The best camera for wildlife photography in 2021

(Image credit: Patrice Bouchard)

Choosing the best camera for wildlife photography is an essential step to take if you really want to capture unforgettable images of animals. A smartphone is unfortunately not enough. So what are the key things you should look for when choosing one of the best wildlife cameras?

A good wildlife camera should be fast, in several ways. Being able to shoot a good number of frames per second is essential, as a second may be all you have before a wild animal runs off into the undergrowth! A camera that can take a good number of shots before its buffer fills up will greatly increase your chances of capturing the moment.

The other part of the image is the autofocus. A good wildlife camera should have a full distribution of autofocus points across its frame, as animals can appear in unexpected places and you may not have time to recompose. Modern cameras with good tracking systems that can keep a moving subject in focus will be a great help when it comes to photographing wildlife. Go to the section

what to consider when buying a camera for photographing wildlife

section for more information.

If you can't find what you're looking for here, be sure to check out our roundup of

best trail cameras

, and for more general use, our

best camera

listing. But for now, let's get started with the best cameras for wildlife photography.

The best cameras for wildlife photography available right now

(Image credit: Nikon)

01.Nikon Z50

An extremely capable camera at a great price, here's our pick for the best wildlife camera

Best for:

The enthusiasts |

< p>Frames per second:

11 |

Focus points:

209 |

Weight:

450g for the body only |

Battery life:

320 shots per charge

Low stock

£829

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Prime

£969

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£1,129

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Fast and light

Excellent value

Pack a spare battery p>

APS-C sensor

Borrowing many features from Nikon's flagship professional mirrorless cameras, the Z50 is a light and fast shooter that's ideal for tackling wildlife photography. A fast 11fps burst rate meets a full autofocus system with 253 points that cover the majority of the frame, meaning you'll be able to keep up with even fast-moving subjects.

The image quality is excellent and the dynamic range is much better than you might expect from a camera with an APS-C sensor. The controls are comfortable and conveniently placed and the camera is lightweight, meaning you won't have to worry too much about weight if you're hiking in the woods to find your subjects. One thing we recommend though is buying and packing a spare battery and portable charger; the shot rate per charge of 320 is a bit limiting for a day of photography.

Check out our guide to

best nikon camera

to learn more about Nikon models.

(Image credit: Canon)

02. Canon EOS R6

Good full frame quality with unreal autofocus, this is the best wildlife camera for enthusiasts

Best for:

The enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

20 |

Focus points:

1053 |

Weight:

680g (body only) |

Battery life:

360 shots per charge

£2599

View on Wex Photo Video

£2599

View at ParkCameras

£2599.99

View at Canon (UK)

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Incredible autofocus system

Sophisticated stabilization

Expensive

Relatively low megapixel count

In wildlife photography, just like in other disciplines, a full-frame sensor can confer many advantages. The larger sensor area produces better dynamic range, which improves camera performance in difficult low-light or high-contrast situations. The downside is that full-frame cameras cost more than those with smaller sensors; if you can afford it, we really recommend the Canon EOS R6. Its autofocus system is simply out of this world, with a dedicated animal AF mode that's basically a cheat code for wildlife photography. It's also a 'Deep Learning' autofocus system, which means it gets better the more you use it.

Canon has also recently produced native super-telephoto lenses for the mirrorless RF mount. These include the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM, which is a professional lens at the price you'd expect. If your budget seems slimmer, there are also two interesting prime lenses at a more affordable price: the Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM. They have a fixed aperture of f/11, relying on the high ISO performance of the R-series cameras to compensate. Canon also says the fixed aperture should improve autofocus.

(Image credit: Nikon)

03.Nikon D5600

An improvement over beginners, affordable and well specified

Best for:

Beginners and enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

5 |

AF collectors:

39, including 9 cross type |

Weight:

< p>465g body only |

Autonomy:

820 shots per charge

Prime

£599

< p>See on Amazon

£599.99

See on very.co.uk

£619

See at John Lewis p>

See all prices (13 found)

875 Amazon customer reviews

☆

☆

☆

☆

☆

Excellent battery life

Fast and intuitive autofocus

SnapBridge is janky

Limit for enthusiasts

If you want a user-friendly, cost-effective camera but don't want to opt for the absolute beginner models, consider the Nikon D5600. An effective intermediate model, it has a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and a fast autofocus system that's more than capable of keeping up with finicky animal subjects. It also has an advantage over Nikon's other affordable offerings: a vari-angle touchscreen.

The D5600 is a few years old now, but it's still a very capable DSLR, and in truth the time lag has only really brought its price down. Having access to Nikon's stable of F-mount lenses is a tempting prospect, no matter how old your camera is! One of its key features is SnapBridge connectivity, designed to allow you to establish a low-power, always-on connection with your smartphone. Many users won't care too much about it, which is just as well because it might not be reliable, especially if you're an iPhone user. Still, it's one of the best bangs you can get for a DSLR right now.

