Choosing a great mirrorless camera for nature photography sometimes may be overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner in photography and you don’t have much information about them.
In this article will be given the top five picks of cameras as the best ones, and two bonuses (with specifications and key features) for beginners out there.
A Quick Look At My Favorite Beginner Cameras For Nature Photography
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best For Stills  | 9.7 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best High-End  | 9.5 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Value  | 10 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Compact  | 9 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Battery-Life  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best for Aesthetics  | 8.5 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best For Durability  | 8 | Check Price On Amazon |
Key Takeaways
- If you were to ask me personaly which would be the best camera for entry nature photographers, I would go for Z fc DX
- Most cameras are expensive, so look for one within your budget
- If you can choose the right camera settings, you can take beautiful images of nature even if your camera isn’t the best.
- Make sure to get a sturdy camera because nature is known for its rough terrain; even if it falls, it should be able to survive and endure some damage.
The 7 Best Beginner Cameras For Nature Photography
7. Canon EOS Rebel T8i – Best Value
What I Like
- Great Standard Build
- Good Value
- Great Autofocus
What I Don’t Like
- Only Optical Viewfinder
- Weak 4k Footage
The EOS Rebel T8i is an amazing DSLR camera! In some places it is sold as Canon EOS 850D, if you encounter these names, you should know that it has to do with the same product. It has lots of features and it is easy to use just as beginners need! I can say that this is probably the best camera for beginners because it’s pretty easy to use. It’s also one of the most popular canon cameras out there.
Design-wise, this camera comes fully covered in black color and it has measurements of 3 x 5.16 x 4.04. It is considered a portable-friendly camera based on its weight of only 2.26 pounds, which is lightweight, keeping in mind that it is a DSLR camera. It is mostly made of plastic but still, it is very solid while in your hands.
The sensor that this camera is equipped with, is the 24.1 MP CMOS sensor, which works perfectly, and it is combined with the DIGIC 8 image processor. Both the sensor and the processor are responsive to the astonishing image quality that is brought to you by this camera! The ISO range of this camera works is from 100 to 25600, and it is also expandable up to 51200.
Based on what is mentioned just above, (sensor, processor, and ISO range), the nature pictures that will be captured with this camera, will be brought to you at their highest level of quality! The images are very clear and they are great even in low light! The continuous shooting speed of this camera is 7fps, and you can also record 4K videos at a frame rate of 24p.
This camera features a Dual Pixel Cmos Autofocus that is very accurate, precise, and very fast at the same time!
Another great feature included in this camera is its powerful battery! While fully charged with this camera you will be able to shoot about 800 shots via the optical viewfinder, and in case you want to use the live view feature on the LCD touchscreen that it has then it can hold up on up to 310 shots. Definitely a great beginner camera!
Why should you buy it?
A perfect camera for entry-level photographers who want an easy-to-use DSLR. It is easy to use and not complicated while having a good battery life. Moreover, I also like the additional 4k capability despite being just a DSLR. So yeah, this is differently something to consider.
Sample Pictures of Canon EOS Rebel T8i
6. Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III – Best Compact
What I Like
- Great Ergonomic
- Great Dynamic Range
- High Resolution Lens
What I Don’t Like
- No Viewfinder
This camera also comes from Canon, but it differs from the one already mentioned above since the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III is a point-and-shoot camera. That means that this camera’s focus and exposure are totally automatic. Even though it’s a point-and-shoot camera, its image quality is amazing.
As a whole, this camera is a very small one which basically tells us why it is a point-and-shoot camera since they are mostly small in size. The measurements are 1.6 x 4.1 x 2.4 and weighs only 13.12 ounces. Based on its size it can perfectly fit even in your pocket. The materials that this one is made of are a combination of plastic and metal and in general, it has a very solid body. You can choose in between two colors which are silver and black.
This point and shoot camera are packed with a 20.1 MP CMOS camera sensor and it works along with the powerful DIGIC 8 processor. They control amazingly this camera and they bring to you a very great quality of images and videos as well. The ISO range that this camera works with is 125 to 12800.
The image quality of this camera is in its perfect way! While taking the picture it shows amazing colors that are vibrant and very dynamic and they are perfectly clear! It is also a great camera that captures great images even in low light. The continuous shooting speed of this camera is 20.0 fps. You can record videos on 4K that works on 30p, or you can record Full HD videos that work on 120p.
This camera uses a contrast-detect Autofocus system which is very responsive! While in nature, you may want your image to be focused on any particular place or a thing, and on its automatic mode, anything will be focused quickly and responsively.
While fully charged, with this camera you can shoot more than 200 images, since there is no viewfinder, you will take your pictures only via the LCD touch screen, and it is very flexible! It’s also a pretty affordable camera, and that makes it a popular pick amongst beginner photographers.
