Whatbird.com

First, THANK YOU everyone who gave me advice and suggestions.

I decided on the Olympus SP560 UZ and I am VERY happy with the camera. It does everything (pictures in low light especially) I needed and much, much more.

The picture I'm attaching turned out great in spite of a couple challenges (was experimenting). The wind was blowing about 25mph so the line the bird was perched on was swaying and I took the picture at 18x zoom, without using a tripod. With my hand tremor that was a major test! I don't know what the distance was, but even with my 10x25 binocs I could just tell it was a Robin.

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Vicki Conklin

good going. i think we were all wondering what choice you made on cameras...keep shooting...read the manual...mostly, have fun!

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http://whatbird.com/forums/photos/early_summers_birds/
IM: oldguyrich

Viconk,  I recently purchased a reconditioned Olympus SP550 and was hoping you could give me some tips on what settings to use in taking good bird pics.  None of the experimental pics I've taken have turned out as well as I had hoped.  anyone else is welcome to chime in with advice, too

Thanks in advance

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Matthew 6:26
James 1:2-5

hey valleygirl

i have had that camera, and when it takes nice photos, they are great,... but i know what you mean....my advice...(advice only) is..set it to continuous shooting, (high speed shooting...) set the autofucus to continuous, and the AE to auto ... set the mode dial on "p"..why "p"? because the other settngs will decide either which shutter speed, opening, or iso is best, and allows you to change the others, but not that one... "P"  sets all of them, but allows you to change any or none...make sure the assist light is on (that camera has a difficult time focusing under the deeper shade of tree branches...depress the button 1/2 the way until you get the in focus  sign in  the eyepeice...when it comes on, finish depressing it for 4-10 or whatever pictures you care to take... the only way to get the perfect shot is to shoot before, during, and after the action..if you just shoot one shot at a time, you WILL miss the shot...also make sure the AWB is on auto.. if you try these things, (plus use a tripod if you can, all the time) you will get the best possible shots... please let us see your results.. good luck , it is a very nice camera too.good choice.. where did you but it? just curious..

 

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http://whatbird.com/forums/photos/early_summers_birds/
IM: oldguyrich

Hi valleygirl

Birdseye makes a good suggestion to use the continuous shooting so you don't miss your shot. But if you do use it you can't shoot in the highest quality shooting mode - will be a notch down. I use the continuous mode frequently with my SP560, especially if the birds won't pose! Ditto to birdseye's setting suggestions. But also keep in mind that even the same models can get very different results so shoot lots & lots of pictures and experiment, experiment, experiment with different settings. Take notes on the results. The more I use my new SP560, the more I love it! Also, if you didn't get a manual with your reconditioned camera, you can find one online to print. Birdseye's earlier advice to me to read my manual was also good advice. Every time I read it I learn something new.

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Vicki Conklin

Viconk is right (reminds me of my wife here..right most of the time...) but with the length of the zoom,  the quality of the 3megapixel photo, if you fill the viewfinder when you take the shot , is pretty surprizingly good,..you dont wanna go into the digital zoom,... but 18 zoom can fill that viewfinder on most shots ...try this: shoot a photo at 3 mp,sequential shooting , fill the viewfinder, shoot one a 7 little or no zoom, and look at them  on your monitor same size as each other..you decide if getting the shot,(because of faster shooting) is worth it.. compared to not gettng the shot is worth it ? most of the tme , yes..... the Olympus Master program that comes with the camera shows all the exif info, and it has a diary, and a  section right by each picture to make notes..... i still use that to download my pictures from my canon...it a is very good... you do have a great camera, and you will get great photos.. 

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http://whatbird.com/forums/photos/early_summers_birds/
IM: oldguyrich

Thanks for the advice,birdseye.  I watched Ebay for about a month hoping to get this camera for under $200 and I did

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Matthew 6:26
James 1:2-5

Thanks for your advice Vic.  Although my camera is reconditioned it was just like new, it had the manual and all the cables, etc.  I am reading the manual and learning something new everytime I look at it and everytime I use the camera.  As soon as I get some decent pics I will post them

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Matthew 6:26
James 1:2-5