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Smartphones have made it easy to get quick snapshotsof wildlife while you're out and about, butfor those who are serious about wildlife photography, a dedicated camera with a zoom lens will take your wildlife photos to the next level. There are a few factors to consider when choosing a camera for nature photography. Fast, continuous shooting speeds allow you to capture clear stills of movinganimals, while large image buffers let you shoot for longer without interruption. Silent shooting might also be important if you tend to shoot more skittish, easily frightened animals, while quicker animals like small birds require more responsive, accurate autofocus systems.
Thankfully, we've done some of the work of narrowing down your options. We've bought and tested over 95cameras in our lab, and below, you'll find our recommendationsfor the best cameras forwildlife photography. If you're interested in a range of photography styles, you can look at our bestcameras for general photography.If you're just starting out with photography, you might also want to check out thebest beginner cameraswe've tested. Otherwise, you can also seeour overall picks for thebest camerason the market.
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Best Camera For Wildlife Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.5
The OM SYSTEM OM-1 is the best camera for wildlife photography that we've tested. Going with a Micro Four Thirds (M4/3) camera like this has a few benefits for wildlife photography, notably a more portable size and fantastic image stabilization. Compared to full-frame models like the Canon EOS R6 Mark II below, you can use physically smaller lenses to get longer equivalent focal lengths, meaning you'll have a more compact kit even when using telephoto lenses tophotographfar-off wildlife like birds. On top of that, the OM-1's five-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) works incredibly well with stabilized lenses to ensure you get steady shots at longer focal lengths.
The camera also has a quick burst rate, including a Pro Capture mode that ensures you won't miss a critical moment. Plus, it's rugged and compact, with a weather-sealed body and excellent ergonomics. It has a solid battery life for a mirrorless camera, too. The biggest downside is that its AF tracking isn't the most reliable, so it may not be the best choice for fast-moving subjects. If autofocus tracking is a priority, consider the Fujifilm X-H2S. Its AF is a bit more effective than the OM SYSTEM, and its stacked sensor is well-suited to quick subjects, but it's more expensive and less portable.
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Best Camera For Low-Light Wildlife Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography
8.4
For those who do a lot of wildlife photography at dusk or dawn, a full-frame camera is a great choice, especially if you don't mind carrying a bulkier kit. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is one of the best nature photography cameras if you need the low-light advantage of a full-frame sensor. It does a fantastic job managing noise in low light and features a best-in-class autofocus system that can reliably track moving subjects even in trickier lighting conditions.
Beyond that, it checks all the boxes for wildlife photography, including quick burst shooting, with bursts of up to almost 40 fps when using the e-shutter or up to12 fps with the mechanical shutter. Plus, it has an excellent in-body image stabilization system and a great battery life. That said, the RF-mount still has a relatively limited selection of lenses, though you can always adapt older EF lenses. The Nikon Z 6II is another excellent full-frame option if you're looking for a slightly cheaper camera body. It has a quick mechanical burst rate and amazing ergonomics, though its AF isn't quite as reliable as the AF on the R6 Mark II.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Camera For Wildlife Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography
8.7
While the OM SYSTEM OM-1 is hard to beat if you need something rugged and compact, an APS-C option like the Canon EOS R7 has its own advantages and comes at a lower price point. With a remarkably quick 15 fps mechanical burst rate and a highly sophisticated autofocus system, the R7 is tailor-made for wildlife shooters. It has a very solid battery life, as well, and feels great in the hand. It also has a fantastic IBIS system for steadier handheld shots.
Telephoto lenses for the R7 are generally less portable than Micro Four Thirds options. However, they're still typically smaller than full-frame alternatives with equivalent fields of view, allowing you to shoot far-off subjects without too much bulk. Ultimately, if you don't need the portability of a Micro Four Thirds kit, this is one of the best cameras for birding and wildlife at its price point. The Sonyα6700 is another fantastic upper mid-range choice, with one of the best AF systems on the market and a very wide range of native and third-party lens options. However, it has worse ergonomics, a smaller viewfinder, and a slower max burst rate.
