at event over several hours, then I use my Canon 5DIII. I know I can count on it to take hundreds of pictures with darn good auto focus and quality. It just seems right to me. I can make quick changes to aperture to adjust depth of field and I can frame my photos really well. The camera never fails to get the job done, and I am shooting at about 22 MP, so I have high quality to work with in post. I also use the auto ISO feature because over a several hour time period the light will change significantly. So I don't want to be fooling with ISO. I want to capture those candid shots that make an event special.
Thanks for sharing George, the 5d3 was a huge jump in quality for me from my 7D. Like you say the quality and reliability from it was impressive. Cheers, Duade
Duade another fabulous video. The infectious excitement of you taking images is brilliant. As for the camera,I’d say the 7dMk2 and the sigma 150-600c and you won’t go to far wrong.
I sold my canon eos 7DMii to a birding friend recently coz his eos 7D died due to old age 😅. We normally go birding together & often photographed the same birds. What I can tell is for stills, it is an amazing camera. So, i choose for the canon eos 7dmii for still in 2023.
Loved watching that. I have a 5D mark ii and love using it. I own a Leica Televid APO 77 spotting scope. I have an adpater allowing me to put my 5D onto it. There is only manual focus available and that is throught the scopes focusing system. It turns it into a fixed f10 800mm lens basically. I have been surprised with the results. I think it is down to the superior glass in the scope and adapter. It is rewarding having to slow things down with the limitations of the scope. All other operations in the camera can be used manually with the scope.
Morning Troy, that is hard to answer, is it hunting a lot more than your previous camera with the same lens? Can you try a different lens on the camera. Most DSLRs will hunt at times and it often depends on the subject or location but it should find the subject fairly quickly. You could try using expanded focus points so the camera has a few more options to find the subject and maybe minus 2 in the accel/decel setting. Sorry to hear that it is struggling to focus. Cheers, Duade
Hi. Thanks for your videos. Love them. I’m new to this. Just wondering why your iso for the ducks is high. Could you do a vid to show us why you set up your cameras as you do? Thanks. Hope you’re ok, floods-wise up there.
Thanks Marts, I often use a high ISO to enable high SS to freeze the action should something happens, higher SS also help my shaking hands. I probably could use lower ISO but tend to favour higher SS over low ISO with certain cameras. I will look at doing a video in the future about how I shoot and why. Cheers, Duade
That 1DX does sound incredible and your utter enjoyment in using it and the 40D showed. They might not have some of the fancy new features and specs of some of the new mirrorless cameras, but you showed that it is not the gear that gets great images, it's the photographer. Lots of great images (especially those cute ducklings). Another enjoyable video. Thanks Duade
Thanks Chris I appreciate the feedback, in the end we should remember what brings us joy and for me that is taking photos with whatever gear I have. Cheers, Duade 👍
Why get rid of DSLR? what you must remember is that, the most memorable pictures where taken with primitive cameras and terrible lenses, you make the picture beautiful not the camera, it is your good eyes. many thanks Duade keep em coming
This video show wery nice that you dont need Eye AF to get sharp shots! 😎 Most of thet ppl yell all the time EYE AF if you dont have it you are stupid or how bad its work some systems. Im try it and i think its very good tool but you dont need it to get sharp shots. 😘
Hi Duade, thanks for another interesting video. My DSLR pick is the Canon 90D for the budget conscious. I pair mine with the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary which is a great combination, again for the price. Although I've rented the Canon 100-400 Mk2 for a weekend and the quality blew me away despite it not having as much reach as the Sigma.
Been thinking bout getting a mirrorless but ik I'm gonna basically have to pay for my lenses allover again (il be keeping the ones for my dslr) so idk really
It really is hard isnt it, the older EF lenses do work on RF but they do require the adapter and some EF lenses are quite noisy on the RF bodies as the IS/AF seem to work hard with the eye tracking. Cheers, Duade
I don't think there is another wildlife photographer that gives us what you do! Down to earth reviews, examples, taking care of our pockets and our photography quality as well ! Thank you Duade!!!
Thanks Daniela, you are too kind, I am just having fun taking photos and I am happy to hear others find it interesting. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade She is RIGHT, you always try to show the good and bad parts of something, you can show us how we could take lovely photos with a 10mpx OLD 40D, AMAZING! You make reviews/recommendations for every single BUDGET, whether you are wealthy or not the richest person in the world!
@@andreigaming5581 Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
Yes that absolutely right. That is what is unique about him
Great piece Duade. Just goes to prove that you don’t need all the newest, most expensive and hyped up kit to great really great images. Yes, I’d like a brand new, top of the range mirrorless but for an amateur like me I cant justify that at the moment. I bought my 5DIV gently used (refurbished actually, from Canon) and it’s wonderful. Paired with the Sigma 150-600 C it’s perfect for birding. I also have a 24-70 and 70-200 Canon lenses (both 2.8) plus a 1.4 extender. I haven’t yet got to the point where my limited skills are restricted by equipment. When and if I do get that point, I’ll trade up. Great video Duade , thank you.
Thanks Martin, that is great to hear, the 5d4 sensor really is incredible and produces stunning shots, the Sigma is also probably the best value tele going so I am sure they will serve you well for years to come. Cheers, Duade
hi Duade I think the best apsc cams for birds in 2023 are followed
under 500usd used 70d
under 1000usd used 90d
under 1500 usd R7
Ps your channel is amazing keep on going and stay save
greetings
Marx
Thanks mate, all great cameras and options, Cheers, Duade
Old DLSR's can produce superb photographs. I still use my 40D and my 5D MKII. Heck, I even burst out my 20D from time to time. For birds and wildlife I use my 90D and as long as these cameras will perform I see no incentive to move to mirrorless.
I Shoot mirrrorless but I bought last week a 1DX just for fun....and I'm loving it.
I am using Nikon D700 from 1year and its been such a great camera soo far...
Currently i borrow Nikon 200-500mm for wildlife and it performs perfectly well.
Thanks Shashank, that is great to hear, Cheers, Duade
I still shoot with a Nikon D4, love the build quality and some of my best photos come out of that camera even though I also have a mirrorless.
Great to hear Mark, yes, they are beasts of cameras, Cheers, Duade
Thank you for another great video. I am very happy with my 70D and sigma 150-600mm sport. But would love to buy a new 90D
Thanks Duncan, great camera and lens, Cheers, Duade
Great video! And te shots are amazing! I really like the ones of the crested pigeons!
