Photography....newbie.

[melv16]

I'm going to the northern isles for my hols this year. I'm hoping to get some good photos of the birds and wildlife that I'm unable to get with my compact camera.
Can anyone recommend a camera and suitable lens to achieve this. There's a very good photographic shop in my city where I should be able to get them second hand.
BTW, I know nothing about photography.

[CrapAtCryptics]

I always swear by Canon - dependent on your budget a 20-210zoom is very good for framing.

[CrapAtCryptics]

OOps 70-210 zoom

[Cloverjo]

Probably best to take a photography course first if you want really decent pics. Lots of colleges do evening classes.

[melv16]

https://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/used/used-camera-lenses/
Here are a selection of lenses. Guidance please.

[melv16]

https://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/used/used-dslr-cameras/
And some cameras.

[Buenchico]

Unless you want to spend mega-bucks on a good quality DSLR camera and the lenses to go with it, your best option might be to buy a 'bridge' camera. (Bridge cameras are designed to be a midway point between the convenience and simplicity of compact cameras and high-end, but horribly expensive, DSLR cameras).

This is what I'd go for:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-h400/293465183820?hash=item4453e3564c:g:yNIAAOSwlGpePc5l

[brainiac]

This looks great for the price - no need to spend a fortune:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3386776

[Buenchico]

I can't agree with CAC's suggestion of a 70-210mm zoom lens for photographing birds and wildlife.

While such a lens is excellent for 'general purpose' photography (and ideal for portraiture), the focal length is nowhere near long enough for wildlife photography. Even my compact camera can manage 25-600mm and that's only just starting to achieve the sort of focal lengths that you need for wildlife photography.

The camera in my link above has a zoom lens with a focal length of 25-1550mm and it's the model that a friend of mine has used to build up his collection of photographs of birds. However even that focal length isn't as long as he'd like and he's now thinking of upgrading to a camera with a 24-3000mm zoom.

The one thing that any photographer definitely needs when using a lens with such a long focal length though is a good solid tripod. Without it, avoiding camera shake would be almost impossible.

[sanmac]

Melv16, you admit that you know nothing about photography, so the best advice so far is to take a course, as Cloverjoe has already said, in its basics. Rushing out and buying all kinds of expensive equipment is not going to ensure that you'll take great photos, as is going out and buying top-line golf equipment going to turn you into a great golfer. For example, although this is not a course in photography, read this: https://www.techwalla.com/articles/7-basic-elements-of-photography

[melv16]

Thank you for all your helpful replies.
I've been looking at the second hand equipment in the links above. You can spend from £50 to £3,000 on a camera and about the same for a lens. I suppose what I'm looking for is what to buy. I'm looking to spend about £300 to £500 on the set up.

[CrapAtCryptics]

I was leaning towards a more modest budget whereas longer lenses tend to increase in price exponentially. As a self proclaimed newbie the zoom is more geral purpose.

[Khandro]

If you want to photograph wildlife at some distance, don't worry about spending a fortune on the camera (the law of diminishing returns applies here) The most important thing you need is a good tripod.

[melv16]

Photography like most hobbies can cost you a fortune. I once got stuck with a photographer in a bird hide. He'd spent over 10 grand on his set up and promptly droned on about it. After 10mins I promptly left the hide, bored silly, to the sounds of him telling me he'd spent a grand on a tripod....boys and their toys, eh.

[alavahalf]

The Sony DSC H400 that Chris previously mentioned has a feature that a lot of other Bridge and DSLR cameras dont have. It has an auto setting .. my guess is that a lot of people who get a DSLR miss lots of shots due to fiddling about with settings before taking the shot. The Auto mode overides all the various settings and eliminates the fiddling around. It basicaly turns your camera into a point and shoot device.
With this bridge camera you wont need to carry various lenses around with you. Obviously you can revert to all the adjustable settings, I just know that personaly I leave mine on auto .. all of the time !

[Khandro]

melv. //BTW, I know nothing about photography.//

A very important factor in wildlife photography is understanding 'depth of field' in order to separate the bird (or whatever) from its background, you can only achieve this by using a wide aperture setting, which you won't necessarily get with auto.

[Zubida]

The camera doesn't snap the photo. The focal point does.
On the off chance that you need to do natural life photography, at that point purchase a Canon XXXD (eg 700D, Kiss, Rebel) and a 100-400 focal point. In the event that you have more cash purchase a 300mm prime.