If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the Best Camera For Birding is, then I’d recommend the Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera as the best one.
Because of the speed, birds have when flying; you would need a camera that can capture images at high speed and still gets all the details of the bird.
That being said, it would interest you to know that one of the trickiest and very technical photo shots to take is that of wildlife. The reason being that wildlife is mostly on the move. Thus, you would need cameras that have good motion sensors so that you can get the best bird photos.
Being a bird enthusiast and bird watcher, you should know a few things about how to get the best camera for birding. And to take quality bird photos that you can even put on sale.
Best Camera For Birding Reviews
Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera
For quality images, then the Nikon D850 SLR should be on your “to get” list. Its camera photo resolution is off the charts, and it takes motion photography to a whole new level. It can capture fast action, thanks to its 45.7MP and fast resolution.
Some of its amazing features include an excellent autofocus system, that can lock onto its target, to give you clear photos. The dynamic range, speed-light control, sensor design, battery life, sensitivity.
Other features like silent photography, focus shift, makes this camera is a very reliable camera for all those bird enthusiasts who would want to take the best photos.
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PROS
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CONS
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| It comes with a full-frame sensor for a larger view | It is costly for those on a budget |
| Its image processing is faster than usual, making it the new normal | |
| The camera is very sensitive to all detail of the photo | |
| Its silent shutter makes it unique |
Nikon D5
With one of the broadest ranges of ISO on it, the Nikon D5 has the highest number of ISO on Nikon. Ranging from 100 to over 102,400 ISO, you can change the setting of the ISO, to control the noise the photo might end up having.
It also has a very powerful image processor. Thanks to the EXPEED 5 image processor, it can process your image at a fantastic speed
Its autofocus speed is off the chart and can focus on a short time, to give you a clear photo. This camera also has a 12 fps continuous shooting feature. That allows you to take as many as 200 photos in one burst.
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PROS
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CONS
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| It can take many photos at once | You would need an external microphone to shoot videos |
| It has one of the highest ISO range so that you can control the noise in your photo | It is costly for those on a budget |
| You can use this camera to shoot 4K UHD videos | |
| Its EXPEED 5 image processor, very powerfu |
Canon EOS-1DX Mark II DSLR Camera
With one of the strongest image processors around, the Canon EOS-1DX is perfect for taking wildlife photos. Which includes bird pictures.
With a full-frame sensor picture, you can take a larger picture. And this full-frame feature is accompanied by the 20.2 MP sensor. That gives you a clearer and more detailed photo.
You don’t only take quality photos with this camera, you can also take 4K video films and do that with incredible ease.
It has a very sharp autofocus feature that lets you take sharp and clear photos. And even when the light is dim, it can still focus on the target it wants to capture.
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PROS
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CONS
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| A 61 point autofocus feature that lets you take clear photos | This camera is very costly, both to buy and maintain |
| It has an expandable ISO range so that you can take perfect photos in all conditions | |
| You can use this camera anywhere, from studio to safari |
Nikon D500 DX-Format Digital SLR
For stunning, clear, and precise photos, then you might want to consider the Nikon D500. It is affordable and makes the art of photography easy.
With this camera, you can take motion pictures. Making perfect for capturing moving birds. It has a low light feature that enables it to control the amount of light that goes through its lens when taking pictures in the wild.
With a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth feature, you can send photos from your camera to external devices like your laptop, and smartphones. You can also connect to the internet and do what you want to do on your camera.
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PROS
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CONS
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| It comes with a built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for secure connectivity | It is costly for those on a budget |
| Its autofocus feature is of sublime quality, letting you take clear photos | |
| It has a reliable camera resolution |
Nikon D7200 DX-format DSLR
One of the great things about this camera is the fact that it is very affordable. Yet it gives you the quality picture you want.
With its low light capability, coupled with the speed of the shutter, you can get a noiseless picture, even a very low lighted environment.
Its 24.2MP image sensor, coupled with the EXPEED image processor, produces clear, definitive, and beautiful pictures.
With an ISO feature, ranging from 100 to 25,600, you can control the amount of noise in your images. Amazing the ISO is also expandable, making the range even farther. This camera is indeed ideal, for taking motion photos, like sport, action, and wildlife photos.