Thanks Fabian, yes, they are great birds, Cheers, Duade
I’m still using a DSLR which is a Nikon D500. I know it has a crop sensor but that suits me because I photograph a lot of small birds and also when photographing birds of prey, it means I can keep my distance thus avoiding disturbance. I have the camera coupled with the 500mm PF lens and the combination provides extremely fast AF. Someone described it as a Canon 7D Mk2 on steroids and I read an article by a chap who used a Canon 1DX Mk2 for his job in sports photography and he also owned a Nikon D500 for his personal use and he preferred the AF on the D500 - his opinion of course. I love it and will keep it for a good while yet.
Not only are they not dead, i just got my Sigma 150-600 C thanks to you! Thank you sir!
Wonderful, have fun with it, Cheers, Duade
I just got my first digital camera a month ago it's a77ll slt 24.6 mp.
It's nice having the instant pictures compared my film camera's.
Congrats Jerry on the new camera, very exciting times. Cheers, Duade 👍
I have the 1DXMk2 and the 7DMk2. I normally bring both out loaded with different lenses. I take videos of wildlife as well to record behaviour and the 4K video recording of the 1DXMk2 is amazing
Thanks Kitsun, two wonderful cameras, Cheers, Duade
great video BTW, so the Australian grebe sound is just like ours. some real stunning shots for the pigeons.
Thanks, we have three Grebes down here and this is the most common, the other is the Hoary-headed Grebe and then we get the Great Crested Grebe which is found in many other countries. Cheers, Duade
thanks again Duade. hope we have good rain this season so some swamps form around my city so can see them during winter.
My favorite DSLR is the 1D Mark IV. Arguably the 1DX is better, but the 1D4 has so many cool properties. It's a 1.3 crop so it's a compromise between FF and the normal 1.6 crop. In the hand it feels small and sexy vs a 1DX. It's size is similar to an R3.
Thanks for that, yes a wonderful camera I had the pleasure of using, it is a shame Canon moved away from the 1.3 crop. Cheers, Duade
So many great shots! Awesome!
I was trying to get some good shots of little grebes, but they always were too spooky. Your Ground Pod with the GImbal is amazing, i will get one one of those
Thanks Benjamin, yes, some birds can be very flighty for sure, this was a town park so the birds are somewhat habituated to humans. Good luck with the Gimbal, Cheers, Duade
Good stuff! I shoot Nikon DSLRs and Olympus MFTs, love them both, no new cameras for me. Cheers!
Great to hear Randy, we really are spoilt with choice at the moment, Cheers, Duade
Thanks!
Thanks for the support Ian, I appreciate it, Cheers, Duade
They certainly are not dead and I am absolutely enjoying that the market is being flooded with exceptional value. I just picked up a Canon 5DSR with a 16 to 35mm f2.8 lens $1200 for the lot. That’s a bonkers bargain. I reckon I’ll stay with DLSR’s for the next few years
Thanks Magoo, yes, the fact you can get a 1DX for under 1k is pretty cool. Have fun with your kit, Cheers, Duade
Yeah, there are some deals to be had. Especially, now that stock is or has caught up to demand for the RF gear.
Some much needed love for the dsl-ah community
Your videos are so soothing with the calmness that you radiate during taking birdshots. Somehow it even looks as if the birds are approaching you out of curiosity while you are laying down.
Definitely will try that myself. Currently the weather here is not very inviting to lay flat on the ground but I will give it a go.
Super cute ducklings cheered me right up, cheers Duade! Now thinking about a 1dx.... 🤔
That is great to hear, Cheers, Duade
Still on my 7dii with tamron 100-400. Hopefully getting tamron or sigma 150-600 soon!
Thanks John, love that camera, good luck saving for the Sigma, Cheers, Duade
Thanks for this fun video. Great images. Having just accumulated a bunch of RF glass I don't see a DSLR in my future. Honestly, I enjoy the features of my R5 so much that it would be difficult for me to leave it home.
Thanks Robert, I totally agree that the R5 is superior to anything I have used previously and I will be using it going forward. However it is interesting to see what you can achieve on a budget if you cannot afford the switch to mirrorless. Cheers, Duade
With respect Duade, DSLRs would be in the hands of amateurs/hobbyists (your main audience) for a whole lot longer if yourself and other photography TH-camrs hadn't already so enthusiastically adopted mirrorless! ... Of course we understand your motivation to maintain and grow your relevance and how that influences your content. Nevertheless, there remains a very strong argument for recommending beginning and intermediate users to DSLRs over mirrorless. Many used DSLRs released by Canon and Nikon from as far back as 2016 will, in ways that really matter in the real world, still out perform the current mid level (affordable?) new mirrorless offerings from those producers ... at a fraction of the cost. The extensive lens options, not to mention the sheer volume of used units available for sale, is another very strong factor pointing to the excellent value Vs performance equation in favour of DSLRs. Yes, The R3 and the D9 are amazing devices. But seriously, in October 2022 how relevant are they, considering just the cost alone, to the average wildlife shooter? ...
Thanks for the video. I commend your attempt to show some love and deserving respect for DSLRs in a scene dominated by "the latest and greatest" mentality. Let's hope more of the other prominent wildlife photography TH-cam gurus follow your lead.
Oh ... and my (used) hobbyist recommendation: Nikon D500 with Nikon 200-500 f5.6 ... a classic, no BS combo.
Thanks Greg, I appreciate the feedback and understand what you are saying. If you go through my catalogue of videos I have used the 40D, 90D, 5d3, 5d4, 1dx a number of times and do try to show what less expensive gear is capable of. But as you allude to people are always interested in the latest and greatest which gets the views and feeds the algorithm so as a content creator we need to be cognisant of both ends of the market. I guess it is just finding the balance and I am happy to create this video and my upcoming one. Thanks for the suggestion, the D500 is a beast of a camera for sure. Cheers, Duade
Joli !
Thank you, Cheers, Duade
You truly are the master of your craft to pull such shots out of a 40D. You didn't specify if you mean bodies only or kits with lenses, but of course the 7D2 that I got recently (following your advice among others) is a no brainer. I got it for A$600, so well under US$500. I think with a bit of luck it could be had with something like a Sigma 16-300mm lens which could be a good all-rounder to start with. I'm still using my carryover Tamron 18-400mm and with the incredible AF I was able to shoot welcome swallows in flight at a local beach on the first weekend after purchase. They were not 100% sharp, but probably as sharp as the lens allows. Since then I also managed to get a few more interesting trophies in more than adequate quality for my IG or iNaturalist accounts.
Well done, yes, the 7d2 is a wonderful camera for sure, have fun with your kit, Cheers, Duade
I really like to get out my Olympus E-5. With the 50-200mm you have a 400mm equvalent with f3.5 speed at the long end. Fully weather sealed and really nice feeling. That old 4/3rds sensor struggles above 1000 ISO but with modern noise reduction, I've come away with really nice results at 1600-2000. The camera never let me down, since I got it and takes amazing colours and very crisp images. The old 4/3rds lenses are dirt cheap for what they are! I got my E-5 with 50-200mm and the EC-20 Converter for about 900€ and I have 800mm at my disposal as well as a camera that I can put a nail into a tree in the pouring rain, without giving a damn!
