What is your go to camera for wildlife photogrpahy?

TexasSportsman · Jun 15, 2024

I have been an amateur photographer almost as long as I have been hunting and sports shooting. When I married in 2020 my wife and I spent a lot of time at home since we were in a lockdown.

I let her use my old Canon EOS 10D to spend time photographing the insect life in our backyard. That, along with her growing garden gave her a lot of opportunities to improve her skills in macrophotography so much so that I upgraded the 10D to a 40D. Then finally to an EOS RP. We were at a local state park and the images she took of the wildlife and landscape made me know for sure the RP was a great buy.

My two go to cameras when I am not toting my X Bolts Canon EOS R and the 1Ds MK II along with a sturdy tripod and accessories.

We cam across a sounder of hogs in the park. We were set up to take photos of gators sunning themselves then the pigs happened along. We both took some amazing images of the pigs.

What are your go to cameras?

BruceP · Aug 5, 2024

My latest is the Canon 5D mark IV. I first went digital with the 10D then progressed through the 30D, 50D and 6D. I actually still have all of them but the 2 full frames are the only ones that get used unless I have a specific reason (Like comparison testing) to use one of the others.
I will probably eventually go the Mirrorless with a R5 or possibly a R6II but not anytime real soon.

I would be interested in knowing, What are your go to lenses? In my opinion that is usually more important that the body.
Marry the lens, date the camera as some like to say.

TexasSportsman · Aug 9, 2024

When I check our deer lease I always take my EOS 5D MkII and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L II w/2x convertor.

I want to be able to take photos of deer as they move through the property so that I can see which one has developed or is developing nice antlers. I also take photos of areas are different from my last trip such as a creek or stream that changed direction or an area that became flooded when beavers moved in.

Beavers don't have many natural predators remining and very few men trap so the beavers proliferate. If you don't catch them in time the area they flooded can become protected habitat and then you've lost a part of your hunting area.

We like to place our feeder in the vicinity of a water source like a creek or stream. It draws all kinds of critters. We also employ game cams but for ease of use we like our cameras so that we can compare areas.

BruceP · Aug 12, 2024

The 70-200 f2.8 is a great lens. I have a 1st version and I hear that the series II is even better. I have considered trading up to that version. I just this year picked up a Canon 500 f4 and love it but is certainly too heavy for a walk around lens while checking your property.

Guy M · Aug 14, 2024

My usual hiking companions are the 357 S&W and the Olympus OM-D with a 75-300 lens. A few years ago I added a 100-400 Olympus lens that is considerably larger and heavier than the 75-300, but also takes better photos. Tradeoffs. I opted for the Olympus because of a history with them going back to the 1970's, and my penchant for hiking, kayaking, etc... where the smaller size of the Olympus is nice. Yes, I give up something to the larger cameras.

A few samples from the Olympus:

This morning before sunrise - since you mentioned beavers - I was walking my dog and this one decided to pose for me. Had the 100-400 Olympus lens:

Millie the moose. Taken while walking my dog through a local park. 75-300 Olympus lens.

Caught this raccoon in the early morning sun while walking my dog... Confession, I walk the dog almost daily, he's 75 pounds of German Wirehaired Pointer and we all NEED him to go for a strenuous walk, run, swim every morning. He's much easier to live with then.

When I was taking a lot of eagle photos... He started pointing eagles for me. It was hilarious. 100-400 lens:

This one was taken with my very compact Olympus PEN, using the 75-300 lens. It's much smaller than the OM-D, but has some limitations. Awfully easy to just drop it in my pocket though if I'm using the standard 14-42 lens. I was bicycling when I came across this eagle perched on a utility pole. No bird dog involved!