Home Forums Gear Photography wildlife photography with a four thirds camera, or a compact?

anyone getting good wildlife pics with a four-thirds camera, or a large sensor compact? I don't want an SLR -- too much weight... but want to be able to take wildlife shots of opportunity when they present themselves... finding the right camera based on specs is killing me... am currently considering the Olympus PEN E-PL1/2/3 or the Nikon P100 superzoom... thanks for your thoughts...

I am far from a photography expert...but if you really want to take wildlife photos, you will eventaully end up with a DSLR.

I have a Oly E-520. I LOVE the Oly 50-200mm lens. Its light, small, fast and very sharp. The 2x crop factor makes this a nice, light, travel ready combo for wildlife, which is why I bought it. Nonetheless, I am considering switching to the C or N brands for better high ISO performance. I think you would find the same thing given some time behind the camera.

Thanks, my son has the E-520 as well.... great camera but just too big for my purposes...

Fuji's X10 is worth a look:

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/fujifilm_x10/

Compact, analog controls, 2/3 sensor, image stabilized, fast aspherical ED glass.

If you really want to be thrilled look at their X100:

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/x/finepix_x100/

The X100 is an outstanding camera IMO but no wildlife camera. I had one and it took fantastic pics.

If you are wanting to take pics of wildlife you should go with a DSLR.

Of course you're right. The X100 is much better suited to scenics; I mention it only because I like it. None of those would be my first choice. Just going along w/ small camera options.

I have shot the Olympus Pens, in addition to my Nikons, for a couple of years and love them for scenic and wildlife. I currently shoot the EP-3, but with the deals that Camera Land has been running on the EPL-1 it is worth checking them out. I also purchased an adapter and will use my Tamron 200-500mm on the front of the Pen. It works great! Call Joel or Doug at Camera Land and see what they have going on right now.

Thanks, I have pm'd Doug about the E-PL1, and you guys do have a great deal going on right now on it... but I have read some reviews about it that were not so flattering (noisy lens during video with the basic lens that comes with the E-PL1, etc), so am sitting on the fence until I determine more. Have not considered the E-PL1 with the Tamron lens though...

Might just toss in the towel and pick up an Olympus XZ-1...

Saw this:

http://tinyurl.com/7kcojff

Pretty good price. You may want even more focal length.

I like this one:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1309410030.html

Love the Olympus system. The EPL3 is awesome. Compact, fast and great pictures. Their 75-300 (150-600 actual) is unreal. Happy to answer any of your questions

Any thoughts on the Olympus E-P3? I would think that with its AF speed it may be great, with the right lens, and a small tripod...

The EP-s is great. If you are looking for video as the main objective then the new Nikon 1 system with the 10-100 lens. It has a silent AF motor as well as silent zoom. Made for video. It has tracking AF and while shooting video you can take still shots, awesome!!

Nope, looking for highest quality still photos (RAW and JPEG) out of a 4/3s system...

I have an EP-3, love it. I mentioned it before but I love it with an adapter and the Tamron 200-500mm. I also use it with the Tamron 180mm Macro, talk about tight!

I am looking for the same thing right now and all my research and reading has been pointing towards the Sony Nex 5N or Nex 7.

good reviews here... www.dpreview.com

I have gone over that site numerous times as well as everything else I can find on the net about those cameras....Sony is still coming out on top.

I have heard great things as well. I have played with them but not used them beyond at the counter. The only knock I hear from people who own them is the size of the lenses are still large and heavy. Sony makes some great stuff.

I have not handled the E-P3 and Nex 5N side by side. That said, I think I would prefer the built-in image stabilization of the E-P3. But the 5N should have better image quality... and the Sony appears to be about $100 less expensive... tough choice.

The touch-screen display might stop me. Would much rather have one w/ mostly analog controls.