What camera for wildlife photography on a budget? What to look for + a top budget pick in 2019!

Hey Guys!
So today the wildlife didn't come together, but hey that's the way it goes sometimes!
I thought I'd take the chance to answer a question a get all the time regarding, what camera to buy when getting started in wildlife photography on a budget! I'm going to talk through the specs and features I look for in any new camera, as well as one of my top budget picks I wanted to recommend, that I've been re-testing in 2019!
As mentioned in the video when getting into wildlife photography, buying used cameras means you can get pro specs on a far more reachable budget. You guys will know I've worked with Wex for many years and so I have no worries championing their used service, a years warranty included as well as everything being checked and graded very fairly they are a great place to buy from with confidence. A couple of my top picks below for those of you looking to get into wildlife photography on a budget!
You can check the range at Wex Used here : tidd.ly/32d9b1cc
D3 (They pop up regularly) - tidd.ly/8b166a42
D3s (also simply awesome!) tidd.ly/c47e4c6f
If you have any questions as always drop them in the comments below and be sure to Like and Sub for new wildlife photography content! For those of you who haven't seen them, I've just finished up a series from my time on the Okavango Delta so be sure to check those out • On Safari - Botswana b...
If you've found my video helpful and fancy dropping me a coffee or small donation to say thanks, you can do so here www.paypal.com...
For more of my work be sure to check out my Instagram @TomMasonPhoto or on the web - www.tommasonphoto.com
In my bag : (UK affiliate links help me fund the channel and cost you nothing)
Lowepro Whistler 450 AW II - (travelled flawlessly on all my flights with ALL the gear below inside!)
tidd.ly/ee5e459a
Nikon Monarch HG 8x30's - Simply love these. tidd.ly/3df767bb
Nikon D850 + Grip + D5 batteries tidd.ly/5e9ce68e
Nikon D5 tidd.ly/4fb4af7b
Nikon Z6 and 24-70S - (All video for the channel now shot on this - love this little camera!) tidd.ly/18f827ed
Nikon 300mm 2.8 VR II (My all time favourite lens) tidd.ly/c3774d0f
Nikon 70-200 FL tidd.ly/50423b68
Nikon 35mm 1.4 G tidd.ly/74102f76
Nikon 20mm 1.8G tidd.ly/792d72d0
Nikon 1.4 TC tidd.ly/51bb49a8
Nikon 2.0 TC tidd.ly/6d38e4fe
Nikon SB-700 tidd.ly/40a57f1a
Spare D5 battery tidd.ly/3c45d8ba
Gitzo Mini Traveller tidd.ly/eda4b0c
Petzel Headlamp amzn.to/2LX80SW
G-tech external drives amzn.to/2Yil63y
Macbook 12" amzn.to/2ZBQ57e
Gitzo Rocket Blower (however i'd get this one) tidd.ly/8d6a3ab4
Video shot on the Z6 and 24-70mm S along with FTZ adapted other Nikon glass.
I also carry a trusty Gitzo Tripod and Monopod
Gitzo 2 series mountaineer (will do a video about this soon) tidd.ly/56738206
Gitzo monopod tidd.ly/bb4c85ec
If you have any Gear questions drop them below as well, I'm always happy to help!
Or hit me up on Twitter or Instagram @TomMasonPhoto.

[@jaimecifuentes9504]

I should have looked for "extra low budget".

[@c2l1e6]

Yeah no kidding 😂

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

Nikon D3400 + 70-300 tamron or Nikon lens.

[@zentai5076]

Canon 7d + 55-250

[@lisasleck6223]

@@PunjabiGymBeats yeah I use that atm works really well just not great in low light but that is to be expected :p

[@Castrobullyco]

😂

[@StefanoIaniro]

Tom, those Peregrine Falcon shots are insane! Love it. Great tips and suggestions. I would also suggest if people are interested in DX - a used D7200 and a used 200-500. Dual card slots are an added bonus to make sure you don't lose any images while in the field!

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The D7200 is certainly a great choice as well especially for the crop factor, the dual card slots are a nice touch and 24mp sensor is great! Glad you like the Peregrine shots, it was an amazing 15 mins!

[@facedown9754]

How is that in the Budget Range?

[@AveryCaudill]

d7100 is also 24mp and a bit cheaper :) I've used one with great success

[@emtek1k]

I have a D7200 and a tamron 150-600 G2. Im really pleased with the result with this combo

[@TheAndyMaan]

Pretty cool video, I hadn’t realised how low the prices on the d3 had got, what a great deal for Nikon shooters looking to get a great full frame camera on a budget. I’m a canon shooter personally and have had a 1d4 for a few years now which I’m pretty sure is the same kind of era of camera, I’m waiting for the original 1dx to drop in price a bit more then I might think about switching to that so I can get better low light shots. I’ve always heard great things about the image quality of the d700 so I’ve got no doubt that the d3 still hold up well, probably has half the megapixels of the modern stuff but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the high iso performance is still better than the latest crop cameras. All the best

[@SeekingSolitudeOutdoors]

I’ve spent the last week scouting sites for reviews, looking at the used market and today came to the conclusion a D3 would be a good option, then you release this video! Purchased one from wex within five minutes, Thankyou Tom. Going to couple it up with a 300mm F4.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

A dream little budget combo, you’ll have many happy photo sessions out of it for sure! Enjoy!!

