Wildlife photography is the preferred activity of many outdoor enthusiasts. It does not matter if you are watching birds or documenting plants and insects, getting close to nature, as part of a birdwatching tour, can be doubly fascinating if you have stunning photos to share. To help you get the best shot, you should check the best point and shoot cameras for birding.
1. Nikon Z9
High-speed photography is often mastered by specialized cameras, but the evolution of sensors has made it possible for cameras like the recent Nikon Z9 to reach spectacular levels. Its 45.7 MP sensor is complemented by an Expeed 7 processor that makes clear the strength of this model. The Nikon mirrorless camera is unique in its segment: it boasts an ultra-fast sensor capable of capturing up to 120 frames per second, each with a resolution of 11 MPixels.
This full format 47 MP camera stands out for its impressive image quality and its good dynamic range, but especially for its powerful autofocus, capable of pursuing all kinds of subjects even when they occupy little space in the frame. This is ideal for professional nature photography!
It also stands out for its impressive shooting speed (up to 120 fps with full AF/AE), its color treatment or the ability to work with high-efficiency RAW file formats that reduce file size without quality loss.
You can also read: Guide to ethical bird photography
2. Nikon D850
When Nikon introduced the D800 and D800E, it defined a new benchmark for DSLR image quality and for high resolution photography that focused on the medium format. But when the D850 was introduced, Nikon presented the new evolution of a high-resolution DSLR, a camera that allows photographers to capture fast movements in 45.7 megapixels of bright resolution.
At the heart of the D850 is a full-frame FX-format backlight CMOS image sensor, of 45.7 megapixels with no optical low-pass filter. It is a marvel of ingenuity, it achieves extraordinary image quality, better light capture efficiency, faster data reading and more real colors and virtually no risk of moire.
Image processing with EXPEED 5 will quickly process all 45.7 megapixels of data, and achieves lower noise, a wider dynamic range, texture details and subtle tones, a high-speed continuous firing of approximately 9 CPS1 and 4K UHD full frame video recording.
3. Sony Alpha 1
The Sony Alpha 1 is a great camera with a great price. In trying to make a whole camera that can do everything exceptionally well, Sony may have inadvertently created a special camera. The image processor working side by side with the sensor is a BIONZ XR chip that, according to Sony, is eight times more powerful than the processor incorporated in the previous flagship model of this brand.
This chip has a crucial role in video recording at 4K and 8K. It can record 8K video streams at 30 FPS with color encoding 4:2:0 to 10 bits in XAVC HS format. It can also record at 4K, 120 FPS 4:2:2 and 10 bits.
Another amazing component of this camera is its viewfinder, an electronic device equipped with an OLED display of 0,64″, which has a resolution of 9.4 million points. But what really makes it interesting is that it is capable of working at a refresh rate of 240 FPS, an update speed that should effectively minimize latency.
Finally, it is important to mention that the Sony Alpha 1 II is going to be announced next year.
4. Canon EOS R3
The Canon mirrorless Full Frame EOS R3 camera presents a new level of performance in professional nature photography. Thanks to a stacked BSI CMOS sensor developed by Canon, the EOS R3 offers a serial shooting speed of up to 30 fps with full AF/AE tracking. It also incorporates a revolutionary AF system with eye control that allows you to move the focus point by moving the eye.
For example, if you are photographing a flock of birds, you can isolate one of them thanks to a faster eye control than by changing the AF point or by moving the camera to choose the right bird. With the EOS R3, you can look anywhere in the frame to choose the right subject you want the system to follow, while respecting the composition.
The EOS R3 features an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) technology, offering industry-leading image stabilization of up to 8 steps when combining the EOS R3 with certain RF objectives, which provides unmatched flexibility in long focal lengths.
However, Canon’s future flagship camera, the EOS R1, is scheduled for the 2nd half of 2023 or even 2024. This new camera model will probably be equipped with an 85mp+ sensor, 24fps mechanical RAW burst and a big bump in sensor dynamic range.
These were the 4 best cameras for bird photography. Remember that a piece of equipment that is good for bird photography is usually good for wildlife photography and possibly for sports photography. That is why choosing the correct one is very important. We hope this information has been useful to you!
Colourful Birding invites you to discover beautiful bird gardens that can be visited and that create a space of protection for many animal species. Do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information about our bird photography travels.
