Also like the K-1, the K-3 II has image stabilization built in, offering up to 4.5 stops of shake reduction regardless of the lens used. With the popularity of Sony’s E-mount mirrorless cameras, we were pleasantly surprised when it updated the A-mount a99 to Mark II in late 2016. Multi-point AF is most useful when your subject is in front of a relatively uncluttered background. Boss of Sony's gear list: Boss of Sony's gear list Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Sony a6000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14 … Both the Nikon Z 6 and Z 7, the company’s first full-frame mirrorless cameras, are a good choice for wildlife photography, but we lean toward the Z 6 for this application. That latter option will be particularly advantageous for telephoto wildlife work because, while it does produce a lower-resolution image, it’s incredibly fast, silent and the DX mode crop means your focal length equivalent is magnified by 1.5x. Sony is known for releasing similar cameras in quick succession, and the A6600 comes not too long after the Sony A6400, and shares the same 24.2 MP APS-C … Yes, the absurdity of using a $900, 14-ounce mirrorless camera with a dainty grip with pro-level glass that costs over twice as much and weighs more than three times as much, was not lost on us. It’s also very usable for video recording. Interested in the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II? To access this content, you must purchase. The 425-point, sensor-based contrast detection AF system employs 2.16 million pixels that cover 100 percent of the frame and can function in dim conditions down to -3.0 EV. system. The system is relatively young and there aren’t a lot of lenses available yet that will satisfy the needs of wildlife photographers—the longest is the Panasonic Lumix S PRO 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S. Also noteworthy is the system’s ability to function in low-light conditions down to -6 EV (depending on the lens used) and at apertures as small as ƒ/11 equivalent, meaning that that the AF system can support, for example, an EF 100–400mm f/4–5.6 IS II lens with a 2x teleconverter attached. One potential advantage of the X-H1 is its in-body image stabilization—the X-T30 relies on stabilization built-in to its lenses—though for wildlife photography, you’ll probably be using the FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR which incorporates OIS. Check it out on B&H! I mean, dude, let’s be real. The 32.5-megapixel 90D shares much of the same technology as the Canon EOS M6 Mark II mirrorless camera which was introduced at the same time, but our pick between the two is the 90D because of the extensive telephoto lens offerings for Canon DSLRs compared to the much more limited selection available for the company’s APS-sensor mirrorless models. I'd go to the G9(my wife has it) if it wasn't for the contrast detect AF as it can be frustrating trying to find and keep focus. Would anyone ever consider the A6400 for wildlife? Its still image quality is very good, its 4K video is even better, and its 180-degree screen and eye-detect AF are perfect for single-handed video capture. Check it out on B&H! I am. D500 > A6400 for Wildlife May 25, 2019 Well, my D500 + Sig 100-400 just got messed up and my Insurance will be paying the cash for replacements. Interested in the Sony a9? Check it out on B&H! For bloggers, vloggers and independent content creators, the Sony A6400 is a dream. During our time with the Sony A6400, we shot with it using the 18-135mm F3.5–5.6 kit lens, the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM lens ($2,198), and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens ($2,598). Interested in the Nikon D850? Check it out on B&H! Following is a selection of DSLRs and mirrorless cameras which we recommend for wildlife photography. Check it out on Amazon! Why a new camera at all then? While the full-frame Sony a9 is in many ways the ultimate wildlife camera, don’t count out the APS-C sensor a6400 introduced this year. Read our field test of the Nikon Z system. The 27-point AF system includes 25 cross-type points and can function in low-light conditions down to -3 EV. How to choose the right combination of exposure settings for the situation. Photographing this iconic feature of Lake Tahoe. I hope there will be new cam with a fully articulating LCD! The top APS-C option from Canon is the Canon EOS 90D introduced in 2019. Interested in the Sony a6400? While images taken at that extreme will be very noisy, it’s an indication of the sensor’s excellent ability to collect light in dimmer conditions at the ends of the day. The a6400 includes Real-time Eye AF, the latest version of Sony’s Eye AF technology which locks/track focus on a subject’s eye. Check it out on B&H! Cool! Choosing a camera for wildlife photography used to mean selecting from a small group of professional-level DSLRs that had the speed and telephoto lens options needed to capture close-up views of fast-moving subjects. When selecting a camera, also consider the telephoto lenses and teleconverters available for the models you’re evaluating. Check it out on B&H! For more on this camera, read “Tech Tips” columnist George Lepp’s field test with the EOS-1D X Mark II. Just curious! Shooting Menu 1 (Page 7, AF3) Del. Also advantageous for wildlife photography is the camera’s silent shooting mode and a high-resolution Quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder that’s one of the best EVFs we’ve used—and there’s no blackout during capture. AF area: … The OM-D E-M1X features an in-body image stabilization system capable of 7 stops of correction. Firmware Version 2, released May 2019, gave both cameras improved low-light AF performance, but the Z 6 was the bigger beneficiary, able to operate in -6 EV conditions (-2 EV for the Z 7). It can capture up to 10 