[@dagleonardsson]

Nikon d7500 seems like the perfect choice for wildlife begginers. Good low light performances as well. Even new it's a good bargain as it doesn't have much to envy compared to d500.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The D7500 is an excellent camera built the D500 definitely has some key upgrades in regards to speed, build, viewfinder is a big one and the XQD but on a budget the D7500 is a top pick! Cheers, Tom

[@grantsimmons8591]

This is a great video especially for someone like myself who is just getting into photography. Thank you

[@malcsayer7133]

I've had a D3 for about 5 years.... would not trade it for anything, in fact I am considering getting another.

[@johntravena119]

Love your photos at the end there! Stunning!👏

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Thank you!

[@antonoat]

Another great video Tom. I remember buying a D3 when they first came out, it blew me away, 12mp may not sound much but I had many hundreds of large prints with it which were epic, literally. You mention WEX, they are honestly the only store myself and my girlfriend use these days, their prices are as good as anyone's and their service is way better than most, I can't recommend them enough. Looking forward to seeing more of your work from your last Africa trip. PS just a side note, be aware of ticks while you are crawling around in the grass, little buggers can latch on without you realising, though you are probably aware of this many others may not be ! Cheers.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Wex are certainly a great place to buy from, great service and prices. Certainly I’m always checking for ticks after my grass crawling but indeed it’s always good to be on it! More images from the Africa trip will be up soon, a few videos maybe on a few sets of shots!

[@PangolinWildlife]

Lovely video Tom and solid advice throughout.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Cheers guys!

[@frederikvanreusel]

My favourite camera is the D7200, amazing camera

[@donh4907]

Any brand would work but budget shooting I would go with a Canon with a crop sensor. Always shop for the model just replaced to get up to date tech and to avoid the cutting edge/bleeding edge prices. Also with Canon having more product on the market than any brand there are more models/bargains/used product. Saying that I recommend T-80 with the EF 70-300 (effectively 112-480) lens. That gets your foot in the door. If you lust for more optics, shop for used product from reliable dealer. A used 7D would give you the performance of an army tank at an attractive price. Good topic Tom.

[@GingerPhotographer]

Great video Tom, loved the images at the end - Apart from having a 5D Mark IV my current go to combo is the new Canon 90D and Canon 100-400 II "Love it".

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Good Combo for sure and often as photographers we all find slightly different setups work, right now I’m addicted to my 35mm 1.4 G!

[@GingerPhotographer]

@@TomMasonPhoto Yes, having owned the 35 1.4 L from Canon it's the DOF and wide angle on a FF that just makes images pop so good!

[@ujjwalbhagat2061]

90d with 150-600mm is good for wildlife please suggest

[@xray111xxx]

So true. My brother got a D4 and it is in great shape. The D series are tanks, and ready for it all. I would love to have a pro DSLR but video is my claim to fame. But another D family FF would be fun for the stills. I love used cameras. I cannot afford new cameras. Would rather put the money in the glass anyway.

[@matlynwood6225]

Canon 7D Mark II with the Sigma 150-600mm and the 7 D Mark II is a widely used wildlife camera around the world. It is 1500.00 Canadian with 1200.00 for the lens and gives you a wide use of focal lengths for wildlife with 10 frames a second with the 7D.

[@BosePhotography]

Nice video Tom! We started with a used Canon 5D Mk II and are big fans of buying second hand! By the way, we loved your interview recently on the Togcast, one of the most insightful and enjoyable photography podcast interviews we’ve listened to, great stuff!

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Cheers Guys, really glad you enjoyed the interview over on the Togcast, was great to sit down and talk photography for an hour or so! When we recorded that I'd got back from Botswana the day before! Secondhand cameras are certainly a great way to invest, means you can save for lenses that are real big investments! Hope you guys are well, cheers, Tom

[@kieranlehane]

Sam and Hannah Bose Photography hey guys :)

[@mustafakasapoglu]

Hi Tom this is Mustafa, from Turkey, were together in Botswana, Pangolin. Thank you for sharing such great works and I am happy to follow you and your high quality works. Really benefiting. Of course it was great chance for me to be in the same boat and vehicle to learn lots of things from camera usage, auto focus things, to SQD cards and different camera tricks. Thanks for all. Hope to go again together maybe here to a bird photography one day. Keep blessed and well.

[@tedmcqueen2633]

great video Tom, obviously I'm a bit late to this one, I am an avid hiker and wildlife obsessed, so looking to get into photography as a hobby, I think the camera sounds perfect for me, I'm just a little confused about which lens to go for, I really like birds of prey, deer and fox. so they will be my main aim, but I do love a good landscape shot too. your help would be great, cheers ted.

[@endtimeimages3284]

I do landscape mainly and selected a Z6 for that. Totally satisfied, though I‘d get a D500 if I did more action photography. Anyway: #nikonforever 😁👍🏻

[@soubhikchakraborty6014]

Namaste 🙏 Sir. I am from India. I have budget problem . Can you tell me sir best budget camera and lens for wildlife photography Nikon d5600 or cannon 200 d mark 2, ?

[@JustOneKnight]

Great video 😊 thank you and lovely photos

[@AveryCaudill]

camera lens combo suggestion- nikon d7100 (24mp) and a nikkor 300mm f4 Af ed- I paid 270$ for that lens and the bodies go for around 300

[@joseandrade_official]

Where can I see pictures taken with this setup?

[@AveryCaudill]

@@joseandrade_official I use a different body right now, but here's a bunch of photos with that lens www.flickr.com/groups/1652625@N24/pool/with/50943671661/

[@jfphotography69]

D500 and a Nikon 200-500mm is what I would recommend.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Certainly when buying new! But that’s in a totally different price bracket! The D500 and 200/500 are certainly two of the best bang for buck in the Nikon lineup!

