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Best Camera for Bird Photography

When it comes to capturing beautifully detailed images of your favorite wild birds, your smartphone camera just isn’t going to cut it.

You can’t get the right amount of zoom to actually get a decent photograph of that northern cardinal. No matter how much you try to snap that American robin, all that shows up on your screen is a colorful blur.

This is where a high quality camera comes in. A decent quality camera will be able to get the detailed photographs that you’re after so that you can show them all to your fellow bird lovers.

But with so many different types of cameras on the market, how are you meant to know which is the best camera for bird photography?

We’ve done all the hard work for you so that you don’t have to worry. We looked at hundreds of different cameras to find the best ones for your needs.

You can rest assured that the models we’ve reviewed below will be able to capture the impressive photographs that you’re after. So let’s take a look at the best cameras for bird photography!

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Best Camera for Bird Photography – Comparison Table

Best Camera for Bird Photography – Reviews

Our Pick
Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ421-BK 16MP Digital Camera with 42X Optical Zoom and 3' LCD Screen (Black)
Our rating:

The KODAK PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ421-BK digital camera is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a powerful camera that is also more affordable.

This particular camera is a much more budget friendly option so will suit a variety of bird enthusiasts who might not be able to afford to spend thousands of dollars on a good quality camera.

The KODAK PIXPRO comes with a range of great features to make it a solid choice in its own right, too.

This particular camera comes with 42x optical zoom as well as a 24mm wide angle lens. So you will be able to capture beautifully detailed images of birds in the wild or around your backyard.

You’ll be able to use the powerful zoom to get the more detailed images that you’re after without having to physically move closer and risk spooking the birds.

Another great thing about this KODAK PIXPRO camera is that it comes with a range of great features to help make your experience even easier. There is a facial recognition feature that can help to better focus your subject matter.

A face beautifier mode allows you to touch up aspects of your subject matter without having to edit it on the computer afterward. The panorama mode allows you to take 180 degree images with your subject matter in.

What’s really great about the KODAK PIXPRO is that it’s suitable for use with standard memory cards. So you won’t have to worry about buying a specialized memory card just so that you can take photos of your favorite birds.

Pros
  • Budget friendly – more affordable than several competitive products
  • Standard memory card – don’t need to buy specialized memory cards
  • Range of features – makes your photography experience easier
Cons
  • Manual – recommended to read through the manual before you first use the camera

Panasonic LUMIX 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera, 60X Zoom DC VARIO 20-1200mm Lens, F2.8-5.9 Aperture, Power O.I.S. Stabilization, Touch Enabled 3-Inch LCD, Wi-Fi, DC-FZ80K (Black)
Our rating:

The Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K digital camera is another great choice for taking quality photos of birds.

This particular camera also won’t cost you a small fortune. This is one of the more mid priced options. So it will be the perfect camera for those who are wanting to get serious about their bird photography.

You’ll get a great range of features to start you off on your bird photography journey.

This particular camera comes with an 18.1 megapixel MOS sensor, as well as up to 60x zoom lens. So you’ll be able to get the accurate images that you’re after every time you click the shutter.

The powerful zoom function will be perfect for capturing those garden birds without having to risk getting closer to them and spooking them away.

You’ll be able to clearly see the images you take thanks to the LCD display. The 3 inch LCD display will accurately show you the photos you have captured so that you can see the quality in action.

This camera also comes with a helpful high resolution view finder feature, which can help you to automatically focus on the birds you’re trying to capture.

Another handy feature is this camera can capture video footage in 4K ultra HD. This will be perfect for those of you who want to capture video footage of your favorite birds, too.

So if you want to add some birdseed to your hand and capture the birds eating it in real time, you can do so with this camera!

