Getting great shots of birds is a matter of photographic skill and camera capabilities.
Many people enjoy birding; it's a chance to get outside and get some fresh air and to understand local wildlife. For those wanting to document their birding trips with great photographs, there are a few things to consider when choosing a point-and-shoot camera.
Lenses
Most point-and-shoot cameras have small lenses with big digital zoom numbers, but a camera that promises a "10X Digital Zoom" isn't necessarily going to get the best shots. Look for cameras that have an optical zoom around five or six times, and then a digital zoom that magnifies the optical zoom. By combining zoom types on the same camera, your focus range increases dramatically. Some point-and-shoot cameras have combined zooms up to 60 times, with a 6X optical and 10X digital magnification, which offers the equivalent of a pretty substantial telephoto lens.
Shutter and ISO Speeds
Two important things to consider for photographing birds, which are often far away from your position, are both related the the speed of the shot: ISO speed and shutter speed. Low-end point-and-shoot digital cameras often have limited ranges of both, so look into a camera that has shutter speeds in the 1/2000 of a second range and maximum ISO speeds around 1600 (or 3200). The difficulty with high ISO ranges on small cameras is that photos can appear grainy in low-light, but for shooting in broad daylight, an ISO 3200 should result in great, fast shots.
Remote Controls
Pressing the shutter button requires motion, and motion can be the enemy of zoom photography and high speeds. In order for the camera to remain focused through the action of taking the picture, a remote control can be employed, so there is no physical force on the camera. Coupled with a tripod, a remote is a very useful tool for a photographer. Look for point-and-shoot cameras with optional remote controls.
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