1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best pro
4. Best beginner
5. Best affordable
6. Best for speed
7. Best enthusiast DSLR
8. Best super-zoom
9. How to choose
10. How we test
Tracking down the best wildlife photography camera can seem trickier than spotting a rare species on safari. Luckily, we’ve tested and tried all of the top models out in the field to help you set your sights on the best choice for your needs and budget.
All of our recommendations are rooted in real reviews: our expert team has tested nature cams for pros and amateurs alike. For hobbyists, we reckon the small, smart and sturdy OM System OM-1 is the best wildlife photography camera right now. Its Micro Four Thirds format makes it and its lenses handy to carry, while speedy performance and sticky autofocus give it remarkable versatility for wildlife fans, especially for birds. It's has a successor, the OM-1 II, but for wildlife photography you won't notice a difference between the two cameras and the original model is much cheaper.
If you're serious about your safari photos, we highly recommend the Nikon Z9 for professional wildlife photographers. Pairing a powerful stacked sensor with a shutter that’s electronic only, the heavyweight powerhouse benefits from truly rapid autofocus skills and a sharp 45.7MP full-frame resolution. Beginners should check out a super-zoom camera and there's two in this guide, including the Sony RX10IV which is a powerful all-in-one package. You'll also find handy buying tips below, plus our built-in price comparison tool, covering everything you need here to capture your ideal wildlife photography camera.
Top 3 picks
Wildlife and the outdoors go hand in hand, so you'll need a dependable camera, with fast burst shooting to capture high-speed action, and one with telephoto lenses capable of getting you close to distant subjects. The options below are our favorite models covering a variety of budgets and needs, and you can use the links to fly down to our full write-ups.
The best wildlife camera overall
The OM System OM-1 is a rugged, versatile, smart and compact system capable of delivering speedy performance with its 20MP stacked sensor and unique computational photography modes.
The best pro camera for wildlife photography
Built like a tank, the Z9 is Nikon’s most powerful and durable mirrorless camera ever, complete with impressive burst shooting and autofocus performance.
Best for beginners
A whopping 83x optical zoom and maximum 2000mm focal length gets you close to distant wildlife subjects in this decent value super-zoom that's ideal for beginners.
Best by use-case
The best APS-C mirrorless for wildlife
Look past its limited range of native lenses, the EOS R7 is a fast, powerful camera that handles well and shoots excellent stills, though pros will want better build quality.
Best for speed
Sony set a new speed benchmark with the A9 III, a pro mirrorless camera armed with 120fps burst shooting and pre capture, plus the industry's best autofocus.
The best DSLR for wildlife enthusiasts
Pairing a deep grip and solid battery life with rapid performance and a high-res sensor, the EOS 90D is a DSLR for the mirrorless era.
The best super-zoom for wildlife
Our favorite super-zoom 'bridge' cameras boasts an impressively sharp and versatile 24-600mm f/2.4-4 zoom lens, 20.1MP stills and blistering fast burst shooting.
Tim is TechRadar's Cameras editor, with over 15 years experience in the photo video industry and most of those in the world of tech journalism. He is also a keen landscape photographer. Tim says, "We've included a mix of all-in-one super-zooms and interchangeable lens cameras in this guide, all of which have the potential to get you close to distant subjects and photograph them with clarity and speed. Adventurous wildlife photographers will need to spend a little more to bag a rugged camera able to withstand adverse conditions to keep on shooting."
The best wildlife photography cameras in 2024
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You'll find full write-ups for each of the best wildlife photography cameras in our list below. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best wildlife photography camera overall
OM System OM-1 sample images
✅ You want a rugged outdoors camera: OM System is the only brand to officially mark the weather-proofing rating of its cameras, in this case it's a rugged IP53-rating.
✅ You want a lightweight system: You'll really see the benefit of the MFT system when you add a super telephoto lens on the OM-1: most MFT lenses are so much smaller than full-frame equivalents.
❌ You want big images: Most of the other mirrorless cameras in this guide better the modest 20MP resolution of the OM-1.
❌ You shoot a lot in low light: Wildlife photography is often done in low light, and the image quality of the OM-1 won't compare favorably to the likes of the Z9.
