The Best Cameras for Wildlife Photography in 2024

By Abigail Ferguson  |  September 2024

It’s not unusual to get caught in a rainstorm, find yourself lying low in the sand, or end up working in frigid temperatures. Debris, moisture, and extreme temperatures are hard on cameras, so durable build and weather sealing are musts for the longevity of the device.

Photographing wildlife also requires rather particular camera specs. Wildlife is not known for holding still while we get the shot, so cameras for wildlife photography need to feature superb autofocus abilities, ideally with subject detection and tracking. Fast burst shooting is also key to ensure you are able to get the best shot while an animal is moving.

And, of course, excellent image quality is crucial for showing off epic details. No matter what type of creature you prefer to photograph or the types of environments you find yourself in, the best cameras for wildlife photography need to stand up to the demands of the genre.

The following is our guide to the best cameras for wildlife photography in 2024 in five categories.

• Best Overall: Nikon Z8
• Most Rugged: OM System OM-1 Mark II
• Fastest: Sony A9 III
• Best for Bird Photography: Canon R6 Mark II
• Best Value: Panasonic G9 II

Best Overall: Nikon Z8

The Z8 is Nikon’s successor to the immensely popular D850, and the company hit it out of the park with this one. The Nikon Z8 a camera for just about any shooting situation, but it excels for wildlife photography. Its well-rounded feature set makes it ideal for a broad range of wildlife subjects, from birds to insects to hippos.

Nikon built the Z8 around a 45.7-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor, resulting in richly detailed images even when cropping substantially. The autofocus system offers a slew of tracking modes, including the ability to detect people, animals, birds, vehicles, and more. It is very fast to focus, though it does require some playing with the settings to get the best results. This mirrorless camera’s body is built much like a DSLR, with a deep, easy-to-hold grip. That’s an ideal feature for those who may be stuck holding their camera while waiting for the perfect shot of an animal.

In terms of boost shooting, the Z8 is capable of up to 20 frames per second (fps) for Raw images or 30 fps full-sized JPEG. That may not be as fast as some of the other options below, but it is fast enough for just about every situation and the pre-burst setting helps prevent missing the shot because of a delayed reaction. This wildlife camera is also able to record up to 8K30p video or down to 4K120p, with a 2.3x crop. For demanding creatives who want the option to capture photos and videos of wildlife, the Nikon Z8 is a versatile tool that can do it all.

Pros

Pros

+ Excellent image quality with exceptional detail

+ Wide lens availability

+ Fast burst shooting

+ Plenty of customization options

Cons

– Battery life could be better

– Settings take some fine-tuning

Nikon Z8 price: $3799

More info here.

Most Rugged: OM System OM-1 Mark II

While most camera brands mention weather sealing, not many offer a specific IP rating. With its IP53 rating, the OM System OM-1 Mark II is one of the few to go through such rigorous testing. That means it can withstand dusty conditions and is protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical. Beyond that, the camera is able to function in temperatures as low as 14°F, and the rubberized body makes it easier to hold in any condition. On top of leading the way in durability, the OM-1 Mark II continues the tradition of class-leading image stabilization with up to 8.5 stops when used with IS lenses. It will be much easier to handhold while using telephoto lenses and still get sharp images.

OM Solutions (the company formerly known as Olympus) built this Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mirrorless camera around a 20-megapixel stacked BSI Live MOS sensor. The stacked design allows for fast burst shooting of up to 50 fps with continuous autofocus. OM Solutions doubled the buffer memory on the second generation of this camera, resulting in the ability to shoot for up to 255 frames when using Raw image format. Plus, Pro Capture Mode allows you to record up to 120 fps before you press the shutter all the way, so slow reaction time won’t get in your way of getting the shot.

The OM-1 Mark II also stands out because of its helpful computational photography features. It continues to offer High Res Shot, allowing for multi-shot images of 50MP without a tripod and 80MP with one. Compared to the original OM-1, OM Solutions bumped the quality of this feature to 14-bit Raw, providing more flexibility for editing. The Live ND feature is also improved, with twice as much power as before, providing up to ND128 (7 stops). There’s a newly added Graduated ND option with ND2/4/8 (1-3 stops) power, free rotation, and the ability to place the center point anywhere in the frame.

It’s worth noting that the OM-1 Mark II isn’t a massive jump from the original OM-1. But if you are considering moving into a smaller and lighter MFT camera for wildlife photography in harsh environments, the OM-1 Mark II is a great choice.

Pros

+ Superb image stabilization

+ Fast and accurate autofocus

+ Rugged build with IP53 rating

+ Up to 50 fps with continuous autofocus and subject detection

Cons

– Not a huge upgrade over previous model

– Video features are lacking compared to its competitors

OM System OM-1 Mark II price: $2399

More info here.

Fastest: Sony A9 III

Sony’s A9 III is a groundbreaking camera thanks to its implementation of a global shutter, a first for a full-frame mirrorless camera. The global shutter design exposes and reads every pixel on the sensor at the same time, completely eliminating distortion in stills and videos. That’s a big plus for wildlife photographers working with fast-moving subjects. The A9 III’s shutter also allows for a max shutter speed of 1/80,000 sec and can sync with flash up to that speed.