[@aussie8114]

$4,000 is a pretty big budget.

[@jfphotography69]

@@aussie8114 you can get both of them the D500 and Nikon 200-500mm for 2K or less, used.

[@aussie8114]

cybertec69 On Fleabay the D500 used is about $1450 and a 200-500 is also about $1450. That’s still $2900. The D500 is a good buy second hand but not the 200-500, there’s too many bad copies to buy that one second hand.

[@jfphotography69]

@@aussie8114 there is plenty of good to pristine second hand copies of the 200-500mm, try nikoncafe.com

[@alexjohn2038]

I’m using the Nikon D500 and 200-500mm , Awesome Set up . Great Video Mason and lovely photos ! 😀

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Thats a sweet system for wildlife photography, I'm always recommending the 200-500 and D500 for those looking in the £2-3k range. Glad you enjoyed the video, more on the way soon!

[@alexjohn2038]

Tom Mason looking forward ! 😍

[@612morrison]

Hi Tom, I buy a lot of gear from CEX. Ok there's some of there can be below par that usually gets sent back but I've got some stuff and it's as new, like my D810 ( shuttercount 375), AFS 105 f2.8 vr micro, AFS 20mm f1.8 SB700 speedlight all as new, boxed with everything there. And my AFS 70-200mm f2.8 vrii, AF 300mm f4 d, AFS 85mm f2.8 and a SB910 speedlight all mint but unboxed. The big plus is, not because there usually cheaper than WEX and I'm not knocking them because I think there great and I do buy from them but a 2 year, yes 2 year warranty is hard to beat.

[@John-vi5vb]

My top 3 budget picks regardless of what year it is or what people shoot: OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. I'm currently shooting a Nikon D800 (36 MP for wicked crop-ability) paired with an 80-200mm f/2.8 (older push-pull model) and a 60mm f/2.8 macro. All of it used, grand total $600 U.S. or about 435 pounds sterling!

[@uncatila]

I have a DR but I don't want to hurt it in the wild. I think I'll get a d3

[@rogersmith4308]

One of the advantages of Nikon and Canon over Sony, lots of great used equipment out there that will make fantastic images, on a budget, and allow new photographers to learn. And as Tom said, a D3 or similar camera, well maintained, will stand up to allot of weather, travel, etc. Look at pro photographers who do "whats in my bag" videos or articles. Rarely is every piece of kit the latest thing. They stick with what works.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

100% lots of pro's use cameras well longer than just a few years, the top tier cameras can run for simple ages, for example my Nikon D300 is still going strong as a camera trap, its now been used for 5 years in the hand and 3 years out in a box in the cold and wet and it's still going strong!

[@Gibson1976uk]

I use to own a D500 but I prefer the D3 :) and its totally fine with capturing moving things :) battery life is wonderful and low light iso performance is very nice! dealing with 12mp in post is also great! I have fairly big canvas prints that look great! megapixels are very hyped up

[@dan4466]

Gibson Weasel.. I have a D500 also and added a D3s. I love that camera. I’ll never let it go. Anyways, I then bought the D850 and after having it a couple weeks or so, said why do I need the D850 when I have the D3s. Returned it. A couple months later kept saying I’d love to have a D850 again. So, yes I bought another. Well, same thing happened. Couldn’t justify having $3000 wrapped up in a camera when I had the D3s and I sold the D850. Now I’ve learned my lesson.

[@AERrJORDAN]

I now face the tough decision between a D800 or a D3s i mainly wanna shoot wildlife. Which one should i buy? Is the low light performance really that much better on the D3s? And if i need to crop the picture do are the 12 mpx enough? I kinda want the pro body with all the buttons and the low light plus the 9 fps. But the 36 mpx plus the HD filming makes the D800 interesting. Are the pictures really that more clear?

[@Gibson1976uk]

@@AERrJORDAN The D3s is great for wildlife! capturing birds in flight etc. D800 isn't as fast but has more pixels. both are good with lowlight. D800 will be better if you want to do a lot of cropping. maybe get both if you have the money? always remember data sizes! I find 12mp a lot nicer to deal with :) find the best deal you can for either camera. Battery life on the D3s is very nice! great for long days out in the middle of nowhere

[@helioxheo2586]

Which would you recommend for also taking video? minimum 1080p, 4K preferred, I want to zoom in on some birds and seals from around 200m?

[@jacobjurg3746]

Great vid. For bird photography perhaps d7200 or d7100 is a better budget alternative. (Also noise wise :-))

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The D7200 and D7100 are also great options, the higher MP and crop factor certainly great for those photographing smaller birds! Cheers, Tom

[@naturealbums]

I prefer shooting with my D7100 with the Sigma 300-800mm especially for reach over my Canon 7Dmk2 and 100-400mm mk2 or the 300mmf2.8LIS Although BIF 7Dmk2 and 300mmf2.8 is my most used option until very recent first choice now is my Sony A9 and 200-600mm. Sony is way ahead.

[@117Oblivion117]

I have a D7100 and have a 80-200 AF-D lens, so far it’s amazing. Beautiful pictures of the moon, sharp images of birds. I’m slightly hesitant to get a D3/D3s with 253k actuations though. What’s your thoughts on second hand bodies with high shutter actuations?

[@ijasahmednellaya9203]

I use d7200 and sigma 150-600

[@charlsonnyledelacerna8080]

I just got my d3 a few weeks ago. And even in 2023 i still think its the best camera for my needs. And i wouldnt trade it for any mirrorless today (well maybe a z9)😂

[@johnlavin-ford8372]

Nice upload mate.... ty

[@peterjohnson1845]

An Up-to-date version of this type of video would be good Tom mate

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Ive been thinking about this and will do another budget / updated recommendations video!