We've called the OM-1 the "best Micro Four Thirds camera you can buy", but why is it the best overall for wildlife photography? It comes down to the OM-1's unique combination of system size, weather-proofing, image stabilization and autofocus skills. Full-frame cameras may have the edge when it comes to producing creamy bokeh and low light image quality, but the smaller MFT format lets you carry relatively small super-telephoto lenses that get you close to the action without breaking your back (or bank account).
Okay, the OM-1 isn't cheap, but it has come down in price since the OM-1 II was launched and the cameras are virtually the same, so for wildlife photography we recommend the cheaper OM-1. We think its new 20MP stacked sensor justifies the price for wildlife and action shooters, while our tests found that the OM-1 rattles through 10fps sequences (with the mechanical shutter), or 50fps (with the electronic one) quicker than its Olympus predecessors, and offers impressively sticky tracking autofocus for birds and animals. This can lose your subject when it's partially obstructed and the AF performance doesn't quite match the Nikon Z9 or Canon EOS R3, but those cameras are triple the price – and aren't anywhere near as convenient as the OM-1.
Our tests also found the OM-1 to have one of the most effective image stabilization systems around. Combine that with its handy computational modes like Live ND and its IP53-rated weatherproofing, and you have a unique mirrorless camera that's at home out in the wilds capturing photos (and video) that you simply might not be in the position to capture with weightier full-frame setups.
Read our in-depth OM System OM-1 review
The best professional camera for wildlife photography
Nikon Z9 sample images
✅ You need a dependable camera for most situations: Pros especially need a reliable tool, first and foremost, and they won't be let down by the Nikon Z9.
✅ You want resolution and speed
What's seriously impressive about the Z9 is that it outguns the similarly-priced Nikon D6, while boasting more than twice the resolution
❌ You want a lightweight system for long shoots: The Z9 is the bulkiest camera in this guide and heavier than Canon EOS R3 and Sony A1 rivals.
❌ You don't need the extra stamina: The cheaper and smaller Nikon Z8 can do just about everything the Z9 does for wildlife photography, save for its lesser battery life.
Nikon's flagship Z9 is as tough as they come and well suited to the rigors of wildlife photography, even if it is on the heavier side. You get sealed magnesium alloy body, built-in vertical grip for impressive battery life plus horizontal and vertical shooting, illuminated controls for working in low light and a fantastic two-way tilting touchscreen. Nikon knows how to make cameras that are a pleasure to use.
The Z9 is also a powerhouse that can keep up with the most intense wildlife action. It as a stacked 45.7MP full-frame sensor with virtually no rolling shutter distortion, reliable subject tracking autofocus that includes various animal detection modes, plus it's a powerful video tool capable of capturing crisp video at 8K/60p or 4K/120fps. Oh and it'll shoot at 20fps with continuous autofocus and autoexposure for as long as you like without skipping a beat.
Compared to its flagship rivals, the Z9 is decent value, although you can get virtually the same performance for wildlife photography from the smaller and cheaper Nikon Z8. And if you're regularly out for long wildlife shoots, the substantial form factor of the Z9 is a major drawback, while there are better viewfinders elsewhere. However, the Z9 is a dependable and extremely powerful pro-grade tool, blessed with some fantastic lenses to choose from.
Read our in-depth Nikon Z9 review
The best beginner camera for distant wildlife
Nikon Coolpix P950 sample images
✅ You want an all-in-one package: There's no extra costs here like with mirrorless and DSLRs: the P950's lens is built-in.
✅ You're starting out: The P950's 83x optical zoom is perfect for distant wildlife, however, seriously photographers will want better image quality.
❌ You want quality over versatility: For the best quality pictures look elsewhere: the P950 is all about that versatile zoom.
❌ You're used to touchscreens: Used to touchscreens? Start adjusting, the P950's vari-angle screen isn't touch sensitive and you'll need to use the camera's physical controls instead.
Sitting below the Nikon Coolpix P1000 in terms of zoom range, we think the Coolpix P950 is actually the better bet for most beginner wildlife photographers. The P1000's 125x optical zoom extends all the way to 3000mm, but the P950's 83x zoom that has a 24-2000mm range is more than enough for starting out, and it's the cheaper camera of the two.
