The 7 Best Cameras For Wildlife Photography - Black Friday 2021 Reviews

If you're looking for a mirrorless model, the best camera for nature photography that we've tested for most people is the Nikon Z 6II. It's a well-rounded full-frame camera with in-body image stabilization, which should help reduce camera shake and vibrations when shooting at longer focal lengths without a tripod. It also features two SD card slots, including one supporting high-speed CFexpress cards for a practically unlimited photo buffer for RAW and JPEG images.

The camera has a good autofocus system with 273 advertised detection points. While it's less reliable when tracking faces, it has an excellent success rate when tracking moving objects and should do well with birds and small animals. It uses a 24.5-megapixel sensor and delivers excellent image quality with fantastic RAW noise handling capability, meaning it performs well even at higher ISOs in low light or at night. Its max 13 fps continuous shooting speed should also be well-suited to capturing quick bursts of fast-moving action.

That said, its advertised 340 photo battery life is somewhat short for long days of shooting, although battery life can vary drastically depending on your choice of settings and usage habits. On the upside, you can keep using it while it charges via USB, which is handy if you have an external power bank. All in all, this is one of the best cameras for wildlife photography that we've tested thanks to its fast burst shooting, effective autofocus, excellent image quality, and low-light capability.

The best DSLR camera we've tested for birding and wildlife photography is the Nikon D780. DSLR cameras are a good choice for nature photography because of their optical viewfinders and vast selection of lenses. This model feels very well-built and comfortable to use, with an intuitive menu system and well-spaced controls that provide good physical feedback. Its magnesium alloy body is also advertised to be weather-sealed to protect against elements like rain and dust when you're out in nature.

While its continuous shooting burst speed isn't as fast as some mirrorless alternatives, it still shoots at a fast 8 fps in its high-speed drive mode, which should be suitable for capturing clear shots of birds or other animals. It also has a virtually instantaneous buffer empty time, meaning that even if you fill up the buffer, it shouldn't slow you down. Its overall image quality is excellent thanks to its full-frame 24.5-megapixel sensor, and it performs well even in low light, with incredible noise handling capability at higher ISO settings.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have in-body image stabilization, meaning you have to rely on the optical stabilization of your lens when shooting without a tripod. Still, with its kit lens attached, it does a superb job of stabilizing photos when shooting handheld. It also has a fantastic autofocus system that reliably tracks moving subjects to keep them in focus. All in all, this is one of the best DSLR cameras we've tested, and it's a great choice for wildlife photography.

If you're looking for a bridge camera, the best camera for wildlife photography that we've tested with a fixed superzoom lens is the Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 II. This bridge camera feels well-built and very comfortable to shoot with thanks to its DSLR-style body, which includes a large textured handgrip and a comfortable viewfinder. Its built-in lens has a 25-400mm equivalent focal length range, so you can easily zoom in on far-away subjects like birds or small animals.

While it can struggle to track faces consistently, the camera's autofocus system does a very good job of tracking moving objects. It has a couple of useful features like 'Focus Stacking', which lets you combine images taken at different focus points for a wider focal range, and 'Post Focus', which lets you change the focus point of an image after it's been taken, both of which may be useful for nature photographers. It also shoots at a speed of 10 fps in its high-speed continuous shooting mode, meaning you can take quick burst photos of fast movement.

That said, it has a small image buffer, especially when shooting in RAW format. It also has a long buffer empty time when shooting in RAW, which may interrupt your shooting, but on the upside, it empties its buffer virtually instantaneously when shooting in JPEG. It also delivers great overall image quality. Overall, this is a great value option if you're looking for a bridge camera for nature photography.

The best camera for outdoor photography that we've tested with a compact design is the Sony RX100 VII. If you need something small and portable for some light nature photography, a compact is a good option since you can easily take it with you wherever you go. It has a small pop-up EVF if you prefer to shoot through a viewfinder, and its built-in lens can zoom up to a max 200mm equivalent focal length to capture subjects that are farther away.

Its overall image quality is excellent, with incredible dynamic range, although it's less suited to shooting in dim conditions due to its smaller sensor. Its autofocus system is also fantastic, with 357 advertised detection points and a subject detection mode that lets you choose between people or animals. It shoots photos at a remarkably fast 20 fps in its high-speed continuous shooting mode to capture quick bursts of fast action. It also features a 'Single Burst' shooting mode that fires off a seven-image burst at speeds of 30 fps, 60 fps, or 90 fps for split-second action shots.

That said, it has a relatively small photo buffer, particularly when shooting in RAW, and it takes a very long time for its image buffer to empty once full, so that may interrupt your shooting. Its battery life is also sub-par, though this can vary with settings and usage habits. It does support use while charging via USB, however, which is handy if you have a portable battery pack. All in all, this is a good option for wildlife photography if you just want a point-and-shoot.