Elevate Your Bird Photography: Top Cameras Unveiled

^{Note: This tip comes from page 12 in Tobie Schalkwyk’s free eBook - Starting Bird Photography: Camera Settings}

Choosing a camera that matches your creativity and doesn't miss a beat in crucial moments is crucial to bird photography! In this Tip, we identify six camera features you should be aware of when purchasing a new camera or diving deep into your existing camera's features to capture every breathtaking detail. Are you ready to rise to the challenge?"

Tip #1 - Speed and precision are crucial to your success in bird photography. Choose a camera that moves as swiftly and intuitively as you do, or you risk missing those once-in-a-lifetime shots!"

For instance, speedy and accurate autofocus is crucial for bird photography. But remember, a complex interface can lead to missed shots if you’re unsure where the camera’s settings should be set.

Tip #2 - Among other camera functions, master your AF settings to make every click count!

Let’s start by choosing a brand. Honestly, this is the easiest choice, as every major brand nowadays offers high-tech features and fantastic lenses. This choice is mostly about preference and budget with an eye toward speed & performance.

Tip #3 - Your chosen brand will also determine the tools and accessories you will buy in the future, especially the lenses, so this is another reason to choose wisely at the beginning. It should be noted that mirrorless cameras are the future, and they particularly lend themselves well to bird photography as they're significantly lighter in size and weight.

Now that we know what brand we want. We must now pick a model.

Pay special attention to these three potential camera features.

Frame Rate - also referred to as FPS (frames per second). You want a camera with a minimum frame rate of 10 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS, which would be adequate for even the fastest birds.

Buffer Depth - This is even more important than FPS. This is the camera's processing part, where it turns each capture into a file that is deposited onto the memory card. When the buffer becomes full or lags, you will frequently find yourself waiting for the camera to process your files and regain its maximum speed! (Fast memory cards are also a must for bird photography!). Read the fine print on this stat when buying a camera.

Autofocus Tracking Reliability - The importance of this in bird photography goes without saying. Do your research before spending your hard-earned dollars.

ISO performance is crucial.

Tip #4 - Look at your chosen camera model's ISO and noise comparison tests. Most bird photography takes place in lower light levels. Also, at this point, I would consider the sensor size. A larger sensor almost always provides better low-light photography, but that comes with a concern about the budget.

It should be noted that bird photography is a genre that puts a camera through its paces. You will often be exposed to weather that would keep most photographers at home.

For this reason, camera durability and weather sealing are important considerations.

Most major camera makers now have sturdy, weather-sealed cameras. However, not all cameras are built tough enough to withstand heavy outdoor use. For best results, I strongly recommend stepping up above the most basic, entry-level cameras.

Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)