What is the most commonly used camera for wildlife photography by professionals?

Question

I enjoy outdoor and wildlife photography immensely and somewhere in the future there is a new camera for me. I was just wondering what the professionals use and their thoughts on the subject. I currently own a Rebel XT with a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L, all from canon.

Answer 1

Many photographers that do outdoor or wildlife photography use medium format cameras like Mamiya or Hasselblad. Your Canon Rebel XT is a very good camera (personally I prefer Nikon but that comes from working on them for years) and that should do you just fine for now. Medium format cameras and lenses are EXTREMELY expensive, so I wouldn't recommend buying one unless you were going to do outdoor/wildlife or wedding photography as your livelihood -- Hasselblad cameras start over $5,000.00 just for the camera body (no lens).

Answer 2

I wouldn't recommend a medium format camera for wildlife photography. Too cumbersome in the field, prohibitively expensive, and even their longest lenses often don't even come anywhere near the focal lengths readily available for SLRs such as your Rebel XT, which is an excellent camera.

The Rebel XT is a fine choice for all kinds of 'active' photography, including wildlife. Of course, you can always upgrade to a more professional model such as the Canon 1D-series if you can afford it, but this will mainly benefit you in terms of reliability, heavy-duty built, and responsivenes, but not necessarily in overall photographic quality. After all, huge pixel counts aren't everything. A decent lens is the most important technical factor.
You might want to consider a (relatively inexpensive) extender, doubling the focal lenghts of the lenses you already have. Only on very rare occasions can you approach wildlife from up close, so for me a reeaaally long lens is the one item I couldn't do without for this type of photography.

I've used extenders on fast, long lenses such as a 300 mm/f2.8 with extremely good results. They give you enough shutter speed to freeze an animal under pretty foul lighting circumstances, even though extenders typically decrease your lens speed up to two stops, converting for example, a 300 mm/f2.8 into a 600 mm/f5.6. An alternative would be trying to attach your camera to a spotting scope such as the Bushnell Spacemaster, but results are often questionable and mounting your camera to a scope can be a bit tricky in the field. Focal lengths equivalent to 2000+ mm however, are common with this type of kit.

Another must-have is a proper tripod that can support the weight of the camera body and lens combination, without sacrificing its structural rigidity. An accessory that comes in handy is a remote control, so you can keep hidden from your subject.

Finally, if a lens is the most important technical factor, the overall most important factor is the photographer him/herself. Know what you're shooting, know the landscape, the behaviour, and equipment you're using. There's no excuse for failing to capture a shy, nocturnal creature at 11.00 am in downtown NY on a bright summer's day.

Answer 3

Like the earlier guy said, "from years of working with them". If you shoot wildlife, you may be isolated and at times uncomfortable, so at least shoot with something familiar and comfortable to you. If you're used to Canon, stick with it. If you like digital over film, stick with that as well. Photography requires some trial and error for you to find your niche. Once you get it, stay with it. If you're relaxed and comfortable, you will be thinking of your photo and not worrying about your surroundings.This is gonna give you better results in the end.

Answer 4

I agree on what arc_angel_1972 just said. familiarizing your camera and comfortable with it is the key. it may take a long time to adjust. but when you get the hang of it and mastered your camera, you'll get good results in the end. when you mastered your camera not only for wildlife but you can also adjust your settings quickly in any type of scene and photograph you want to take.

Answer 5

you're able to do pictures with any digicam. of direction, the costlier cameras comprise extra effectual high quality and extra strategies. including your kodak digicam, i assume it fairly is in simple terms a factor-and-shoot? If there are not any strategies for changing the shutter velocity or aperture, you're limited. With those you are able to have great exposure and it will help including your lights. If no longer, you will artwork on the composition. this is an spectacular thank you to prepare posing and lights besides.

Answer 6

If you are using Canon, go with canon cameras. Canon has some fast cameras for sports (and I thinks for wildlife too) such as Canon EOS 1D Mark II.

Answer 7

i dont know about for just wildlife but i like the nikon slr cameras.. they have great features and the lenses you can buy for them are top quality.. lenses are super important