Still Looking for Backyard Birding Solution

[dave lackey]

It is rather frustrating but solving the seemingly simple problem of taking a bird picture in our backyard has turned into a chaotic jumble. The bird feeder is approximately 50 feet outside our window.

So far, I have learned this:

1. Best solution seems to be a Leica spotting scope with adaptor for my X1... Cost prohibitive.
2. Alternative solution is a 400mm lens but I have been told that a bird will not fill the frame.... hmmm.
3. Move the feeder? Not too close! The bloody squirrels can stay away from our attic, I hope! But I may easily move it to 30-35' and maintain a neutral zone for vandals.🙂) still, I need more than a 100mm lens, and a squirrel launcher, LOL...,

Has anyone tried the Leica V-Lux? I think that is the one with a long reach...plus the crop factor...

Another thought... A Nikon ML2? Not as handy but a tripod set close with a remote could possibly work.

Still looking for an inexpensive solution.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Try a portable hunting blind

Try a portable hunting blind

Dear Dave,

Have you thought about setting up a portable hunting blind? You can buy one for about $ 75.00 and they will give you room to set up a tripod and seat along with viewing/shooting ports on each side. They are similar to a tent.

Something like this maybe?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunt...50/Ne-10000050?WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU

Regards,

Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[dave lackey]

Dear Dave,

Have you thought about setting up a portable hunting blind? You can buy one for about $ 75.00 and they will give you room to set up a tripod and seat along with viewing/shooting ports on each side. They are similar to a tent.

Something like this maybe?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunt...50/Ne-10000050?WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU

Regards,

Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

Tim,

Thanks, you know I have discussed this with Doug Herr and essentially he recommended something similar.... I must look into this. I like the lens as close as possible for more OOF backgrounds.

 

[mfogiel]

Have you considered buying a mirror lens?

 

[Keith]

How about a can of Red Bull and a GoPro? 😀

 

[dave lackey]

How about a can of Red Bull and a GoPro? 😀

Hmmm... Red Bull in a bird bath...
Won't Red Bull make the birds even more nervous and hard to shoot?😛

 

[dave lackey]

Have you considered buying a mirror lens?

Yes, been looking at those... Still not sure about the framing of a small bird or the background yet though...

Good suggestion.🙂

 

[Ken Ford]

I've been reading up on Nikon 1 since I'm trying to use my kit for a family camera after a long period of nonuse, and once again I've noticed how many people have N1 just for birding. What do you have in long Nikkors that could be leveraged with the N1's 2.7 crop?

 

[Keith]

Hmmm... Red Bull in a bird bath...
Won't Red Bull make the birds even more nervous and hard to shoot?😛

No Dave ... you're not thinking laterally!

According to the ads Red Bull makes you grow wings ... then just strap on the GoPro and you're with them! 😛

 

[lynnb]

Dave, have you ever read Roald Dahl's book The Twits? They had a great solution (well, glue, actually.. so make that a sticky solution) for getting birds to hold still on a branch!

 

[Keith]

Dave, have you ever read Roald Dahl's book The Twits? They had a great solution (well, glue, actually.. so make that a sticky solution) for getting birds to hold still on a branch!

Like a certain Norwegian parrot! 😀

 

[meeker]

I've been reading up on Nikon 1 since I'm trying to use my kit for a family camera after a long period of nonuse, and once again I've noticed how many people have N1 just for birding. What do you have in long Nikkors that could be leveraged with the N1's 2.7 crop?

If this is of interest, I am looking move on a V1 kit plus 18.5, to recoup funds after buying a M8 on the classifieds here. Hoping to take pictures of it this weekend for a classified ad. I know a birder that uses a v1 with some high end Nikon DSLR teles using the adapter that allows autofocus.

 

[marcr1230]

I'd get the Nikon D500 and a long lens or zoom

alternatively set up a camera on a tripod close to the feeder and use a wifi app or trigger to shoot

 

[presspass]

Another vote for a mirror lens. They have fallen considerably out of favor because of the donut-shaped oof highlights, but they give you enough distance to handle a birdbath and occupants. I use a Nikon 500 with a film body - usually an F-3 - and it gives me more than enough distance. Clearly, a tripod or a monopod are handy.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Leica scopes are not the only quality scopes out there. For example, Pentax has a couple of well-regarded scopes, with the 65mm being around $500 or so? The nice thing about the Pentax scopes is that they take standard 1-1/4" astronomy eyepieces. This opens up a whole range of possibilities. Once you determine the view you want, buy a single focal length eyepiece and stop using a zoom.

 

[TXForester]

Maybe a manual lens like the Pentax 400mm SMC and since you'll be using an adapter, see if there is one with focus confirmation for your camera.

You could set up perches closer to your position. Often when there are several birds around a feeder, they will go back a forth between feeder and perches. Use small tree branches stuck in the ground if you want a natural looking perch.

 

[NaChase]

Going back to the GoPro idea: you can control a GoPro remotely with a smartphone from a distance well in excess of 50', so you could put one near the bird feeder and then just click the "shutter" from your phone when you see a bird.

 

[kxl]

Hi Dave - have you looked at the bridge cameras, such as the Fuji FZ series? They go out to 400mm-600mm, albeit with smaller sensors.

The Nikon P900 even goes out to a whopping 2000mm!!! 😱 Assuming you don't need large prints, this one may be a viable option. Just set it up on a small Gorillapod by your window, pre-focus on the bird feeder and trigger the shutter by using the Nikon ML-L3 remote. The Nikon P900 price is a little less than $600.

I'm actually considering the Nikon P900 myself, as well as the Fuji FZ series and the Sony RX10 III ( a VERY NICE option that goes out to 600mm, but at a daunting cost of $1500).

Good luck!!!

-Keith

 

[Fixcinater]

How about an M42 lens like the SMC Takumar 300mm f/4 on a crop DSLR? The lens goes for as little as $100-150, the crop sensor DSLRs go for roughly the same. M42:EOS adapters are cheap as dirt and you could then move to a mirror 500/8 or Sigma 600/8 if the 300mm isn't long enough on it's own. I've used both of these setups and have now moved up to a Tamron 60B and the 200F 2x or 14F 1.4x as required. Sharper and faster focusing but it took a while for me to be able to justify the greater cost.

 

[nikonosguy]

http://www.birdphotobooth.com/