Which camera?

The range of cameras on the market is extensive, which can be daunting and confusing. They tend to be expensive too, so you want to be sure you’ve chosen the right model. There are in effect five categories of digital camera: l Digital SLR (DSLR)

These are big, heavy cameras used by the professionals, with interchangeable lenses, which means there’s even more to carry. Some are bank-breakingly expensive – expect to pay £350-£7,000 for the camera body, and £100-£15,000 (!) for the lenses. However, the quality is second to none, and they’re packed with extra features that make fast-action wildlife photography easier.

l Bridge/superzoom These are chunky, weighing in the region of 600g to 1kg, but nowhere near as hefty as a DSLR thanks mainly to their single permanent lens. What makes them so special is that most can zoom from wideangle through to mega magnification. It means that one moment you can be shooting images of your whole garden, then at the press of a button be photographing a bird sat in a distant tree. The quality is excellent, and many of the photographs I’ve had published were taken on bridge cameras. Cost typically £150-£1500. l Compact/ point and shoot You can slip these cameras into your pocket. Some are still quite expensive and packed with all sorts of technical features, but many are relatively easy to use, often with a pretty impressive zoom. Price £100-£1,200.

l Smartphone cameras The quality of results can be astonishing, given their tiny lenses. And, of course, you’re likely to have one to hand most of the time, so they’re ideal for grabbing ‘record shots’ of pollinators and tame robins.

l Specialist cameras Some can take photos underwater and others 360-degree shots. Then there are trail cams that you leave strapped to a tree to take automatic photos when wildlife passes, and those that shoot time-lapse sequences.

Whichever camera you choose, almost all have a point-and-shoot function. The two main things to look for are: l A big zoom to allow you to fill the image area with distant wildlife. (Even in the garden, many creatures are still rather jumpy.) l Close focusing or ‘macro’ function, so that if you do get close to smaller creatures, you can still get sharp images.