The Best Cameras For Bird Photography

Photography is an art and a skill. Getting the right equipment is almost as important as having the knowledge to apply it.

While you could use most cameras for still-life photography, doing bird photography requires a specific kit. Largely because birds are small creatures that move impossibly fast.

So, you need a camera that is capable of capturing and highlighting even the smallest bird without any issue. 

The question now is, which camera should you go for as a budding bird photographer(see also: How To Photograph Birds In Flight?)? There are so many options out there. Which one is best for you?

Things are made especially difficult when there is so much controversy between using DSLR cameras and Mirrorless cameras. Both options work, but which one is actually the best? 

Well, in this article, we are going to go over everything you need to know about purchasing a good camera for bird photography (see also: The Best Locations For Bird Photography)and which products you should go for. 

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!

Product Reviews

In this section, we are going to go over several fantastic cameras that are best for bird photography.

You are sure to find something here that is perfect for you or, at the very least, gives you a solid idea of what to look for in a device.

Buyers Guide 

In this section, we are going to take a look at some features and tech specs that you need to keep in mind when you are choosing a good bird photography camera to buy.

You would be surprised just how much there is to consider when you are looking for a good camera that is capable of capturing high-quality images.

Let’s take a look at what you need to bear in mind!

What Type Of Camera Is It?

A camera is a camera…is it not? But there are features that you really need to consider before you spend your cash.

One of the main things that you need to consider when it comes to camera types is whether to go with a mirrorless or a DSLR camera.

Both options can be used for bird photography, but most professionals will go with a mirrorless camera. But DSLR cameras are capable of doing the job just as well.

That being said, the photography industry has started to phase out DSLR cameras.

While there are a lot of lenses made for DSLR camera bodies, many companies have started to retire them. They are instead focusing on manufacturing mirrorless cameras and other related technologies.

However, DSLR cameras still have some benefits over mirrorless cameras. For one, these types of cameras tend to have excellent weight balance, great battery life, and the lenses are heavier.

But when it comes to photographing birds, the mirrorless is just better. These cameras tend to be quieter, due to the lack of a flip-up.

This is good because it will mean that you will be less likely to scare away the birds or other animals. On top of that, a mirrorless camera also tends to have a higher frame rate when you shoot in bursts.

This is perfect for photographing subjects that move erratically…like birds for example.

What Is The Sensor Size?

When it comes to sensor sizes, there are three categories you need to consider, these sizes are as follows:

• Full-Frame
• Crop Sensor (APS-C)
• Micro Four Thirds

Each one of these sensor sizes is beneficial in different ways, which is why you need to carefully consider which one you need for bird photography.

For example, full-frame sensors will help you to take good photos even in low light. On top of that, you should be able to use higher ISOs and have less noise.

This is a significant improvement to a sensor like a smaller APS-C sensor. But, that is not all, full-frame sensors also tend to have higher resolution.

This is beneficial if you intend to make large prints or crop your photographs. Smaller senses mean that you may not be able to crop your images as they are. Especially if they are already quite small.

One of the biggest draws of using either the APS-C or the Micro Four Thirds sensor is the cropped images.

So, both sensors are significantly smaller than a full-frame sensor, which means that your photographs will already be cropped. When this happens, you can get better practical magnification from a lens.

An APS-C sensor will have a crop factor of 1.5-1.6x. If your camera body is 1.5x, and you are using a four-hundred mm lens, you might get an angle of view that is almost the equivalent of a six-hundred mm lens.

Micro Four Thirds sensors on the other hand have a 2.0x crop factor. This means that a camera, with the specs we mentioned, will give you the equivalent of an eight-hundred mm angle view.

A heavy crop factor like either of these lenses can make photographing wildlife easier and save you a ton of money. How, you may ask?

Well, you can use a larger lens and get the same magnification as a pricey lens on a full-frame camera.