That 1DX sounds really nice by the way. I really like the shutter!
I use canon 250D with EF-S 18-135mm and EF 70-300mm lenses (both nano usm). It's a relatively affordable set-up
Thanks for sharing Edwin, it sure is, Cheers, Duade
Under 500, would be the Canon 7D, under 1000 the Nikon D500, and under 1500 (just) has to be the king of all DSLR's; the Nikon D850, though a lower res 1DX II would be my choice if I shot more than wildlife and getting close wasn't an issue. Lens-wise, I'd have the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 iii on the 7D, whilst the D500 and D850 would both get the brilliant Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 E ED VR. All of this would be got secondhand.
Great post Adam and I agree with everything you have said, all would make wonderful wildlife kits. Cheers, Duade
Loved this video. It only reinforces my decision to keep going with mine. I am a long, long, time Canon user and now have that in question with Canon's decision concerning their RF lenses. I like some of the functions that mirrorless brings into our field. I also don't want to jump to a new brand. I have some Sigma lenses that I think have performed greater than the Canon counterpart and some lenses I have purchased to see if they are a good fit in what I shoot before getting the $$$ Canon version. Canon RF line has put a stop to that. Bad, bad on you Canon!!
Thanks John, I can only hope that Canon do work with Tamron and Sigma in the future as their lenses are great. Cheers, Duade 👍
Thanks Duade
My pleasure Wayne, Cheers, Duade
Hi Dear Duade can you make a comparative video for Sony A7 IV + Sony FE 200-600MM and Canon R7+ Canon rf 600mm f11 with regard to bird photography especially in low light. 😀
Sony FF with f/6.3 vs. Canon Crop with f/11? Nothing to test in low light in this case.
AF performance and sharpness wouldn be interesting to compare.
The Sony is by far the best option as it has an aperture of 6.3 compared to f11 and the lens is much much better. Cheers, Duade
Love your videos....Curious to know your post processing techniques especially the crested pigeons .
Thanks Soumitra, I shared my lightroom process here you might find interesting, Cheers, Duade th-cam.com/video/emIrhLNt2sE/w-d-xo.html
I don't think DSLRs will ever be dead for people with common sense and an iota of skill.
Canon is all I've ever used, so while other brands might well be great, I can only have an opinion about Canon. (Except that I find it ridiculous that Nikon lenses screw on the "wrong" way).
I don't know about these price brackets. But no matter what, if you're an amateur, you should definitely go with a crop sensor DSLR!
A used Canon Eos 70D is an excellent choice. 20 megapixel is more than enough, and the autofocus is very good, I think. However, it cannot do manual mode with auto ISO, so if you can afford the Canon Eos 80D, it's an even better choice. The 90D which you can still buy new, is of course even better. You'll need a very sharp lens to take full advantage of its 32.5 megapixel sensor, though.
(Famously the original Canon EF 100-400 mm L lens is not sharp "enough", while the mark II version of the lens is. Not that the old lens would give any worse results than it would on a lower resolution camera - it cannot possibly do that! Even though you might get that impression when pixel peeping, but that's only because you've enlarged the image more. But the older lens just isn't sharp enough to exploit the full potential of the sensor.)
What lenses to go with for wildlife on a budget? The Sigma 150-600 Contemporary is the obvious choice! Still, it's not cheap, only less super expensive than many other attractive lenses. So an often overlooked lens is the Canon EF-S 55-250 mm STM. It's now more expensive than it used to be, but it's still incredibly low price for what you get. Small and very light and sharp. The 250 mm is the equivalent of 400 mm, so it can just about bring you into the world of super tele. It focuses nice and close, so although it isn't a macro lens, it can give you spectacular photos of butterflies. MIND! You MUST make sure it's the STM version you get. There's an older version which is not nearly as sharp.
Thanks for your detailed response Lau, a number of people have suggested the 55-250STM paired with an APSC body. I agree the 80D-90D are nice cameras for sure and it is hard to go past the Sigma 150-600C. Cheers, Duade
Bye!
If I understand correctly the Skimmer Ground Pod you used is suitable to support a Benro GH-2 Gimbal with Sigma 150-600 Sport and Nikon D500 right? I am interested in the object and I wanted to know if it can do for me, for my equipment. Is the screw 3/8 "? Do you recommend buying it? Thanks, bye
Thanks Max, yes it uses a 3/8th both that will support any gimbal or ball head. basically you just screw a gimbal/ballhead onto the 3/8 bolt and away you go. Many people make their own with frying pans or woks. My mate Brian made his own which I show here th-cam.com/video/0lmjC07v8yI/w-d-xo.html and the video on the ground pod
th-cam.com/video/by1WvMSmkEQ/w-d-xo.html Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thnk you very much for the answer and for the videos!
....And NEVER will they be!!
Watching and reading about these new fangled mirrorless cameras were quick to hit the shelves and in doing so, were followed by alot of problems. Like anything new in the world we live in, it's a good idea to be patient and give the new technology a break-in period.
Although these big manufacturing companies will eventually phase out the DSLR all together and therefore render it unusable.
Just the way 'consumer' technology makes their money and if you don't keep up with technology, you basically get left behind. 😐
I wonder though.... Does the same go for those who own a $60k hasselblad??
Thanks Will, yes, mirrorless is the future but DSLRs are offering great value and still take wonderful shots. Cheers, Duade
DSLR are relatively cheap onnthe used market and useable for some small subsets like wildlife. But that is all. DSLM have capabilities that are superior evenninnthat small subset, just a bit costlier. An R7 or R6 beat all the DSLR shown here with a better AF, better sensor in low light etc.
Thanks, yes, the latest mirrorless cameras do have a lot of advantages without a doubt. But if I only had $800 to spend I would likely get the 1DX. It all comes down to budget, in saying that the R7 does offer a lot at that price point. Cheers, Duade
I agree with you on value for money, but that is not the case with all the DSLR‘s.
The Canon 5D Mark IV for example is hughly over priced in my opinion.
A Canon R6 costs used around 2.000$ and a Nikon Z6 II costs used also around 1.900$.
And they are both way better cameras then the old DSLR.
And if you look on used prices for the Nikon D850, they cost the same as a new 20-24 MP DSLM... 😅😂
But fair play, it was probably the peak of the DSLR technology.
