What are the best cameras for bird photography? What are you to note or look for when buying a camera to capture birds?
The best cameras for bird photography have lightweights with durable batteries, are great in low light conditions, and allow you to take as many photos as possible within a short time. DSLR or mirrorless cameras are the best for bird photographs. However, if you are a beginner in the niche, you can start with a proper point-and-shoot camera.
Some of the best cameras for bird photography are the Nikon D850, Canon 6D Mark II, Sony A7 III, and Sony A7R III. This article will examine each camera and outline why they are best for great bird images.
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The Nikon D850 is our top choice for the best beginner’s camera for bird photography. This camera has a silent photography feature that allows you to capture the birds without noise or mechanical vibration. Plus, it features 45.7-megapixel sensor.
Things To Look For When Buying A Camera For Bird Photography
A good camera for bird photography must possess at least the following qualities.
- Fast autofocus
- Higher resolution
- Image stabilization feature
- Can shoot RAW
- It should be lightweight
- It should have a high megapixel count
- Continuous shooting, at least six frames per second
- Excellent sensor
- Wireless file transfer options
- Easy to use
- It should be perfect in lowlight conditions
- It should have a large variety of lenses available
- A long zoom
- Sound control
- It should be durable
5 Best Cameras For Bird Photography
1. Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body
If you are a beginner in wildlife, especially bird photography, the Nikon D850 FX-Format digital camera is an excellent option because it is easier to use and offers incredible zoom.
The Nikon D850 is the best DSLR camera on the market today. It is the successor to the D810 and features a 45.7-megapixel sensor, an ISO range of 64-25600, 5 fps continuous shooting, 8K time-lapse video recording, and an improved autofocus system.
The camera makes it easy for every photographer, even beginners, to deliver high-quality images. The tilt and touch feature makes it easy to get the shot even from high or low angles.
When silence is golden, the camera has a silent in live view feature that allows you to capture the birds without noise or mechanical vibration.
What we like
- Best DSLR camera for bird photography
- Continuous shooting at up to 7 FPS and an additional 2 FPS with optional MB-D18 battery grip.
- Versatile sound control
- Easy to use
- Longlasting battery
What we didn’t like
- It is expensive
- The optical viewfinder only covers 98%
- It’s bigger and heavier.
2. Canon 6D Mark II Mirrorless Camera
Canon 6D Mark 11 is another powerful full-frame mirrorless camera for bird photography. Its 26.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor make it great for capturing in lowlight conditions.
The camera has a wide-area, 45-point all cross-type AF system, which accurately tracks fast subjects such as birds throughout the frame. It also has a dual pixel CMOS AF feature that enables continuous automatic AF and AF tracking that enhances overall camera operation for sharp and smooth images.
What we like
- High-speed continuous shooting at up to 6.5 FPS.
- Dust and water-resistant
- Vari-angle touch screen
- Wireless file transfer options
- In-built GPS capability.
- 45 point autofocus system
What we didn’t like
- Small AF coverage
- Video is limited to 1080p
- No in-built flash
3. Sony Alpha 7 III Camera
The Sony Alpha 7 III camera has a dramatically enhanced color performance, ideal for bird photographers seeking to have faithful color reproduction of their photographs.
Sony A7 III camera gives you the power, precision, and flexibility to capture bird photographs just as you like. You can shoot at a high ISO range without noise or image deterioration concerns. The camera also has a 4D focus-AF performance that captures and keeps fast-moving subjects such as dancers and birds in focus. It can also capture razor-sharp images of fast subjects and wildlife creatures.
What we like
- Continuous silent shooting at up to 10 FPS with AF/AE tracking.
- Longer battery life
- 4D focus steadfast tracking, fast AF speed, and stunning wide coverage.
- Faithful color reproduction
- Its capability to reduce noise in high ISO range
- Focus control through the touch screen.
What we didn’t like
- It has a dense menu system
- It doesn’t have a proper vari-angle screen.
4. Sony A7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony A7R III is one of the best Sony cameras for bird photography. The camera has an animal-eye AF feature that automatically detects and tracks the eyes of animals that you are photographing.
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The camera also allows silent shooting at up to 10 fps with AF/AE tracking. Silence shots are crucial when shooting birds and wildlife photographs.
What we like
- Improved AF response and tracking.
- It allows burst shooting of up to 76 images.
- It enables the connection of external batteries for extended shooting.
- Group display of continuous shots.
- 16-bit image processing.
- 42.4 Megapixel
- Better high ISO range performance.
What we didn’t like
- It has a limited touch screen control
- No in-built flash
- Overheating
5. Nikon Coolpix P1000 Point-and-Shoot Camera
Nikon P1000 point-and-shoot camera is the best for bird photography. It has a mind-blowing 300mm zoom and 4K ultra HD video – the most ideal for bird and wildlife photography. If you are a beginner in birds, wildlife, and astrophotography, the Nikon P1000 is an excellent starting camera because of its superb zoom and capability to produce quality images.
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What we like
- Wireless file transfer options
- Best for bird photography
- Ideal for beginners in bird and wildlife photography
- 300mm zoom and 4k ultra HD video
What we didn’t like
- It’s not suitable for professional or serious bird photography.
- It doesn’t feature a touch screen.
- It doesn’t produce high-quality images.
Final Word
The best cameras for bird photography are easy to use, have a versatile sound control that allows shooting bird photos without sound or mechanical vibrations, allow continuous multiple shots per second, and improved or steadfast tracking features for fast subjects.