On top of that, it will save you weight and space, especially if you intend to photograph in the field and need a small and lightweight kit (see also "How To Photograph Sunflower Fields").

Is The Autofocus System Responsive?

If your aim is to photograph wildlife like birds or mammals, you will need a camera that has a fast and responsive autofocus system. This is essential for capturing a sharp image, even if the subject is moving.

But, that is not all, you need to make sure that your autofocus is responsive AND accurate.

If you have been a photographer for a while, you will know how frustrating it is to think that you have taken the perfect picture only to find out later that the focus is off.

If you want to be sure that your autofocus is a good fit for bird photography, you need the number of focus points. It is beneficial to have lots of AF points over as much of the sensor as possible.

Aside from that, it is essential that you know what type of focus your camera is capable of.

If you are taking photos of moving objects, like birds, you should look for a camera that is capable of phase detection autofocus.

This tech means that your camera will automatically autofocus much quicker.

Contrast detection autofocus on the other hand is best used on still subjects. This is because the camera needs to look for contrast in each of the pixels in the image.

When this happens, the autofocus will be slower. This makes this a poor choice for photographing live subjects such as birds.

But, you may not have to choose. Currently, there are more and more cameras being released with a hybrid autofocus system.

What this means is that your camera may have both of these autofocus types in one device.

There are even some cameras that have an autofocus tracking feature that is specifically designed for birds. If you trust this kind of tech, this can be a godsend.

What About The Shooting Speed?

Birds move fast and erratically. You might be lining up the perfect shot when suddenly it flutters off into the sunset. As such, you need a camera that has a fast burst mode.

This means that if the bird tries to fly away, you will be able to take a bunch of photos in quick succession. With a feature like this, you are more likely to capture your bird in an epic action pose.

If you want to capture your bird mid-flight. A camera with a high frame rate per second. For most subjects, having a camera with ten frames per second capabilities should be good.

But more frames per second mean that you might be able to capture animals that move fast.

That being said, it is important to take into account that you may be able to alter the FPS depending on what camera you are using.

There are a lot of mirrorless cameras that may have a mechanical shutter and an electronic shutter. Both of which you may be able to set to a different FPS.

You may also be able to get cameras that have a faster FPS depending on whether you are hosting raw files or JPG files.

Cameras like this might be able to be set to different FPS settings depending on the file size you are shooting.

For photographing birds, you should also make sure that you have a camera that has a high buffer capacity.

This feature indicates how many frames your camera can fire before the device needs to process the images it has taken.

In essence, a camera with a higher buffer capacity means that your camera is capable of taking more shots in a single burst.

When this happens, you can be sure to capture that perfect shot without waiting for your camera to reset.

Does The Camera Have Good Weatherproofing?

If you have been a wildlife photographer for a while, you will know that taking the perfect photo might mean that you must venture out in terrible weather conditions.

As such, if you are out in the sticks trying to get a shot of a rare eagle, you may find that you need a camera that can withstand moisture or dirt to some degree.

It would be awful to find yourself in a downpour and have your camera rendered useless as a result. As such, we recommend that you get a camera that is a little more rugged and has some waterproofing.

On top of that, you may find that getting accessories that can help protect your camera from the elements is a good idea.

You do not want your expensive device to be ruined, even at the cost of getting the perfect photo.

Which Lenses Are The Best To Invest In For Bird Photography?

You would be surprised at how important using the right lens is for photography of any kind. But for bird photography, it is even more essential.

Even if you get the best camera on the market, you are still going to need some good lenses.

As such, if you are eager to get into bird photography, you need to make sure that you set aside some money to get an excellent set of lenses that you can use.

The best lens options for photographing this subject are as follows:

• Sigma 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 Contemporary
• Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II
• Nikon AF-S FX 200-500 mm f/5.6
• Sony FE 200-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 G
• Panasonic Lumix G 100-400 mm f/4-6.3
• Olympus ED 100-400 mm f/5-6.3
• Fujifilm XF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6
• Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II

Any of these lenses will be suitable for bird photography. As such, we recommend that you take a deep dive into what lenses will work best for your craft.

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we are going to answer some of your most frequently asked questions about bird photography and the best cameras to capture these gorgeous creatures.

Which Camera Is Best For Beginners To Take Bird Photography?

There are a lot of great cameras on the market, and the ones we have mentioned are among the best for bird photography. They are not all beginner-friendly.

As such, we have found that the following cameras are best suited for beginners that are interested in bird photography:

• Panasonic LUMIX GH5 Body 4K Mirrorless Camera
• Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body
• Canon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLR Camera
• FujiFilm X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera
• Nikon D500 DX-Format Digital SLR

Any of these five cameras will be a great fit for a beginner that wants to get into photographing birds. But, the cameras we have listed in the main body of the article are all great options too.

Learning to use a professional camera may take some time, but it is worth it.

Is A Full-Frame Camera Better For Bird Photography?

By far, most bird photographers will use a full-frame camera. One reason that this kind of camera is a good option for bird photographers is that you can more easily get a shallow depth of field.

They are the ideal camera for various forms of photography including portraits, food photography, birth photography, and more.

In essence, a full-frame camera is a great option for those of you that need to take pictures that will benefit from a blurred background.

Are DSLR Cameras Good For Bird Photography?

Either a mirrorless full-frame camera or a DSLR camera are good options for bird photography.

With either of these options, you should be able to take excellent photographs of birds, regardless of whether they are stationary or in flight.

Is Canon Or Nikon Better For Wildlife Photography?

If your chosen subject for photography is wildlife or sports, you will likely need a series of good telephoto lenses. Because of this, we recommend that you go for a Canon camera.

On the other hand, if your chosen subject matter is landscapes, architecture, or travel photography, a Nikon will likely be a good fit for you.

So, to sum up, if you want a camera that is suited for wildlife photography, go for a Canon camera with a good range of telephoto lenses.

They will help you take photos of living and moving subjects. Like birds and other animals, for example.

What Size Lens Is The Best For Bird Photography?

If you are interested in bird photography, we recommend going for a lens that is between the two-hundred and five-hundred mm focal length range.

In particular, going for the five-hundred mm lens will give you better magnification, which makes it that much easier to capture even small birds in your photos.

On top of that, you will also be able to zoom in and out, this gives you the option to take a variety of shots.

How Many Megapixels Do You Need For Bird Photography?

For the majority of photographers, a camera that has between fifteen and twenty megapixels or more will do the trick. Either Canon or Nikon has fantastic cameras that fall into this category.

But that is not all, a lot of cameras with between fifteen and twenty megapixels will have full frame sensors that are smaller than thirty-five millimeters.

Is 600 mm Enough For Bird Photography?

If your aim is to photograph small passerine birds like blue tits, coal tits, or sparrows, 600 mm will be ideal.

It will make it easier for you to fill the frame and get phenomenal close-up shots of these small but mighty birds.

What Is The Max ISO For Bird Photography?

The optimal ISO for bird photography will depend on what the lighting levels are like in the area you are shooting. But, it is not a bad idea to increase the ISO to 1600 or 3200.

There are some cameras that are used for bird photography that create clean images at ISO 6400 or even higher.

However, as a general rule, you should keep your ISO low while keeping your shutter speed quite high.

Final Thoughts 

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about which cameras are best suited to capturing the likeness of birds in the wild.

It can be hard to know which camera will make it easier to take photos of even the smallest birds.

But with our guide, hopefully, you get at least a basic understanding of what to look out for and what products should be at the top of your list.

If you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about these remarkable cameras for bird photography, you should check out our site.

We have a range of photography articles there, some of which you are sure to find entertaining or even useful.

Take a moment out of your day to peruse our articles. You never know what you might find or if it can change your life. We might have the perfect article there for you. Just take a look!

Thanks for reading!