Why should you buy it?
So you might want a compact point-and-shoot camera; well, the PowerShot has always been a series that was hard to beat when it came to small and compact cameras. This is a feature-packed camera that I would suggest to anyone looking for this type of camera.
Sample Pictures of Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III
5. Nikon D780 – Best Battery-Life
What I Like
- Great Build
- Great image quality and video capabilities
- Great Low Light Performance
What I Don’t Like
- Lacking Some Features
Moving on to another company, it is the Nikon ones with its amazing DSLR camera the Nikon D780. It is a great camera starting from its first look, going into the smallest details about its features.
This camera is very well-built! It comes in a black finish and the material that it is made of is impressively sturdy materials such as magnesium alloy and carbon fiber materials. It is also a camera that is moisture and dust sealing! The measurements of this one are 5.65 x 2.99 x 4.55 inches and it has a lightweight of 1.57 pounds.
Nikon D780 is packed with a 24.5 MP CMOS sensor and on this one, it works combined with Nikon’s EXPEED 6 image processor which is a powerful one. As experts say, the camera sensor and the processor are the brains of a camera, this camera with that combination is one of the most powerful ones. It also has a wide ISO range from 100 to 51200 and it is expandable to 204,800.
With the full-frame sensor, the image quality of this camera is amazing! The nature images that you will take with this camera will be fully detailed and the colors are shown perfectly. The camera also has 20 filters included and you can choose in between them to make your picture look better than ever! The continuous shooting speed of this camera is 7fps and for video, it captures full-frame 4K videos that are ultra-sharp!
The Autofocus system on this camera is more than impressive! It is very quick, sharp, and very accurate. It clearly focuses on the subject, or you can choose the Manual usage of the focus, in order to focus on anything that you want, while in nature.
Once this camera is fully charged through the viewfinder you can take up to 2260 shots! It is the highest number of shots that any camera allows you to take! When using its LCD touch screen on the live mode the number of shots may be dropped, but still, 2260 shots are a massive feature!
Why should you buy it?
A decently sealed camera that will survive the elements; not only that, but this is also a great performer in low light environments. Yeah, let’s not forget the massive battery life, either.
Sample Pictures of Nikon D780
4. Nikon Z fc – Best for Aesthetics
What I Like
- Great Build
- Great Aesthetics
- Great Value
What I Don’t Like
- Painful price
Here goes another mirrorless camera from Nikon. The Nikon Z fc is Nikon’s newest launch and it quickly became a favorite camera, especially for beginners in any field of nature and landscape photography! It has lots of features and besides that, it is very easy to be used!
This camera comes with a very pretty design that makes it different from all the cameras that are mentioned in this article! It has a very pretty vintage cool style that is really eye-catching! It comes in a combination of black and silver. The measurements of this camera are 5.3 x 1.8 x 3.7 inches and it has a weight of 13.8 ounces.
The sensor that is included in this camera is a 20.9 MP DX CMOS sensor and it is paired with the EXPEED 6 image processor. This sensor lets you do whatever you want on this camera. You can brighten the shadows of your image at any level, while the ISO range of this camera works at 100 to 51200 and it can be manually adjustable.
The nature photographs taken with this camera have a great quality with an amazing dynamic range and an impressive low light performance! Dynamic range is pretty important when it comes to nature photography, so that’s a big plus. You can shoot even in the darkest places and still the capacity of this camera is more than amazing! While taking pictures it has a continuous shooting speed of 11 fps. The video quality is also better than ever since you can record 4K Ultra HD videos on up to 30fps.
The autofocus system on this camera is very responsive, in case you are recording people or animals, it has the ability to track eyes. It is a focus that is accurate and very fast!
All these features included, while they are all in use this camera allows you to take about 300 shots on just a single charge, and the number doesn’t differ if you choose to use the electronic viewfinder, or the LCD touch screen!
Why should you buy it?
I can’t stop loving the vintage design behind this camera; it looks good and performs excellently; if you can bypass the price, don’t hesitate on this bad boy.
Sample Pictures of Nikon Z fc
3. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark III – Best For Durability
What I Like
- Great Durability
- WeatherProof
- Outstanding in-body stability
What I Don’t Like
- Short battery life
This camera is a compact DSLR that in a way is aimed at the biggest enthusiastic beginners out there. This camera is packed with lots of features, and for beginners, they are very easy to use and it would be one of the best options!
This camera is one of the most resistant digital cameras that are mentioned in this article! Even though it may have a similar look as the Nikon Z fc, it still has its own amazing design! It measures 4.9 x 3.4 x 2 inches and weighs 2.60 lbs. The camera has full weather-sealed construction since it is splashproof, dustproof, and freeze-proof! It is a portable camera that accompanies you wherever you want to go!
