Best Camera For Bird Watching 2020

For avid birdwatchers, the most desired piece of equipment next to a pair of binoculars is a good camera.

A good camera allows you to capture the most majestic of birds in motion that will result in memorable photos. 

Photography and bird watching are ever-growing hobbies around the world and this article will aim to explain everything you need to know about the best bird watching camera on the market today!

While we all have cameras in our smartphones, they lack the quality over long distances due to poor lenses.

Here are some key things to look out for:

Key specifications for bird watching cameras

Auto Focus (AF)

Today, even professional photographers are using the auto focus or AF on their cameras. Thanks to advances in digital technology, the AF feature can help you nail a perfectly focused image far quicker than you can execute with manual focus.

The good news is that virtually all digital cameras have automatic focus along with most of the lenses.

Different brands have different types of auto focus, such as Canon and their famous dual-pixel AF that is primed for video.

You’ll want to avoid cameras that have a slow auto focus function because it will still be searching when you try to take a picture or video of a moving bird.

Lens Compatibility

Generally speaking, all cameras have a mount which is designed for a certain type of lens.

For example, many Canon cameras have what is known as an EF mount.

This means that all lenses that are “EF” can be used with an EF mount camera.

Low Light Performance

The low light performance is how well the camera performs under dim conditions, such as cloud cover, dawn, or the twilight hour.

The lens does play a significant role in how well the camera picks up an image in low light conditions.

However, if you plan on shooting pictures or video under such conditions, then you’ll need a digital camera that offers a wide ISO range.

The aperture or F-stop level of the lens being used is important as well. The lower the F-stop, the faster the lens which means the more light it allows into the camera.

There are lenses with an aperture of 1.2 to 1.8 which are excellent for low light situations. As you get higher, you will need to boost the ISO level to compensate.

ISO Equivalence

The ISO equivalence is related to the American Standards Association or ASA ratings for film.

Put simply, the lower the ISO number, the more light is needed to generate an image in the camera.

An ISO of 100 for example is often used for outdoor photography and videography under bright conditions.

Darker conditions generally require a higher ISO number.

The trade-off is that the higher ISO will take images or video in darker conditions, but the result will be more grains in the photo or video.

It will not be as sharp or clean as one taken with a lower ISO.

However, recent advances digital technology have resulted in noise reduction programs which help smooth out the image or video taken at a high ISO setting.

Plus, a higher ISO level will reduce the motion blur. This can help when taking photos of birds in flight for example.

The trick is finding the right ISO equivalence with the proper lens to get the clearest picture with the least amount of motion blur.

Digital Camera Sensor

The sensor on a digital camera is equivalent to the film in an older film camera. The sensor converts the optical image into an electronic signal which is then recorded into the memory card or storage.

Camera sensors come in different sizes, but the two most common terms are full frame and crop.

As implied, a crop sensor is smaller than a full frame sensor, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is worse choice.

Most professional-level cameras have a full frame sensor while prosumer and consumer-level cameras have the smaller crop sensor.

A full-frame sensor has advantages in terms of getting more information across a wider range, but otherwise the function is the same as a crop sensor.

Frames Per Second & Burst Rate

Frames per second or FPS to the number of frames in a video that is take per second of time.

The most common are 24FPS which is most associated with movies or film and 30FPS which is most associated with standard video.

Shooting at a higher frames per second rate such as 60FPS or 120FPS allows you to slow down the footage in post-production which is great for videoing hummingbirds and the like.

Burst rate refers to the number of photos that can be taken in one second. A burst rate of 6 means that 6 photos are taken per second over the length of the burst.

The higher the burst rate, the more photos that can be taken in a short time. This is often used by professional photographers and is well-suited for birdwatching as well. 

Teleconverter

This is a device that extends the range of a telephoto lens. For example, if you have a 70mm – 200mm lens which is common for birdwatching and add a teleconverter with a 1.7x zoom, that transforms the lens to a 199mm – 340mm.

However, the drawback is that the aperture is reduced which means that you will have to increase the ISO count to compensate for the lost light.

Five Things to Look for when Shopping for a Bird Watching Camera

When shopping for the right birdwatching camera, you will need to start with your budget.

You can spend several thousand dollars on a high-quality professional camera.

But unless you are shooting for a professional magazine, you can probably get away with a prosumer or even consumer-level camera if it is the right one for the job.

Stay Within Your Budget

The most important advice for any avid birdwatcher who wants to invest in a camera is that you can easily spend too much.

If you are shooting for a professional publication, then by all means invest in professional equipment.

But if you are shooting pictures or video for your own benefit, then you can save a considerable amount and still get excellent results.

• Set a budget level
• Remember to include accessories such as tripod, batteries, and the like
• Research before you buy

Long-Zoom Lenses

It’s quite possible that you’ll spend more on a good, professional zoom lens than you will the camera itself.

If you are out in the wild shooting photos or videos of birds at a distance, you’ll probably need a professional zoom lens that reaches to 200mm or beyond.

This gives you the zoom capacity to reach across considerable distances. Plus, you can add a teleconverter to extend the range if you want.

Tripod

In addition to the camera, you probably will want a good tripod to steady the shot.

This is especially true if you are going to video the birds. While many cameras and lenses have built-in stabilization, they are less effective the more you zoom into the subject.

A fluid-head tripod allows for smooth movement to capture the birds in action.

ND Filter

This is akin to having sunglasses for your camera lens.

A good ND filter will allow you to keep the aperture open, which lets in more light, and take a better-looking photograph or video.

Some lenses have built-in ND filters, but many do not. However, most ND filters are affordably priced and all you have to do is match it to the lens.

Extra Battery

Taking along an extra battery or two can be quite handy.

This is especially true if you spend hours out in the woods searching for birds.

Keep the extra battery in the camera bag and have it ready just in case.

The best birdwatching camera is one that fits your budget, offers the features you want, and is durable enough to hold up under different temperatures and environmental conditions.

If you can, go to a camera shop for additional advice on the type of camera that is best for your birdwatching needs.

But in the end it is your money and your time that will be spent taking photos or video of birds, so be sure to get the right camera, lenses, and accessories you need to do the job.

I have split up our recommendations between three categories below: