MUST-HAVE GEAR
Tripod
Telephoto optics can sometimes be a bit unwieldy and heavy, so a tripod is a great way of off-loading the weight, balancing your camera and lens correctly, while at the same time stabilizing your setup to reduce camera-shake caused by handheld vibrations.
Telephoto lens
A telephoto lens is one with a focal length higher than 50mm, and will magnify distant subjects so they take up more of the frame. Lenses with focal lengths of around 70-300mm, 55-250mm or 100-400mm are all excellent choices for photographing winter wildlife.
High burst rate
You’ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera body to attach to your long telephoto lens. There are several Canons that feature a high-burst modes, such as the EOS 7D Mark II, 90D or 1D X Mark II, giving you a greater chance of getting the shot you wanted.
Quiet clothing
You’ll definitely want to wrap up warm when shooting outside during winter, so go for clothing that’s well insulated. However, you’ll also want to make sure it’s quiet too. Natural and camouflaged colours are best to avoid being spotted by your subject and avoid spooking them.
Camera covers
Camouflaged skins and covers for your long lenses and camera bodies are a great way of making them a little less noticeable, they also keep the rain off and protect your kit from slight knocks. Make sure you get a camo specific skin or cover for your lens or camera.
Spare camera batteries
Camera batteries are less effective at holding a charge when exposed to the cold, so fully charge them and carry multiple spares. Hahnel’s Extreme batteries are high capacity and have insulation to protect them from the cold. Store batteries in your pockets to keep them toasty.
Hand warmers
Along with a good pair of gloves, hand and feet warmers are great for keeping your extremities warm. You can even tape them to the inside of a large telephoto lens hood to prevent condensation building up on the front element in extremely cold climates.
Binoculars
Essential for wildlife photography, binoculars let you spot subjects from afar and scope out locations to plot out where would be a good vantage point to take your pictures from. These 8x25 binoculars are Canon’s smallest and lightest model and have built-in Image Stabilisation.
Pop-up photographic hide
Set up a wildlife hide in the area you know that animal visits regularly, and then patiently wait inside, letting the animal come close to you instead. Using one of these is likely to save you a lot of time in the long run.