Mary Ann

I have been taking photos since I was 10 years old, just for fun.  Now I have a goal.  I started birding 2-1/2 years ago so I use my photographs to help me identify birds.  I began photographing birds with my Canon Rebel T4i and 70-300 mm lens.  I used Sport mode to photograph "birds in flight" and got some good, sharp photos.  I purchased a Panasonic Lumix FZ200 bridge camera for travel (zoom to 600 mm) and was able to take good videos with it.  In February 2020 I bought a Sony RX10IV bridge camera after recommendations from many people in my photo club.  It has a larger sensor and is bigger and heavier than the Panasonic but should be a good travel camera.  Taking videos is not as easy as with the Panasonic.  I use it exclusively now but I am still trying to "figure it out."  It tracks birds in flight well but most of the hand-held photos of flying birds are not tack sharp.  I am short and am able to wear the Sony around my neck with my Nikon Monarch M711 8x30 binoculars just above it (I always feel like a pack horse).  I have an old tripod with quick release plate so I can switch from tripod to hand held.  I bought a monopod but don't really know how to use it effectively. So far my Sony RX10IV is helping me reach my goal of identifying birds.  The 600 mm lens brings the birds closer than my binoculars.  I get the most benefit when I look at the photos on my desktop monitor screen.  I do need to improve focusing.  And I want to do more video with the camera.  I like the idea of having a bridge camera with a built in 600 mm zoom lens.  (I don't want to carry a heavy DSLR with many lenses in a backpack.  I don't like changing lenses in the field.)    I am looking forward to the rest of this Bird Academy course.  Thank you Melissa!