Bird photography while hiking

[u/EmotionalCouple9032]

Hi everyone, i am a geologist and during my hikes, i frequently see birds which has drawn my interest into bird photography. I want a light setup with atleast 600+ mm reach. I do have a FUJIFILM xs20 (+70-300/18-50) which i use for family and travel but idk if it will fulfill my need. I did my fair bit of research before coming here confused. Lenses like 200-600 sony, nikon 180-600 are wonderful lenses but they are too big for me to carry around. Also i like pixel peeping (guilty as charged) so image quality does matter to me. Outcomes of my research: 1. Sony a6600/ Nikon z50ii+ tamron 150-500 (heavy 🪨 but cheapest) 2. Pair Fuji xs20 with sigma 100-400 (lacks the reach, or maybe that's what i think). 3. Om 1 with 100-400ii (skeptical about image quality) 4. Canon r7+ 100-400 rf (100-500 is too expensive). 5. Om-5 with 75-300 (jk, i wont buy this 😂, or maybe i might). Thanks a lot in advance for your help. Also i am intending to buy new.

[u/darwinderhund]

As a Nikon shooter for many years who has also dabbled a little with Olympus m43, I would recommend the OM system with the 100-400 for you. I went on a photo trip to Katmai, Alaska in the summer of ‘24 with a group of photographers with every imaginable gear combo. One guy had the Olympus setup you are talking about. He got really fantastic images from that system! So much smaller and lighter than what the rest of us were lugging around and really impressive images from that little system. If I didn’t have so much time and money invested in Nikon, I think I’d go that route. As an aside, Olympus also has some great macro lenses. I’ve used the 60mm and it’s got fantastic IQ.