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Best Mid-Range Camera For Wildlife Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.9
As far as mid-range options go, the Canon EOS 90D is well worth considering. Like the Canon EOS R7, it has a higher resolution sensor than most APS-C cameras, giving you more leeway to crop your photos. It can also shoot at a quick 11 fps max burst rate, though that drops to seven fps when using continuous tracking AF. While its autofocus system isn't as fast as newer, mirrorless alternatives, it still tracks moving subjects well overall.
The biggest trade-off is that you don't get IBIS for steadier handheld shots. It also doesn't have the largest image buffer, which can slow you down when shooting extended bursts. That said, Canon's EF/EF-S mount includes some excellent lenses, and they won't run you as much as full-frame mirrorless options. On top ofthat, the camera is well-built, weather-sealed, and feels great in hand, making for an excellent all-around shooting experience.
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Best Budget Camera For Wildlife Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.5
Shooting wildlife on a budget can be tricky, considering how quickly the cost of zoom and telephoto lenses can add up. If you're on a tighter budget, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a fantastic entry-level choice for wildlife photography. Like the OM SYSTEM OM-1, it's an M4/3 camera, so there's a well-established stable of lenses to choose from, and they're typically smaller and give you longer equivalent focal lengths, which is good for subjects that are farther away.
Beyond that, the camera is lightweight and portable, and it's one of the few budget cameras to feature five-axis in-body image stabilization, which will help stabilize handheld shots taken at longer focal lengths. It can also shoot at up to 15 fps in silent mode, so you can fire off extended bursts without scaring away more skittish animals. Add in a solid battery life and a decent AF system, and this little camera is hard to beat for beginner wildlife photographers on a budget.
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Best Bridge Camera For Wildlife Photography
Sport & Wildlife Photography
7.5
If you prefer the convenience of an all-in-one camera, the Sony RX10 IV is one of the best bridge cameras on the market. Naturally, you won't get the same image quality or sharpness as with an interchangeable lens option. However, it does have a stacked 1-inch type sensor that puts it above your average bridge camera. The sensor is bigger than most bridge cam sensors—resulting in better-than-average image quality—and its stacked design also means a faster readout speed, allowing for quicker burst shooting at up to 24 fps and keeping rolling shutter distortion to a minimum.
Its built-in lens is also quite versatile, with a max full-frame equivalent focal length of 600mm, giving you plenty of range for far-off critters. On top of that, it has a good autofocus system to track moving wildlife, and its well-constructed, weather-sealed body gives you some peace of mind in adverse weather conditions. While interchangeable lens cameras are the way to go if image quality is your top priority, the convenience of having such a long zoom lens in an all-in-one package makes this a great option for birding and hiking enthusiasts.
Recent Updates
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Nov 16, 2023: Added mention of the Sony α6700 as an alternative option to the Canon EOS R7.
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Sep 20, 2023: Removed the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80, since it's been discontinued.
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Jul 26, 2023: Added mention of the Fujifilm X-H2S as an alternative to the OM SYSTEM OM-1.
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May 31, 2023: Added the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 as the 'Best Cheap Camera For Wildlife Photography'.
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Apr 05, 2023: Added the Canon EOS R6 Mark II as the 'Best Camera For Low Light Wildlife Photography'. Replaced the Nikon Z 6II with the OM SYSTEM OM-1 as the 'Best Camera For Wildlife Photography' and replaced the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III with the Canon EOS R7 as the 'Best Upper Mid-Range Camera For Wildlife Photography, moving the E-M1 Mark III to Notable Mentions. Removed the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and the Nikon D780 from Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best wildlife camerasfor most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability (no cameras that are difficult to findor almostout of stock in the U.S.).
If you would like to choose foryourself, here's the list of all our camera reviews, ranked by their suitability for sports and wildlife photography. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details. There is no single perfect camera. Personal taste, preference, and shooting habits will matter more in your final selection.