It might have Nikon's Coolpix label for compact cameras, but the P950 is a DSLR-style camera with built-in lens that we found it unwieldy at times. Still, you have that mega 83x zoom at your disposal that's able to capture sweeping vistas one moment and closeups of distant wildlife the next. The P950 was released all the way back in 2020 and is still available new. It updated the P900 by adding 4K video recording, a handy 2.4m-dot electronic viewfinder and 7fps burst shooting, though the same 16MP sensor remains. That sensor is similar in size to ones used average smartphones and so image quality is naturally compromised. However, the P950 is all about the versatility and can get you close to distant wildlife in a way that no other camera in this guide can. It's your ideal starting point.
Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix P950 review
The best APS-C camera for wildlife enthusiasts
Canon EOS R7 sample images
✅ You want performance on a budget: If you can't shell out for Canon's full-frame models, the EOS R7 is a more affordable route to excellent subject-tracking autofocus.
✅ You want high-speed burst shooting: Its small proportions and fantastic handling make the EOS R7 a lovely all-rounder to travel with.
❌ You want decent native lens choice: At the time of writing, the native RF-S lens range is limited; rivals like the Sony A6600 and Fujifilm X-H2S are better served.
❌ You want the full-frame experience: The EOS R7 works wonders with its APS-C sensor, but it can't compete with full-frame alternatives when it comes to low light.
The larger full-frame format can be a hindrance when it comes to wildlife photography, and the crop sensor (APS-C) Canon EOS R7 is a case in point. In our review, we were majorly impressed by its class-leading 32.5MP stills that deliver sharp detail, its superb autofocus performance, rapid 30fps burst shooting speeds, plus its excellent in-body image stabilization, all of which combine to great effect for wildlife photography. Its full-frame cousins such as the EOS R6 Mark II still have the edge in low light scenes, but none-the-less the EOS R7 produced lovely images across a range of scenarios in our real-world tests.
We also found the EOS R7 to be a lovely camera in the hand, with a comfortable grip, balanced form factor and generous selection of direct-access controls. The EOS R7 is a decent video camera too, with uncropped 4K 60fps output, plus dual UHS-II card slots. The remaining drawback to Canon's crop sensor mirrorless cameras is the continued lack of native lenses, and no obvious high-quality contenders for telephoto perspectives. You can use Canon's pricier full-frame RF-mount lenses or use the Canon EF to RF adaptor and make use of Canon's DSLR lenses, but neither are ideal solutions. The likes of the Sony A6700 and Fujifilm X-T5 have better lens choice.
Read our in-depth Canon EOS R7 review
The best professional wildlife camera for speed
Sony A9 III sample images
✅ You need the speediest stills camera available: 120fps burst shooting and one second pre-capture? You're equipped to capture key wildlife moments.
✅ You shoot in challenging environments: The A9 III is Sony's toughest mirrorless camera able withstand a range of weather conditions.
❌ You want the most amount of detail: The A9 III is a speed monster, but stills are capped at 24MP.
❌ You're a low-light shooter: A drawback to the global shutter design is noisier images at high ISO settings compared to pro-grade rivals.
Sony made waves with the A9 III being the first camera of its kind to feature a global shutter. The result is industry-leading high-speed performance, including 120fps burst shooting and, in a first for Sony, one second pre-capture. These features can be game-changing for certain wildlife photographers – for example you might miss the moment a bird takes flight from a branch, but pre-capture gives you one second grace, while the high frame rates can ensure you get the perfect capture of the bird's wings. Oh, and of course you get Sony's best ever subject detection AI-autofocus with various animal tracking modes.
If you have the need for speed, then the A9 III is our top pick, but it's not for everyone. It caps out at 24MP and it doesn't shoot 8K video, so if it's the best resolution you're after, look in the direction of the likes of the Nikon Z9. The global shutter that realizes those unbelievable speeds also has an adverse impact on low light image quality, while Sony opting for a CFexpress Type A card slot also limits the number of shots you take at peak speeds – we wish the A9 III utilized the speedier CFexpress Type B media instead. Those things aside, the A9 III can perform at speeds that no other camera can, plus it's out favorite camera for flash photography given there's no real limit on its flash sync speeds.
Read more: Sony A9 III review
The best DSLR for wildlife enthusiasts
Canon EOS 90D sample images
✅ You like a lot of pixels: With a 32.5MP APS-C sensor, the Canon EOS 90D produces detailed stills with lots of cropping flexibility.
