Best cameras for wildlife photography 2024

Man using one of the best cameras for wildlife photography in a vehicle
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The best cameras for wildlife photography won't turn you into an award-winning photographer overnight, but they are an essential part of this genre and can get you well on your way to becoming one. Therefore, having a camera made specifically for the job is crucial.

Our guide features favorites for all skill levels and budgets, and if you want to make the most of your budget, Black Friday and Cyber Monday is the time to shop. There are some amazing Cyber Monday camera deals, including $500 off the Canon EOS R3 at Amazon (our choice for pros) and $600 off the Sony A7R V at Walmart — and our cameras writer has just bought one!

To go a step further, having a pair of the best binoculars would also be incredibly beneficial for wildlife photography — and we've found some fantastic Cyber Monday binocular deals. Many wildlife cameras can take good astro images, though the best astrophotography cameras perform better at night.

The quick list

The best cameras for wildlife photography we recommend in 2024

Why you can trust Live Science Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best camera for wildlife photography overall

Best overall: An absolute beast in every aspect, the Nikon Z8 is the best camera overall for wildlife photography.

Specifications

Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 45.7 Megapixels
AF points: 493 points
Animal Autofocus: Yes
Burst rate (Frames Per Second): 20 FPS RAW, 30 FPS JPEG, 120 FPS 11MP crop
Buffer capacity: 1000+ shots
Image stabilization: Yes
Weather sealed: Yes
Max video resolution: 8K 60p / 4K 120p

Reasons to buy

+
45.7MP resolution
+
Up to 120fps bursts
+
8K 60p video
+
Killer autofocus

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery could be better
-
120fps is only 11MP
-
No articulating screen
-
Occasional AF flaws
Buy it if

✅ You shoot stills and video: With 8K video and no recording limits or overheating issues, it excels at video as well as stills.

✅ You need a very high burst rate: The Z8 is capable of 120 FPS (albeit at 11MP) for anyone needing blisteringly fast shooting speeds.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want something lightweight and portable: It definitely looks and feels like a professional camera with quite a bit of heft to it.

❌ You're a beginner: The Z8 is pretty much completely reserved for the pros and enthusiasts with deep pockets — not to mention it would be overkill for anyone new to the hobby. The Canon EOS R8 is much better suited to beginners.

The bottom line

🔎 Nikon Z8: The Z8 is a technological marvel. With all the gusto and performance of Nikon's flagship Z9, but in a more compact and affordable body, the Nikon Z8 is a market-leading mirrorless camera. ★★★★½

When it comes to finding the perfect combination of detailed images, fast burst rate, good handling and accurate autofocus that meets the needs of the best wildlife photographers, we think the prize for the best camera for wildlife photography overall would have to go to the Nikon Z8.

Design: The Nikon Z8 is the first flagship camera from Nikon that doesn't have an in-built vertical grip, meaning it has much less of the weight and bulk of many of their other pro-level cameras, like the Z9. This opens it up to a much broader market, including wildlife photography, as the Z8 is much more pleasant to use handheld for longer periods. We thought the ergonomics were fantastic, with all the buttons being in easy reach where our fingers would naturally want to rest.

Performance: The 45.7MP sensor produces stunningly detailed images, even in low light. Thanks to its stacked sensor, it has better light-gathering ability and a faster readout speed to allow for faster shooting with less noise and more detail.

We used it to shoot wildlife during our Nikon Z8 review, and we were mightily impressed with the autofocus. While it wasn't perfect and there were times when it faltered, (although, not many), overall it's incredibly reliable and it finds, follows and focuses on moving subjects with insane accuracy. They've also now added a bird mode in their latest 2.0 firmware update — great news for bird photographers.

Functionality: You want a fast burst rate, too? You got it. While it can shoot at 120 FPS, the major caveat here is that those images are only 11MP, and in practicality, who is going to want to wade through hundreds of frames of basically the same image to find 'the one'? On a more realistic level, you can get 60 FPS with blackout between exposures, 30 FPS without blackout (although these are small JPEGs). For blackout-free RAW images, you'll have up to 20 FPS, which, for our money, is absolutely fine for the majority of wildlife shooters.

It's also fantastic for video, too. It can shoot up to 90 minutes of 8K 30p or 120 minutes of 4K 60p, which is leaps and bounds better than the overheating limitations of the Canon EOS R5. The tilt-only screen does limit its usability somewhat if you can't see the screen when shooting at certain angles, but it's not a dealbreaker.

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AttributesNotes
DesignSublime ergonomics, but we'd like a fully articulating screen.
PerformanceSuperbly detailed images and high resolution video.
FunctionalityCapable of 120 FPS... if you'd ever need it.

Best autofocus for wildlife photography

Sony A7R V

Best autofocus: With new AI autofocus technology and ridiculous resolution, this camera is on another level.

