There are various cameras available for photographers in the market. Different cameras have their various features as per the requirements of users. If we talk about wildlife photographers especially for the beginners, it is hard for them to find and have the best camera for their wildlife photography.
Today, we will be reviewing and discussing that What is the best camera for a beginner wildlife photographer and what should he or she see before buying and selecting his or her camera.
The beginner wildlife photographers are very passionate and curious about shooting the best shots of wildlife either that is the photo of reptiles, animals, birds or mammals. As a beginner wildlife photographers need to have a good start. A good start is always possible when you have all your required gear.
Besides other gears, a Camera is the main thing and it should meet all specs for wildlife photography. As a beginner, it is hard to get one of the best cameras for wildlife photography when you don’t even know all the basics features and functionalities including the buyer’s guide.
Introduction
Table of Contents
What is the Best Camera for a Beginner Wildlife Photographer
So, looking at this issue and most commonly asked questions by the users over the internet that What is the best camera for a beginner wildlife photographer? Well, if you opt for a camera that has a telephoto lens where you may get a good photo but not the great ones because you may need a good lens and a nice body camera.
Because the wildlife photography deals with creatures/animals or birds that don’t wait for photographers to take the best shot. As they are not selfie lovers or models. It becomes difficult for the beginner wildlife photographer to get one best shot while objects are constantly moving. A beginner may opt for a camera that can get a shot of a snail moving slowly to a Cheetah chasing the deer. So, it is very important to have a camera that brings the wildlife in frame with the best results.
We have contacted different wildlife photographers and the camera dealers with questions in mind for a beginner wildlife photographer to opt for the best camera. And we have detailed our market research and online analysis below where a beginner photographer can easily pick his best camera for wildlife photography.
It is also very important to mention here that expensive cameras have the best results but looking at the passion of those beginner wildlife photographers who have not enough budget to start, we have also listed and reviewed some of the cheap cameras for beginner wildlife photographers as well.
Best Cameras for a Beginner Wildlife Photographers
- Nikon D500 DX-Format Digital SLR
- Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B Full-Frame
- Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera
- Fujifilm X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera
- Panasonic Lumix GH5 4K Digital Camera
1. Nikon D500 DX-Format Digital SLR
The Nikon D500 is a DSLR camera with the best resolution and NIKKOR lenses. It has a 20.9MP DX-format sensor with 5 image processor. The display of Nikon D500 is a touch screen LCD. You can record 4K Ultra High Definition UHD Videos with this camera at a rate of 30fps. NFC, Bluetooth, and built-in WiFi are also featuring in this camera.
It has also Group Area AF and 180k pixel RGB sensor. It can shot 200 frames with 10 fps settings which is a good start for beginner wildlife photographers. Also, it has in-camera time-lapse frames about 9999 as well.
This camera provides the best results in dark or at night as well. It takes advantage of a small light in dark to come up with the best shot. If a beginner wildlife photographer needs some shots in dark or at night, this camera can go for it at this price.
Moreover, it is light and sleek in design which can be your travel companion. While moving in train or fast car, you can even use it to capture images with the best result. It has EXPEED 5 processor that can process images fast enough as 10 frames per second. Either it is your moving car or fastest animal in the world Cheetah chasing deer, you as a beginner wildlife photographer would get good shots with it.
Looking to take shots in the Dark? Well the Nikon D500 with ISO range 100 to 51,200 which is expandable to Lo 1 and Hi 5, and -4 EV makes it possible to get high-quality images in the dark. So, beginners can use it with these settings as well.
Besides, it has new XQD technology of reading and writing of memory card that is fast enough to process and read/write your images quickly. It has also dual memory card slots for extra storage and more backup of your photos and videos.
You can share your photos through built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC (Near Field Communication) without waiting too long to express your joy.
Lastly, it has been made to be used in extreme weather conditions as dust, water and weather resistance. Either you take shots in rain or deserts, it provides you mind of satisfaction.
2. Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B Full-Frame
While discussing and reviewing the cameras and not talking about Sony Cameras it will be incomplete. The a7 III camera of Sony is included in the list of the best cameras for a beginner wildlife photographer because of its multiple features and quality.
It is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera with a resolution of 24.2 Mega Pixels with a rate of 10 Fps and ISO 51200 up to 204,800. The Exmor R Cmos sensor with high sensitivity provides high-resolution images. This sensor also acts efficiently with the help of the Bionz X processor to make it possible in getting the extreme dynamic range of each detail and low noise.