Pros
  • Powerful zoom – capture images up to 60x away
  • LCD display – see your images after you’ve captured them
  • 4K ultra HD – capture high quality video footage as well as images
Cons
  • Lighting – not the most detailed in low lighting

Canon PowerShot SX540 Digital Camera w/ 50x Optical Zoom - Wi-Fi & NFC Enabled (Black), 1-1067C001
Our rating:

The Canon PowerShot SX540 HS digital camera is a solid selection for bird photography. Canon is one of the big players in the photography game, so you can rest assured that you’re buying a quality camera that will get the job done.

This particular camera comes with a range of great features to capture the more detailed images that you’re after. It comes with a powerful 50x optical zoom as well as with an optical image stabilizer. So you’ll be able to capture those accurate bird images that you’re after!

Another handy feature of this particular camera is that it comes with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC. This allows you to easily share your images once you’ve captured them.

Perfect if you’re part of a bird photography group on Facebook for example and want to show off your new camera!

You’ll also be able to capture impressive video footage with this camera as well as high quality photos. This camera will capture 1080p full HD video at 60p complete with stereo sound. Perfect if you’re wanting to capture a range of bird content to show family and friends.

What’s really great about the Canon PowerShot SX540 is that it comes with a zoom framing assist feature.

This works to quickly and accurately recognize your subject matter using a lock button so that you can better take photos. Perfect if you want to focus on the birds while they are standing still.

Pros
  • 50x optical zoom – captures detailed images without having to spook birds
  • Built-in Wi-Fi – you can share your images more easily with others
  • 1080p full HD video – capture a range of bird related content
Cons
  • Bag – you will need to buy a protective bag or case separately

Minolta 20 Mega Pixels High Wi-Fi Digital Camera with 35x Optical Zoom, 1080p HD Video & 3' LCD, Black (MN35Z-BK)
Our rating:

The Minolta MN35Z digital camera is another fantastic budget option if you didn’t want to spend a small fortune on your new bird photography camera.

This particular camera is available at a much more affordable price. This makes it ideal for bird enthusiasts who might not be able to afford the more expensive options on the market.

This particular camera comes with a range of great features to help improve your bird photography. It comes with 35x optical zoom as well as optical image stabilization. So you will be able to take high quality images of birds without having to worry about them being blurry.

You will also be able to capture images from further away, as the closer you creep to the birds, the more likely you will scare them away.

Another great feature of this camera is that it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. So you can easily share your images with your family and friends.

This range of connectivity makes it easier to share and remove images from the camera without having to worry about locating any cables or removing any fiddly memory cards.

You can even transfer images to your IOS or Android device depending on the software your device has installed.

To make your photography experience even easier, this camera comes with 27 different modes for you to play with. So you can easily select certain modes to make your photos even better.

This will help you to take great photos without having to worry about adjusting lots of different settings.

Pros
  • Affordable – more budget friendly than some of the higher end camera models
  • Range of features – makes it easier to capture beautiful photos of birds 
  • 35x optical zoom – capture detailed images even further away from the bird subject
Cons
  • Low light – challenging to take photos of moving birds in lower light

Nikon COOLPIX P950 Compact Digital Camera with 83x Optical Zoom Super Telephoto Lens Bundle Including Triple Battery + Deco Gear Backpack Bag Case + Filter Kit + Photo Video Software and Accessories
Our rating:

Want to make sure that you’ve got everything you could possibly need for capturing amazing bird photographs?

If money is no object, then the Nikon COOLPIX P950 compact digital camera is just the thing you need. Even though this is the more expensive option on our list, it comes with a range of accessories all in one bundle so you won’t have to worry about buying everything separately.

This particular model comes with a range of accessories to make your bird photography experience even better. You’ll get all of these included with a high quality camera.

The accessories include an EN-EL20a battery; EH-73P charging AC adapter; UC-E21 cable; camera strap; lens cap; HN-CP20 lens hood; 2 replacement batteries; memory card; 67MM UV, polarizer, and filter kit; tripod; dust blower; cap keeper; microfiber cloth; screen protectors; card reader; and a range of photo editing software. So you get plenty of bang for your buck!

