Best Canon Camera for Wildlife Photography 2020
Specialist bird lensman Markus Varesvuo says the Canon EOS R5 has had a huge impact on his piece of work. "In belatedly winter, early leap, I dedicated ii weeks to photographing black grouses at lek [a type of mating ritual], busy in display activities," he says. "This is something I've been doing every year for decades, resulting in an all-encompassing library of fast fights and action-packed flight shots, but the EOS R5 has changed the game profoundly. Information technology's a major bound forward." Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS Three USM lens at ane/3200 sec, f/2.8 and ISO5000. © Markus Varesvuo
Wild fauna photography requires patience, persistence and a sound cognition of animate being behaviour and fieldcraft techniques. A very long lens doesn't hurt either. The Catechism EOS arrangement has much to offer professional person wild animals photographers, with a vast range of telephoto and super-telephoto prime and zoom lenses available, forth with loftier-speed, high-quality camera bodies, built to withstand punishing weather condition similar those encountered when seeking elusive animals.
But which Canon cameras and lenses are the best for wildlife photography? To help answer that question, two Canon Ambassadors – African wild animals specialist Marina Cano and bird lensman Markus Varesvuo – offer an insight into the cameras and lenses they utilize to capture their own memorable images of the natural earth, while Mike Burnhill, Professional Imaging Production Specialist at Canon Europe, shares technical highlights.
This guide includes RF lenses for utilise with Catechism'southward full-frame mirrorless EOS R Organisation cameras, plus EF lenses, which can be used with EOS DSLRs and also EOS R Organization cameras with an EF-EOS R Mount Adapter with no loss of quality or functionality.
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African wildlife specialist Marina Cano values the fast continuous shooting speed and autofocus system of her Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. "Together, these features allow you to be gear up quickly and catch the best moment," she says. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark Three with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens at 1/2000 sec, f/4 and ISO400. © Marina Cano
"With wildlife, you never know what kind of action you will face," says Marina. "Animals can run backside bushes or move quickly in between branches. But the EOS-1D X Mark III's tracking system is capable of keeping the focus on the subject." Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Marking 3 with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens at ane/1250 sec, f/nine and ISO2500. © Marina Cano
1. Best DSLR camera for wild fauna photography: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
With its high-speed autofocus, 20fps continuous shooting speed and robust build, the Canon EOS-1D Ten Mark Three is a natural fit for professional person wild fauna photography.
"When you are shooting wild animals, in my example in Africa, activeness happens very quickly, and y'all don't accept time to be gentle with the equipment," says Marina. "I oftentimes leave my cameras on the dusty footing or on the muddy car floor, and I frequently have to deal with dust clouds or pelting coming within the machine as well – sometimes both during the same twenty-four hours.
Canon EOS-1D X Mark Three
A tough, reliable and intuitive DSLR with a twenty.2 megapixel full-frame sensor and 61-bespeak AF system, the EOS-1D X Mark Three lets you capture winning images before the competition.
"In my near recent trip to Tanzania in April 2021, I photographed a chetah running from mound to mound under heavy pelting. There was no time to be worried about getting wet, and I knew I could totally rely on my EOS-1D X Marker Three."
Wild fauna photographer Bruno D'Amicis put the Catechism EOS R3 to the examination photographing the elusive Kentish plover on the seashore in Abruzzo, Italian republic. With the EOS R3'due south EVF refresh rate of 120fps and continuous shooting speed of up to 30fps with full AF/AE tracking, it has never been easier to follow and capture fast-moving subjects even in low lite. Taken on a Canon EOS R3 with a Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM lens at one/4000 sec, f/iv.5 and ISO1600. © Bruno D'Amicis
On the EOS R3, the AF tracking which includes birds equally a priority subject can be used in conjunction with whatsoever AF area mode, including the new Flexi Zone AF, where the AF surface area size and shape tin be customised. This unique combination of capabilities makes the EOS R3 ideal for fast-moving pocket-size subjects such as these shore birds. Taken on a Canon EOS R3 with a Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM lens and Extender RF 2x at i/640 sec, f/viii and ISO400. © Bruno D'Amicis
two. All-time mirrorless photographic camera for high-speed wild fauna photography: Canon EOS R3
The flagship Catechism EOS R3 full frame mirrorless photographic camera introduces a new level of performance to professional wildlife photography. Featuring a Canon-developed stacked BSI CMOS, the EOS R3 offers a continuous shooting speed of up to 30fps with full AF/AE tracking. Information technology likewise features a game-changing Eye Control AF system that enables you lot to move the focus indicate by moving your eye.