The Bionz X processor is the latest processor technology that ensures superior processing, true color rendering, faster burst mode shooting, and better noise reduction. This new technology is 1.8 times higher and 2 times faster in data processing.
Besides these features, it has also a 4D focus of wider range with a super and fast number of phase-detection featuring 693 Phase-detection. Besides, you can record 4K HDR videos with this where a7 III features HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) picture profile as well which makes your journey of wildlife photography stunning.
The battery life of this camera is also very good where you can get 200 minutes approximately for recording a video with it, 700 to 710 shots of viewfinder and approximately about 590 to 615 shots of still photos.
As a beginner wildlife photographer, you can opt for this camera because of its multi-features and compatibility with all requirements like it can shot in dark as well. It is extreme weather-resistant and provides the best results at any angle. It can shot for you still images with 4D focus to fast running and move able objects.
The only thing about this camera is the price. The price of this camera is a bit higher than other normal cameras. However, if you want quality results so we don’t think it is expensive. Right?
In sum, a beginner wildlife photographer can go for this camera to begin his/her journey in the wildlife photography.
3. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera
Olympus is another renowned brand in the category of cameras that have been in the market for several years. Today we have included the OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera of the Olympus for the beginner wildlife photographers.
OM-D has 24.4 Megapixels camera which is optimum for the beginners and moderate users as well. The reason for choosing this camera is the results. It has been widely used around the world for various purposes.
With 24.4 MP of camera, it has a Live MOS sensor that can depict small and tiny info as well. It is a lightweight camera that fits well in the hand of the beginners to shoot steady and still images without pain in hands.
The speed of this camera is outstanding where you can capture full-resolution RAW images to 60 fps in S-AF and 18 fps in C-AF tracking. The dual autofocus system focuses on 121 points to detect phase detection and contrast detection where each phase has a cross-point detection to ensure the best tracking for moving objects.
Olympus has a 5-Axis image stabilization to provide 5.5 shutter speed steps. If you connect the lens of M.Zuiko Pro with it so the speed of shutter increases up to 6.5 shutter steps which is great working with lenses.
Also, with 5-Axis and smooth handheld 4K videos are easily recorded. Being light in weight and with the help of a folding screen, you can hold the camera in one hand to record 4K and C4K videos without any tripods or stands.
Like other cameras, it has also different modes for shooting images or recording videos. The pro capturing mode of Olympus provides wildlife photographers with full image resolution shots. In this mode camera buffers full resolution images of in a running series when the shutter button is pressed and released in halfway. After pressing the shutter fully and releasing it, capture 35 previous frames with all actual shots as well.
Besides these modes, it has High Res Shot mode that can capture 8 shots in a second to make it ultra high resolution shot while the silent mode reduces and removes all shutter noise, electronic sounds, and environmental sounds to come up with best results.
Another mode that has highly been used from users and we have also noticed that it is In-Camera Focus which is highly used for macro shots. This mode provides detailed colors in images while capturing macro photos of insects etc, which focuses on various focal points to get each detail in the image. This mode is also very highly appreciated by wildlife photographers and Olympus has that.
The most important mode in which we focused on the beginner wildlife photographers is the Night mode. The Olympus has live Composite Mode that enhances the quality of images and photos with best shots through lenses. Wildlife photographers can shot landscapes and cityscapes or even the animal’s herd moving at sunset with perfect pixels.
The Olympus has also built this camera to be weatherproof. It can be used while in rain and dusty weather. The Olympus claims it to be weatherproof construction i.e. dust-proof, freezeproof and even worry-proof to use in extreme and challenging conditions.
Battery backup of this battery is also good where you can get 90 minutes of battery backup recording movies, 150 minutes for capturing images without using zoom options.
In sum, Olympus OM-D is also one of the best camera for the beginners to start their journey with it. Being light in weight, you can make it your travel companion as well.
4. Fujifilm X-H1 Mirrorless Digital Camera
X-H1 of Fujifilm Digital Camera is listed for the beginner wildlife photographers that meet the required features for beginners.
The camera of the Fujifilm X-H1 is one of the best and highest performing camera in the X series of Fujifilm. It is also light and robust in a body that can be a best fit for beginners.
It has a 24MP camera with APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor that can control and sense 24.30 million pixels. It can record UHD 4K videos and has a fast processor of X-Processor Pro that acts fast to produce and display images/videos without lagging. It has a 3.0 inch of Three direction tilting LCD screen to facilitate the users while capturing its best shots.