fps—an improvement of 3 fps over its predecessor—the EOS 80D—and comparable to the EOS 7D Mark II, which was our top APS-sensor Canon camera for wildlife before the introduction of the 90D. Interested in the Nikon D5? It may be a bit too much to expect out of this camera. Registr. Check it out on B&H! The AF system is also impressive, with 61 AF points, 41 of which are cross-type and compatible with apertures as small as ƒ/8. Mirrorless cameras like Sony’s a9 offer faster-than-DSLR continuous shooting speeds, plus totally silent operation, a decided advantage when you’re trying not to disturb your subject. Their massive popularity has also helped to create a market that’s jam-packed with compatible travel lenses. Definitive numerical ratings aren’t available for AF performance, but higher-end cameras typically deliver better AF performance than entry-level bodies, and newer models with the most up-to-date AF technology improve upon earlier models. The Sony a6400 features 425 phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points that instantaneously lock in on your subject within .02 of a second. But considering the partners involved, we expect the lens options to improve, so we’re including the Panasonic LUMIX S1R here because of its high resolution and ability to capture up to 6 fps with continuous AF, or 9 fps with focus locked on the first shot. Interested in the Pentax K-3 II? It was the first Sony camera to introduce Real-time Eye AF, and recently added Real-time Eye AF for animals via Firmware Update 2 (also available now on the a7 III with Firmware Update 3 for that camera). More light translates to less noise, and larger sensors collect more light due to their increased surface area. the D850 is one of the best DSLRs ever made, Read our field test of the Nikon Z system, Canon EOS R5 Review For Nature Photography, Hands On With Two Tamron Zooms For Sony E-Mount, Hands On With The 40-Megapixel Leica M10-R, Beyond Visible Light: Color Infrared Photography, Organizing Your Photos, Part 2: Using Keywords, 9 fps (full res); 30 fps (8.6 MP, DX crop). Initially released spring 2019, it’s Sony’s unofficially testing bed for their latent firmware prowess. The camera’s AF system is designed for low-light performance and is compatible with apertures as small as ƒ/11. If you’re a hybrid shooter, it should definitely be on your list. Sony is known for releasing similar cameras in quick succession, and the A6600 comes not too long after the Sony A6400, and shares the same 24.2 MP APS-C … What is the actual performance of Sony a6400 for birds in … Whilst I'm still not overly convinced by the wildlife lens range for Sony's Mirrorless cameras, the just announced a6400 has some really great potential to be a very good birding camera. Used the 6500 with a 70-300 (prior to release of the 100-400) in Kenya and got very acceptable results. While the difference may not seem like much, even small amounts of weight can be an issue when travelling for long periods. Check it out on B&H! If you’re looking for the lightest camera you can get your hands on, then the Sony a6400 is the better choice. The availability and number of cross-type AF points may be limited by your lens selection. It’s the fastest DSLR currently available, with 14 fps capture using the optical viewfinder or up to 16 fps when shooting in Live View. The a6500 replacement will have IBIS and faster drive plus better buffer. • Sony A6000 vs A6100 vs A6300 vs A6400 vs A6500 vs A6600. Based around a 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor, the A6400 features much improved AF performance, which utilises a hybrid AF system and has a top-of … I used the A6000 + 70-200/4 back when that was the longest we had for Sony FE and that worked fairly well for me even for the small birds. It can capture 12 fps using the viewfinder or 14 fps with the mirror locked up. That’s impressive, because the Mark II also nearly doubles the resolution of its predecessor (42.4-megapixel versus 24.3-megapixel). The A6400 is Sony's sub-£$1000 interchangeable camera, and is well-specced enough to be a more sensible choice than the flagship A6600. That’s one reason why full-frame cameras are able to offer comparably higher ISO equivalents and provide better image quality at higher ISO settings than smaller sensors. Paired with the right lenses, the A6400 is perhaps the best midrange camera for shooting sports, action, and wildlife in 2020. I would consider it if I don't hear about an "A7000" by end of 2019. Eye AF support for animals will be added in summer 2019 via a system software update from Sony, which will be great news for wildlife photographers . Sony is light years above any other camera company with their focusing system. a6400 seems like a general purpose camera that can do everything. This is great for wildlife photographers, as it means you can use the Fujinon XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR with the Fujinon 2x Teleconverter XF2X TC WR for a 35mm-equivalent range of 304-1218mm without sacrificing autofocus. Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS. Interested in the Fujifilm X-T30? The 24.2-megapixel Sony a6400 can shoot continuously at up to 11 fps with full AF/AE tracking when shooting with the mechanical shutter, or up to 8 fps when shooting in silent mode with the electronic shutter and can maintain those speeds for bursts of up to 116 JPEG or 46 RAW uncompressed files. While ulta-fast continuous capture rates aren’t absolutely critical for most wildlife photography, they’re certainly beneficial. Interested in the Panasonic LUMIX S1R? I'm considering it for wildlife, but I'm not jumping into this one. While cameras with focus-tracking capabilities can greatly enhance your chances of success, they’re not infallible, so it’s good to be able to fall back to basic technique and an understanding of your camera’s available settings. Of particular interest to wildlife photographers, the D850 offers a silent shooting mode when using its electronic shutter, with frame rates up to 6 fps at the camera’s full resolution with exposure and focus locked, or up to 30 fps at 8.6-megapixel resolution in DX mode. Check out Mark Galer on youtube. Your lens also has a significant impact on autofocus performance. Paul Nicklen on his career in conservation photography, climate change in the polar regions and his new book, Born To Ice, celebrating those ecosystems and their inhabitants. Like the full-frame Pentax K-1, the APS-C K-3 II is well protected against the elements, with 92 seals. Up to 5 stops of image stabilization are possible with the camera’s 5-axis Dual I.S. It can capture at 11 fps with full AF/AE tracking when shooting with the mechanical shutter, or up to 8 fps when shooting in silent mode with the electronic shutter. Interested in the Nikon D500? The E-M1 Mark II also includes 5-Axis image stabilization for shooting handheld. Technically not a DSLR but not mirrorless either, the a99 II is built around Sony’s Translucent Mirror Technology, which passes most of the light to the image sensor, but reflects a small amount to the 79-point phase-detection AF system. Check it out on B&H! Considering the minimum aperture requirements of AF systems, plus the creative flexibility of selecting the right aperture for your desired depth of field, cameras that offer wider ISO ranges provide a significant advantage for wildlife photography. The optical path includes 19 elements in 13 groups, so the design is rather more complex than in the existing budget Sony E 55-210mm lens, which has just 13 elements in nine groups. Yeah that’s pretty f’ing fast. THIS is the reason why you are going to buy a Sony. Sony 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS Deals. Of the three Panasonic S series cameras introduced so far, it’s the best for wildlife. Check it out on B&H! Though it’s much lower in resolution than the Z7 (24.5 MP versus 45.7) it offers a faster continuous capture rate of 12 fps (8 fps for the Z 7). Panasonic introduced the first models in its new full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S camera system in 2019, working in partnership with Leica and Sigma to develop the system and lenses. Sony a6400. Why a new camera at all then? They’re more durable, with better sealing against weather and dust. They also have the advantage of a crop sensor which gives you extra reach when shooting birds and flight. Best Mirrorless for Wildlife Photography: Sony A6400. The camera’s unique Pro Capture mode helps you record the decisive moment with wildlife action by buffering up to 35 frames when you depress the shutter release halfway, and recording an image plus those 35 previous frames when you fully depress the shutter. It’s the camera’s speed lands it in this list—it’s roughly twice as fast as the K-1 at 8.3 fps versus the K-1’s 4.4 fps. Check it out on B&H! Yes, it will work fine. The latter, though, is particularly beneficial for videographers. The a9 has built-in 5-Axis image stabilization that provides up to 5 stops of compensation for camera movement when shooting handheld. For a different look at color photography, try these shooting and processing tips using infrared digital capture. At the top of our list of the … I don't do video at all. Officially, it’s the replacement for the previously released a6300. Interested in the Panasonic LUMIX GH5? Like the OM-D E-M1 Mark II, as a Micro Four Thirds sensor camera, the focal length of lenses attached to the OM-D E-M1X are effectively magnified 2x, meaning that the Olympus M.ZUIKO ED 300MM F4.0 IS PRO is equivalent to a 600mm lens, but considerably smaller and lighter than the 600mm primes for full-frame cameras. Check it out on B&H! New to the list this year is the Fujifilm X-T30. It offers massive 45.7 MP stills and can capture 7 fps at that full resolution, or up to 9 fps with the optional MB-D18 Multi Power Battery Pack. It also features the same level of weather sealing as the pro model D810, and though less than the D5’s astronomical ISO max, offers a remarkable ISO range, expandable to 1,640,000. Yes. It’s an upgrade in other respects, too, with faster continuous shooting and higher resolution. The Fujifilm HX-1, introduced in 2018, was the first Fujifilm X Series model fast enough to make our list of cameras for wildlife photography. The body is built to protect against moisture and dust and can operate in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Nikon’s flagship DSLR is ideal for wildlife, promising extremely fast and precise AF, with 153 AF points, 99 of which are cross-type, and 15 that can function at apertures as small as ƒ/8. Interested in the Sony a99 Mark II? The point is that smaller-sensor cameras do offer an advantage of lighter, more compact lenses, and for many photographers, any trade off in overall image quality is negligible compared to the affordability and portability benefits of these systems. Most AF systems require a minimum aperture of ƒ/5.6, which usually isn’t a problem. Though it’s not quite as fast as the D5, it’s still very speedy at its max rate of 10 fps. So that will be even better, for birds especially. At full resolution, the a99 II can capture at 12 fps with AF tracking, doubling the capture rate of the original a99. The AF system also features a dedicated processor, and works in extremely low-light conditions, down to -4 EV. This camera will work so much better. It can shoot at speeds up to 14 fps with its electronic shutter, or 8 fps with its mechanical shutter. The Sony A6400 and A6600 have been described by some as mini A9 cameras, inheriting many aspects of that camera's advanced autofocus system. Introduced in 2017, the D850 is one of the best DSLRs ever made and an excellent choice for wildlife work.