Thanks E D, yes, the 5d4 is a little expensive as is and the 1DX, 5d3 offer better value for sure. The R7 is a very capable wildlife camera and at $1500 offers pretty good value. Cheers, Duade
Cheers Duade, for making this video. You’re a brave soul! Ha ha Thanks to all whom have commented in a positive and mature manner. Yes, Mirrorless will rule this day, real soon, and the trusty ole’ DSLR’s will be sitting on shelves or stuck in moldy old camera bags.
No Love lost on the ole’ 5D4 Duade? I understand, as an owner of that camera. The 5D4 is a fine camera, but it could have / should have been so much more. 32-36 Mp, with the SD card slot being a UHS-II, and ability to have a crop in viewfinder, ala 5DS/ 5DSr. 4K video should have been done better, and so on and so forth. I probably will never part with mine, as I co shot my only Son’s Wedding with it, and made decision not to use flash, to avoid interfering with the main shooters. Besides, I was there to enjoy the wedding, and snap the occasional photo. Some of the shots at ISO 12800, were great! I had to go that high, with the light levels available in an outdoor covered venue. ( Fancy remodeled Barn). I was using my 24-70 F4.0 L IS lens. As an aside, why do Canon’s shutters have to be so ‘Clackaty clack?’ 😆
I have two 1D series Relics, I probably will never part with, mainly because they wouldn’t net me much in a sale. Enjoy your passion and your knowledge of birds, and your videos. Cheers
Hello Duade Paton you have been an insperation for me to start bird/wildlife photgraphy! iv'e been asking around in search of a beginner camera i have gotten recommended the 70d but opted against due to the lack of RAW file format, after loking around i fond the d50 but decided against it thanks to the lens mount. I'm currently looking at budget mirrorles cameras but havn't found anything.
So i am asking you what is your recommendation to me if my budget is 1000-2000$ (lens included in the budget but i thinki found 1 that i like/ a way to find one)!
Thanks Duade Paton
Cheers Linus
I'd say r10 + sigma 150_600
If you're used, an R10 + RF100-400 new can also be on the table I think, as I think it will sit under your 2k budget and is something to consider 🙂
@@simonthibodeau7082 i never even knew the r10 existed thank you so much
Hi Fliluren, it is tough with so many options. I think the R7 and RF100-400 would be my pick if you can afford it, the R7 is a much better camera than the R10. In terms of DSLRs the Nikon D500 and Sigma 150-600C would be a great combo. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade well even tho it is technically with in my budget it will take me a year and a half to save up to and i belive it would be more worth it to get a 80d or something of that retail price point so i can strat sooner rather then later! Thank you for your respons Lovely videos have a good day !
nice video, @Duade
Thanks Yacine, Cheers, Duade
My 3 budget wildlife camera(2nd hand)
-Canon 7D mark II (850 SGD>590 USD)
-Nikon D500 (1400 SGD>990 USD)
-Sony A7 III (1700 SGD>1180 USD)
My 3 budget wildlife lenses (2nd hand)
-Sigma or Tamron 150-600mm.
-Canon EF 300mm f4 USM IS(700 SGD>480 USD) using 7D mark II will give an equivalent range of 480mm.
- Nikon 200-500mm with coating(950 SGD> 660 USD)
Sony 200-600mm(1700 SGD>1180 USD)
These are what I found in my country Singapore, what are your budget choices?
Thanks for sharing and all wonderful kits and will help me in my video, Cheers, Duade
Oh, I Almost forgot. Contrary to what many say, Canon’s LP E6N batteries are garbage. And the 5D4 eats them like crazy. My view is shared by others. Peace
DSLR's will never die, and will never be obsolete. Film cameras are still alive, and very much sought after.
Photography, photo gear, does not have an expiration date. When so-called photographers on TH-cam have video titles with "Still worth it in 2022?" i do an eyeroll. They clearly are not photographers. BTW, love this channel. You sir clearly know the art of photography.
Thanks Frank a great comment and very true, we sure are lucky to have so many options and like you say we can capture wonderful images with any camera. Cheers, Duade
They die when they are no longer easily available for the majority of people. Film using cameras are an example,,those are old and when something breaks you can no longer fix them due to lack of critical spares. Same with DSLR, production for most has been stopped, what you get is the rest of the stock and then used gear till spares for shutter and mirror run out.
I shoot film and digital. I like the film look. The photos seem more human and real. I also like vintage lenses. Again, they produce an image which is distinctive. As photographers we want to create images that are our own and different.
Your photos with the 40D shows it is about the Photographer and not the gear, wonderful photos!
Thanks Dave, you are too kind, the lens and light helped a lot too :-) Cheers, Duade
D7500
Thanks for sharing, Cheers, Duade
Nicely illustrated that you don’t need huge amounts of money for superb photos. For me, the key to better photos is going out in the field more. Your enthusiasm and great results inspire me! Thank you!
Thanks Mark, I appreciate the feedback, I am glad my enthusiasm came across, I would love others to share in our joy. Cheers, Duade
Yet another great video mate. I think a 80D or 90D are pretty good value and imo the 90D is underrated for its video performance. Just my 2c
Thanks for the feedback, they are both great cameras for sure, Cheers, Duade
Nice one Duade, love the way you show the RAW file and the transition to the finished image!
Thanks Martin, it is my pleasure, I think it is helpful to see my process. Cheers, DUade
For birding the 7D2 is still a fun body to use.
Thanks Michael, it sure is, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade! I’m 14 years old and I’m a wildlife photographer from Denmark. My first camera was a canon rebel xti and my lense was a 75-300mm. When I started on wildlife photography I was only 11 years old and I didn’t knew anything about settings for my camera. But then my friend told me about you and he said “I can totally recommend Duade Paton. He is my favourite TH-camr”. And then I saw your videos and since then I’ve been watching every single video on your TH-cam channel! Thank you for your inspiring videos!
Magnus
G'day Magnus, thanks for the lovely comment and great to hear the videos are helping, it is great to hear young people like yourself are enjoying wildlife photography. Thanks for sharing, Cheers, Duade
What you did with the 40D is amazing. You live in R3 / R5 world and with the 40D you got very nice results with the pigeon eye in focus !
That's talent!
Thanks Nallon, you are too kind, I appreciate the feedback, Cheers, Duade
Снимаю дикую природу на подержаную камеру Canon mark4 и очень доволен. Спасибо вам.
Excellent video as always Duade talking DSLR's I'v just brought with less the 200 on the shutter counts 1 Nikon D3, 1 D2H and a D300 with 20,000 clicks on it all for less than £500 GBP, thanks for sharing your images etc...
Thanks Tel, what a bargain, have fun with your cameras, Cheers, Duade
Great video to watch, as always.
How does the 40d work with the 150-600mm? The AF works at 600mm?
I'm considering buying the 150-600mm to use with my Canon sl3, and I'm worried about the AF at 600mm. What do you think about this?
