DSLR or Mirrorless , APS-C or Full frame , What focal lenght to use?
- adityatiga
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Choosing the Right Gear: My Journey in Bird and Wildlife Photography
New entrants in bird and wildlife photography often face the same dilemma — what gear should I choose? With so many manufacturers, versions, and models available, the decision can be overwhelming. In this article, I’ll share my personal journey and experiences to help you make a more informed decision.
Of course, your choices may differ based on your style and preferences, but I hope my insights can help you narrow down your options and find the perfect gear combination that works for you.
Note: My experience so far has been limited to Canon equipment, so this article will largely reflect that perspective while keeping the discussion general enough for everyone.
My Early Days
I began my journey with a Canon's 90D paired with a Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens.In those early days, my approach was quite literally “point and shoot.” The first time I captured a bird, I was amazed at what this modest camera-lens combo could produce.
At that time, my audience consisted mostly of family and a few friends, and within that small circle, I felt like an accomplished photographer. I continued this way until one of my friends created an Instagram account for me — and that changed everything.
As I scrolled through the stunning photos shared by professionals and even local photographers, I was struck by how far I had to go. My sense of accomplishment quickly faded.
The First Gear Upgrade
Determined to improve, I convinced myself that better gear meant better photos. So, I decided to invest in my first super-telephoto lens — the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3.
I vividly remember the day it arrived. I mounted it on my camera, stepped outside, and aimed at a pond full of lesser whistling ducks. Holding the same kind of lens I had seen in the hands of pros on Instagram, I felt like I was about to take my best shot ever.
Reality struck moments later. The lens was heavy, my hands shook, and most of my photos were full of motion blur or completely out of focus. The few sharp ones still lacked the magical quality I expected. I was disappointed — and I didn’t go out for days.
During that time, I researched and watched numerous video tutorials and reviews. To my surprise, professionals praised the same lens! That’s when it hit me — the issue wasn’t the lens; it was my technique.
So I kept learning, watching more tutorials (especially from photographers using the same setup), and practicing every chance I got. A week later, I managed to capture this photograph:
It took four hands — mine and a friend’s — to hold the heavy setup steady, but the result was worth it.
Lessons Learned
As my skills improved, I realized that I could have done much more with my old Canon lens had I known better techniques back then. Unfortunately, I had traded it in for the Sigma. Around that time, I came across a beautiful video by Duade Paeton, where he discussed shooting amazing bird photos using older gear — a Canon 40D with a 400mm f/4L lens (Link to the video - https://youtu.be/0Oam6cRR__0?si=SkGb8UcWYA0sK6Qz )
It was a humbling reminder: skills matter more than gear
I practised relentlessly. After nearly three years of learning and field experience, I can confidently say this — gear does make a difference in the quality of your images, but it doesn’t define your ability to take a good photograph.
So what difference does gear actually make? It enables you to take good photos in challenging conditions — low light, rain, or fast action. For instance, using a Sigma 150-600mm f/6.3 with the Canon 90D can be tough in dense forests due to the slower aperture. To compensate for limited light, you might use a slower shutter speed (under 1/300s), which increases the risk of motion blur and makes action shots nearly impossible.
A faster lens, like a 400mm f/4 or f/2.8, allows you to shoot at much higher shutter speeds — 1/800s or even 1/1000s — giving you sharper portraits and usable action shots. Similarly, older DSLR autofocus systems can struggle in low light, whereas modern mirrorless cameras offer far superior focusing and subject-tracking performance.
The Mirrorless Leap
I’ve now switched to a mirrorless setup: the Canon EOS R7 paired with the Canon RF 100-500mm f/5.6-7.1L IS USM lens.
So what changed for me?
Better low-light performance - New sensors have excellent low-light capability
Improved details and sharpness - Because of better focus and a sharper lens
Higher keeper rate — with the 90D-Sigma combo, maybe 1 in 10 shots had that “wow” factor. With the R7-RF100-500, that number has jumped to around 6 in 10.
The improvements I mentioned above did happen for me, but initially, when I switched to my new gear, the experience felt quite similar to when I had first upgraded to the Sigma lens. For the world, the combo seemed perfect, but it took me a few days of practice before I started producing good photographs. As I became more familiar with the new camera body and lens, my shots gradually improved — and they continue to do so even now.
Although the RF 100-500mm lens is technically slower on paper, the Canon R7’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and 30fps electronic burst mode have enabled me to capture incredibly sharp, high-speed action shots — something my 90D could never achieve.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just starting out, don’t get caught up in the endless pursuit of better gear. Master your current equipment first — understand light, composition, and behaviour of your subjects. When you eventually upgrade, the difference will feel tenfold because you’ll truly know how to make the most of your tools.
Thank you for being here! Stay with us for more engaging and informative experiences ahead.You can also explore my work on Instagram, YouTube, and Flickr — the links are available on the Contact page of this website.
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