Best wildlife autofocus system on a mirrorless camera under $1500 (used)?

[Ken Minolta]

I’m typically a RE photog. But I enjoy taking wildlife and bird photos. I’ve been very frustrated with Nikon’s Z5 autofocus system for wildlife. Is it me? I’ve patiently been practicing - and when I use Manual focus I get great photos. But using the “Animal” setting on the Z5 autofocus is slow, ineffective and troublesome - even on slow moving swimming ducks.

I’ve been using the new Nikon Z 28-400mm lens which isn’t very fast (F8). But I feel like it’s more an issue of the autofocus system.

My objective is to get a camera/lens that can take autofocus photos of ducks in flight. I know the 400 mm is not the best Focal length for that - but for now I want to get the autofocus right.

I am ready to trade out of Nikon if I can get a decent wildlife setup for $2000 (used). I don’t even mind a sensor around 30 MP. I’d like to stay full frame - but I could be talked out of it.

recommendation? Thx

 

[number_5]

Z50II? But it's APSC and 20MP. According to reviews, AF is pretty good and it'll take you to 600 with your lens, still f/8 though.

A6400 + 70-350. Again, APSC, and 24MP.

 

[lehill]

With the newest Expeed 7 processor and dedicated Bird AF subject detection, there is reason to hope the Z50 II will be improved over the Z5 (which doesn't have those things).

Wait for reviews from real wildlife photographers.

Could it be the 28-400mm lens just has a very slow focus motor?

Answering my own question - PhotographyLife says: "One of my first impressions of the Nikon Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR was that despite the slow aperture, it focused quite quickly. I tested it on both the original Nikon Z6 and the faster-focusing Nikon Zf and came to the same conclusion both times – It was surprisingly viable even for wildlife photography. Meanwhile, Libor tested it on the Nikon Z9 and didn’t find that it slowed down the camera too much at all."

--
Lance H

 

[MJ_Photo38]

Honestly, it doesn't feel like you can get all of your requirements within your budget.

You could sell your Z5, replace it with a Zf that would give you faster burst rates and much better AF, other than than, you'll have to go APS-C

The Z50II is a decent option, and well within your budget.

Both would allow you to keep your lens (which is pretty good) and I think that's the way to go.

 

[Planterz]

Sony a6700 with whatever 50/70-300mm you can afford.

 

[MJ_Photo38]

Sony a6700 with whatever 50/70-300mm you can afford.

Which is probably none since a brand new A6700 is like $1400 and I've never seen one used under $1200.

Not sure you can get a worthwhile wildlife lens on E mount for $100-300

 

[Planterz]

Sony a6700 with whatever 50/70-300mm you can afford.

Which is probably none since a brand new A6700 is like $1400 and I've never seen one used under $1200.

Not sure you can get a worthwhile wildlife lens on E mount for $100-300

He said $1500 for the camera, and if he trades out of Nikon he could do $2000 for the setup. The older Tamron 70-300mm is about $500. The newer 50-300mm would be even better (VXD instead of RXD for faster autofocus), but it'd be stretching the budget at $800. The Sony 70-350mm APS-C would be the best, currently on sale for $900 new.

ETA: I'm hopefully ordering myself the a6700 and 70-350mm tomorrow afternoon, so I admit to more than a bit of bias in my recommendation.

 

[MustAg]

Perhaps Z50 II. It has better AF than your Z5 but I don't think it's a major upgrade to the original Z50. Furthermore given how Nikon doesn't take APSC seriously since going mirrorless I would say investing in a Nikon one wouldn't be the best move (this is coming from a guy who started photography with a Nikon DSLR before switching to Z50 when it came out).

You don't have much room for cropping and video has went from trash with the Z50 to mediocre with the Z50 II but it's still not nearly as good or complete as say A6700 or R7. But if you own a gimbal and only plan on posting to ig or tiktok then you'll probably be fine.

If you want a better system then I would strongly recommend switching to A6700 and a Tamron 150-500mm. You'll get a much wider lens selection (be it 1st ir 3rd party), a better AF system (although Nikon's new one in cameras with the expeed 7 seems to be fine), IBIS, a newer sensor that gives you roughly 26% more room for cropping, gyro stabilization with catalyst browse, and better video codecs (Slog3, s-cinetone etc). You also get 4K 60 fps uncropped and oversampled from 6K which will wipe the floor with Nikon's cropped 4K 60, and the A6700 can shoot 4k up to 120 fps (with a crop though).

The XM5 had a newer sensor, better video than the Z50 II and it's 150 bucks cheaper. Z50 II probably has better AF but that cause Fuji keeps messing up AF. Although it's said that they're starting to get back on track with the XM5 so who knows.

 

[MustAg]

Didn't he say 1500 tops for the cam and 2000 for the camera + lens? A6700 can be had for 1390 and I'm sure it'll drop to 1300 for the holidays, and you can find a used tammy 150-500mm for 800 or 850 USD. So would be very close to his price range.