G'day Pedro, yes, it will work at 600mm as the max aperture is 6.3, I have used the 40D on my 500 f4 and it worked well. Cheers, Duade
Excellent video Duade. My combo Canon 90D/Sigma 60-600 sport for birds photography is amazing ( and heavy 😅 )
Thanks Alessandro, yes, that is a heavy lens for sure, but a nice one. Cheers, Duade
I got bought a Nikon D500 with Nikon 200-500. Find it great for my ability. Like all your videos, been a great help, thanks.
Congrats Rob, the d500 is the most popular DSLR for sure and a great lens to pair it with, have fun, Cheers, Duade
Under 500 dollar (USED): Canon 80D. Perhaps pair it with a CANON EF-S 55-250MM F/4-5.6 IS STM. Very good camera and lens!
Thanks for that, a great suggestion and second person to mention the 55-250, Cheers, Duade
For bargain Nikon shooters a used D7100 or D7200 paired with the 200-500 are good options.
Thanks for the feedback, good options for sure, Cheers, Duade
For $1000 USD, the best wildlife camera is either the 1dx or the 7d mk2.
Thanks, yes, two very good cameras, Cheers, Duade
Great video. I use a D500 and see no reason to upgrade unless I buy another one before they discontinue them.
Thanks Keith, without doubt the best APSC DSLR on the market, Cheers, Duade
Under 500USD: Canon 7d
Under 1000USD: Canon 1dx
Under 1500USD: Canon 1dx Mark II
Thanks, 3 great cameras for sure, Cheers, Duade
I still have my 1DX and 1D4. I sold my 1D3, 5D3 and 7D2 (somebody got some really nice cameras) and will be parting ways with the 1D4 soon. I will keep the 1DX because it's a beast. I plan to always have at least 1 DSLR because most of my lenses are EF lenses that I do not plan to convert to the RF version at this time and I only have 2 RF lenses (100-500 and 400 2.8). Plus, with a DSLR, I can use an EF with either the DSLR or Mirrorless, but I can't use the RF lens with the DSLR (do they have a backward compatible adapter), which makes the EF lenses doubly useful. I wish I could find a brand new 600III because I'd rather have the EF version over the RF because I can use it on both camera bodies.
Thanks for that, some lovely cameras you have and have used, I have used all of those except the 1d3 and have many wonderful images. I think the 600 II is still an awesome lens and is more affordable than the III but it is very heavy indeed. I also wish we could use RF lenses on EF. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Thanks...I have decided to settle down with just a couple camera bodies these days (a mirrorless and the 1DX) vs in the past when I accumulated about 5 camera bodies before I knew it. I held on to them thinking I would return to them but never did, especially after getting the 1DX, so I figured they'd be better served in the hands of someone who would put them to use. The last holdout is the 1D4. I'm going to see if my buddy is interested who just recently got into bird photography and give him the 1st right of refusal. He will a chance to get into the 1D body for a very reasonable price.
I still use my Pentax K3 and the IQ IMO is as good as a mirrorless. I use my Pocket 2 to record music/bands....Marty Sender You Tube. DSLRs? if it ain't broke, why fix it? give u LIKE mate
Thanks Marty, I appreciate the feedback, I have not used Pentax yet, maybe one day. Cheers, Duade
Ah, the 40D and 400 5.6, my trusty combo since 2009 (I got the camera cheaper when the 50D came out). Avoid using it above 400 iso and it still produces great prints, A3+, though I wouldn't say no to an R6 for the ibis and the massive 20mp.
Thanks Steve, congrats on the longevity, that is incredible the 40D is still going, what a trooper. Cheers, Duade
Duade, in considering used DSLRs, what about shutter life? I seem to recall when I started out (I have a 7d mk 2) that the shutter life was about, what? 250,000 clicks? And then you have to have the camera sent to a Canon shop to get it refurbished?
Each camera has a recommended shutter life and is different for each camera. The 7D2 is good for 200,000 but will often go much higher than that. Cheers, Duade
@@Duade Duade, yes that is the "standard" information. But the 'fun' just BEGINS when that happens! The shutter fails, ergo the camera fails, correct? So how does one deal with this? Will Canon accept these "dead" cameras for restoration? That is, charge to install a new shutter? Things go into a new decisions-tree.
@@fgb3126 Yes, most shutters can be repaired at a cost. Trouble is with old cameras you have to decide if it is worth the repair cost given you can pick up those bodies pretty cheap second hand. Cheers, Duade
The fokus in 5DIV is almoust like that is in 1DX mark2. I would never sell my 5DIV, and vith the 400DO II it is perfekt for wildlife. Also with the 1,4 extender. For landscapes i use 5Ds and 5DsR. For birds I use OM1 and 150-400 with buildt in converter (1000mm). Buth I am not on TH-cam with my work. Only old fims and some mc tours.
Thanks for sharing, yes, the 5d4 has a beautiful sensor for sure and the 400 DO is a fantastic lens, Cheers, Duade
Great video as always Duade! Love how you're always out in the field to test all your gear. I always come for the birds, stay for the info!
I'd be interesting to see how the nikon bodies and their great 200-500 do. I don't know much about them but I'm sure people will have great suggestions. I know the d850 was their flagship and is often compared to the 1DX but used prices might be more expensive still nowadays.
On Canon DSLR the APSC king always was the 7d ii of course 🙂 still the best built APSC Canon ever made so far! I don't think canon made any lens equivalent to that 200-500 though, so perhaps it'll be the old trusty sigma on them too! It'd be cool to see how the two compare.
I know many people are on the 90D and are wondering if they should take the plunge to mirrorless, so maybe that's another option. I believe it's pretty similarly priced used to a 7d ii but I'm not sure. Imo if you're buying new today the R7 is the better buy to a 90D, but for folks who have it or are looking at it used I'm really not sure
Personally I started wildlife on a Canon EF 70-300 USM ii. It is an incredible lens and performs pretty similarly to the the RF 100-400 AF/OIS wise, and is also pretty sharp. Lacks that bit of reach though of course, but when I started with I was only a biology student and bird watcher at heart, never watched a tutorial on photography and just went out with it in full auto jpeg and got pictures I'm really happy with to this day. I'm really happy I started on something lightweight that "just worked" and got me great pictures from the get go, it encouraged me to get more in the photography aspect of it and it became a passion on its own!
I think the 70-300 USM ii really is the RF100-400 equivalent on DSLRs as f8 was too much at the time and they couldn't squeeze the extra 100mm at f5.6 for the budget/form factor. It's still a favorite of many people I know, and I still reach for it for regular telephoto use like concerts as I don't need the extra reach and the aperture beats my RF100-400.
