Top Camera Tips For Bird Photographers: Autofocus Matters Most

^{Note: This tip comes from National Geographic’s article - The best cameras for bird photography.}

Birdwatching surged in popularity during the pandemic, with up to a third of Americans now identifying as birders, according to the latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

For many, avian awe has opened the door to another hobby—photography. Choosing the best bird photography camera requires some know-how and experience.

We turned to Luciano Lima, a leading photographer in bird-rich Brazil, for his expertise, including which features to prioritize when shopping for a camera. “Fast autofocus coupled with animal eye detection is a game changer for bird photography,” Lima says, noting that sharp, focused eyes can elevate all types of wildlife photography.

Tip #1 – Do your research and use a camera with a highly rated and fast autofocus system.

Autofocus is vital in all sorts of wildlife photography. In birdwatching, where the subjects can fly off at any second, it’s even more critical. Look for cameras that come with intelligent autofocus features.

Tip #2 – Some current, up-to-date camera models come with ‘bird detection.’ This feature helps the camera to identify any birds within the frame immediately. You also want to check the camera’s rating for autofocus in low light. Images such as the one above can cause a less superior camera to hunt for where to place the focus in low lighting.

Tip #3 – If a bird detection model isn’t within your budget, there are more camera options that provide an ‘eye detection’ feature. This can be extremely helpful when your bird subject is in a busy scene.

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!)