[@HampshireHog63]

I’ve bought both my latest 2 camera bodies 2nd hand - a D850 from eBay, saving £700 on new, and a Z6 with just six actuations (demo model) from MBP (UK 2nd hand camera company) saving £300 on new. I also recently picked up a mint Nikon 105mm 2.8 for £400 from eBay (the seller wanted local collection and cash - I lived local, so was the only one interested). On the selling side, I sold a D4 on eBay recently for £1150 (which was painful to do) as it was reaching the tipping point of dropping below £1000 - the new owner is over the moon with it and knows he’s got an absolutely brilliant camera at a bargain price ( I’m still a little bit sad that I sold this one). The 2nd hand market is a fantastic place for photography kit - so many people are either selling to upgrade, or think they’ll buy some decent kit and become a ‘professional’ photographer, only to not use it and sell it on a year later.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The secondhand market is certainly a fantastic place to pick up and trade gear, offering so many great bargains as you say! Selling the D4 must have been painful and I can feel that, but the D850 is a fantastic replacement! Cheers, Tom

[@OruThekkanSelfebyAneeshgopala]

hi brother i have nikon D7200 2 year old camera.i am planning to buy 200-500 lens for wildlife, i need to change my D7200 or i keep ? what will do. i am so confused.

[@hr.herzzwerg4803]

what do you think about the nikon d750? can i use this for wildlife?

[@JoeMaranophotography]

I hear Canon, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony also make cameras 😏

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@pingvin6428 Panasonic and Olympus have tonnes of budget telephoto and pretty sure Fuji have a decent selection as well. To be honest even the more expensive Panalympus telephoto with weathersealing etc are actually pretty cheap all things considered.

[@FlyersNation98]

@@JoeMaranophotography Fuji can offer a decent combo using an X-H1 or X-T3 with the Fujinon 100-400.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

TBH budget Nikon option still outclass in regards to image quality I’ve seen from a lot of the smaller sensor cameras, the AF and image quality out of the FX and DX models for myself is so much more important than having a super small camera. Weight I know is an issue for some but I’d rather carry more and be stoked with the image quality and usability!

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@tyvek05 Personally I went Panasonic as it fitted my needs and budget better. They are pretty much leaders in video since... Well... ever so that factored in my decision as well :)

[@515capncrunch]

Al, Sony 200-600 outclasses my Canon 100-400 mk ll and Nikon 200-500 in all ways, and paired with the latest bodies has focus speed and accuracy unmatched by current Nikon and Canon bodies.

[@garywildman9439]

Ive just bought a Nikon D3s for £380 with only 86,000 photo shots and i must sat it is Awesome.The build quality is fantastic.I have it with my Sigma 150-600 sport and i can't be happier.Thanks for the advice Tom.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Glad to hear it Gary! I’ve actually just ordered a beat up old D4 for £600 as I want it for a few projects, a couple of unique features it happens to have! Great to hear your enjoying the camera and it’s working well!

[@garywildman9439]

@@TomMasonPhoto Thanks Tom

[@beardvival6581]

Hello Tom. First of all, let me say: thank you for your awesome videos 👍 What do you think about the Nikon D700 in 2019? I'm trying to find a good offer for a used one. The D700 ist easier to find, compared to the D3. You have used the good old D700 back in the days. Do you think the low-light performance would be still ok?

[@TomMasonPhoto]

In regards to the D700, its probably one of my all time favourite cameras. The sensor and performance is gorgeous and in regards to low light, you can push to 3200 and still get excellent performance with good situation/Processing. In most situations I rarely go above 3200 ISO even with my D850 or when Ive been using the D5 as I rarely need too and would prefer the higher IQ over lower ISO. The D700 is certainly a very capable camera for wildlife photography and can be found for really excellent prices!

[@andrewperkin2179]

When you buy a second hand 'pro DSLR' how much do you need to be concerend by high shutter count eg is 300,000 and above too much?

[@officialhyperman]

I want to take birds from indoors as they fed on my bird feeder. Any good wired outdoor cameras?

[@ChocolateHabanero22]

Simple and fast answer: NIKON D500 NIKON D500 NIKON D500!! All the way.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The D500 is epic, although a little more expensive than a used D3! I’ll agree however it’s a top pick for bird photographers... although my D850 is even better IMO! Cheers, Tom

[@madsbp]

"Budget" :D

[@TomMasonPhoto]

@Andy C 100% they have come down a lot in price and now offer incredible value for those looking for a DX wildlife camera!

[@dan4466]

Tom Mason there’s one in mint condition on our local Facebook market for $999 US with the 16-80 2.8/4. Not even two yrs ago I paid $2500 new. No way I’d let it go for that.

[@tomw7819]

Is the stock lens okay or would you suggest any others?

[@SolamenteVees]

I know this is an older vid, but I recently sold my D7500 for about $500 (US) Same sensor as the D500 and a terrific value. Add a 200-500 f/5.6 and you have a very capable rig.

[@peterrudolf6780]

Hi Tom, I currently have the D7100, been looking to move to FX, this has caught my interest, but how does the quality of the 24Mp DX compare to the 12Mp Fx sensor of the D3, is it equal or would lower res FX actually be better than the larger res DX? Be interested in hearing your thoughts.