"If y'all're photographing a flock of birds, for example, yous can isolate a unmarried bird more quickly with Center Control than you can past changing the AF point or moving the camera effectually to choose the correct bird," explains Mike. "With the EOS R3, you have the ability to look anywhere in the frame to choose the correct subject for the system to track, while continuing to maintain your composition."
Canon EOS R3
A photographic camera designed to capture the fastest moving action and built to meet the exacting demands of professional shooters, with ultra-responsiveness, high sensitivity, reliability and durability.
Subject area tracking AF is supported for all AF surface area settings, including the animal AF for birds, cats and dogs and the new Flexi Zone AF, through which the AF area size and shape can exist customised – ideal for creatures great and small. AF modes are backed up by the world's fastest and everyman-low-cal AF for full-frame, focusing in as footling equally 0.03 seconds and in light conditions equally low equally -7.v EV or lower.*
The EOS R3 is equipped with in-body prototype stabilisation, providing up to an manufacture-leading viii-stops of IS when the EOS R3 is paired with certain RF lenses, giving unparalleled flexibility at long focal lengths.
"The wide maximum aperture of the Canon EF 400mm f/ii.8L IS III USM lens makes it my number one tool in low-light conditions," says Markus. "For fast action situations, it's also an unbeatable choice." Taken on a Catechism EOS R5 with a Catechism EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens at 1/4000 sec, f/3.two and ISO4000. © Markus Varesvuo
The Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM is also an excellent choice for low-calorie-free photography. "The team working on the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM was also partly working on RF lenses at the same fourth dimension," says Mike. "And then these two actually share a lot of the same technology and circuitry." Taken on a
three. Best Canon lenses for low-light wildlife photography: Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS 3 USM
With their brilliant, f/two.8 maximum apertures and high-quality glass, the Canon EF 400mm f/two.8L IS III USM lens and its RF counterpart the Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM deliver outstanding images in the most demanding situations.
"For bird photography in the Finnish winter, the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM is a vital lens," says Markus. "Taking flight shots in low-light conditions is made possible thanks to its combination of fast focusing and fast maximum aperture."
Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM
A high-performance super-telephoto lens with class-leading portability, functioning and image quality.
The isolating ability of the telephoto focal length, combined with the f/2.eight maximum discontinuity, makes these professional 400mm lenses a perfect choice for separating an animate being or bird from its environment. "I've used the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS Three USM at f/two.viii to photo meerkats, and the groundwork but melted into pure softness," says Marina.
With comparable technologies and feature sets, the Canon EF 400mm f/two.8L IS III USM and Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM offer a similar level of high performance, so whether you adopt to employ the total-frame mirrorless EOS R System or DSLR, you can exist sure of dandy quality shots. "And they're both super-lightweight lenses," adds Mike.
All the same, the 12-pin RF mount connection in the Canon EOS R3 provides faster, higher-bandwidth communication between the RF lens and the photographic camera, delivering even improve focusing performance when the RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM is used with the EOS R3.
The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens features a 5-stop Image Stabilizer and rapid, ring-type USM autofocus that's helpful when tracking fast-moving subjects, such as this African fish eagle. "I've used this lens to photograph all kinds of wildlife, including elephants, lions, caracals, eagles and herons," says Marina. Taken on a Catechism EOS-1D 10 Mark III with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens at 1/3200 sec, f/4 and ISO640. © Marina Cano
The Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM super-telephoto lens gets you lot up close and personal with the near reserved of subjects, delivering sublime image quality whatever the weather. Taken on a
4. All-time Canon lenses for bird photography: Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM and Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM
When asked which lens they couldn't live without, both Marina and Markus selected the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS 3 USM. "The quality is out of this world," says Marina.