Specifications

Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 61 Megapixels
Autofocus points: 693 phase-detect
Animal Autofocus: Yes
Burst rate (Frames Per Second): 7 FPS RAW / 10 FPS JPEG
Buffer capacity: 583 compressed RAW shots
Image stabilization: Yes, 8 steps
Weather sealed: Yes
Max video resolution: 8K/25p, 4K 60p

Reasons to buy

+
Insane resolution
+
Best AF in the business
+
Bright & detailed EVF

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow burst rate
-
High ISO images are noisy
-
Files are huge
Buy it if

✅ You want high resolution: The 61MP produces stunningly detailed images.

✅ You need reliable autofocus: The AI autofocus detects and sticks to subjects like glue.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want sheer speed: The A7R V has the slowest burst rate on this list, so if you need speed, go for another model.

❌ You want to crank the ISO up: It can handle decent ISOs, but the 61MP sensor does introduce more noise than less detailed sensors. If you need to shoot in low light, we'd recommend the Nikon Z8.

The bottom line

🔎 Sony A7R V: For sheer autofocus accuracy and image resolution, it's a no-brainer. It's not the fastest option for wildlife, but if you don't need blisteringly high burst rates, you can't go wrong. ★★★★½

Design: One fantastic design feature of the A7R V is the articulating screen that would make a gymnast jealous. Most cameras either employ a tilt-only or flip-out screen, but the A7R V somehow has both, which is great for when you need to shoot at awkward angles.

Performance: One of its main selling points, and the area where the Sony A7R V wins out against most is its resolution. The whopping 61MP sensor captures breathtakingly detailed images, but it's worth keeping in mind that this also means very large files. We haven't posted a full review but we have thoroughly tested this camera, and the images we took are bright, sharp and true to life — we were blown away. The only camera that would rival it is the Sony A1 — it has a slightly lower 50MP resolution, however, the A1 has a superior stacked sensor.

If it's accurate autofocus you want, then look no further. With AI technology capable of predicting a subject's movements and even tracking their eyes when your subject isn't even looking at the camera, it's the best autofocus on the market right now bar none. It can detect any animal you point it at, and it even has a dedicated insect mode if you want to use it for macro wildlife photography.

Functionality: But we must address the elephant in the room — the burst rate is slow. It's capped at 7 FPS for RAW files and 10 FPS for JPEG images, which is the slowest on this list by a considerable margin, especially for such a new and capable camera. There is an argument to be made that you don't necessarily need a blisteringly fast burst rate due to the autofocus being so good that you will nail more of your shots by default, but this may not be the case if you want to shoot fast-moving animals.

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AttributesNotes
DesignArticulating screen is incredible.
PerformanceAI autofocus sticks to subjects like glue.
Functionality7 FPS is slow compared to other wildlife cameras.

Best professional camera for wildlife photography

The Canon EOS R3 is the best professional camera for wildlife photography. (Image credit: Canon)

Canon EOS R3

Best for pros: Move focus points by moving your eyeball (yes, really!)

Specifications

Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 24.1 Megapixels
Autofocus points: 4,779 (phase detect)
Animal Autofocus: Yes
Burst rate (Frames Per Second): 30 FPS electronic • 12 FPS mechanical
Buffer capacity: 540 JPGs, 150 RAWs (electronic) • 1,000+ JPGs, 1,000 RAWs (mechanical)
Image stabilization: Yes (up to 8 stops)
Weather sealed: Yes
Max video resolution: 6K 60p

Reasons to buy

+
True 30 FPS, remarkable buffer depth
+
Up to 6K 60p RAW video
+
Move focus points with your eye

Reasons to avoid

-
'Only' 24.1MP
-
No 8K video
-
Very pricey
Buy it if

✅ You want incredible autofocus: The Canon R3 has Eye Control autofocus, meaning you only have to look at your subject to focus on it.

✅ You need a fast burst rate: It has 30 FPS speeds with no buffering issues, something which lends itself to sports photography, too.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You're not a professional: Its capabilities and price will likely be too much for anyone not making money in the industry.

❌ You want lots of detail: One of the main drawbacks when compared to its competitor (Sony A1) is its 24MP resolution. If it's detail you want, go for the Sony A7R V.

The bottom line

🔎 Canon EOS R3: Canon's most advanced camera yet —highly capable, fast, extremely customizable and even has Eye Control autofocus. It's the obvious choice for professional wildlife shooters. ★★★★½

Design: Every inch of the Canon EOS R3 looks and feels premium. Like their other flagship models, it has a vertical grip to aid portrait orientation shooting, although, this is going to add a significant amount of bulk and weight to the camera.

