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Every unique type of photography requires different gear if you hope to achieve the best results within that genre. For example, what a bird photographer needs will differ from what a portrait photographer needs. That’s why we created this bird photography guide—to help you decide what’s worth investing in and what’s not for bird photography!
In this article, we’ll outline the must-own bird photography gear every aspiring bird photographer needs in their photography kit, including a camera, lenses, and a tripod. Moreover, as a bonus, we’ll share a list of other useful bird photography equipment to consider investing in at the bottom of the page.
Now, who is ready to learn everything there is to know about bird photography gear so you can take your bird photos to the next level?!?
Check out the video above by Simon d’Entremont for a beginner’s guide to bird photography and to learn how to take beautiful photos of birds.
Table of Contents
- Get a Quality Camera (But You Don’t Have to Overspend)
- Bird Photography Gear: A Good Lens is a Must
- A Tripod is Essential Bird Photography Gear
- Other Essential Bird Photography Gear
Get a Quality Camera (But You Don’t Have to Overspend)
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Getting a good camera body is step one. However, when getting started, you don’t need to break the bank on a camera since you will need to buy plenty of other bird photography gear. Furthermore, we highly suggest mirrorless cameras over DSLRs or point-and-shoot cameras for bird photography.
Our two favorite bird photography cameras for beginners are the Canon EOS R10 and the Sony Alpha a6500. We love these cameras because they check all the boxes one could want in a camera for bird photography while also being affordably priced. Here is a list of features to look for and prioritize when deciding on your next camera for bird photography.
- Speedy and reliable autofocus. Ideally, it should have animal/bird subject recognition and tracking capabilities.
- Durable, weather-sealed body. You never know what weather you will encounter on a bird photography expedition.
- Fast continuous shooting (burst shooting). The more frames per second the camera can shoot, the more likely you will have a perfectly clear shot at the end of the day.
- Automatic, semi-automatic, and manual shooting modes. “Aperture Priority” mode is the best mode for beginner photographers.
- Crop factor. APS-C and Micro Four Third cameras have crop factors that will extend the reach of your lenses.
- Sensor size and resolution. Images shot on cameras with larger sensors (full-frame) and higher megapixel counts will have better overall image quality.
Additionally, here are some more of the best cameras for bird photography. The options below include entry-level, mid-range, and professional mirrorless cameras.
Bird Photography Gear: A Good Lens is a Must
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Next, you will want to get your hands on one or two high-quality lenses. Typically, we recommend beginners start with zoom lenses since they are more versatile and offer more reach than prime lenses.
If you can only afford one lens, you should get a standard-length zoom lens because it is suitable for all genres of photography. A standard-length zoom lens for full-frame cameras will be around 24-70mm. In contrast, for APS-C cameras, it is usually 16-55mm, and for micro four third cameras, it is 12-35mm.
After that, you should get a telephoto zoom lens. They offer extended focal length reach, allowing you to zoom in tighter (from further away) on birds and other animals. Telephoto zoom lenses come in many focal lengths, but some of the most popular are 24-200mm, 70-350mm, and 100-400mm.
Only after owning these two types of zoom lenses should you consider getting a prime lens, such as a 50mm, 90mm, or 135mm lens.
Here are features to look for in lenses for bird photography.
- Type of lens (zoom vs prime)
- Focal length
- Optical Image Stabilization
- Aperture
- Weather-sealed
- Autofocus
A Tripod is Essential Bird Photography Gear
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Finally, another core piece of bird photography gear is the tripod. Tripods stabilize your camera, allowing you to get sharper, more detailed bird photos with little to no blur. Even if you have a camera with in-body image stabilization and lenses with digital image stabilization, you should still use a tripod for bird photography.
Tripods also keep you fresher in the field because you don’t always have to hold your camera up while shooting. This is especially important when working with bulky and heavy telephoto zoom lenses.
One amazing bird photography tripod is the Vanguard VEO 3T 265HCP. It’s a sturdy yet portable travel tripod ideal for both photography and videography. The VEO 3T 265HCP is made from carbon fiber, so it’s lighter than aluminum tripods and easier to handle in cold and hot weather.
Here are more awesome features of this Vanguard tripod that make it a perfect match for bird photography.
- Easy-twist legs
- Extendable height
- Various leg angles
- Rubber/spiked feet
- Pan head
- Converts to a monopod
In other words, Vanguard, which has an international reputation for crafting fine tripods, has built the ideal tripod for bird photography. It sets up and tears down in moments, so you’re sure to be ready for the shot no matter the situation. It offers lightweight construction so you don’t feel bogged down by heavy gear as you trek to your shoot location, either.
On top of that, you get the benefit of sturdy carbon fiber construction, legs that work at multiple angles for varied bird photography compositions, and a pan head to make bird-in-flight photos and videos all the easier to capture. What’s not to like?!
Other Essential Bird Photography Gear
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While a camera, lenses, and a tripod are the key pillars of any bird photographer camera kit, they aren’t the only items you’ll want to invest in. With that in mind, here’s a list of other essential bird photography gear for beginners.
- Spotting Scope
- Camera Case
- Binoculars
- Nature Backpack
- Camera Harness
- Lens Filters
- Cleaning Kit
- SD Cards
- External Hard Drive
- Spare Batteries
A quick heads-up: If you snag something through our affiliate links or check out our sponsored content, we might earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But fear not, we’re all about recommending stuff we’re truly stoked about!