Outside of a fast shutter speed, burst shooting is also remarkably speedy. In fact, at the time of writing, the Sony A9 III is the fastest camera on the market. The A9 III is capable of up to 120 fps even when shooting Raw and with autofocus. With that speed, it will be easy to get the very best moment from a sequence of a moving animal. New to Sony is the pre-capture mode for aiding with slow reflexes.

The A9 III continues Sony’s well-earned reputation for fast and accurate autofocus with superb tracking abilities. It offers subject modes for Animals, Animals & Birds (combined), Birds, and Insects (among others), which makes it an ideal camera for wildlife photography, especially for switching between types of animals frequently.

Unfortunately, the A9 III’s global shutter has some downsides. It reduces the dynamic range and native ISO range. The base ISO on the A9 III is 250, which could be an issue when shooting in bright conditions like snowy expanses. The A9 III’s images have more noise at all ISOs compared to other cameras, which is unfortunate. But, if speed is your main focus, the A9 III is the best camera you can get.

Pros

+ Global shutter provides lots of advantages

+ 14-bit Raw at up to 120fps

+ Excellent autofocus system with subject recognition

+ Effective stabilization

Cons

– Lots of noise from high ISOs

– Less dynamic range than competitors

Sony A9 III price: $5999

More info here.

Best for Bird Photography: Canon R6 Mark II

Canon built the R6 II for action, and it shows in the camera’s excellent autofocus performance and fast burst shooting rates. In fact, at the time of this writing, the Canon R6 Mark II leads the way in autofocus abilities. The phase-detect hybrid autofocus can lock onto even tiny birds and keep focus as they hop around in trees and bushes. It’s even able to keep up with the 40 fps burst shooting, which is ideal for capturing birds in flight. Add pre-shooting for its Raw Burst Mode, and you’ll end up with many more usable images.

The Canon R6 Mark II is also one of the best cameras for low-light wildlife photography. The in-body image stabilization is highly effective, allowing photographers to handhold the camera at slow shutter speeds without blur (of course, any moving animal will end up blurred). The noise handling is fantastic, with minimal noise even at ISO 10,000 with a correct exposure. It can also focus at -6.5 EV, meaning capturing animals in dense, dark forests will be no problem.

Built around a 24.2-megapixel sensor, the R6 Mark II offers Canon’s typical colors and excellent image quality, even when shooting JPEGs. It can record up to 6K 12-bit Raw external recording, 4K60p full-width internal recording oversampled from 6K, or full HD at 150fps, providing plenty of options for videographers. The switch to toggle between photo and video modes is very convenient for hybrid wildlife shooters.

The Canon R6 Mark II is a compact, lightweight (1.5 pounds) camera, making it easier to bring on trips. Despite the small size, the R6 II still has a nice grip that makes it easier to hold for long periods. The main downside is that Canon’s mirrorless lineup has very limited third-party lens support, so photographers are primarily stuck using native glass. That is a downside for those shopping on a budget or looking for more unique focal lengths, but the RF lineup is quite impressive, providing lots of options.

Pros

+ Class-leading autofocus

+ Excellent low-light performance

+ Durable build

+ Up to 40 fps with tracking

Cons

– Limited third-party lens support

Canon R6 Mark II price: $2299

More info here.

Best Value: Panasonic G9 II

The cameras above are all rather pricey. And while the Panasonic G9 II isn’t a budget camera by any means, it packs a lot of value into a slightly more affordable body than the rest. It is on the large side for a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera, so if you are looking for an ultra-compact device, this isn’t it. But the Panasonic G9 II’s larger size allows for plenty of on-body controls to keep photographers out of menus and more engaged in what they are photographing, which is a plus for a wildlife camera.

Panasonic built the G9 II around a 25MP sensor, which results in excellent image quality. For those who want even larger files, the camera’s multi-shot mode allows for 100MP images with a tripod or handheld. It’s capable of up to 60 fps with the electronic shutter with three seconds of re-burst, providing plenty of shots to choose from when capturing action.

The G9 II is fitted with Panasonic’s latest phase-detect-based hybrid autofocus. This system provides Animal and Human subject detection, along with motorcar and motorcycle subject detection. It is snappy and accurate, giving you a better chance of your wildlife photos being in focus. Panasonic improved image stabilization from the original G9, promising up to eight stops of IBIS. It is a fantastic camera for wildlife photography in darker conditions as a result. It also aids in getting sharp images when using long telephoto lenses, a must when working with flighty animals.

The G9 II is no slouch when it comes to video, matching the video-focused GH6 camera. It offers stabilized 10-bit 4:2:2 video with plenty of recording options. Unfortunately, the dual SD card slots and lack of a CF Express slot means that ProRes video at 4K or higher will require an external SSD. But for most, that high quality isn’t necessary. The autofocus is just as responsive as video, so wildlife videographers could rely on this for their hybrid work.

Pros

+ Excellent image quality

+ Good subject recognition and tracking

+ Up to 60 fps

+ 8 stops of image stabilization

Cons

– Large for a Micro Four Thirds camera

Panasonic G9 II price: $1899

More info here.

Nail the shot with the best cameras for wildlife photography

The cameras for wildlife photography that we’ve highlighted above all feature fast burst shooting rates, responsive autofocus with tracking abilities, and durable builds. Each has its own benefits, and the best for you comes down to what types of wildlife you hope to capture and the goals for your images. Any of the above will perform well, allowing you to focus on getting the shot and not fussing with your gear.