Choosing the Best Camera for Backyard Bird Photography
Bird photography is a beloved hobby for countless individuals. From amateurs to professionals, bird photographers flock to outdoor spaces – such as gardens and parks – to capture the birds’ skilful flying, dynamic poses and incredible colours. Capturing a bird in a still image can be a rewarding experience, but to do it right, the right cameras must be chosen.
Most of the time, the best bird photography comes from cameras that can work within confines of the backyard. We’ll discuss the key components of these cameras – focusing, speed, and sensor size – as well as providing some suggested models to help anyone who’s ready to get started.
Understand the Components of a Backyard Bird Photography Camera
The best camera for backyard bird photography is going to depend on three key components:
- Focus: Faster autofocus, and increased continuous focus tracking, are all key features for capturing birds in motion.
- Speed: Shutter speed and frame rate are also important for quickly taking sharp images.
- Sensor size: A full frame camera with a larger sensor provides better image quality and more dynamic range to utilize.
1. Focus
When it comes to bird photography, the autofocus system needs to be able to keep up with fast-moving subjects. If the camera isn’t able to keep up 24/7, the photographer will end up with blurry images. The focus system should also have a multiple autofocus point option to ensure that the most important areas of the bird (the eyes) are in focus, as well as a continuous focus tracking so that the camera can follow the bird as it flaps and moves around.
2. Speed
The speed of the camera is also important for capturing birds, especially those that move fast. The shutter speed needs to be fast enough to capture the bird in motion and the frame rate should be able to keep up with the birds speed to ensure that the shot is perfectly clean.
3. Sensor Size
Finally, the size of the sensor on the camera is going to drastically affect the image quality. A larger sensor will provide better image quality and more dynamic range to utilize, which is important when shooting in low light conditions or when the bird is far away.
Recommended Cameras for Backyard Bird Photography
Picking out the right bird photography camera can be a daunting task, so we created a list of recommended cameras to help you get started. Take a look at some of the most popular models below:
- Canon EOS 7D Mark II: This is a popular choice among bird photographers because it offers fast autofocus, an impressive 10fps burst mode and a 1.6x crop sensor. It also has dual DIGIC 6 processors for great performance.
- Nikon D500: This is a powerful camera from Nikon that offers a 20.9 megapixel DX-format sensor and a 153-point autofocus system. With a fast 10fps burst mode and 4K video capability, the D500 can be a great option for bird photography.
- Sony A7R IV: This is one of Sony’s flagship full-frame cameras and it features a 61 megapixel sensor and a 357-point autofocus system. The A7R IV also has an impressive 15fps burst mode, making it a great choice for those who need to capture fast-moving birds.
- Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: This is a compact mirrorless camera from Olympus that comes with a 20.4 megapixel Four Thirds sensor and a 121-point autofocus system. While it may not be as powerful as some of the other options, it does offer a 5-axis stabilization system for improved sharpness.
Each of these cameras offer great options for bird photography, so it’s important to consider your budget as well as the types of birds you plan to photograph. Birds come in all shapes and sizes and can move quickly, so it’s important to pick a camera that can handle the demands of capturing them in a still image.
Final Thoughts On Choosing the Best Camera for Bird Photography
Bird photography is a great way to capture the beauty of a species in still form. To get great images, it’s important to choose the right camera for the job. Pay attention to the focus, speed and sensor size features of each camera and pick one that is well suited for the type of backyard bird photography you plan to do. With the right camera, you’ll be able to capture stunning images of birds for years to come.