[@silaswoodward1911]

dose anyone know the EV for the Nikon D7500? thanks

[@ohedunnabysayam7534]

Hi,Tom.I bought a canon 80D 1 year ago.now i need a lense to cope with. What do you think about 80D? & what lense will be good for me as a beginner? Thank you☺

[@joerais]

Hey, with Canon wildlife photography, you have 2 great budget options in primes - 400 f/5.6 and 300 f/4, both can be found used around 700 bucks. In case you want to use a zoom, the big Sigma 150-600 contemporary runs under 1000 bucks new, tamron 100-400 is a great option if you want something lightweight. :)

[@TechVidGuy]

Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm- done.

[@kieranlehane]

Nice video mate. Whatever you’re recording with looks great

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Nikon Z6, 35mm 1.4 G - love that lens!

[@anthonyocarroll5630]

What is your opinion Tom of the Nikon D7000

[@acekat7009]

Hello Tom,new subscriber here, i am thinking of buying a Nikon d300(27000 shutter count) and Nikon 55-300 vr lens for wildlife photography of small birds as a hobby for me.Do you think it is fine as a hobbiest, i am in a really tight budget right now.Or do you have any other recommendations for me before i buy it? And also should i buy a mb-d10 battery grip for 60usd?will it be helpful too?

[@jpk957]

Any recommendations for Canon?

[@LegoBuildersMOC]

Great video - always enjoy watching your stuff. Right now I'm using the Nikon D600 and 300mm f/4D AF-S (thanks for recommending this lens!). I probably won't be upgrading for a while, but I was just thinking... Would it be better to buy a D3 and pair it with my D600 (D3 for wildlife, D600 for everything else)? Or buy a Z6 to cover both needs (I'd sell the D600).

[@TomMasonPhoto]

It’s a hard one, I really am enjoying my Z6 for lots of different reasons, small and light, great IQ, nice Video but when it comes to my key shoots my D850 is in my hand. I suppose I’m just so used to it but things are certainly shifting and the Z6 is always always in my bag now! With the firmware upgrades the AF is certainly very capable now however still for the fastest action my D850 would be my choice. I think if you can test the Z6 and see how you find it, if not you’ll certainly enjoy a D3 but the drop in MP from a D600 might be quite visible if you crop a lot, cheers, Tom

[@jonnham]

Great footage.

[@1armbiker]

D3/D300 and the old Nikon 300mm f/4 AF (not AF-S) are incredibly cheap and give you fantastic results; under $1k and gives you very similar results to even the 300mm f/2.8; sure the focus is slower, no VR, and no weather sealing, but you really can’t get better image quality from anything even near that price point.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The 300 F4 AF-S is a lens I'm always recommending but as you say the AF-D version is also a bargain for those on a tighter budget, paired with a D300 you really can't go wrong for under £500!

[@PankajKumarNahar]

what about sony a7iii and with third party lenses it is also a very good for video too .

[@anandhua.b4589]

autofocus isn't as good as native and the cost is much more

[@moin_davo8963]

A very good budget setup would be a nikon d300/s and the nikkor af 300mm f/4 non af-s. I don't even want to upgrade my d300s due to the controls.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Agree for sure, the D300 is a sweet camera (I used for many years) and a great budget option for those looking to get into wildlife photography!

[@joaomiranda9639]

Hi Tom What is your opinion of these 2 cameras which is the best forFor wildlife photography Nikon d500 or d850? Thanks

[@georgedavall9449]

Tom Mason! Excellent!

[@ashwinpillai2114]

can you recommend me a lens for wildlife for d700...I am Not a professional so can"t spend a lot something perhaps on a budget that would give me great results....I currently only own a nikkor 50 mm f1.8 prime. thanks ;)

[@Nature4U1]

For filming wildfire, do you also recommend this camera? or which one with aa budget to up to 1000euros?

[@jholtphotography]

Hi, Tom great video! I currently have a Sony A6300 with the Sony 70-350mm lens on it. I get great shots with it and I'm happy with it but I'm starting to look into doing some dog shoots. I did a practice one with a friend and the A4 prints came out really nice. I want to upgrade purely just to give me a little bit more room to play with on the dog shoots. Has to be E mount as that's what my lens are. I have around 1000-1300 to spend on a body roughly. Any advice?

[@rmcbettingonline4959]

I also am interested in the answer to this...I am a complete beginner looking to buy my first "proper" camera and decent lenses also to get into dog photography... I have been researching now for over a month and still seem to be going around in circles....my budget is around 1k for body and around £500 - 1k for decent lenses....maybe the answer Is here.....fingers crossed...🤞

[@SuperFucdat]

Tom just out of curiosity what are your thoughts about the latest announcement by Nikon working on a new D6 especially as how a lot of other manufacturers are concentrating on the mirrorless system? A lot of people are curious as to why they didn’t concentrate on producing a better mirrorless line up as both the Z6 & Z7 have room for improvement. Love the video as always & waiting for an announcement on a future Pangolin workshop. Mark🇬🇧

[@TomMasonPhoto]

In regards to the D6 I’m really happy to see Nikon still going after pro DSLRs, for me it will b a while before I’ll give up a DSLR for mirrorless fully, the reliability and proven track record is important for me when your heading off on once in a lifetime trips and shoots. I think we will see lots more mirrorless development with firmware and new cameras over the next few years but for me and a lot of pros the DSLR will still be important - looking forward myself to the D6 announcement and to see what’s upgraded in regards to Sensor etc. Regarding the Pangolin safari drop me an email by my website/insta and I can send you dates and such for booking in 2020, I have more info + prices - will be a small tour of just 8 guests! Cheers, Tom

[@swepeuaq]

Mirrorless, DSLR, Full Frame, APSC are all out of my price range and attaching a long zoom would be way too bulky for my needs. I've been considering a compact zoom but do they handle wildlife photography?

