Sliding Focus
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 Re: Super cheap telephoto (and camera) for bird photography | |
We cannot definitively tell you whether it is better for you to choose Canon or Nikon—that is for you to decide based on your priorities. Which system has more lenses you like? Whose cameras feel nicer to hold or offer the features you want at a price you're willing to pay? Etc. And if you don't know what you prefer, don't worry too much about it—both Canon and Nikon's systems are great.
As both AmbientMike and I have told you, Canon's DSLRs are the easiest DSLRs to use with lenses from other brands: with a simple lens mount adapter, they can be made to work with manual lenses made for the Contax/Yashica, Leica R, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Pentax screwmount (M42), and Pentax K camera systems. Nikon DSLRs, by contrast, can only be used with lenses made for Nikon F mount (unless you want to replace the mount on another brand's lens, which is complicated and expensive—not something I'd recommend for you). However, the selection of older lenses made for Canon is pretty small (most manual lenses made for Canon were made in Canon FD mount, and these lenses cannot easily be used on Canon DSLRs, which use the Canon EF mount), and if you want to use lenses made for other brands, the required lens mount adapter will cost $20–30 (if not more). By contrast, there are a plethora older lenses that will work on Nikon DSLRs (with certain limitations), so if you want to go for an old, manual lens, but don't want to spend part of your limited budget on a lens mount adapter, the Nikon system will give you the largest selection of lenses to choose from. Also, when using a lens made for Nikon on a Nikon body, you can get full-aperture metering (provided you buy a body that supports it, such as the D300), whereas you can only use stop-down metering when using an adapted lens on a Canon body; this difference matters little for birding with a slow telephoto—where you'll probably use your lens at its maximum aperture most of the time—but if you like the idea of using other manual lenses, having full-aperture metering could be a really nice feature. The upshot here is that both systems are good for using manual lenses, but in different ways.
T-mount and Adaptall lenses—such as the lenses you linked in your first post—are a special case: they are made to be used with interchangeable lens mount adapters that allow them to fit on any 35mm camera body (provided that you have the appropriate lens mount adapter for your body), and so they can be used on both Canon and Nikon cameras.
I agree with AmbientMike that the Canon 55–250mm STM or a manual 300mm f/4.5 could be good options.
I would not recommend that you buy the copy of the Tamron 200–500mm that you linked. As old zooms go, that model has a good reputation. However, I'd be wary of buying any old zoom—especially one with obvious damage—and that copy is also missing a lens mount adapter (it is an Adaptall lens), so you would have to find and buy an Adaptall to Nikon F mount adapter in addition to the lens.
I'd also be wary of buying a Tamron 200–400mm because it's an old zoom (more potential for problems than a prime), but it is one of the few long lenses in your price range with autofocus, so if your expectations aren't too high, it might be a decent option.
Personally, I'd rather have a Nikon D300 than a Canon Rebel T6, but YMMV.
I'll also reiterate that I agree with Imagemaster that a bridge camera will probably be easier to use and give you better results. But, using manual focus lenses on a DSLR can be pretty fun, even for birding! The best choice for you will depend on your goals and expectations.
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