Are you struggling to understand the wildlife photography gear you need? Do you want to know the types of gear that wildlife photographers use?
Don’t worry.
Because this article is all about gear for wildlife photography. You’ll discover the importance of different cameras, different lenses, and more. And you’ll come away knowing the gear you’ll need to become a wildlife photographer.
You see, photographers often claim that it’s
not the photography gear that matters; it’s the skill of photographers.
And this is generally true.
But when it comes to wildlife photography…
Gear really is a big deal. Without the right
gear, you won’t be able to snag sharp photos of distant wildlife. You won’t be
able to grab gorgeous action shots, nor will you be able to get close enough
for frame-filling bird photos.
Essential Wildlife Photography Gear
Are you ready to learn all about gear?
Let’s get started.
1. Camera for Wildlife Photography
When it comes to choosing a camera for wildlife photography, you have two real options:
Mirrorless cameras and DSLRs.
Traditionally, DSLRs have been the go-to
camera models for wildlife photographers. While mirrorless systems have
threatened to knock DSLRs off their throne, wildlife photography still leans
heavily toward DSLRs–because DSLRs offer a few key features that mirrorless
cameras struggle to match.
Canon 5D Mark IV – one of the most popular DSLRs for wildlife photography
First, DSLRs offer optical viewfinders. This means that you’ll be able to track moving wildlife through the lens, which is often easier than using an electronic viewfinder (EVF), especially if that electronic viewfinder involves lag. If you do decide to go for a mirrorless camera, make sure that the EVF is of very high quality.
Related article: EVF vs OVF: Optical vs Electronic Viewfinder Battle
Second, DSLRs offer more lenses to choose from
than mirrorless cameras, especially in the wildlife photography area. And while
some mirrorless systems do give you access to high-quality, wildlife-focused
lenses, they’re generally prohibitively expensive.
Whichever type of camera you choose, it’s important that you pay attention to a few specifications. You’re going to want a camera with a good number of autofocus points (and make sure as many are cross-type as possible).
See also: Best Affordable Camera for Wildlife Photography
You should also aim to get a wildlife
photography camera with high-speed continuous shooting. At least five frames
per second is decent for wildlife photography (though 7 or 8 would be better,
and 10-15 is superb).
Fujifilm X-T3 – very capable mirroless APS-C camera for wildlife photography
Finally, many wildlife photographers prefer to use crop-sensor (APS-C) cameras, because the corresponding crop-factor gives them more reach.
Related article: Full Frame vs APS-C Cameras: Which Do You Need?
While full-frame cameras tend to perform better in low light (which is a common situation for wildlife photographers), the additional reach is beneficial in all sorts of situations.
2. Lenses for Wildlife Photography
Choosing a wildlife photography lens is one of the most difficult tasks a beginner can undertake.
Because there aren’t many options, all things considered, and pretty much every option is expensive.
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 – one of the best high end lenses for wildlife photography
You’ll probably be tempted to go with a telephoto zoom, one that extends to 300mm. But the truth is that 300mm is pretty difficult to use for wildlife; it’s just too short. If you’re using a crop-sensor camera, then you should aim for at least 400mm (where 300mm is an absolute last resort). A 500mm lens is often better, but it’s hard to find 500mm lenses with low prices and good optics rolled into one.
See also: How to Take Professional Wildlife Photos
Note that you’ll want a lens with fast autofocus capabilities (for tracking wildlife), as well as sharp glass.
A wide maximum aperture (of at least f/4) won’t go amiss, either. And you may want to think about size and weight. If you’ll often be traveling, it may make sense to use a shorter focal length and sacrifice the extra reach for size. On the other hand, if you don’t mind using a tripod on some occasions, a bigger lens will do just fine.
Fujifilm XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 – becomes 600mm lens on APS-C camera
Ideally, your lens will have a solid build quality and weather sealing; this is important for those wildlife photographers who really subject their gear to difficult conditions. And while that may not be you right now, it’s worth considering whether you’ll be like that in the future.
3. Tripod for Wildlife Photography
A tripod isn’t a necessity when it comes to wildlife photography.
But it is very helpful.
See also: Wildlife Photography Camera Settings
Wildlife photography is often done with big lenses in variable lighting conditions, and the light is often poor. Even if you’re shooting during a nice evening, you’ll still end up with somewhat low light–and wish that you had a way to stabilize your setup.
That’s where a tripod comes in.
See also: Fast Shutter Speed Photography
I’d recommend getting a tripod that can get
down low, so that you can shoot on a level with your subject. You’ll also want
something lightweight (so carbon fiber legs are the way to go), and decently
stable. But note that a wildlife photography tripod doesn’t have to be
rock-solid. It’s stabilizing your equipment, not letting you take long
exposures.
Sirui W-2204 Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod
If you don’t like tripods and would prefer to
go without one, you can make sure that your lens includes some form of image
stabilization. This will compensate for much of the camera shake introduced by
the lens size.
4. Teleconverter for Wildlife Photography
A teleconverter allows you to extend your
lens’s focal length beyond its native options.
For instance, a 2x teleconverter doubles your
focal length, so a 400mm lens would become an 800mm lens.
This is great for wildlife, except that you
lose light when using a teleconverter, so you have to balance the loss of light
against the value of the extra reach.
Teleconverters also have quality issues; slapping on a teleconverter degrades image sharpness, and so you should be careful. If your lens is ultra-sharp to begin with, you can often get away with a 1.4x or a 2x teleconverter. But poor-performing lenses will rarely do well with teleconverters.
See also: Budget Options Lenses for Bird Photography
Not to mention that plenty of lenses won’t
actually autofocus with teleconverters, so you’ll need to do a bit of research
before buying. Lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or f/4 are a good bet,
but if your lens includes a variable aperture (e.g., f/4.5-5.6) then the
teleconverter probably won’t work.
Here’s the bottom line:
Teleconverters can be useful, especially on
shorter lenses. But there are plenty of wildlife photographers who don’t use teleconverters,
so don’t feel obligated to buy one.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a sense of the
wildlife photography gear you need–and how to choose from among your many
options.
So I recommend you grab the gear and get started
shooting as soon as possible. Wildlife photography is thrilling, and there’s
nothing to be gained by waiting!