Markus requires as much magnification equally possible, so he tin can go on his distance because many of the bird species he photographs are hands spooked. "The EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM is the lens that I apply nearly," he says. "And I use the Extender EF i.4x Iii and Extender EF 2x III when necessary, with both the EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM and my EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM, without losing image quality. The extended accomplish makes it possible to photograph even the near timid species from a distance."
Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM
A super lightweight 600mm f/4 lens with a 5-stop Image Stabilizer, delivering outstanding epitome quality and a polished professional performance.
With form-leading portability and performance, the RF mount Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM is also fix to be a kitbag essential for pro nature photographers. When paired with the Catechism EOS R3, the RF 600mm F4L IS 3 USM is enhanced for bird photography via the photographic camera's fauna AF setting which prioritises birds, besides equally the new Flexi Zone AF, which enables you to customise the AF expanse size and shape – particularly helpful for shooting smaller birds.
For super-telephoto wildlife photography on a budget, also consider the Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM – or fifty-fifty the Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM. "Up until now, 800mm lenses have been besides expensive, and they've merely been too large and heavy – you accept to plan to get out to shoot with them," explains Mike. "But here's a lens that's lighter than a bottle of h2o, which you lot tin can proceed in your purse all of the time."
The compact size of the EF 100-400mm f/four.5-v.6L IS II USM lens makes it a slap-up selection for wildlife photographers, who often need to travel light. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X (now succeeded by the
"The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-vii.one L IS USM is light to concord, produces very good image quality and focuses fast," says Markus. Information technology'south also able to focus down to 1.2m at 500mm, which enabled Markus to get close enough to frame this shy willow tit. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Catechism RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 50 IS USM lens at 472mm, ane/160 sec, f/7.1 and ISO250. © Markus Varesvuo
5. Most versatile Canon wild animals photography lenses: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.i L IS USM and Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-five.6L IS II USM
The flexibility provided by their focal length ranges, combined with their excellent eyes and portable, weather condition-sealed designs, make the Catechism RF 100-500mm F4.5-seven.1 50 IS USM and Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.v-5.6L IS Two USM the go-to lenses for handheld wild animals photography.
Both the EF and RF lenses take effective three-mode Image Stabilizers, with the EF 100-400mm f/4.v-v.6L IS Two USM enabling handheld shooting with shutter speeds upwardly to four stops slower than lenses without IS, and the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.one Fifty IS USM going i better, with five stops.
Catechism RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
With v-end image stabilisation and L-serial build quality, this lens offers performance and image quality similar no other thanks to UD lens elements and ASC coatings for unrivalled dissimilarity and sharpness.
"500mm is a slap-up entry betoken for bird photography," says Mike. "Plus, you tin can use the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 50 IS USM with the RF extenders equally well. The AF system on the Canon EOS R3, EOS R5 and EOS R6 works at such low light levels that the cameras will happily focus at these smaller apertures – y'all can fifty-fifty focus down to f/22."
If you accept the budget, then the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x is an fifty-fifty more versatile option. "It gives y'all the power to become from 200 to 400mm with a constant f/four aperture, and you've got the built-in extender as well," says Mike.
"The EF seventy-200mm f/two.8L IS II USM [now succeeded past the EF seventy-200mm f/two.8L IS 3 USM] is i of my all-time favourite lenses," says Markus. "I accept used it regularly and extensively over the years, and information technology'south the lens I choose when I desire to photograph birds and the landscape, such every bit this shot of a great grey owl." Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark Three with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens at 100mm, 1/2000 sec, f/ten and ISO10000. © Markus Varesvuo
vi. Best Canon lenses for general wildlife photography: Catechism RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Three USM
Shorter telephoto zoom lenses like the Canon RF lxx-200mm F2.8L IS USM and EF seventy-200mm f/ii.8L IS III USM are a smashing improver to a wildlife photographer's kitbag, allowing yous to include more of the fauna'south environment in a shot. The constant f/ii.8 aperture of these professional zooms means they're a cracking choice for depression-calorie-free wildlife photography too.
The RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM has the added advantage of being more compact than its EF analogue, as well as packing a 5-stop Image Stabilizer.
Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
This high-performance F2.8 telephoto zoom is the third in the Catechism trinity of essential RF lenses offering exceptional image quality in a compact trunk, designed to piece of work in all conditions.
"When you lot're travelling by plane, you desire to be able to pack as much equally yous tin can into your acquit-on luggage," adds Mike, "then size and weight make a real departure. The RF version is a lot smaller, a lot lighter, and super-fast at focusing too."
Marina took this image with a Canon EF sixteen-35mm f/2.8L Two USM lens (now succeeded by the EF xvi-35mm f/ii.8L Iii USM) in order to capture the towering heaven. "Telephotos are great for wildlife photography," says Mike, "but they compress everything. A broad-angle adds depth and opens everything up." Taken on a Catechism EOS-1D Ten Marker Two (now succeeded past the Canon EOS-1D 10 Mark Iii) with a Catechism EF 16-35mm f/two.8L Two USM lens at 1/500, f/5.vi and ISO1000. © Marina Cano
vii. Best Canon lenses for showing wild animals in its surroundings: Catechism EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM and Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM
It tin be challenging to get close enough to photo wild fauna with an ultra-wide-angle lens such equally the Canon RF fifteen-35MM F2.8L IS USM, but doing so enables you to place animals in context within a wider scene. The power to control a Wi-Fi enabled EOS camera at a distance using the Canon Camera Connect app on your smartphone or tablet means these lenses are also perfect for remote wild fauna photography.
Marina uses the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L 2 USM (now succeeded by the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM). "I beloved the manner that y'all tin use this magical lens to record a tiny giraffe or elephant on the horizon against an infinite sky," she says. "It enables you to create a sense of immensity that captures the hugeness of Africa."
Canon EF 16-35mm f/ii.8L Three USM
A premium quality ultra-wide angle zoom lens, with a constant f/2.eight maximum aperture, for the highest paradigm quality possible even in depression light conditions.
The avant-garde optical pattern of the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM delivers edge-to-edge sharpness, with the RF xv-35mm F2.8L IS USM offering the same level of performance but with boosted improvements. "It'southward a similar sized lens, with similar prototype quality, but there's a lot more crammed into the same parcel, including a five-stop Image Stabilizer," says Mike.
The Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM and
8. Best Canon lenses for close-up wildlife photography: Catechism RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM and Catechism EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
For small-scale wildlife photography, nothing beats the convenience and prototype quality of a dedicated macro lens. The short telephoto focal length of the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM enables 1:1 life-size reproduction to exist achieved from a distance that's less probable to scare off dragonflies and other insects.
The RF counterpart of this lens goes even further, offering a class-leading 1.4x magnification. "1.4x doesn't sound a lot compared to 1x magnification," says Mike. "But it gives you nearly a l% increase in the size of the field of study.
Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM
The RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM is a professional macro lens with course-leading 1.4x magnification and a variable Spherical Abnormality Command to adjust bokeh.
"Some other do good of the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM is that it has focus breathing suppression," adds Mike. "This makes information technology easier to line upwardly the images in a focus stack when you want to create macro photos with a much greater depth of field."
And when paired with the Canon EOS R3, the RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM lens offers ultimate flexibility with up to 8-stops of image stabilisation, enabling sharp macro images when shooting handheld at high magnifications.
*For still photos but with an f/1.2 lens, except RF lenses with a Defocus Smoothing (DS) blanket, using centre AF bespeak and One-Shot AF used at room temperature and ISO 100.
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