ISSUE 128
30 / BIRD SPECIAL
Top flight cameras These are the standout performers for capturing nature at its fastest and most unpredictable
Whether you’re tracking swifts overhead, photographing garden
visitors or following birds of prey in action, the right camera can make all the difference. Fast autofocus, high frame rates and excellent image quality are essential for successful bird photography. Nowadays, that means you need a mirrorless camera. Here are some of the cameras that soar above the rest in terms of speed, performance and reliability.
Best for autofocus Sony A1 II £5699
Best for value Fujifilm X-T50 £1299
Best for reach Panasonic Lumix G9 II £1299
If you’ve got deep enough pockets, the superb Sony A1 II sits at the absolute zenith of action tracking technology. Powered by a dedicated AI processing unit, the camera’s 759-AF-point subject detection algorithms work to lock onto a bird’s eye instantly – and it will stay locked on even through chaotic environments or erratic flight paths, increasing your odds of bagging razor-sharp images. All backed up by a beefy 50-megapixel stacked sensor that delivers blackout-free shooting at up to 30fps, this is one of the best tools money can buy – especially for bird photography.
Don’t be fooled by this camera’s diminutive size, as the Fujifilm X-T50 packs premium, flagship-level performance into a highly affordable mid-range body that won’t hurt your wallet. Packing an X-Processor 5, the X-T50 offers incredibly capable AI subject detection autofocus as well as a whopping 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor. A sensor of this size gives you a built-in 1.5x field of view crop factor, extending your effective focal length significantly. The X-T50 also benefits from 425 AF points, seven stops of stabilisation and up to 20fps to capture the action.
For photographers, the Panasonic Lumix G9 II is a cheat code. Despite being smaller, lighter and more affordable than Panasonic’s flagship GH7, the G9 II serves up the same 25.2-megapixel resolution and is full of cutting-edge features, such as 779 AF points and Phase Hybrid AF. The Micro Four Thirds sensor offers a 2x crop, doubling the effective focal length of your lens. For example, a 300mm prime returns an effective focal length of 600mm – getting you right up close to a subject. Other features include eight stops of in-body image stabilisation and subject detection.
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