It uses the X mount lens technology which is known for high-quality images with keen details provision. The lenses used in this technology range from wide-angle to super-telephoto lenses bringing out the best image quality.
X-H1 of FujiFilm has autofocus capability with 91 focus points up to 325 points and phase-detection about 50% to sides and 75% to edges from top to bottom. You can use AF-C settings which are custom autofocus setting including 5 preset setting from set 1 to set 5 and set 6 as custom settings. In these settings, you can set tracking, speed tracking sensitivity and zone area switching as well.
It has functions including color application to match the image colors and enhance your shots that provide you with sixteen film simulation modes. While shooting movies/recording videos, this camera features ETERNA which is ideal for shooting videos in a cinematic mode that processes the advanced and ideal colors in the recording. Flickering technology avoids disturbance and flickers in your shots in wildlife photography. While you are in wildlife photography, the thunder sounds and electric waves from clouds won’t affect your photography.
Working in extreme weather conditions, this camera is also built tough and robust. It can resist water, dust, shock, heat, and moisture. The magnesium alloy makes it a perfect camera to be used for wildlife photography where beginners are in the initial stage of photography so they must have a relief of sigh if their cameras are accidentally fallen.
The shutter button is a touch-sensitive that provides different shot modes for photographers. It is too much sensitive that FujiFilm has identified it to be a feather-touch button.
It has also remote connectivity feature that you can control and shoot with the help of your smart device when connected wirelessly through Bluetooth. Which is a great feature for beginners and all wildlife photographers?
Like other cameras, FujiFilm has also introduced the night/dark mode function in this camera to avail the passion of your photography in dark or little light environments. So, the photographers can shoot images in very low light conditions without any issues.
Hence, wildlife photographers in the initial stage can use this camera as well to make their wildlife photography profession remarkable. The price is in the range for a beginner wildlife photographer with these features however, for battery backup you may need some extra cells to do more shots. Overall, this is the best camera for a beginner wildlife photographer.
5. Panasonic Lumix GH5 4K Digital Camera
Lumix GH5 4K digital camera of Panasonic has a beautiful and professional design with 20.3 Megapixels Live MOS sensor to capture sharp images. It has 4K 60p/50p smooth video recording quality with slowdown footage inside the timeline. While capturing photos it has 6K 30fps / 4K 60Fps photo burst.
This camera of Panasonic has also the 5-Axis technology with I.S. 2.0 blur eliminator where beginners wildlife photographers can get the best shots with little or minor shake while capturing images. This technology eliminates blur and enhances the quality of the image and video means that it acts as an image stabilizer.
Besides, this camera has also the capability to take photos in the dark / night mode. With advanced technology processor and lenses, it also takes advantage of any light available around to enhance the image. Wildlife photography in dark mode and at night is possible with this camera.
It has also 2 SD slots with three modes including Relay mode, backup mode and a simultaneous mode where relay mode swaps the data of full card to the empty one. Backup mode provides extra backup where you record the video on one card and saved on another card. The third mode is a simultaneous mode which duplicates all your data on both SD cards.
As for the connectivity is concerned, it can be connected via data cable and built-in Wifi is featured in this camera as well. Bluetooth and NFC are other available options for connections.
This camera like others is chosen for wildlife photography because it is also manufactured to be used in extreme weather conditions. It is water-resistant, dustproof, freezeproof and moisture resistant. While opting for this camera, you need not worry about the usage of this camera in such an environment.
Well, this is the best camera for beginners as well that fits in the list of wildlife photography.
These were the best camera for the beginner wildlife photographer. It doesn’t mean that these are the only ones but, you can go and check out more options available in the market. We have reviewed these cameras and found them to be the best fit in the category and answer to the question of users i.e. What is the best camera for a beginner wildlife photographer.
Our Final Opinion:
As said earlier in the introduction of this post, it depends upon your choice which brand you like either that is Canon, Nikon, FujiFilm, Olympus or Panasonic and the budget you can afford. If you can afford expensive and best Quality cameras so you must go for it. Otherwise, just go for a normal range camera where your passion and financial condition both are satisfied.
We hope that you would love this article, please let us know for any improvement and addition. We would love to update our information with the help of user experiences and new ideas.
Note: We have not detailed are physical information i.e. product information in this review but only those which were related to beginner wildlife photographers. So, you can check more about manuals and descriptions of the product on their manufacturer websites.