Packed with the 20 MP live MOS sensor and the True Pic VIII image processor, besides being durable this camera is also very powerful! When compared to its predecessor, the Mark II, this camera has a smaller sensor and that totally helps the full performance of this camera. The ISO range of this Olympus camera works from 200 to 25600.
The combination of a processor and the sensor on a camera is always the most important thing. With the combination of both of them mentioned above, this camera promises you great color accuracy, lifelike images, and an amazingly sharp and clear display! The continuous speed that the pictures are shot works at 30 fps! Meanwhile, the video quality comes in 4K. In this camera are found 16 art filters and also Image Stabilization, which means that your images will come with any blur!
The focus of this camera isn’t the best for very quick-moving subjects, but, since we are talking about nature photography we deal with calmness and not moving objects or subjects. The focus that it owns is great for these types of pictures or videos!
Olympus on their cameras always use in a way the same battery, and on this one, the battery life doesn’t differ much from its predecessor (Mark II), because on this one too you can take approximately 300 shots on a single charge when using the LCD screen.
Why should you buy it?
A durable weatherproof camera with outstanding body stability, the battery life might hold some people off, but this camera will still deliver.
Sample Pictures of OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark III
2. Panasonic LUMIX S1R – Best For Stills
What I Like
- Great Build
- Dual image stabilization
- Great Handling
- Great 4k video quality
What I Don’t Like
- On the pricey side
- Short battery life
This Panasonic camera is a full-frame mirrorless camera that has an amazing rugged design! It is a resistant one from dust, splashes of water, and also freezing weather. This makes it a great camera for wildlife photography.
It is packed with a 47.3 MP full-frame MOS Sensor, and the Venus Engine, which is an image processing engine. Because of them, the camera has an immersive image quality, the pictures taken are very detailed and they have incredible clarity, and the continuous shooting speed works at 9fps!
The video quality on the other hand comes at 4K on 60P and 50p. It owns amazing autofocus that is very accurate, and it also makes the camera work perfectly in low light! As per its battery life, this camera allows you to shoot up to 360 shots, once it is fully charged!
Why should you buy it?
A mirrorless camera that can survive almost anything while performing really well has good handling and ergonomics. Moreover, it can also offer great 4k content at 60 fps. It is a great mirrorless camera that you can buy if money is not a problem.
Sample Pictures of Panasonic LUMIX S1R
1.Sony α7R IV – Best High-End
What I Like
- Compact Build
- Decent image quality for a mirrorless camera
- Uncanny Autofocus
- Hard to beat video quality
What I Don’t Like
- A bit too big file sizes
Another bonus pick on this article comes from Sony. This camera is also a mirrorless camera that is lightweight and made of magnesium alloy. It is a sturdy camera based on its build, and it is fully portable! This camera owns a 61MP full-frame Exmore R CMOS sensor that works along with the BIONZ X Image Processor. Even though this isn’t considered to be an entry level camera, its still one of the best cameras for beginners in nature photography.
Both of them combined make the image and video quality of this camera their highest quality, the images are lifelike while the video is brought to you on 4K! The continuous shooting speed on this one is 10fps and it also owns impressive quick autofocus that is a Hybrid one! The battery life promised by Sony is that you can take up to 500 shots without any problem! Definitely can be considered the best camera for many purposes.
Why should you buy it?
A lightweight mirrorless camera from sony that owns a monstrous 61MP CMOS sensor; not only that, but it also is feature packed in many other aspects. It screams high-end camera in all ways.
Sample Pictures of Sony α7R IV
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a camera for nature photography?
I think we all are familiar that most professional cameras, like a DSLR, should be more than enough to capture great nature photos; I mean, we live in a modern world where smartphones can do the same. By following my list, I am sure you will find the right camera to suit you.
How Much Should I Spend for a Nature Camera?
Well, this is a list that has to do with beginners, So I wouldn’t advise spending much on a camera if you are a beginner; instead, get something easier to use till you learn your way around the photography world.
Verdict
Even if you don’t have the best camera, you can still manage to shoot great nature photos if you can select the correct camera settings.
So this article is basically a guide on buying the best cameras for nature photography, mostly used by beginners in the nature and landscape photography field! The cameras mentioned are considered as the best beginner cameras for nature photography that can be found on the market nowadays! If you have already chosen one of them, then there is an assurance that you won’t be missing anything!
Photographer & Writer
I specialize in landscape, street and portrait photography and I have been featured in various galleries and publications. I believe that photography is a way to tell stories!