✅ You want to shoot 4K video: Unlike a lot of beginner DSLRs, the EOS 90D can record 4K footage at 30fps, using the full width of the sensor.
❌ You already have an EOS 80D: Unless you need the option of 4K video, the Canon EOS 80D does a remarkable job of shooting stills.
❌ You shoot a lot after dark: Noise is well controlled at lower ISO values, but it becomes very evident at sensitives above 8000.
Canon is firmly focused on mirrorless cameras now, but that doesn't mean that you should ignore its dated DSLRs for wildlife photography. If you want a delicious blend of detailed images, high-speed performance and easy handling, as well as a decent choice of native lenses, we recommend the EOS 90D. Launched in 2019, it was Canon's first DSLR to sport a 32.5MP APS-C sensor, giving it a decent number of pixels for both cropping and producing large prints, as well as uncropped 4K video recording. It also packs impressive burst shooting speeds, enabling you to capture the decisive moment.
We enjoyed the EOS 90D's handling too. It boasts a mirrorless-beating 1300-shot battery, plus protection against dust and water. The vari-angle touchscreen provides clear viewing at awkward angles, while the optical viewfinder gives a bright and natural view of the scene. What we miss for wildlife photography in this camera the most, especially shooting with telephoto lenses, is in-body image stabilization to reduce the effect of camera shake in your shots – that's what the EOS R7 gives you. However, many of Canon's lenses have optical stabilization that helps. If you prefer DSLR over mirrorless, then the EOS 90D is a decent pick for wildlife.
Read our in-depth Canon EOS 90D review
The best super-zoom for wildlife photography
Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV sample images
✅ You want the best super-zoom available: The versatile and sharp 24-600mm F2.4-4.0 zoom still impresses today.
✅ You don't want a bagful of lenses: This all in one package is all you need to photograph anything from landscapes to birdlife.
❌ You want a low-price camera: The RX10 IV is the most powerful bridge camera available, and the most expensive.
❌ You shoot a lot in low light: Larger sensor DSLRs and mirrorless will get you better image quality in low light.
Released all the way back in 2017, the Sony RX10 IV is the best bridge (super-zoom) camera ever made and remains an excellent option for wildlife photography. It's 24-600mm F2.4-4.0 lens might 'only' be a 25x optical zoom, but it's much sharper than the Nikon Coolpix P950's lens and 600mm is a popular focal length wildlife photography, especially birds. The RX10 IV also boasts a larger 1-inch sensor and 20MP stills, and so image quality is better than the P950 in just about every way. The RX10 IV also benefits from a touch-sensitive screen, a stellar EVF and all round excellent handling. The five-axis image stabilization comes in handy when using that long lens. Need to shoot quick? The RX10 IV can shoot at up to 24fps, while it's a decent video camera too.
If you want the convenience of an all-in-one super-zoom, combined with the quickest performance and best image quality, the RX10 IV is our top pick. Its quite a bulky camera, but if you were to put an equivalent telephoto zoom lens on a mirrorless or DSLR camera, you'll soon appreciate the compact nature of the RX10 IV. It's not perfect: it's autofocus tech is getting on a bit now and a little sluggish at 600mm, and we've got our fingers crossed that a Mark V version could be on the way with today's tech.
- Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review
How to choose the best wildlife photography camera for you
Along with sports, wildlife photography is the genre that places the greatest technical demand on a camera. Wildlife subjects are often small, reluctant photo subjects, which means autofocus accuracy, and speed, are absolutely critical. You can all-but guarantee that subjects will appear in surprising locations, so a camera that can quickly detect a subject and drive the lens’ autofocus to the right distance is critically important.
You’ll also want a camera that offers good continuous shooting performance. This isn’t something you’ll need absolutely all the time, but for birds in flight, animals jumping, or other pouncing, feeding and hunting behavior, being able to rattle off a dozen frames a second – and in some cases even more – is incredibly useful. Yes, timing is everything, but sometimes keeping the shutter button held down and hoping for the best can yield equally spectacular results.
There’s more. If you’re going to shoot wildlife in regions like northern Europe, weather-sealing is vitally important, as you won’t want to let a spot of rain deter you from getting out. Things to look out for include weather-sealed buttons and switchgear, as well as sealing at the junction between lens and camera body. For those embarking on more far-flung adventures, dust-sealing will also save you a few bucks in repair bills. As ever, the best kind of camera protection is insurance.
