Buying Guide: Animal Photography

What type of animal photographer are you?

Photographing animals is a very enjoyable activity, but it can also be a tremendously challenging task. Working with animals is a craft of its own. As long as it's a tame animal, you still have some control over how your photo will turn out. With wild animals, you simply need to be in the right place at the right time. In addition, having the right equipment is also very important. In this Buying Guide, we've laid out the different types of animal photography and selected the most important equipment for each.

Your own home and garden

If you're new to the world of animal photography, the best option might be to start close to home. Of course, you'll need a pet, a garden with birds, or kind neighbors who'll let you borrow their pet. At home, in your own surroundings, you can take it easy and get to know your camera at your own pace, trying out all its options. You don't even need a very expensive camera — a compact camera or even your smartphone is enough. If your garden has plants that attract insects, you can also try your hand at macro photography. The most viral photos on social media are often cute puppies or funny cats, so who knows — maybe you'll capture the next one?

Recommended equipment

In our opinion, the following three products are very handy for photographing your pet or other animals you can find in your garden and immediate surroundings. The Canon G7X II has a very bright lens with an aperture of f/1.8. This gives your photos a beautiful bokeh effect, with a blurred background, as shown in the example photo. The Panasonic TZ90 comes in handy when there's a small bird in the neighbor's tree, as this camera has an impressive 40x zoom! And if you prefer to shoot with your smartphone, the Black Eye Combo is perfect. You can even use it to photograph small insects in your garden.

A day at the zoo

The convenient thing about a zoo is that the 'wild' animals aren't too hard to find and can't simply wander off. On top of that, you can find almost every type of animal there. A day at the zoo will be a lot cheaper than a safari, yet it can still result in beautiful shots. A good zoom lens is often very important, and a polarizing filter shouldn't be missing from your gear either. The glass in many animal enclosures causes annoying reflections, and a CPL filter can reduce this. When you zoom in, a fence in the foreground can disappear thanks to the shallow depth of field. Unfortunately, you'll often still have other unnatural objects in your frame. Take close-ups to minimize this.

Recommended equipment

The following set of products gives you everything you need to capture stunning photos at the zoo. The Canon 2000D is perfect for beginners and, thanks to its compact size, very easy to take with you. With 24 megapixels, you'll capture sharp photos and can share them quickly and easily on social media. The Sigma 18-300mm lens offers a wide focal range — so wide, in fact, that you hardly need to bring any other lens. Whether the animal is up close or far away, you'll be able to capture it. Don't have a Canon camera? No problem — this lens is available for multiple brands. A polarizing filter is, as mentioned above, a must-have for cutting down on reflections.

The forest ranger

If you love hiking and enjoy heading out into nature, you can capture many beautiful animals with the right equipment. Nature parks are almost always freely accessible, which is good for your wallet. You can then invest the money you've saved into a good telephoto lens — because a shot like the one shown here isn't something you'll get with a standard lens. Whether it's a bird perched at the top of a tree or a deer in the distance, a good zoom is essential. Finding wild animals in the woods can be extremely challenging, and there's always a chance you'll come home empty-handed. Going into the forest early in the morning gives you the best chance of spotting animals. As a bonus, the rising sun also provides beautiful warm light.

Recommended equipment

In the forest, you need to be able to work quickly. The Sony A6400 will help you never miss a moment. This mirrorless camera focuses automatically in just 0.2 seconds! Even better: the artificial intelligence in the camera uses an advanced algorithm to deliver ultimate object tracking. What does that mean exactly? Well, a deer running by will stay in focus the entire time, so all you need to do is take the shot. This medium telephoto lens has a great zoom range, and thanks to its stabilization, you'll have less trouble with motion blur. To minimize this even further, consider bringing along a monopod. It gives you extra stability without sacrificing mobility.

Safari traveler

This is perhaps the most ambitious form of animal photography, because in addition to costly gear and an expensive trip, you also need solid knowledge to capture the perfect shot at the right moment. This is the type of photography you really need if, for example, you want to capture the Big Five in Africa or reptiles and other striking wildlife in the jungles of the Amazon. Of course, it's also possible with a compact camera. Still, we recommend better equipment to ensure you bring home the best photos from a trip you'll remember for a long time. A rugged camera that can withstand the elements and a powerful telephoto lens are absolute must-haves. Because you'll be out in nature all day — or even for several days in a row — we also recommend keeping spare batteries on hand.

Recommended equipment

A favorite camera among many professionals who shoot in all kinds of weather is the Nikon D5. This DSLR has been Nikon's flagship model for years, consistently delivering razor-sharp photos. The possibilities with this camera are almost too numerous to list here, but you can certainly capture a stunning high-resolution shot like the one above. Another powerhouse is the Panasonic S1. This full-frame mirrorless camera features super-fast autofocus and animal-detection AI software, so you'll never miss the Big Five again. Pair cameras like these with a rugged telephoto lens such as the Sigma 150-600mm and you're fully set. Stabilization in both the lens and the body is very useful when shooting from a long distance, for example from a safari vehicle.

The deep-sea diver

Oceans, rivers, and coral reefs are teeming with beautiful animals, many of which haven't even been discovered yet. Photography on land can already be quite a challenge in itself. There are so many things to consider, and on top of that, you also need to have your camera ready to shoot at just the right moment. Underwater, there's an extra factor to deal with: diving (or holding your breath for a very long time). Underwater photography is perhaps one of the more difficult types of animal photography. Learning to dive will take you many hours, and on top of that, you'll need a bit of luck to find animals within a short period of time. Of course, you can take a photo while snorkeling with your action cam, but a good underwater shot involves much more than that.

Recommended equipment

Underwater, you ideally want a camera that's lightweight yet delivers excellent performance. The Sony A7R III, with 42.4 megapixels, fast autofocus, and an ISO range up to 32,000, is the perfect camera for underwater use. Every detail of the animals beneath the surface will be clearly visible. The high ISO comes in particularly handy, because as soon as you go underwater, a lot of light quickly disappears. Operate the camera underwater with the AquaTech Elite II housing. If you need more light, you can consider using an external flash or LED light, like the one included with the SeaLife DC2000 camera. This complete set gives you everything you need in the water. Also check out the Underwater musthaves.