That's the short version, here's the full question!I'd like to be able to identify wintering/migrant wildfowl/waders that might be 200-500m away. The 20x Kowa TS-502 that I have is great, but doesn't quite cut it at that sort of range.I was on the point of either buying something like the Svbony SV406P ED (£370) or an RSPB Harrier 80mm ED (£499). However, I stumbled upon this article…https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/features/a-guide-to-birding-with-long-lenses… where there are some very experience birders talking about not using bins/scopes *at all* any more, but just bridge/superzoom cameras made by the likes of Nikon, Canon and, particularly, Panasonic Lumix – not for taking pictures, necessarily, but just for, well, birdwatching!The cost comparisin is very favourable: there are lots of perfectly ok looking s/h bridge cameras for sale online at under £200, even new I could get a Lumix FZ330 for under £400.Thoughts? What is it really like peering at distant birds through a camera viewfinder instead of a scope?(For clarity: I'm not particularly interested in actually taking photos, and, yes, I do have a good tripod :)
Wendy S said:do you not find it hard to scan an area for birds using just a camera
I don't scan an area with my camera. I sit back and wait for movement - either from a bird or from another bird reacting to it.
I know, I'm weird.