How I got started with Photography and my first cameras

Here's how I normally use it for - Identification.
Female Blue Rock Thrush

I've been playing with a camera for a year now as of this writing. I was not really into it at first. How I got into photography started with Birding (link directs to my birding blog). I had to get me a camera that will help me photograph birds so I can identify them later on when I get home.

My Canon SX50 HS

My first camera is a Canon Powershot SX50 HS (i still have it).  I chose it because of its reach. For roughly $500 you have the reach of a telephoto lens with/without a teleconverter. With that same amount you can only get a new entry level dslr body with a kit lens. You could buy a used dslr and lens but the lens would probably be a 300mm the longest with bad, if not so-so image quality. With the SX50 and its 1200 mm optical zoom, it was the cheapest and ideal option available for me. And I was glad I bought it - because some birds are just too small and too shy. So the ability to zoom in and fill the frame was invaluable.  I didn't really mind image quality at first until I joined a facebook group for local bird photographers.  And that's how I started taking photography seriously.

Brown Shrike

I could get good photos with the SX50 provided I got close to the subject and get results that would rival or come close to what you can get with an entry-level dslr.  Getting close was always the best way to get better images.  I started comparing my photos with those with high-end dslrs and telephoto L lenses and said to myself - "well, you get what you pay for." It was not always the gear as most would say but a better camera would still matter if you want the best-quality images.  Since I couldn't afford to get a better camera I started educating myself further to improve with what I got. Google was my friend (and yours too :D) . I already knew that I should learn to shoot in Manual and what the other modes were for and when best to use them. I started shooting raw and learned how to post process.  And had a better understanding on how Shutter speed, Aperture and ISO worked together.  I saw a significant improvement with my photos over time, though for me they were still not quite there ( I'm pretty sure you can say the same =D ).


For a while I've been shooting with just my SX50 until I was able to save up and buy a used Canon 650 D and a 300mm F4L non-is. I find the 300mm reach really short for bird photography but a dslr coupled with a sharp prime has its advantages. I got the 650D for P20k and the 300mm F4L for P25k (that's around $1000 for both). It is still quite a fortune to spend but it was a bargain considering that the 300mm F4L non-is is considered one of the sharpest L lenses Canon has ever made. Originally priced at around $1000, I think. Which is about the same amount I spent on both body and lens. Some say it is sharper than the IS version. As for the body, it came with an extra battery, a bag, kit lens already had a uv filter, though it had around 20k actuations (checked using magic lantern), it was still a good buy. Oh, and it didn't come with that strap that hurts the back of your neck.  I heard it's discontinued with the introduction of the 700D. Which isn't much of an improvement of the 650D and still runs about P28k - with kit lens and P23k - body only. Anyway, I'll be sharing stuff on here with what I've learned so far and some DIY stuff too.