Alternatively XM5 is even cheaper than Z50 II by like 150 bucks and has a newer better sensor and much better video but probably worse AF.

 

[Ken Minolta]

Hi. I had a Sony A6400 that was just okay. Is the a6700 autofocus a big improvement?

 

[MustAg]

Yes, it's a huge improvement in everyway you can think of, from the battery to the processor and AF to the sensor to video quality and more.

 

[Martin_99]

For a great wildlife AF on budget I would definitely go for Canon apsc - R7/R10 with 100-400. Fullframe will just make it more expensive with less reach.

 

[Bob A L]

Quit letting the camera decide what and where to focus on. Set up a single af point, focus lock on 1/2 press (or BB if you must) manually put focus point on subject, lock focus, recompose if necessary, and trip the shutter. 100% foolproof. Focus is always spot on the object you selected. If focus isn't on, it's the operators fault, the camera will always focus on the exact spot you tell it to focus on.

 

[MustAg]

Literally none of that makes any sense though

 

[Planterz]

For a great wildlife AF on budget I would definitely go for Canon apsc - R7/R10 with 100-400. Fullframe will just make it more expensive with less reach.

I don't like that the 100-400mm f5.6-8 doesn't have weather/dust sealing. I also don't like that there's nothing (current) between that lens and the $2300 200-800mm or $2600 (on sale) 100-500mm L. The only options are the older EF 100-400mm lenses used with the adapter. I don't know how well that works though.

The R7 is extremely capable for a budget camera, limited more by lens choices than the camera itself. I see a lot of youtube pros and members here with high-end Canon full frame cameras that also use the R7 for what it offers (32MP, high FPS, 1.6x "zoom", etc).

It's nice that Sigma is making the wide angle and standard f2.8 zooms for Canon, because that makes buying into the Canon ecosystem with an APS-C camera a lot less of a one-trick dead end with only kit lenses or extremely expensive FF lenses as your options. Now Sigma needs to make their 100-400mm and other telephoto zooms for Canon RF. And/or Tamron needs to get into the mix.

 

[Bill Ferris]

A used Sony A7III is a good full frame option worth looking into. Pair it with a used 200-600 and you'll have a fine kit.

Used Canon R7 or Sony A6700/A6600 bodies are good APS-C mirrorless options.

A used Nikon D500 paired with a used Nikkor 500mm PF would make a great walkaround kit. Save a bit more by pairing the D500 with a 200-500.

Good luck.

 

[Chris R-UK]

I’m typically a RE photog. But I enjoy taking wildlife and bird photos. I’ve been very frustrated with Nikon’s Z5 autofocus system for wildlife. Is it me? I’ve patiently been practicing - and when I use Manual focus I get great photos. But using the “Animal” setting on the Z5 autofocus is slow, ineffective and troublesome - even on slow moving swimming ducks.

I’ve been using the new Nikon Z 28-400mm lens which isn’t very fast (F8). But I feel like it’s more an issue of the autofocus system.

My objective is to get a camera/lens that can take autofocus photos of ducks in flight. I know the 400 mm is not the best Focal length for that - but for now I want to get the autofocus right.

I am ready to trade out of Nikon if I can get a decent wildlife setup for $2000 (used). I don’t even mind a sensor around 30 MP. I’d like to stay full frame - but I could be talked out of it.

recommendation? Thx

I have shot ducks in flight with cameras with much worse AF than the Z5, including old Canon DSLRs and early mirrorless cameras. Ducks in flight are not that difficult to shoot because, although they fly fast, they fly in straight lines. It is just a matter of learning how to pan to keep the focus point on the bird, although that can take a lot of practice. Photographing something like a swallow that flies fast and very erratically is much more difficult.

If you can't focus on swimming ducks, then there is something very wrong with your AF settings. I suggest that you go back to basics and shoot with a single centre focus point as Bob A L has suggested. Alternatively, ask on the Nikon Z forum about the best settings to use. Perhaps the "Animal" setting is interfering with some other AF setting or vice versa.

 

[Ken Minolta]

I’ve read lots about the D500. Is the auto focus great for wildlife ? It’s so old. Thx

 

[MJ_Photo38]

Yes, it's a huge improvement in everyway you can think of, from the battery to the processor and AF to the sensor to video quality and more.

I'll have to disagree there.

The autofocus in the A6400 was already super solid. The A6700 adds the AI chip, which helps a little, but it's NOT a night and day difference. The move from a Bionz X to Bionz XR is not a big jump.

Video quality = yes incredible jump

battery life as well.

Not autofocus. Both cameras are very, very good.

--
(G.A.S. and collectionnite will get my skin one day)

 

[number_5]

I’ve read lots about the D500. Is the auto focus great for wildlife ? It’s so old. Thx

I looked into upgrading D500 to a Z before the Z9 for birds, and no Z come close at the time.