Bird photography is one of the few genres that people continue to love and adore. It is also a challenging genre, one that requires better read-out speeds and a sensor that can capture the details with ease. Keeping this in mind, we bring you a few models that can help and won’t cost much.
Nikon Z7 II
The Z7 II is a great camera for multiple reasons. It is weather-sealed and features an autofocus that works well in low light, giving you results similar to those on the Nikon D850. In low light, we missed only 10-15% of our shots. The focus also included adorable kittens and subjects such as stationary pups. The dynamic range is good, the details are nice, and the high ISO results are clean up to ISO 6400, and softness begins if you push to ISO 12,800. As we explained in our review, “the Z7 II has colors that are similar to those from my D850. With the right lens, the colors are vibrant and punchy without being too overbearing.”
Sony a7r III
The Sony a7r III is a 35mm full-frame camera with fantastic autofocus in various situations. The low-light capabilities are you, and if you are tracking subjects, you can do so with ease. “We also tested Animal Eye AF with the lions at the Bronx Zoo–whose faces and eyes were detected by the Sony a7r III with Animal Eye AF activated,” we explained. The image quality is great, the colors are nice, and the best images come from slightly underexposing your photos. RAW files are versatile, and the weather sealing is great as well.
Yes, we know. It’s old. But it’s also really affordable if you get it used.
Canon EOS R7
The Canon R7 is one of the robust APS-C cameras on the market. It can withstand rain, and the design is good enough for you to have a pleasant experience in your hands. Talking about its autofocus, we said, “Overall, the Canon EOS R7 has to be one of the best APS-C cameras I’ve tested when it comes to autofocus.” The focusing system is fast and accurate, and does a decent job in low light, too. The JPEG quality is pretty nice, the colors are vibrant, and the RAW files are versatile. Overall, bird photographers will have a reliable camera with them.
Fujifilm XT5
The XT5 is another APS-C camera that is an ideal option for bird photography. It has the same sensor as the XH2, so photographers can capture a lot of detail. You have nice weather-sealing, a retro body, and autofocus features that work well with animals. The camera’s strength lies in the image quality, the colors are nice and Fujifilm film simulation makes it a great option for nice portraits of birds.