The Bird Nerds are Trevor Jones and Ashley Northcotte from the Niagara Region in Canada. We are excited to share our bird photography experiences with others as we travel to different locations across Ontario and beyond. On this channel you can expect to see lots of our own images taken with our Canon DSLR cameras and telephoto lenses. We also love sharing tips about camera settings and techniques to get the most out of your nature photography experience.
I have an 80D. I know the 7D is considered more of a Professional camera, so I wondered if it's lacking much? But the 80D has higher ratings for the sensor and certain other features. I like the flip out screen for awkward angle shots. I think the 7D has a faster shutter count per second which I know helps. I only paid $350 for the 80D with 2 lenses, tripod and bag, so about $150 for the body. It's in perfect condition, like new. I know that lenses are the most important thing and I'm looking at a Canon 400mm 5.6 like in the video. It's also in like new condition for about $750. I recently bought a Tamron 70-200 2.8 for $75, more for portraits. I'm having fun comparing that to my canon kit lenses. I recently sold my T6i that I had for about 5 years, my first and only camera with detachable lenses! I waited until my late 40s, never even having a "good" film camera in all my life! I'm only a beginner, so I feel fortunate to have what I do.
the point of birding and bird photography is to be fun so yes a lighter lens makes it better, I use a Sigma 150-600mm contemporary and an EOS T7 then when I am stationary I will bring out the Sigma 800mm 5.6 on a tripod.
I got a canon 400MM EF 5.6 L lens and is a good start for some one who don’t have the money to spend buying the 400MM EF 2.8L and the 400MM EF 5.6L lens give good quality images as long as you understand about photography and I also got a canon 70/300MM EF 4/5.6L lens
I am just getting into birding myself...I picked up some Leupold binoculars....a friend of mine is going to lend his pentax k-3 with sigma 170-500mm lens(older lens) should get me started while I save up for my own camera gear!!
I am just getting into birding. I picked up a pair of Leupold BX-1 McKewnie HD 10x42 at my local sportsman warehouse. I am going to use these for about a year then upgrade. I was looking into the Pentax as I used to use older Pentax DSLRs and loved their glass.
Awe geez ! What an amazing trip ! BTW, the Black Throated Blue Warbler is my nemesis Warbler. We actually had a rare vagrant come to Northern California last year, everyone and there grandmother was going and getting great shots of it. But I couldn't find time to squeeze in the 4 hr round trip, and missed it :( My life won't be complete until I get that bird ! :) TY for the cool video :)
When you said > 4 or 5 degrees, you do mean Celsius, correct ? 4 or 5 degrees Fahrenheit would be kind of ridiculous, and you sure wouldn't have rain. It would be dry, fluffy snow. . Anyway, its interesting how camera settings and noise issues have changed. You git some great birds, but I think the cold might be a deal breaker for me. If I can't wear shorts and a tanktop, its too cold :)
I exactly have theses two lens. Each time i go with the 300 i know i will lack of reach and when i go with the 400 i know il will lack of IS. For me the 300 is more for still subjects in undergrowht and the 400 is for Birds flying
The ebird app is great but it takes to long to punch in the info as your birding especially in a busy bird erea. So I keep the app on to record and map my way and I recordshort hand in a small book my sighting and put them in at the end. Works for me and less time looking away.
I have a question. Uh, would you recommend the, um, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6, uh, with an adapter onto a Canon EOS R6? Um, I think the improved autofocus hardware on the mirrorless cameras, uh, could benefit the older EF lens, um, and the in body image stabilization could help with the lack of image stabilization in the lens.
Today i got the opportunity to get these in my hands. First impression - you must not apply any force when holding them, or they get out of collimation. Did not feel sturdy at all. Like, in this price range, not worth the money. And the lack of nitrogen filling is a huge no no.
Interesting that I had not seen this channel before considering I am subscribed to Astrobackyard. I have been in Costa Rica a few times but have not visited the drier northwestern area. I've done some higher elevation birding in the much cooler paramo and talamanca regions in Central Costa Rica. Monte Verde is such a cool eco and nature friendly area. You could easily spend a week birding with all the different climates on the dry and wet sides. And the different elevations. I was so taken back by all the colors and variety of birding that I was a bit sad to be back in Canada with so many fewer birds to view. The tour experience is really a difficult photography experience because some guides walk fast, and don't consider the time it takes to set up. Having said that, there are many knowledgeable bird guides, all kindred spirits on some level. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and hope you get to visit other areas of this amazing country.
I thought that was your Trevor! haha You got me deeply into astro imaging, now I get a relaxing backlog of videos about your birding adventures, Funny how the progression can be with photography! Loving my new mirrorless and tamron telephoto
About 30 years before I got into photography nearly 40 years total now I started as an amateur astronomer and I'm still going with that. But after nearly 40 years even I have never had an APO refractor so congratulations on starting there.
Yes I have the EF400mm f/5.6L, years ago I paid $2000 for it, the EF400mm f/2.8L cost something like $9K and is a big heavy beast. The DO version used a fresnel lens but was still expensive. There was a big gap in the cost of the f/5.6 and the f/2.8 versions. I’m considering the RF 100-500mm L but it is very expensive and 100g heavier than the f/5.6 and others users comments about using zooms is that they are always used at the fullext extent so the zoom capability is underused. I’m considering the prime RF600mm f/11. I have the R5 and read that if you use an optical mirror camera, the f/11 will be too dark, the mirrorless camera brightens up the EVF.
I tried a bunch of high end compacts and ended up thinking the Victory 8x25 was the most useable (not necessarily nicest) view so I bought that and it is quite good though not earth shattering as per the raving of many when it comes to these things. I also bought this 4x20 Pentax and love the rich colour, contrast, brightness and sharpness so it is one of my favourite bins even though I have many others of higher magnification. It's more for scenic viewing enjoyment and it is enjoyable to me. I do find it strange though that even though it is low magnification the focus set for infinity means anything closer than about 8 meters is out of focus and if you focus closer then the close range dof is very narrow and nothing in the distance or nearer is then in focus. Often I need too focus down with one side just to look at something up close & even then 4x mag is not much for this but still I do like this binocular even with all it's limitations. It's definitely not a stress on the eyes like other compacts due to it's large exit pupils. The telescope is quite poor but still something that could be of use in an emergency if there is enough light. Anyway it's gets my approval for what it is and I do enjoy it though on occasion the low mag and individual focus can be frustrating so with this bin you can't have it all but you can definitely have something very good.
Just a suggestion: consider a little higher volume for the dialogue, and a little lower volume for the background music. Some great bird images though!
I'm looking forward to receiving mine. My eyes are not as sharp as they used to be and I want to see details in my aquarium. Half of the corals are just outside of my focal range with or without my glasses.
Stan worth here. Just being visited by a Prothonotary Warbler at my backyard feeder this week 4-22-22. He’s feeding on a peanut log feeder I’ve made for preformed logs. A lifer for me so I share your nerd enthusiasm for this sweet bird.