[@leoborn4013]

No they dont. You can get DSLRs for ~100$

[@Aron-mj1ie]

U think its good in 2021?

[@TomMasonPhoto]

For sure at the price!

[@Aron-mj1ie]

@@TomMasonPhoto i do wildlife photos most birds. And some landscape+long exposure. Hope the d3 can do that

[@CM-1723]

How can I take better wildlife photos with my canon powershot sx540hs ? Any dslr under £200 second hand which are decent ?

[@PunjabiGymBeats]

For Canon 7D mark ii with 100-400 or 400 f5.6 great combo.

[@lensman5762]

For wild life photography as far as ' budget ' is concerned, the camera is of least concern. It is the glass requirement that is a killer. The price of a used D500 for example, pales into insignificance when a 400mm F2.8 is and other lenses have to be added to the cost.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

For sure, personally on this channel I’ve recommended a few lenses in the past such as the 300 F4 AFS and others but soon I’ll be doing a video on the 300 2.8 that for sure it’s one of the best budget options for a super tele right now!

[@lensman5762]

@@TomMasonPhoto I managed to get a used sample of the 300mm F4 AFS at a very good price a few years ago. The other Nikon lens , suitable for wildlife photography, that I have is the ancient 80 200 F2.8 ED AF-D , the push pull one. I think if one could find a decent example of this lens it represent something of a bargain these days. Thanks for your informative views.

[@LizeyMay]

Is the Z6 a good first camera for wildlife (bird) photography?

[@Aron-mj1ie]

I would go nikon d750

[@joaomiranda9639]

Hi Tom thanks for sharing knowledge. I am a beginner of wildlife photography, recommend some material store / site, backpacks, camera straps, etc. I have a Nikon D300 and long lens Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5 - 5.6D. I have had difficulty making sharp autofocus C and S at 400mm. Any tips? thanks João Miranda

[@danielthompson953]

Hi Tom, would you still recommend this camera as a good budget beginner camera or would you now suggest something else?

[@TomMasonPhoto]

I think it depends on the budget, I might do a new Budget video at some point with recommendations but you can now pick a D4 up at a great price or a D810 so many available options. The D3 can be found for crazy prices like sub £300 and if you're just starting out it one hell of a camera, but if you'd like a bit more longevity then the D4, D500, D810 second hand all make great options for a but more budget .

[@danielthompson953]

@@TomMasonPhoto brilliant thanks, also do you offer any tutorial courses?

[@SuperTonybo]

what do you think of the nikon d5600ds for wildlife shooting???

[@regbutler3961]

Hi Tom, great video. I was just wondering if you have any recommendations for good budget cameras (second-hand) in 2022? Would you still recommend the D3? Thank you.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

I would still say the D3 is great for its price, but there are now loads of great offers on D4/D4s as well that's a step up once again with access to faster speeds, better AF, ISO and XQD cards for faster write and download speeds. So the D4/D4s would be my more budget choice right now.

[@regbutler3961]

@@TomMasonPhoto Thank you

[@ImTheBlade65]

Thanks so much for this video! I was thinking of upgrading to a Nikon D850, I currently own a D3s and love seeing other people who love it too. I think I’m going to spend my money on the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 as well as the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 lenses and go enjoy them as I learn to exploit my D3s for all it’s worth. It would be nice to own a D850, but I feel that my D3s is decent enough to take great shots and the new glass will get me out there more than a new body will. Your thoughts ?

[@ewyss9206]

I bought two Nikon D3s for 1200$ the 14-24 and 70-200 for another 1200$ and three sb-800 and one sb-900 plus the 60mm micro, 50mm f/1.4 and lots of other stuff for about 500$ in 2019, then I added a D4s for 1400$ just recently. I also sold my hipster Fuji 23/1.4, 56/1.2, 16-55 and 50-140 for 2700$ at the same time. I'm finally not only enjoying the hype, but also the results again, those Nikon pro-body files are in a different league from my Xpro2s which I still own...

[@Brez6645]

@@ewyss9206 What are your thoughts on the D3s and D4s? Is the current difference in price between the two worth it?

[@ewyss9206]

for professional (i.e. quicker operation and focus) use go D4s, if you want gorgeous files with slightly less resolution for your hobby, go D3s@@Brez6645

[@ahmarali8588]

sony a6100 vs canon 250d

[@stripes_in_raw]

Hi Tom, what to choose between D750+24-120mm and D500 body only for wildlife especially bigcats. Both are same price. D850 is out of budget. Is the 500mm reach enough ? Not in birding much, but would love to get the shot if chance provided but first priority are the bigcats. Here in India the D3, D4 and D800 series are just not available, not even used. I have the Nikon 200-500mm which i got myself a used one. I have been currently shooting with my starter kit, the D3400 and 70-300mm VR and also rented a Tamron 150-600mm G2 for a trip. I am satisfied with the results but its a bit noisy in late evening situations mainly and background separation is not that much great with this pair even shooting from a low angle because the background often is close to the subject but i am happy. Most of my shots were at 400mm(600mm equivalent in FX mode) and below. One tiger at 70mm too. Got 1 photo even featured by Sony BBC Earth on instagram and a couple more were selected for local exhibitions. The cats are really active in the evening and early morning as you know. And here in India, good tiger sightings only lasts maybe for 5mins and then they vanish in the deep forests. You might not see a tiger again for maybe 3 days. If lucky you could be 1hr with a sleeping tiger and also spot a tiger daily. Thanks in advance.