Surely your trusty 400 5.6 will beat it in reach and IQ, and might be the better buy today used, but if you have to buy new or find a good used deal on it I'm sure it's a very worthy option for a beginner. Wouldn't surprise if it beats it in some regards! In places like India where it's hard to find used deals on anything it's still what a lot of people go for.
For for an ultra budget option, the EFS 55-250 STM will always be the value king for shooting near feeders! To this day I think it's one of the best ultra budget options Canon ever made. I know a few folks that are great photographers and never upgraded from that and get amazing photos with it, especially for semi macro and insects, I'd be nice to throw it in the mix for comparison since it's so cheap, and even easily found at bargain basement prices used since it is so popular. The 75-300 for a similar price is a bit of a lemon and better avoided.
Sigma makes a really good 100-400 on DSLRs, but knowing the 150-600 is the same price, it's the one I recommend for obvious reasons 🙂 probably not for a beginner though!
I really appreciate your initiative of bringing wildlife photography to more people! It does get tiring a bit sometimes seeing all these rich folks on forums gatekeeping the hobby and saying it's not worth it unless you spend all the money on flagship cameras and L glass. Some of us are still students or simply can't afford L glass, or aren't invested enough in the hobby to make it seem worth it. All the more reason why good affordable options are even more important. When I started I never thought I'd ever even buy an R7 and sigma 150-600C, even that at the time it seemed way, way too expensive for me to justify that purchase. If you're truly a birdwatcher at heart, a decent setup for not much more than a good pair of binoculars can certainly get you good photos. Even bridge cams can be good, but that's probably beyond the scope of your next vid.
To me what matters the most will always be the memories from every picture I take, even if I've become a bit of a photography nerd over the years!
Oh and one last thing, for people looking for used DSLRs, I think something like a new R10 and RF100-400 or the bigma (that one can be bought used but the adapter adds an extra cost) could still be in the equation, so it's true that perhaps budget used options should be compared against that. Just a thought. Is the cheap new tech so good that there's even a point to buying a used DSLR combo more expensive than that? I'll leave the answer to you!
Cheers as always and looking forward to your next video 🙂
Thanks for sharing you thoughts, much appreciated as usual. The 70-300 has had a few mentions and is a lens I wish I had tested. I was similar to you when I started, no way I was spending huge amounts on a camera and lens. I think I paid $1200 for my EF400 5.6L and that was a huge investment at the time, however on reflection if I think of the hundreds of hours spent with the lens it was a good choice.
Yes, the R10 RF100-400 is a viable choice, I am not a huge fan of the camera to be honest and it is tough to recommend but gives you access to the RF100-400 which is the future.
I look forward to making the video, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I'm sure it was! That 400 5.6 really looks like a nifty little gem of a lens, better ofc than the 70-300. I did feel at one point like I really needed more reach with it. That's when I got the sigma 150-600.
Re R10, can't say as I haven't tried the R10, so it'd be really nice to see if a used DSLR is in your opinion a better choice in that price range. Lots of mixed reviews coming out about it, so it'd be really nice to hear about the alternatives.
Looking forward to seeing it! Cheers 🙂
still shooting on a 7d mk1 and i love it for wildlife! another amazing video Duade!
Thanks mate, my first love ;-) I hope you are doing well, Cheers, Duade
A lot of folks over in the Nikon camp doing bird & wildlife always speak of the D500 (crop sensor), or the D850 (full-frame). The 200-500mm f/5.6 is often considered good value for money despite some shortcomings, and is often paired with the D500.
There's better prime Nikkor glass than the 200-500mm such as the 500mmPF or the 400 & 600mm primes, but these are often way above the budget of most enthusiasts. People who go third-party go for the Sigma C or the Tamron G2. Some prefer the wider 150-600mm zoom range over the 200-500, others prefer the native Nikkor glass despite being 100mm shorter.
Lucky folks are also coming across older flagship D3s or D4 bodies that are still in good condition, and these have gone down in price considerably, especially since the Z9 came out. :)
Thanks for sharing the Nikon perspective, the D500 is the most popular camera so far and the D850 was without doubt an incredible camera. Cheers, Duade
When used DSLR’s fall to prices a common non professional photographer can afford we have infinite choices. Just purchased a Nikon D200 for $125. US and only purchased it to replace a Fuji S2 that used my Nikon lenses. I am a Canon photographer with my original 40D, 5D mk1 and 7D mk2. Lenses for the D200 are reasonable especially when purchasing “D” and AIS versions. Thanks for a great video.
Thanks Fred, yes, it is incredible what you can pick cameras up for these days. Have fun with all your gear, Cheers, Duade
I have no plans to give up my DSLR's in 2023, and I think there are some insane values to be had in that market for people who either want to approach photography as a hobby or professionally.
Under $500, how do you beat the Canon 5D Mark II? You can get them for under $300 now. I have owned 3 of them, and they were workhorses. Definitely shoot no wider than f/1.8 for usable autofocus, but the files are lovely, and MagicLantern turns them into *very* capable cinema/video cameras and adds many creature comforts of more modern cameras to this old battleaxe model. With a $500 budget, you can even get a nifty 50 and a nicer lens without breaking the bank! I do not think Nikon really competes in this price bracket especially in full frame. The immensely popular D750 hovers around the $500 price point in 2022, so maybe it will fall a bit in 2023, but who knows? The D700 is sort of legendary, but I would not consider a 12MP camera with no video capabilities a competitor to the 5D Mark II.
