What camera should I get for bird photography?

Looking to purchase a camera to enhance your birding experience? Not sure how to even start searching for the gear you need? Read more for tips on how to choose what you really need for yourself!

This is a question I am frequently asked when bird watching. Not how many species I have seen, or where I usually go to bird watch. Cameras are very important tools for birdwatchers. Some seek to verify the identity or collect a database of the birds they have seen, while others aim to see the birds in a new stunning light through the art of wildlife photography. Summary of camera types Camera Type Price Portability ImagingProficiency Does it suit my needs? DSLR Often sold second-hand as many models are discontinued. Comparatively cheaper due to older technology. Household names are Canon EF and Nikon F. Can be combined with many varieties of lenses depending on desired photo ●●●●○ ●●○○○ ●●●●● Recommended if you are keen to take high-quality photos of birds, or photos in challenging lighting conditions. Mirrorless Similar to DSLR, but more compact thanks to newer technology Modern, sophisticated, and can be expensive. Household names are Canon RF, Sony a7, Nikon Z. Like with DSLRs, can be combined with many varieties of lenses depending on desired photo ●●●●● ●●○○○ ●●●●● Recommended if you are keen to take high-quality photos of birds, or photos in challenging lighting conditions. Bridge Camera Integrated lens cameras that are versatile and medium-sized. Not as fast as DSLR and Mirrorless cameras. Household names are Canon SX70, Sony RX10IV, Nikon P900. Lens cannot be changed, but focal lengths are often very long ●●●●○ ●●●○○ ●●●●○ Recommended if your main aim is to capture mid- to high-quality photos of birds, or record shots of faraway birds encountered. Digicam Small compact cameras that millennials and older might be familiar with. Household names are Lumix, Canon PowerShot, Nikon Coolpix. Lens cannot be changed ●●●○○ ●●●●● ●●○○○ Recommended if your main aim is to simply document the birds encountered, but far birds will be difficult to photograph. Adaptor for Binoculars/Scopes Allows photography through mobile phones and scopes or binoculars. ●○○○○ ●●●●○ ●●○○○ Recommended if you mostly don’t take photographs, but aim to document the birds encountered. However the birds must generally be stationary for them to be photographable. What do you need, exactly? “In this economy!?” Cameras have always been expensive; a mid-range set of camera equipment can cost as much as 20% of a BTO down payment! It is no surprise that many people buy their camera gear second hand to save costs. The good news is that there are plenty of people selling used camera gear after upgrading theirs, and a good proportion of these cameras have either only seen birds, weddings, events, or the dark innards of a dry cabinet. But even then, the camera you truly need might not even cost so much! Do you wish to simply document the birds you encounter, or do you want to explore portraying wildlife in your own style? Even wildlife photography might not require high-resolution cameras, unless you want incredibly close-up images of birds, or want to print your images large (like cover-your-room’s-wall large!). Choosing the perfect fit for your needs might seem difficult, so here are some considerations on how to find what you need. Types of cameras There are many kinds of cameras, and when specifically talking about cameras used for bird photography, Interchangeable Lens Cameras and Bridge cameras come to mind. Interchangeable Lens Cameras come in two flavours – Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLRs) and Mirrorless cameras. On these cameras, you can change the lens of the cameras to suit your needs. Want to take some streetscape pictures? Put on a short lens with a wide field of view. Want to focus on bird photography? Attach a lens that is long enough for your needs (a focal length of at least 300mm is generally recommended for bird photography). This versatility also means that you will need to purchase both a camera body and a compatible camera lens (they need to have the same lens mount). Interchangeable Lens Cameras are future proof as you can upgrade either camera body or lens, and still can use the other!. DSLRs cameras are slightly older than mirrorless cameras, and the latter is more compact, but both are recommended if you are hoping to capture high-quality images of birds. Bridge cameras are cheaper and usually cost around $1000 +/- $400, and the lenses are integrated into the camera body itself. This means that bridge cameras are incredibly compact despite having long focal lengths (the longer your focal length, the more zoom you have). But as they don’t get as much attention as other mainstream cameras, they usually have outdated image sensors or hardware that is limited in their capabilities. Having said that, some bridge cameras can produce better results than entry-level DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras, so don’t underestimate their capability! A little bit more about the cameras’ histories Common Kingfisher DSLRs have evolved from the film SLRs of the 1990s, and thus have two mirrors, one to reflect an image down to an autofocus...