There are a few other things to consider. If you’re heading off on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you might consider a camera with two memory card slots. This offers a bit of peace of mind – if a camera is writing every image to two memory cards at once, it doesn’t matter if one fails mid-shoot. Social media doyennes might also think about a camera with integrated Wi-Fi, which can allow you to send images to your phone, and then on to the wider web, without to hook things up to a memory card reader or a laptop.
How we test wildlife photography cameras
Buying a camera for wildlife photography is a big investment, so every camera in this guide has been tested extensively by us. We focus on real-world tests, including shooting a variety of animals, alongside standardized tests for factors like ISO performance.
To start with, we look at the camera's design, handling and controls to check it suitability for wildlife photography. When we take it out on a shoot, we'll use it both handheld and on a tripod to get a sense of where its strengths lie, and test its startup speed.
When it comes to performance, we use a formatted card to shoot in both raw and JPEG. For burst shooting tests, we dial in our regular test settings (1/250 sec, ISO 200, continuous AF) and shoot a series of frames in front of a stopwatch to see if it lives up to its claimed speeds. We'll also look at how quickly the buffers clears and repeat the test for both raw and JPEG files.
In various lighting conditions, we also test the camera's different autofocus modes (including Animal Eye AF, if available) in single point, area and continuous modes. The tests we run are usually relative to the camera's user level – for beginner models, we'll take them to the local zoo, but for pro models with more advanced wildlife photography features we'll take them for day out in a bird hide.
If the camera's raw files are supported by Adobe Camera Raw, we'll also process some test images to see how we can push areas like shadow recovery. And we'll also test its ISO performance across the whole range to get a sense of the levels we'd be happy to push the camera to.
Battery life is tested in a real-world fashion, as we use the camera over the course of the day with the screen set to the default settings. Once the battery has reached zero, we'll then count the number of shots to see how it compares to the camera's CIPA rating. Finally, we test the camera's video skills by shooting some test footage at different frame-rates and resolutions, along with its companion app.
We then take everything we've learned about the camera and factor in its price to get a sense of the value-for-money it offers, before reaching our final verdict on whether it deserves a place in our list of the best cameras for wildlife photography.
What are the best settings for wildlife photography?
Figuring out how to set up a camera for wildlife photography takes a bit of experience and, dare we say it, a spot of trial and error, but we can get you started.
Starting from the top, we’d suggest shooting in raw if possible. A raw file is the data gathered by your camera’s sensor and nothing else – by contrast, a JPEG has a round of processing and compression applied to it. The result is that a JPEG file is easier to use straight from the camera, and will look better thanks to the processing, as well as being smaller.
But a raw file will have more dynamic range – that is, areas of bright highlights and dark shadow will have more data within them, allowing you to tweak your photo’s exposure with more latitude than it could withstand if it was already processed and compressed. The single biggest drawback is file size – expect a raw file to be several times larger than even the least-compressed JPEGs, so you’ll need a bigger memory card and hard disk to capture the same number of images.
Which metering mode is best for wildlife photography? The straightforward answer is, “whichever gets you the exposure you want”, but we’re happy to give you something a bit more technical. Metering describes how your camera measures the brightness of the scene in front of it. Different manufacturers use slightly different terms to describe different metering modes, but virtually all interchangeable lens cameras will offer average, centre-weighted, and spot metering.
Average metering allows the camera to look at the whole frame, average out the range of brightness across the whole scene, then shoot an exposure that sits halfway (roughly) between the brightest and darkest points. This is an exceptionally simple metering mode to use when you’re shooting a scene that is evenly lit. If you’ve got a subject against a particularly bright or dark background, though, you might find average metering to be inaccurate, which is where centre-weighted and spot metering come in.
They’re close bedfellows – spot metering reads the brightness from the very centre of the frame, and will use that as the average brightness of the whole scene. If you meter from a dark background and your subject is brighter, it will turn out over-exposed, and vice versa. The upshot? For tricky, small subjects – particularly ones against bright backgrounds (think snow, but also birds in flight against grey skies), spot metering, and a bit of experience, are the ways to go.
Don’t be discouraged if your first experience with centre-weighted and spot metering are disappointing – a few missed exposures are absolutely par for the course, and part of your valuable learning experience.
- Check out our guide to the world's best cameras for photography
