There is no need to have a camera with Wi-Fi for your wildlife photography. There are, however, advantages to having WiFi along with some disadvantages or limitations.
composted by Dave Harcourt with images from Wikimedia Commons
What are the major requirements for a wildlife camera?
Fast Autofocus
High ISO performance
A fast, continuous shooting speed for capturing rapid wildlife movements.
Telephoto lens compatibility
Silent shooting mode
Dust, water, and harsh weather resistance.
Excellent low-light performance ability.
Customizable controls.
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Using WiFi to Transfer Photographs
The most commonly mentioned use of built-in Wi-Fi on a camera is the transfer of files from the camera to another device without a physical connection. For instance, the photographer can download images to their laptop once software has been installed and run on the device. That can be a lifesaver if cables and/or card readers have been left at home and a place has to be made on the card to record a lion kill. Other solutions like always having a spare card or three in the camera bag or using a mobile device with a card reader are simpler solutions.
Transferring via hi-fi is slower than transferring directly to a mobile device or card reader and is a drain on the camera battery. It also requires software to be installed on the mobile device.
Using WiFi to Operate the Camera Remotely
A useful function of a camera equipped with wi-fi is the possibility of using a mobile device as a wireless remote to monitor and control the camera remotely. There are many applications of this functionality including avoiding camera movement in long exposures, tethering during studio shoots, controlling an animal trap, shooting from positions not otherwise reachable, candid street photography, and freedom for selfies. The potential of remote operation depends on the camera, the portable device, and the software available and is not a standard solution.
Image generated by Dave Harcourt using Photoleap AI
Low-cost shutter releases are available which normally include functions such as time-lapse, delay, and exposure timers and are much simpler to operate.
Using WiFi to Collect GPS Data
Having a WiFi connection to an online portable device allows its GPS location data to be integrated into the EXIF data of the image file. Again it’s not automatic and varies from phone to phone in simplicity and functionality.
Using WiFi to Feed a Portable Printer
Having a camera connected to the same wi-fi as a printer means that it’s potentially possible to print directly from a linked portable device but there is no standard and not all phones have the potential.
composted by Dave Harcourt with images from Wikimedia Commons
The use of direct on-the-spot printing is a nice touch and even a good tool to get cooperation with people in street photography but does not have any great advantage in wildlife photography.
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Disadvantages and Potential
The disadvantage of WiFi is that it increases power consumption and requires more frequent charging which might be difficult for live streaming and in very remote areas. Spare batteries and solar chargers are possible solutions.
The ideal would be a DSLR or mirrorless camera with the functionality of a smartphone which would eliminate the complexity and clunkiness of current solutions.