Articles About Equipment

Simon Pelling - April 2022

This article is aimed at a person who is thinking of purchasing a new computer for photo processing, but really doesn’t know what to look for or even where to start. It provides some fairly high level advice, and explains some of the terms and concepts you will encounter when looking at computers. The primary goal is to provide some helpful suggestions about the type of computer system you will need to process raw camera files using modern post-processing software.

Simon Pelling - March 2022

This article is an updated version of the March 2020 revision of the original published in December 2018.  It aims to provide some pointers to the things to consider in selecting and purchasing photographic equipment that is up to the task of photographing birds.  It covers a range of basic topics such as camera and lens systems, the importance of things like sensor size and focal length, and other factors to consider in selecting cameras and lenses suitable for bird photographs.  Although primarily aimed at beginners with a basic knowledge of cameras and photography, it contains useful reminders for anyone purchasing a bird photography system.

Simon Pelling - August 2019

This article explains the basics about image stabilisation (both lens-based and sensor-based) - how it works, and its benefits and limitations.  It also makes suggestions about ways to optimally use stabilisation in bird photography.

Graham Cam - June 2019

Graham provides a range of advice on caring for lenses.  Topics include cleaning of lenses, storage, tips for looking after image stabilisation systems, sensor care, and using cameras in hot or humid environments.

Simon Pelling - February 2019

As a follow up to the December 2018 Newsletter article Choosing a Camera and Lens for Bird Photography, Birdlife Photography committee members were asked what cameras and lenses they preferred for bird photography, and why.  This article records the stories of several members.

Glenn Pure - February 2019

This article continues Glenn's article in the October 2018 Newsletter on basic camera settings for bird photography.  This article looks in more detail at the three exposure parameters; ISO, shutter speed and aperture, and discusses how to set and adjust these to achieve an optimal exposure.

Glenn Pure - October 2018

This article discusses the basic settings to use on your camera to get better control of your bird photography. These include exposure settings, metering modes, file settings such as Raw and JPEG, white balance and focus settings.

Rodney Appleby - August 2018

Rodney describes how he sets up his custom shooting modes on his Nikon camera.

Glenn Pure - June 2016

A short article describing the writer’s experience in using a graphics tablet during photo editing.

Glenn Pure - October 2015

An anecdotal article in which Glenn describes the decisions he made on an overseas trip about what equipment to take, and what worked and didn’t work.

Gary Leete - June 2015

Gary (a professional framer) describes how to make frames for, and frame, photographic prints. Article is in two parts.

Gary Leete - October 2015

See Part 1 for summary.

Phil Cole - June 2014

In this short article Phil looks at using a ‘superzoom’ camera (a fixed-lens all-in-one telephoto zoom camera) as a bird photography camera. While it describes cameras which are no longer current, it is a basic backgrounder for anyone looking into the pros and cons of such cameras.

Jill Wilson - February 2013

Inspired by the David Jenkins article “Working with Beanbags” this short article describes a home-made beanbag.

David Jenkins - December 2012

This article sets out the basics of using beanbags as a camera support in photography:  what they are, styles of beanbags and use in the field.