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

04.Fujifilm X-T4

Sublime mirrorless shooting experience, with fast burst and good buffer

Best for:

The enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

20 |

Focus points:

425 |

Weight:

607g body-only |

Battery life:

500 rounds per charge

£1399

See at John Lewis

£1399

See on Amazon

£1399.99

See on very.co.uk

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Rapid burst and 100 round buffer

Fantastic image quality

AF sometimes unreliable

Reduced buffer for RAW

< p>A beautifully designed APS-C camera, the Fujifilm X-T4 is one of the best mirrorless cameras around, with a feature set that gives the wildlife photographer plenty of options. Its burst modes are truly impressive, going up to 15fps with the mechanical shutter, or 20fps with the electronic shutter (and a 1.25x crop), and thanks to its generous shot buffer, you can fill your card more than 100 JPEGs at these speeds before the camera has to slow down. Perfect for making sure you nail this topic! Buffer memory is a bit more limited when shooting RAW, but luckily Fujifilm cameras produce some of the best off-the-sensor JPEGs around.

The deal is sweetened by a generous 6.5-. turn off the image stabilization system, and the X-T4 also produces excellent 4K video, making it a great choice if you plan to switch between the two shooting modes. It's a little pricey for an APS-C camera, but the amount of features you get more than justifies the price, in our opinion.

(Image credit: Canon)

05. Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

The best of the best, at the premium price you expect

Best for:

Experts | p>

Frames per second:

16 |

Focus points:

61, including 41 cross type |

Weight:

1340g for body only |

Battery life:

1210 shots per charge

£2249

Show on park cameras

£3254

View on MPB.com UK

£3799

Show on park cameras

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Ultra-fast firing

Extremely durable and versatile

Expensive

Heavy and bulky

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is currently the gold standard for professional photographers. It takes pictures and shots with speed and precision, and if you don't mind paying the premium price, it will produce great results when photographing wildlife. It's an absolute beast of a camera, capable of continuing to produce photos at 16fps with the mirror locked up, or 14fps with autofocus on. Access to the Canon EF range of lenses ensures you'll always have glass for the occasion, with some of the industry's best telephoto lenses on its books. It's the camera equivalent of a pneumatic drill - if you know what you're doing, you'll get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

(Image credit: Sony)

06. Sony RX10 IV

Sony's high-end compact bridge is a wildlife wonder with a big lens

Best for:

The enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

24 |

Focus points:

315 |

Weight:

1095g for body only |

Battery life:

400 rounds per charge

£1499

See at John Lewis

Low Stock

£1499

View on Wex Photo Video

Prime

£2382.50

View on Amazon< /p>

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177 Amazon customer reviews

☆

☆

☆ p>

☆

☆

Long-range, high-quality lens

Blister burst mode

Very expensive p>

Low battery life

The fourth iteration of Sony's RX10 large bridge camera, the RX10 IV pairs a 1-inch sensor with a 24-600mm f/2.4-4 lens for incredible versatility and image quality. All that range would already be ideal for wildlife photography, but the fact that the camera is able to shoot at an impressive 24 frames per second with autofocus, with a maximum buffer of 249 frames, really seals the deal. The autofocus system is fast enough to keep up thanks to its 315 focus points, with Sony claiming focus acquisition times as fast as 0.03 seconds. All of this comes at a higher price - if that's too expensive for you, consider the previous models in the RX10 range, which you should be able to find at a much better price.

(Image credit: Sony)< /p>

07.Sony a77 II

Sony's SLT camera is a fast and effective shooter that can be had for a bargain price

Best for:

The enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

12 |

Focus points:

79, including 15 cross type |

Weight: p>

647g Inc. batteries |

Battery life:

480 shots per charge

Check Amazon

165 Amazon customer reviews

☆

☆

☆

☆

☆

Fast burst shooting with autofocus

< p>Excellent construction and ergonomics

A few years

Noise issues at high ISOs

Sony's A-mount SLT range isn't as popular as it used to be, which is a shame because cameras like the A77 II do so much they're up there with the best cameras DSLR camera for wildlife photography. This model is capable of shooting up to 12fps with autofocus engaged, and it's designed with the kind of clever ergonomics that make DSLRs so intuitive to use, with a generously sized grip and smartly laid out controls. Its autofocus system is sophisticated and precise, and while the fact that it's a few years old means it lacks some of the latest stuff, it also means the a77 II can be had for a bargain price. .