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PROS
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CONS
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| It has both Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, for easy access | It only has 6 fps shooting capacity |
| You can also connect the camera to your smartphones and laptop for a private view | |
| You can shoot movies with this camera |
How To Choose The Best Camera For Birding
When you want to pick a camera for any purpose, you would need to ensure that the camera has some basic quality features like autofocus, or quality motion sensors, and things of that sort.
Cameras for birding is different. And here are some of the things the camera should have.
1. Sensor
Every camera has a sensor, but what we are looking out for here is the quality of the sensor. For a wildlife project or photography, you would need a large sensor, and the number of megapixels would matter a lot.
So, the more the megapixel, the better (and higher) the resolution of the image. When the image has more information (through the high numbers of the megapixel), printing the photo will not make it look pixelated. And enlarging it would not have any significant effect on the photo.
To also enhance the quality of the picture, you would also need to look out for other sensor things like optics and software. Even the sensor design comes in handy.
When you have a large image sensor, (with large individual pixels), then you would be able to capture less noise (light). Making your photo have fewer grains and having more defined features.
2. Autofocus
One of the greatest problems with shooting wildlife photos is that they are always on the move. Thus you would need to continually focus on them to be able to take clear pictures.
With an autofocus feature on your camera, you can take accurate and clear photos even while the bird is in motion.
Now the speed of the animal would determine the speed of the autofocus. Birds are fast; thus, it is vital that you get a camera fast enough autofocus to capture the bird in motion.
The fact that a camera has more autofocus points doesn’t mean that the autofocus would be any faster (or at least not in all circumstances). The general rule is, an expensive camera has better autofocus than a cheap camera. And it doesn’t matter if the cheap camera has more autofocus points than the expensive camera.
If you get a DSLR camera, then you may enjoy the autofocus feature than you would on other types of cameras. They have accurate autofocus that tracks the subjects and locks on to it.
DSLR use phase detection, fast motors, processing power, and algorithm. The autofocus on a DSLR camera can match the speed of a moving object to capture it while it is on the move.
The autofocus feature works at its best when it is quiet and has an uncluttered background.
When shooting or taking a photo of an animal or moving object, then you would need a different technique. For instance, if you’re taking a photo of an insect or a plant, (or even macro photography), then the manual focus would do the trick.
3. Crop or Full Frame
The larger the sensor (full-frame sensors), the better the photo. But you shouldn’t get it twisted. Just because a sensor is smaller than others doesn’t mean that it would produce inferior or pictures of no quality.
No, it only means that it would not give you as many details as the full-frame sensor, but you can still take a great photo.
Now, you may not get a full-frame sensor camera easily, because the cropped sensor is cheaper to make, making it easy to buy. This is why you can also use a cropped sensor to take good photos of animals.
4. ISO
To get good photos, you would need a camera that can automatically change the ISO setting. More often than not, you would need to take pictures of the birds outside. Which would only mean that you would have to use a low ISO setting since the background is lighted, for you to get quality photos.
The natural light would mean that the ISO setting has to be low. But in instances where you’re shooting your film in a dusky area (when the sun is about to set) or during twilight, then you might want to consider turning up the ISO so you can let in enough light to your camera lens.
As a photographer, you should know when to use what level of ISO. Thus, high ISO for backgrounds with low light (in most instances), and low ISO for a room that is well lighted. When you know how to set up the ISO for a particular scene, you would be able to control the noise in the picture.
4. Lenses
Finally, (but not the least), the lenses of the camera are another thing you would have to look out for. When selecting a lens, pay extra attention to finding what you want.
First of all, make sure your lens is compatible with the camera you have. Ensure it can fit the mount and sensor of the camera. Lenses help to clarify and add more beauty to the photo. Ensure that you find quality lenses. Like lenses from Nikon, or Sony, Canon, Panasonic, and Olympus amongst others.
Final Words On Best Camera For Birding
Bird photography and filming can be a thrilling experience. But you don’t want to turn something that is supposed to be fun, into something undesirable. One way you can do this is by getting cheap and unreliable gears.
Get a good camera and gear to have one of the most memorable experiences.
The Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera is my favorite camera and the one I am currently using, and for good reasons too. It has one of the fastest autofocus systems when it comes to cameras, and its image resolution is something else.
It also has other amazing features like a tilting touchscreen, low-light capabilities, lock-on features, and Bluetooth connectivity among others.
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