[@MrSongwriter2]

Jeet Dutta I have both the d500 destroys the d750 for wildlife especially on small birds. The D500 is more like the d850 body it’s a more pro camera. The d750 is nice with the extra bokeh on static subjects but the focusing on the d750 is way behind the d500. I’m thinking of getting rid of the d750 for a z6 as the d500 or lumix G9 are my favourite wildlife cameras

[@stripes_in_raw]

@@MrSongwriter2 I am a bit worried about the noise on D500. Everything else D500 is a lot better.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

TBH the D500 is pretty good ISO wise for low light shooting and as mentioned above is a major upgrade regarding AF- body, XQD, etc compared to the D750. Of course the D750 does have a slight advantage for noise but with good processing the D500 is epic. As a general i'd say the D500 is a more capable all rounder for wildlife shooting, you'll get a little extra reach the faster FPS, joystick programable AF as well as much better spread on those AF points.

[@stripes_in_raw]

@@TomMasonPhoto Thanks a lot, Tom. I will go with the D500 then.

[@MrSongwriter2]

Jeet Dutta don’t worry it’s really good as the processes and sensor is much newer. If you tried both especially if you do bird in flight forget the d750

[@LevisonB]

Amazing

[@Jdog5444]

Id love to get into wildlife photography, I’ve got a d3500. What lens would you recommend to buy to get me started? Or should I invest in a new body and get a lens for that?

[@lisasleck6223]

I recently started wildlife photography with my d3400 with a 70-300dx Nikon, it is really nice but it doesn't perform great in low light situations. That is why I am saving up for a full frame but if you want to see some results from the 70-300 you can go to my instagram: photographing_dutch_girl If you are ok with compromising with your low light but want a lens that gets closer I would recommend looking at a full frame lens because of the crop-factor on the d3500 :) If you get a nice full frame nikon lens (check compatibility though) you can always switch to a better Nikon camera in the future :)

[@Jdog5444]

Lisa Sleck yeah I was thinking off that lens, for the price it looks great. I am thinking of saving for the d500 as I’ve heard some great stuff. Some of them results you have are incredible.

[@lisasleck6223]

@@Jdog5444 thank you and yeah the lens is pretty great!

[@TorpedoRider]

Hellow, i would have go for a d7200 second hand they are decent priced aswell? The megapixel is a big diffrence don't you think?

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The D7200 is also an excellent camera for getting started in wildlife photography if you want to go DX rather than Fx, great AF, dual cards and all round great sensor it’s a good choice!

[@JARBOOGIE2]

Yappersville

[@d28adventures29]

Hey Tom, So I'm curious, what are your thoughts on the viability of the Nikon Z7 as a wildlife camera? I'm drawn to that 45.7 megapixel sensor for crop ability and large prints. I have looked at the D850 but would like to have the 4k option the Z7 has for wildlife footage. Thanks! - Andrew

[@JoeMaranophotography]

FF mirrorless? Surely you would look at Panasonic or Sony budget dependant?

[@d28adventures29]

@@JoeMaranophotography I was looking at those but ultimately decided to stick with Nikon because how much I have invested that platform already.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@d28adventures29 Makes sense. My only gripe is the lack of innovation on the part of Canon/Nikon the last few years so wondering what state they will be in going forwards. That said the name seems to hold strong as that's what the majority of cameras I see at reserves tend to be. Although Sony, Lumix and Olympus are seem to be growing.

[@d28adventures29]

Joe Marano I agree, I’m seeing more and more people shooting with Sony and Panasonic. I think I may keep saving and see what comes out next ,Z8,Z9 maybe. Rumor has they will have the Sony 60mp sensor.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

So I have a Z6 and a D850, personally the D850 is my all round dream stills camera, AF, FPS and sensor/DR are just awesome however even though it does have 4K video it lacks the AF and such that the Z6 has. So far I’ve found the Z6 excellent and the more I use it the more I find myself taking it for both stills and video, the 24mp I decided on for the cleaner 4K as well as the better ISO performance and FPS. The 45mp sensor on the D850/Z7 is gorgeous for large prints and so the mix of both the 4K video and high MP in the Z7 is a great package, personally I’m still trying to ensure my AF technique with the Z6 for BIF and fast moving subjects but with the firmware updates it’s certainly very capable but just slightly lagging the D850 for super fast action. The Z7 would have been my choice had I not have owned a D850, but I must say I’m mighty impressed with the Z6 so far!

[@scottnoble1076]

Firstly hello Tom another great video by yourself. I have a D300 and I'm looking at a D3 to go alongside this but I am wondering what sort of price I need to be looking at for how many shots the photo has taken on the second-hand market as a example what was framerate on your camera that you purchased or got from wwex to give me an idea ear if you don't want to post it on here ear you could always email me. Hope to hear from you soon and looking forward to it when you reply thanks again for the time in reading and replying to this kind regards Scott.

[@TomMasonPhoto]

Hey Scot the shutter count on the D3 I had here was 158,000 and that’s about half a professional lifespan for the D3. Tbh the body was marked and had rough edges but for my type of use I wouldn’t be too bothered about that. With them being older likelihood is they will be 80k shutter count and up and prices range from about £350 (pretty rough) to £700 (pristine maybe even sub 50k shutters).