(Image credit: Sony)

08.Sony a6500

Sony's super-fast APS-C shooter that's more affordable than big full-frame models

Ideal for:

The enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

11 |

Focus points:

425 |

Weight:

453g Inc. batteries |

Battery life:

350 photos per charge

Low stock

£691

View on Wex Photo Video

Prime

£1415.54

See on Amazon

328 Amazon customer reviews

☆< /p>

☆

☆

☆

☆

Super fast and precise

Light

Some confusing menus

Minimum Physical Orders

While Sony has plenty of fantastic full-frame mirrorless cameras in its Alpha 7 range, we love the a6500 for its combination of lightweight build, super-fast shooting and incredible focus coverage. auto focus; a whopping 425 points spread across the frame ensures the a6500 will be able to lock onto even the most elusive subjects. The a6500 is also incredibly light and its APS-C sensor pushes the focal length of your lenses a little further, which is a boon for photographing wildlife. An incredibly feature-rich camera for its size and price, the a6500 is a superb achievement in imaging technology.

(Image credit: Nikon)

09.Nikon D850

Nikon's stable full-frame workhorse will still get the job done

Best for:

Enthusiasts/Experts |

< p>Frames per second:

7 (9 with optional battery grip) |

Focus points:

153 |

Weight:

1005g Inc. batteries |

Battery life:

1840shots per charge

£2499

View on Wex Photo Video

£2499

View on ParkCameras

Prime

£2610

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427 Amazon customer reviews

☆

☆

☆

☆ p>

☆

Basically works fine

Exceptional RAW photos

Expensive

Some Live View autofocus issues

There's no shortage of Nikon photographers eager to tell you why they swear by the D850 - it's basically a high-end all-rounder, a solid DSLR that does just about everything very well, and is undoubtedly the one of the best cameras for wildlife photography. With 45MP resolution, class-leading dynamic range, waterproof construction, excellent noise reduction systems, and truly exceptional image quality, especially in RAW files, the camera is only an absolute workhorse. You can connect to SnapBridge for instant image transfer from the camera to your phone, and thanks to the generous battery life, you can shoot for ages. A complete winner.

(Image credit: Canon)

10. Canon EOS 7D Mark II

One of the best APS-C DSLRs available

Best for:

The enthusiasts |

Frames per second:

10 |

Focus points:

65 cross type |

Weight:

910g inc. batteries |

Battery life:

670 shots per charge

Low stock

£161

View on Wex Photo Video

£439

View on park cameras

Low stock

£589

View on Wex Photo Video

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418 Amazon customer reviews

☆

☆

☆

☆

☆

Useful slots for two cards

Fast autofocus

No WiFi< /p>

No touch screen

When Canon updated its EOS 7D camera, it not only upped the resolution, it completely redesigned the camera to make it an absolutely superb APS-C DSLR in virtually every category. It can shoot bursts at up to 10 fps, and its super-fast Dual-Pixel autofocus system can keep up with it all. Add in a sophisticated metering system, rugged body, and a host of other useful features (although there's no Wi-Fi and an LCD screen that isn't touch-enabled), and you've got a DSLR very competitive in capturing wildlife. Canon has done an excellent job of redesigning the EOS 7D - the EOS 7D Mark II is outstanding.

Best Camera for Wildlife Photography: What to Consider

As mentioned above, a good camera should be fast in several respects. But there are also other factors to consider that are not related to speed. Photographing wildlife will involve spending a lot of time outdoors, perhaps walking from place to place. A good wildlife camera must therefore have a good battery life, while not being too heavy (our selection of

best camera bags

would be a good idea to check out help transporting your system), and having weather protection isn't a bad thing if it starts to rain.

You need a long wildlife lens because many animals won't let you get too close. If you're choosing an interchangeable lens camera, it's a good idea to check out what the telephoto options are. A compact camera will be cheaper, but its maximum telephoto range will be the hard limit you're working with, and it'll also likely have a smaller sensor, which can hurt the dynamic range of images.

When putting together our list of the best wildlife cameras, we took all of this into consideration, along with the price. So whatever your needs and budget, we're confident we'll find a great wildlife camera for you.

Learn more:

the

best camera

for the creative

The

best compact cameras

the

best camera for beginners p>

Summary of today's best deals

Nikon Z50 + ZDX 16-50mm...

Nikon Z50

Amazon

£969

To see

See all prices

Renovated

Canon EOS R6 mirrorless...

< p>Canon EOS R6

Park Cameras

£2362

To see

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Nikon D5600 + AF-P 18-55 VR...

Nikon D5600

Amazon

£599

To see

< p>See all prices

Reduced price

Fujifilm X-T4 mirrorless...

Fujifilm X-T4

Amazon p>

£1549

£1399

To see

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Renovated

Used Canon EOS 1DX Mark II...

Canon EOS 1DX Mark II

Park cameras

£2249

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Sony Cyber ​​Shot DSC-RX10 IV

Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX10 IV

Amazon

£2,382.50

To see

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Sony Alpha 6500 | APS-C...

Sony Alpha A6500

Amazon

£1415.54

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Reduced price

Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital...

Nikon D850

Amazon

£2699

£2610

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Low stock

Renovated

Used Canon EOS 7D DSLR...

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Wex photo video

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