One of the most important aspects of wildlife photography is choosing the right gears for your trip. Being a good photographer will only get you half the way, and a mixture of skills and the correct tools is necessary to achieve the best results possible.
In this article, we will talk about the best point and shoot cameras for wildlife photography. Some variables that are taken into account are price, quality, durability, and portability.
Here is the list of the best cameras in their specific niches.
- Panasonic Lumix FZ300 Camera.
- Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Digital Camera.
- Canon PowerShot SX740 Camera.
- Fujifilm FinePix S1 Digital Camera.
- Olympus TG-5 V1 Camera.
Panasonic Lumix FZ300 Camera
Starting with the Panasonic Lumix FZ300, A super zoom camera capable of 24x zoom, raw image capture, and 4k videos.
The build quality feels extremely sturdy compared to devices in the same price range. It features a snug grip, a 1,440k-dot EVF, a 3.0-inch free-angle touch panel, a relatively decent built-in mic + a jack, and is Wi-Fi capable. The battery is good but not the best, being able to get up to one hour and a half of video time.
It comes with an all-weather seal, meaning you will be able to use it in almost any type of weather without having to be worried about damaging the camera.
Both the image and video quality are crisp & free from artifacts with color and contrast being pretty true to life. It is able to do 12.4fps burst shooting, 4K video at 30 frames per second, and has a very fast 0.02-second autofocus.
It also has a 5 Axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilizer which helps tremendously when trying to get stable and clear shots when zoomed all the way out. This makes the camera excellent for wildlife photography.
Pros:
- 24x Zoom Lens + F/2.8 Aperture.
- 4K Video Capture.
- Weather Resistant.
- Excellent EVF.
Cons:
- Video is limited to 30 minutes at a time.
Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Digital Camera
Next in line is the Nikon COOLPIX P1000, A beast of a device that is known to have one of the most extraordinary zoom lens in the whole market of point and shoot cameras.
It comes with a 1″ / 2.3″ 16 MP image sensor, and an incredible 125x zoom range which equals a 24mm-3000mm. This gives you a lot of room to play with for every type of scenario you may find yourself in as a wildlife photographer.
Capable of doing 4k videos at 24/30 fps and 1080p & 720p at up to 60fps. The footage looks very satisfying and has a lot of crispiness and details. Stabilization is somewhat of a problem due to the camera being front heavy because of the large zoom lens so having a good tripod is a must for this camera.
The P1000 can also shoot 7fps burst, capture raw images, and supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth making it much more convenient for the average Joe.
Pros:
- Amazing 125X Zoom Lens.
- 7fps Continuous Shooting.
- Excellent optical stabilization.
- Good Build Quality.
Cons:
- High Price.
Canon PowerShot SX740 Camera
Switching to a camera that is capable of producing very nice images and extremely good-looking videos, The Canon Powershot SX740 is a great pocket friendly camera with a huge 40x optical zoom and amazing 4K movie resolution.
Both the videos and the pictures look crisp & sharp in good lighting, but the stabilizer isn’t the best and a stand is needed as any sudden movement will cause the images to lose quality.
It comes with a dedicated shooting mode on the top of the camera, which gives you control over the aperture priority, shutter priority and several automatic options. One of the most important feature is the Wi-Fi as it lets you quickly send any images you take to your computer/phone so you can post them on your socials.
For wildlife photography, this camera is a great fit if you are just an enthusiast and don’t feel like spending too much on gear. If you are looking for more professional gear, you can choose the P1000 instead.
Pros:
- Fast Autofocus.
- Compact & Rigid Design.
- 40X Zoom Capacity.
- 4K Footage At 30fps/25fps.
Cons:
- Can’t shoot in Raw.
Fujifilm FinePix S1 Digital Camera
Next in line is a quick-shooting masterpiece, The Fijifilm FinePix S1 is an amazing midrange bridge camera for wildlife photography with a solid 50x zoom lens, and an excellent build quality.
The body includes a satisfying rubberized feel and a large right-hand area, and this results in an extremely nice grasp and a neutral temperature when touched, unlike other metal cameras. It also has an environmental sealing which makes it weather resistant, including resistance against water, and dust. This makes it the perfect fit for wildlife photographers.
It comes with a 16-megapixel, backside-illuminated 1/2.3-inch image sensor and a powerful 50x optical zoom. the native ISO is from 100 to 12800, and you will be able to shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels, and save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post-processing.
For video, you can record at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60p fps and save in and H.264 formats, And there is a high speed mode where it captures videos at 480 fps for ultra slow motion videos.
Pros:
- Sharp, 50x Zoom Lens.
- 7.8fps burst.
- Weather Resistant.
- Sharp EVF.
Cons:
- Video quality could be better.
Olympus TG-5 V1 Camera
Finishing with one of the most rugged and solid cameras in this list, The Olympus TG-5 V1 is an amazing standalone camera constructed with wildlife photographers in mind.
Waterproof to a depth of 50 feet, and can handle up to 220 lbs of crushing force. This is a camera you can throw in your backpack and use it on any situation without having to worry about breaking it.
Comes with a 12-megapixel sensor with a decent 4x optical zoom capability to ensures good image quality with limited amounts of grain/noise. It also has a variety of shooting modes for various different situations, and the most known ones are the underwater and the microscope modes.
For the features, it has a 3.0 inches 460k Dot LCD monitor, a field sensor system with GPS, a manometer, a compass, and temperature sensors. This makes this camera a complete beast of a camera when it comes to handling tricky and harsh wildlife situations.
Pros:
- Waterproof Sealing.
- Flexible Manual Settings.
- Pocket Friendly Design.
- Amazing Macro Shots.
Cons:
- Water depth sensor is inaccurate.
Conclusion: Best Point And Shoot Camera For Wildlife Photography
Now that you have all the information you need about the best point and shoot camera for wildlife photography, you can count on your self to make an educated guess and choose the product that best fits your specific needs.
If there is anything else you would like to see added to this list, just leave a comment down below, and we will make sure to take a look at your suggestions.