Under $1000 I split it between the 5D Mark III and the 5DS on the Canon side of the house. Choose the 5D Mark III if you need a camera that does double duty as a hybrid cinema camera and jack of all trades stills camera. It also can be used with MagicLantern for a boost in performance over the 5D Mark II. Some of the features include 14-bit RAW video at 1080-3K resolutions, 10-bit and 12-bit internal video, focus peaking, waveforms, focus magnification on the fly, dual gain, and more. Beyond that, it takes the success of the 5D Mark II and just improves it in every way. At around $650, you can even afford to get a high quality lens to pair with it or a couple of Canon's USM gold-ring lenses for your kit. If video is not super important to you, but you crave resolution, you can usually find a 50 MP 5DS for just under $1000 if you are persistent. It is essentially a 5D Mark III with a 50 MP sensor, quieter shutter and mirror, and the focusing system of the 1DX in a single body. The files from it are gorgeously detailed. Opting for this camera at this budget assumes that you probably already have L series lenses in the EF system because you will want new, sharp glass for this body. As for Nikon here, my go-to recommendation is the D810 workhorse. It splits the difference between the 5D Mark III and the 5DS with a superb 36 MP sensor with no AA filter. Video is nothing to be impressed by on this camera, but it does have it, and Nikon made some marvelous lenses for the F mount. Where this camera shines is with its sensor's dynamic range and shadow performance. It also shoots ISO 64 natively, so you get super clean files compared to Canon's offerings below this price point. These sell around $800, so you have enough for a nifty 50 afterward, too. An honorable mention that I would not personally consider is a Nikon D3S. Longtime Nikon shooters will rave about this camera as a pivotal model for Nikon, but, again, a 12MP sensor with 720p and lower resolution video is not what I would deem competitive in almost any price bracket among DSLR's
Under $1500 you have quite a few options. The 5D Mark IV is decent here, but it would not be my choice. I would stick with a 5DS or 5DS R and add a lens like the EF 135mm f/2 L to my kit. Also, a 1DX or even a 1DX Mark II are excellent options here. The 1DX is probably my favorite Canon camera of all time, and I shoot on a 1DX Mark II today as one of my primary cameras. If I did not need video autofocus for personal projects or work, I would probably still have an original 1DX in my kit. It was the camera with which I felt invincible as a photographer. Additional lenses are also an option if you swing for the older 1DX at this budget. A nice 24-70 2.8 L or 16-35 f/2.8 L II can be yours in this price bracket. On the Nikon side, it is difficult not to recommend the D850 at this budget, but that assumes that you already have existing Nikon lenses. Some call this the greatest DSLR of all time, and it does have a great deal going for it. It misses for me without usable video autofocus, but the sensor is stellar, and the focusing and buffer performance is world class among DSLR's. Another camera to consider here from Nikon is the D4S. While it only comes in at 16MP, the exquisite files you create with those huge photosites on the full frame sensor are quite well renowned. If you can sacrifice some resolution in your work, this camera will serve you exceedingly well in low light shooting scenarios and where speed of capture is of any importance. These bodies tend to be priced a trifle higher than their Canon 1DX counterpart, so they leave less in the budget for adding lenses, but that is the cost of going with Nikon in this category of camera.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed comment, I really appreciate the time you took to leave it. I agree with many of your suggestions and loved my 5d3 and 1dx, both amazing cameras. Cheers, Duade
Surprised you got rid of your 5D4, but understand about the 1Dx, was tempted to get a 1Ds3, but I have too many bodies anyway. Only looking at back catalogue I was still using a 1D and 1Ds in 2010, and the crispness from my 1D was brilliant, even though it is only 4mp. I gave a talk at a local camera club recently and one of my favourite shots ever was taken on a 30D, 3mp. Neat video as usual. Cheers, Derek
Thanks, I also have the R5 which is the superior camera so I just don't need the 5d4 anymore. Yes, I took many wonderful shots on older gear, Cheers, Duade
Best wildlife DSLR currently under $1500 new or Under $1000 used - Nikon D500. This is the camera I still use, so I admit a bias.
Cool video, Dude. I have considered finding a used "Flagship" DSLR like the 1D-X. Maybe a Nikon D4s since I have all Nikon glass. The problem, though, is these older cameras use different memory cards and batteries, and so there is an extra investment in order to have a couple of spare batteries and cards.
Thanks Woody, yes the D500 has been the most popular camera and for good reason, it is a beast. Yes the d4s would be fun to play with. Good luck, Cheers, Duade
Thank you for the video.
Recently, I bought little used Canon 90D for under one thousand dollars and happy with it. My other DSLRs are 5D, 5DII, 1DIV and 7D. All are very much capable cameras. I use native L super telephoto and wide angle lenses. I don't think there are compelling reasons for me to go mirrorless.
Thanks Quazi, congrats on the camera and all of your gear, have fun out there, Cheers, Duade
40D was my second body after an oh-so-ancient-now 300D, and still gets to be used as a backup from time to time. Can confirm - still can show some teeth! :)
Excellent video with some great images. I picked up a 1D MkIV last year secondhand of course for a research project and the intention was to sell it on afterwards and get my money back. That never happened because heavy though it is, it is a total blast to handle, use and I'm never going to sell it ! I use, mainly for video a Canon M6 MkII plus a Lumix G90/95 so am very familiar with the undoubted benefits of mirrorless cameras, especially for video but for my wildlife and landscape photography, I still far prefer using my DSLRs if only because it is a more engaging experience. :)
100% agree with you John and great to hear you are having fun with your camera, ultimately that is what it is all about isn't it. Cheers, Duade
Thank you for defending the DSLR! I have owned many Nikon models but have stuck with my D500, which ran me around $1500 new but have come down slightly in price. And for about the same amount of money, pair it with the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 and for a modest investment, you have a combination that will give you everything you need for years of enjoyment.
Thanks Elaine, a wonderful kit that as you say will provide hours and hours of enjoyment. Cheers, Duade
I have been thinking of upgrading to mirrorless from my Nikon D750 but keep seeing video's from people who say that DSLR's are still the way to go and many have swapped back after using mirrorless. Also do you know anywhere in Australia to purchase that gimbal and skimmer. The links are for US sites. And I know you won't tell me, but I would love to know where that lake is. The only lakes I know of (Bendigo) that have that much variety of birdlife are WAY too public for me to want to lay on the ground in.
Hi Tracie, the best bet in Australia is to possibly make your own groundpod using a wok or frying pan, my mate Brian made his own which I show in this video here th-cam.com/video/0lmjC07v8yI/w-d-xo.html, in regards to the Gimbal you can pick them up in Australia from different camera shops, they are expensive for what they are though. You can get cheap ones from Amazon and Ebay via China but the quality does have some issues. The lake is in Rutherglen in the North East, Cheers, Duade
I would not consider switching from DSLRs to mirrorless so soon, if it wasn't for the outrageous prices of DSLRs in my country. I was expecting a massive drop in prices after R5 and R6 were released, followed by a trend of major manufacturers shifting their focus to mirrorless. I was waiting and waiting but the price of 5D Mark IV never dropped. Currently one of the major photography stores lists Mk IV at a slightly higher price than R6... It makes no sense to me.
I switched from 90D to R7 this year and I love it, but it sucks that many new photographers will not experience DSLRs, because it makes more sense to just go for mirrorless, since the pricess are similar.
Thanks Alsmir, the 5d4 is an odd one as they still sell it new for close to an R6 which is bonkers. The 5d3 used is a far better option or even the 1dx. Congrats on the R7, a great camera for sure. Cheers, Duade
1dx , 7D .... Still retain a credible value ...still not seen affordable 2nd hand of ethier ..... i think the 1dx looks like a R3 Size wise ...
Do you remember the 300-800 Sigma lense ?? Saw a few appear on the 2nd market sadly still out my reach ...
Thanks Colin, yes, my mate had the Sigmonster for awhile, so bloody heavy. Cheers, Duade
So far what I consider the best sub $500 dslr setup is the Sony A200 with kit lens (~$200 on ebay) paired with a Tamron 200-500mm (~$300 on ebay). I got an A200 for free from a friend and I have been amazed at what this older camera can do.
