Essential Wildlife Photography Gear
Photo: Neom
When you are photographing wildlife in remote areas, having the right gear is essential. We are going to look at a few must have pieces you should be carrying.
Tripod
In situations where you are playing the waiting game or need to be far away from an animal so that it isn’t startled, having a lightweight and quality tripod will help you achieve amazing shots. After doing a lot of research, I’ve narrowed it down to two selections. The Peak Design Travel Tripod comes in carbon fiber or aluminum and is the most compact tripod available on the market. I own the aluminum version and am extremely impressed by the small footprint, not to mention all the thoughtful design details. The other selection is the Gitzo Traveler Series 1, which is carbon fiber and also packs many cool features. Both selections make traveling and hiking an absolute breeze.
Photo: Federico Bottos
Tripod Head
When selecting your tripod head, you are presented with three options: a ball head, gimbal head or video head. Which head you should use all depends on how you plan to use your camera and what type of setup you have. Before I dive any further, I will say that if you can only have one head, I recommend a ball head for its compact size and versatility, it can truly do it all. A gimbal head may be preferred in cases where you are using a large and heavy lens because it will feel light due to the centered weight distribution. Additionally, it is more hands free as you can move the position of your camera and it will stay there without having to adjust any knobs. For the last option, and as the name implies, a video head will be best in cases where you are shooting video. The long handle allows you to achieve silky smooth movements.
Camera Strap
Shooting handheld for a long period of time with heavy equipment is going to take a toll on your body. My favorite camera strap I’ve used is the Slide from Peak Design. The wide, seatbelt-like design distributes weight nicely across your body. There are two anchors that attach to your camera body and allow for a quick release connection to your strap. The quick release system alone makes this so much more valuable than any other strap. You can put anchor points anywhere, whether it be on your tripod or your 600mm lens. The entire system is dynamic and lets you customize it to your needs.
Photo: Thomas Schweighofer
Backpack
A camera backpack is the core of any travel setup, so I would suggest getting a quality backpack that will protect your equipment. This can make or break your experience when it comes to comfortability and suiting your needs, so take your time when choosing. You have the option of going for a more general travel pack or a camera specific one that will have padded dividers. I recommend the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II, which features everything you would ever need in a camera bag.
Binoculars
A nice pair of binoculars will help you spot animals at distance much easier. Like camera lenses, the sky is the limit in terms of how expensive these can run. A quality set from Zeiss will last you a lifetime but if you are looking for a more budget option check out the top rated ones on Amazon.
Photo: Mael Balland
Clothing and Camouflage
A critical part of photographing wildlife is blending in with your surroundings. At the very least I would suggest wearing colors that match your environment. If you want to take it a step further, you can get camouflage neoprene covers for your tripod legs or lens. Additionally, you can wear a ghillie suit to be almost invisible.
Other Accessories
Power bank (I recommend connecting a power bank to the solar panel charger)
Rain cover for your backpack
LED headlamp for late night adventures
Wet wipes for when nature is calling
Multi tool for fixing loose tripods or any other situation
That’s it! If you have a gear suggestion that isn’t mentioned on this article please reach out so I can include it and good luck on your wildlife photography adventures!