Nature photographers have a unique passion and must-have equipment that the average photographer would never need to carry. For image quality, a camera for nature photography should always offer the best resolution and lots of dynamic range.
Nature photographers need a camera that has a good tilting LCD, good battery life, and in-body stabilization. Additionally, the best camera for nature photography must be waterproof and have a sturdy high-quality build.
Nature Photography
Buying a camera for nature photography is overwhelming. You’ll often visit several websites and create a list of your top 3 before making a purchase.
Well, we are here to make this choice a little easier for you. These cameras are often expensive but the good news is that we have simplified this search for you by grouping the cameras by category and price range.
Mirrorless Cameras for Nature Photography
Mirrorless cameras, our favorite, are the latest craze for serious photographers. These mirrorless cameras are fast and made for the digital age.
Keeping it simple, mirrorless cameras no longer have the internal mirror system of a DSLR camera and uses a mechanism that allows light to pass through the lenses and directed to the image sensor.
These new cameras pack large image sensors in compact camera bodies. When it comes to mirrorless cameras for nature photographers, Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic are dominating.
These mirrorless cameras may be the best choice for nature photographers because of the speed, simplicity, and lightweight compact bodies. The prices of these cameras range from $500 to $6,000.
Best High-End Mirrorless Camera for Nature Photography
The $3,000 Sony a7R III is the best camera in the market right now for nature photographers. This camera is the 1st full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor with a 42.4MP, 5-axis optimized in-body image stabilization, and 4K video recording.
The $2,000 Sony a7R II is an amazing high-end runner-up.
Best Mid-Range Mirrorless Camera for Nature Photography
The $1,100 Sony Alpha 6500 is a great mid-range camera for nature photographers. This camera has the fastest autofocus (technology is amazing), 4K video recording, image stabilization, and is weatherproof.
Best Low-Range Mirrorless Camera for Nature Photography
The $500 Panasonic Lumix G7 is a great budget camera for nature photographers. This camera has excellent 4K video recording, fast-tracking, and quick autofocus.
DSLR Cameras for Nature Photography
DSLR cameras have heavier bodies with interchangeable lenses. These cameras have large sensors and take beautiful photos. DSLR cameras have adjustable shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and other adjustments.
These DSLR cameras are still the popular choice for nature photographers because of the adjustability, image quality, and control. The prices of these cameras range from $500 to $4,000.
Best DSLR Camera for Nature Photography
Based on the research on popular photography websites, the $3,300 Nikon D850 is the best DSLR camera for nature photographers. This camera has amazing full autofocus and a continuous shooting feature. 4K Ultra HD video recording at 120 FPS, tilting touchscreen, Focus Shift shooting, and outstanding battery life.
The $3,100 Canon EOS 5DS R is a great low-range runner-up.
Camera Lenses for Nature Photography
Remember that nature photography is an investment. Try not to focus too much on the camera without considering the lenses.
These prices of these camera lenses range from $200 to $25,000. Camera lenses offer awesome additional features and are a must for serious nature photographers.
Some additional features include manual focus override, huge aperture, higher mm focal lengths, and more image stabilization.
Best Camera Lenses for Nikon Cameras
For photographers that love Nikon, the $12,000 Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED is the clear winner. This lightweight and rugged lenses have a quick f/2.8 maximum aperture, Silent Wave Motor autofocus, and a full-time manual focus override.
The $600 Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm is a runner-up that offers fast apertures and image stabilization.
Best Camera Lenses for Canon Cameras
For photographers that love Canon, you’ll want to look at the $1,200 Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM as it is one of the best lenses for Canon owners. These lenses have great autofocus and stabilization. These lenses are heavy so a tripod will be necessary.
The $1,800 Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II is a runner-up that offers 1:2.8 maximum aperture and 34-degree to 12-degree diagonal angle of view.
Conclusion
As we said, nature photography is serious and this equipment costs a lot. You’ll want to test out nature photography with a cheaper camera before spending thousands on this expensive gear.
Related: Sony DSLR Cameras, DSLR Cameras