[@scottnoble1076]

@@TomMasonPhoto that's a great help I really appreciate your advice on that I will look out for 1 on the worldwide web of course lol meanwhile. Enjoy the rest of your evening and I look forward to seeing you next video whenever you make it kind regards Scott 👍👌😉😜😀🐵🐒🦍🦏🐘🐊🦜🌏🌐🗺🏔🗻⛰📷📷📷📷📸

[@matthewschatzberg841]

Hi I could really use your help figure out a good camera bundle. I am just starting to get into wildlife photography and I will be starting grad school at the university of Hawaii so getting a camera that would be great for the environment there is my goal right now before I leave for the summer. I have a budget of $2000 this is including both the camera and lenses. PLEASE HELP ME

[@dennisgoh632]

Is canon 6dm2 good for wildlife photography?

[@birdwatcher9466]

I dont think so

[@SundayRacers]

Great vid Tom. I use a D3 (mostly with the 200-500) and it's absolutely superb. The 300mm F/4 PF is especially good with the D3 (one of the few bodies that VR on the PF works flawlessly on). Alternatively, the D7500 with the Sigma 100-400 is an absolutely top DX setup for about £1500 new

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The 300 PF is just an awesome lens and on a D3 that's a sweet combo, the 200-500 is also a great all rounder for wildlife shooting!

[@SundayRacers]

@@TomMasonPhoto Also my D3 has scratches all over the sensor which don't show up in photos, which is handy!

[@filipczaban1]

nikon is warm colours good for nature photography

[@jamiemcdougall8365]

Hi, would you still recommend these much older full frame cameras over newer cropped frame cameras? I’m a total beginner but very much like the idea of bird photography. Thank you

[@TomMasonPhoto]

If you’re getting started in bird photography probably your biggest need will be more lens than camera biased, the Nikon 200/500 is a great option here. When it comes to choosing DX v FX for starting out a DX cam also worked great, something like the D7200 gives a great flexibility between performance and price, leaving more cash to put towards a better lens. To get the best bang for your buck, secondhand is the route to go, you could probable get a great condition Nikon 200/500 + D7200 for just about £1000, that would be an awesome setup for bird photography for many years to come!

[@jamiemcdougall8365]

@@TomMasonPhoto thank you. I really appreciate you getting back to me and offering advice like that. I had considered the Nikon D610 but I know that is full frame. Do you think a better starting option is still the D7200 when compared with the D610? Thank you again!

[@garysmith1532]

Some of the top wildlife pros now use Olympus, Andy Rouse, Dave Tipling, Jari Peltomaki, Tesni Ward.. I could go on,

[@naturealbums]

It's either the Sony A9 I and II or the A7r4 Olympus is pretty much dead

[@garysmith1532]

I didn't say Olympus wasn't dead, I'm just stating the facts as they are at present.

[@joshnewman6964]

Could I start with a nikon d300

[@RodrigoAReyes95]

Yes

[@ddttdddghhu6nft5uk45]

Hallo, great Video. But i still have a question. How much can you crop with only 12 mp?

[@jeffcowan2667]

More than you think if you are not blowing up your prints to billboard size!

[@cerealkiller4248]

Canon 7D mk1 with either a Canon 400mm F5.6 prime or a Canon 100mm-400mm F5.6 zoom. About £1000 used. If you cant get good shots with that, wildlife photography isn't for you.

[@KaylaFaithful]

Do you do much editing on your photos? They are such great quality! I am just starting out on my wildlife photography journey and have yet to purchase a camera or lens, so I am doing as much research as I can first!

[@TomMasonPhoto]

When it comes to editing I keep things as natural as possible, the whole aim for myself is to get the best from the file without the edit being visible. All of my images are processed in Lightroom and very rarely do I need to step into Photoshop for anything unless maybe I'm stitching a Pano shot!

[@KaylaFaithful]

@@TomMasonPhoto Thank you!

[@rudiaccumulator4671]

Hi Tom i bought a month ago the nikon D7200 with its 18-140 kit lens. I have 3 areas where i would like to explore on. Landscape, wildlife like the big 5 and macro. Can you give me any help with the lenses i would need to get? Low Budget options please?

[@rudiaccumulator4671]

I have read that sigma has a 60-600mm lens I'm from south africa and the price a bit ery steep R30000 or can get a second hand sigma 150-500mm for R8000 but the 150-600 is a private sale on fb

[@TomMasonPhoto]

The problem here is that within the areas you want to explore the investment would be different - For wildlife (big 5 etc) a longer lens would be needed, 300mm - 500mm, budget options like the 300 f4 with a 1.4 TC can be good or a zoom like the 200-500 (check my other videos) I don't have any experience with the Sigmas so couldn't say, although the Nikon 200-500 is great. For macro you'll really be after a dedicated macro lens eventually, the 40mm 2.8 DX is a good entry level option, but you'll be restricted in terms of working distance form your subject, so a 100mm would be better - the 105mm 2.8 VR is personally what I have. Another option thats cheaper is to look into extension tubes coupled with your current lens as a workaround for now (£50). Landscape wise the 18-140 would do you for a while, however if you want to go wider (not always needed) something like the 10-20 Nikon could work on a budget, however for me, I used my 18-55mm for many years until I was ready to fully invest in the Pro 24-70 2.8. Hope that helps a little, Cheers, Tom

[@namyrassi8782]

Can u tel me mor about d3500

[@jamesdiederichs1382]

I can't decide wether I should get the Canon 7D mk II/90D or Nikon D500... I don't have any glass for anything, but im willing to invest, what would you recommend?

[@birdwatcher9466]

me either. I use 7dm2 now, with 400mm f5.6, M2 is good body but the iso performance is worse. 90d did not prove itself. I recommend you d500 as an amateur 2 years wildlife photographer.

[@jamesdiederichs1382]

@@birdwatcher9466 awesome, thank you very much! Highly appreciated!

[@kolibri4137]

Won't the sound of a dslr frighten away the animals?