What’s really great about this camera is that it comes with 83x optical zoom. So you’ll be able to capture beautiful images from even further away.

The lens can capture up to 2,000mm, which will be more than enough to get detailed images of beautiful birds. It also comes with dual detect optical vibration reduction to increase the quality of images you capture.

Another great feature is that this camera can capture cinematic 4K UHD video footage. So you’ll be able to capture a range of bird related footage to show off to all your family and friends.

Pros
  • Camera bundle – includes everything you could possibly need to capture bird images
  • 83x optical zoom – one of the most impressive zooms on our list
  • 4K UHD video footage – collect a range of bird related content

Cons
  • Expensive – one of the priciest options available

Best Camera for Bird Photography – Buyers Guide

Searching for the best camera for bird photography can be a real challenge. There are so many different models to choose from.

How are you meant to know which features you should look for and prioritize to get the detailed images you’re after?

Some of the high quality cameras on the market also come with a hefty price tag. It may be tempting to opt for the first and cheapest option that you find. But hold that thought.

There are a couple of factors that you will need to consider before you hit purchase. The good news is that we’ve put all of those criteria into a handy buyer’s guide to help you. You will know you’re buying the right camera for your needs if it follows the features we’ve outlined below.

Take a look at everything you need to know about the best cameras for bird photography below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.

Zoom

One of the most important features to look out for is the type of zoom that your new camera is able to support. The more zoom, the better. This is because it will be important to capture images from a distance away.

The closer you creep towards the bird that you’re trying to photograph, the more likely it will be to fly away.

Another factor that will feature in this is the shutter speed of your camera, as well as the aperture. You will want to buy a camera that gives you the best range of these features.

The more frames per second your camera can capture, the better detailed the images will be. However, this can also push up the price of the camera, so you should consider your budget as well.

Video Footage

Photographs might not be the only thing you’re after if you’re wanting a camera capable of capturing bird related content. Some bird enthusiasts also love to take video footage of their favorite birds.

So if you know you will take advantage of this feature, you will need to look for a camera that can capture video footage.

Not all video footage will be born equal. Look for a camera that can capture full HD footage. This will be of a high quality, won’t be blurry, and you should be able to accurately identify the bird that you have captured.

Budget

You should try and buy the camera that you can most realistically afford. There’s no point in splashing out thousands of dollars on a top quality camera if you can’t actually afford this. It will be best to take a look at the features that you need, and see what these cameras will cost.

It will be best to opt for the camera that covers the majority of features that you need but that you can still afford. On the other hand, this may mean you want to save for an extra month or two so that you can afford the better quality camera.

LCD Display

A handy feature to look for is a camera that comes with an LCD display. This will be able to show you the images you’ve snapped after you’ve captured them.

So you should be able to easily see if you’ve got the quality image that you’re after, or if you need to stay in position to snap a couple more pictures.

Additional Features

Some cameras will come with a range of additional features to make your photography experience much easier.

These will include certain modes for you to select from so you don’t have to edit the settings. Some cameras will also come with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to make transferring your photos easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best camera for bird photography?

The best cameras for bird photography are:

  • KODAK PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ421-BK Digital Camera
  • Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
  • Canon PowerShot SX540 HS Digital Camera
  • Minolta MN35Z Digital Camera
  • Nikon COOLPIX P950 Compact Digital Camera

Is 400mm enough for bird photography?

Yes, a lens size of 400mm will be more than enough to help you capture beautiful images of birds. You will still have to get fairly close to get high quality images of birds, however, this is the ideal lens length if you’re looking for a versatile camera.

A 400mm lens will still be lightweight and compact enough for you to use it without a monopod or a tripod.

What is a good shutter speed for birds?

The general rule of thumb is to opt for a higher shutter speed for birds. Some photographers tend to op for around 1/1600sec to 1/2500sec as this helps them to achieve the detailed images that they’re after.

For some of the faster and smaller birds, you may want to opt for around 1/5000sec to ensure that you can capture that detail.

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