THE BASIC KIT FOR CAPTURING WILDLIFE

TRIPOD / MONOPOD FROM £100

Wildlife photography usually requires a long telephoto lens, but these optics can be difficult to keep steady when you’re shooting handheld (image stabilisation is useful). A tripod helps balance bulky gear for sharper shots, especially when paired with a gimbal head (see right). Monopods also offer stability and are ideal if you need the extra portability.

CREATIVE CAMERA FROM £400

Look for a camera body with a decent resolution so you can crop in a little if needed, and one with a high frame rate for a better chance of capturing the perfect moment. Cameras with cropped sensors, like APS-C or MFT, can be beneficial for wildlife, as images will appear more zoomed in. Also look out for 4K video and Wi-Fi so you can set up the camera remotely.

TELEPHOTO LENS FROM £300

Telephoto lenses have a focal length of over 50mm (similar to what the human eye can see). There’s a variety of long lenses available, such as 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 zoom optics, or prime lenses with a fixed focal length like a 300mm f/2.8. Premium telephotos have extra features, better image quality and wider apertures, making it easier to blur backgrounds.

GIMBAL HEAD FROM £200

Gimbal heads are great for balancing long telephoto lenses like a 300mm f/2.8, 150-600mm or even 70-200mm lenses. Gimbal heads offer a fine level of control over the horizontal and vertical axis, making them perfect for panning and tracking fast-moving animals. Adjustment knobs on the head provide extra control.