Thanks for sharing, that is not a kit I am familiar with so I appreciate the suggestion, Cheers, Duade
I'm here waiting for DSLR prices to hit rock bottom as everyone else is going toward mirrorless cameras. Same thing for DSLR lenses too as they're not really great on mirrorless bodies compared to native mirrorless lenses.
The best part of any DSLR from a decade ago is that they can still take excellent images. It doesn't mean new is always better in that regard. Heck, you probably can't tell the difference between an old 12MP sensor from 2008 versus a recent 45MP sensor unless you scrutinized the image down to the pixels and that completely takes the joy out of photography.
Thanks for that, yes, the value from DSLR are very good thats for sure. Cheers, Duade
I have all kinds of cameras, DSLRs, mirrorless, and film. I have and use a GFX100 too. But when I am asked to do 'event photography,' which is capturing the people and happenings at event over several hours, then I use my Canon 5DIII. I know I can count on it to take hundreds of pictures with darn good auto focus and quality. It just seems right to me. I can make quick changes to aperture to adjust depth of field and I can frame my photos really well. The camera never fails to get the job done, and I am shooting at about 22 MP, so I have high quality to work with in post. I also use the auto ISO feature because over a several hour time period the light will change significantly. So I don't want to be fooling with ISO. I want to capture those candid shots that make an event special.
Thanks for sharing George, the 5d3 was a huge jump in quality for me from my 7D. Like you say the quality and reliability from it was impressive. Cheers, Duade
Duade another fabulous video. The infectious excitement of you taking images is brilliant. As for the camera,I’d say the 7dMk2 and the sigma 150-600c and you won’t go to far wrong.
Thanks mate, it was fun, yes, that is a great kit, Cheers, Duade
@@Duade I’m currently in Florida and they are blessed with such a variety of birds and wildlife. Sadly not the same weather back in the UK
@@Gaztography Thanks Gary, high on my list of places to visit. Cheers, Duade
I sold my canon eos 7DMii to a birding friend recently coz his eos 7D died due to old age 😅. We normally go birding together & often photographed the same birds. What I can tell is for stills, it is an amazing camera. So, i choose for the canon eos 7dmii for still in 2023.
Thanks Jordan, great choice and an excellent camera. Cheers, Duade 👍
Loved watching that. I have a 5D mark ii and love using it. I own a Leica Televid APO 77 spotting scope. I have an adpater allowing me to put my 5D onto it. There is only manual focus available and that is throught the scopes focusing system. It turns it into a fixed f10 800mm lens basically. I have been surprised with the results. I think it is down to the superior glass in the scope and adapter. It is rewarding having to slow things down with the limitations of the scope. All other operations in the camera can be used manually with the scope.
Thanks for sharing Antony, that is great to hear. Cheers, Duade 👍
DSLR not dead at all, with the news that canon will be stopping third party lenses for their r mount, I love my 80d and 70-300 F4- 5.6.
Thanks Steve, yes, the value of DSLR and third party is hard to beat, Cheers, Duade
Good morning Duade I just got the 5d mark4 and I put my 100-400 2 on it. When I am shooting birds I find it’s hunting a lot,have you had that problem?
Morning Troy, that is hard to answer, is it hunting a lot more than your previous camera with the same lens? Can you try a different lens on the camera. Most DSLRs will hunt at times and it often depends on the subject or location but it should find the subject fairly quickly. You could try using expanded focus points so the camera has a few more options to find the subject and maybe minus 2 in the accel/decel setting. Sorry to hear that it is struggling to focus. Cheers, Duade
Hi. Thanks for your videos. Love them. I’m new to this. Just wondering why your iso for the ducks is high. Could you do a vid to show us why you set up your cameras as you do? Thanks.
Hope you’re ok, floods-wise up there.
Thanks Marts, I often use a high ISO to enable high SS to freeze the action should something happens, higher SS also help my shaking hands. I probably could use lower ISO but tend to favour higher SS over low ISO with certain cameras. I will look at doing a video in the future about how I shoot and why. Cheers, Duade
That 1DX does sound incredible and your utter enjoyment in using it and the 40D showed. They might not have some of the fancy new features and specs of some of the new mirrorless cameras, but you showed that it is not the gear that gets great images, it's the photographer. Lots of great images (especially those cute ducklings). Another enjoyable video. Thanks Duade
Thanks Chris I appreciate the feedback, in the end we should remember what brings us joy and for me that is taking photos with whatever gear I have. Cheers, Duade 👍
Why get rid of DSLR? what you must remember is that, the most memorable pictures where taken with primitive cameras and terrible lenses, you make the picture beautiful not the camera, it is your good eyes. many thanks Duade keep em coming
Thanks Daniel, yes I agree, DSLR offer fantastic value, Cheers, Duade
I have a sony a77 with a sigma 150-500 all in 500 hundred uk pounds and i can get very good photos always enjoy watching thank you
Thanks Andrew, great bargain and shows what is available out there, Cheers, Duade
This video show wery nice that you dont need Eye AF to get sharp shots! 😎 Most of thet ppl yell all the time EYE AF if you dont have it you are stupid or how bad its work some systems. Im try it and i think its very good tool but you dont need it to get sharp shots. 😘
Thanks Tekap, yes, eye tracking is very helpful for sure but nothing wrong with the AF on DSLRs. Cheers, Duade
DSLRs are the best deals out there now. I'm thinking of a Nikon D5 ....
Thanks Randy, there sure are, good luck, Cheers, Duade
Hi Duade, thanks for another interesting video. My DSLR pick is the Canon 90D for the budget conscious. I pair mine with the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary which is a great combination, again for the price. Although I've rented the Canon 100-400 Mk2 for a weekend and the quality blew me away despite it not having as much reach as the Sigma.
Thanks for the feedback Ben, I agree the 90D sigma combo is very good, yes the 100-400 II is a beautiful lens. Cheers, Duade
Been thinking bout getting a mirrorless but ik I'm gonna basically have to pay for my lenses allover again (il be keeping the ones for my dslr) so idk really
It really is hard isnt it, the older EF lenses do work on RF but they do require the adapter and some EF lenses are quite noisy on the RF bodies as the IS/AF seem to work hard with the eye tracking. Cheers, Duade
@Duade Paton, what are you shooting the video on? Looks amazing!! Another great video!!!
Thanks Jonathan, filming with the Canon R6 and RF24-105 f/4, Cheers, Duade
Best DSLR camera under a thousand US would be the Canon 80D. I've had one for over a year and it is the best camera I have ever had.
Thanks for sharing David, I really appreciate it, I am glad to hear you are enjoying it, Cheers, Duade