Performance: The newest and most advanced camera on this list, the Canon EOS R3 is its top-tier professional mirrorless camera — and it's loaded with features that will be music to the ears of wildlife shooters. While it matches the Sony A1's 30 FPS burst shooting (and surpasses its buffer depth), its 24.1MP images are lower resolution than the 50.1MP shots from the Sony. That said, the A1's 30 FPS frame rate tends to fluctuate, while our experience with the R3 gave us true 30 FPS performance no matter what we were shooting.

Functionality: One thing the R3 has that no other camera can match is its Eye Control AF, which uses 8 low-power infrared LEDs in the viewfinder to map and track your eyeball. Once calibrated, all you have to do is look at your subject and the R3 puts the focus point on it — then you just half-press the shutter, the AF kicks in, and you shoot. This isn't intended for fast-moving subjects like birds, but if you're shooting a group of animals and you want to quickly focus on a specific one, this is the fastest way to move your focus points.

If that sounds a bit too Star Trek for you, the R3 has the same ghostly good animal AF system as the Canon EOS R5, so you get the same level of near-magic performance. Throw in 6K 60p RAW video and an optical smart controller that's faster than a joystick, this is a camera that's designed for premium performance.

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AttributesNotes
DesignLightweight and solid body with excellent weather-sealing.
Performance30 FPS burst rate with no buffering issues.
FunctionalityEye Control autofocus is incredibly impressive.

Best wildlife camera for beginners

Best for beginners: Canon's most lightweight full-frame camera is ideal for beginners who want to jump straight to full-frame.

Specifications

Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 24.2 Megapixels
Autofocus points: 1053
Animal Autofocus: Yes
Burst rate (Frames Per Second): 40 FPS electronic / 6 FPS mechanical
Buffer capacity: 85 RAW / 1000 JPEG shots
Image stabilization: Only in video
Weather sealed: Weather resistant, not weather sealed
Max video resolution: 4K UHD 60p

Reasons to buy

+
Quick and easy to adjust settings
+
Lightest mirrorless Canon body
+
40FPS silent burst speed

Reasons to avoid

-
No in-body image stabilization
-
Slight rolling shutter when following fast-moving subjects
-
Not fully weather-sealed
Buy it if

✅ You're jumping straight into the full-frame market: It's ideal for anyone new to the hobby who wants to go straight to full-frame without being overwhelmed.

✅ You need a fast burst rate: The 6 FPS mechanical leaves a little to be desired, but the 40 FPS electronic burst rate is impressive.

You want to travel with it: It's Canon's lightest mirrorless full-frame body.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want image stabilization: There's no IBIS for stills, only for video.

❌ You want to use it in all weathers: They state that it's weather resistant, not weather sealed, so be careful about using it in wet or dusty conditions.

The bottom line

🔎 Canon EOS R8: The second most affordable and most lightweight full-frame mirrorless camera from Canon is missing a few features, but it's got impressive specs for the price and provides excellent value for those wanting a step up from their crop-sensor model. ★★★★½

Design: The Canon EOS R8 holds the title of being Canon's lightest full-frame camera body so far. It weighs just 0.91 lbs / 414g so it's ideal for traveling, and in our Canon EOS R8 review we noted that even though it's light as a feather, the grip is deep enough to be comfortable to shoot with for long periods. Long wildlife lenses tend to be fairly heavy and bulky in nature due to their size and focal length, so having a lighter body can be advantageous for shaving a bit of weight off your overall setup.

Performance: During our testing, we thought the autofocus was great. It wasn't the best we've ever used, but we weren't expecting it to be for the price. It has animal eye detection which is ideal for wildlife shooters, although we found it didn't cope particularly well with forward-moving speedy animals, like dogs chasing a ball towards the camera or a bird flying directly toward us. For slower-moving animals though, it'll be great.

We also found it performed surprisingly well in low light, which will be advantageous for astro-shooting, general night-time cityscapes and wildlife shooting at dawn or dusk. It doesn't have image stabilization for stills (only in video), which may be a dealbreaker to some, however, many Canon RF lenses have image stabilization which you can rely on instead. It's also not fully weather sealed, only weather resistant — so you might want to think twice if you want to use it in wet or dusty conditions.

Functionality: The R8 actually has one of the faster burst rates on this list — capable of 40 FPS using the electronic shutter. If you'd rather use the mechanical shutter, it drops quite dramatically down to only 6 FPS, which does leave a little to be desired. It also has RAW burst mode which shoots 30 FPS bursts of RAW images, and there's a pre-shooting option that records images half a second before you fully press the shutter, giving you more leeway if you miss your shot by a hair. The RAW burst mode saves all the shots in the sequence to a single RAW roll, whereas conventional continuous shooting results in each shot being a separate file.

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AttributesNotes
DesignCanon's most lightweight full-frame camera.
PerformanceAnimal autofocus fine for most, struggled with forward-moving fast paced animals.
Functionality40 FPS electronic shooting fantastic for wildlife.