Enter the professional sphere with these marvellous mirrorless models offering spectacular bells and whistles. Know that you’ve got high end kit to capture sumptuous wildlife in all its glory.
For professional cameras offering glorious definition and dynamic range, the cameras in this section are leaders in the industry. Whether you’re heading into the wilderness to see what you can see, or setting up for the long haul waiting to capture footage of a subject on the shy side, expect an expansive, customisable experience and a myriad of options in post. The below kits also include memory and power, so whatever you’re capturing, you’ll be ready.
For professional cameras offering glorious definition and dynamic range, the cameras in this section are leaders in the industry. Whether you’re heading into the wilderness to see what you can see, or setting up for the long haul waiting to capture footage of a subject on the shy side, expect an expansive, customisable experience and a myriad of options in post.
Option 1 - Canon XF705
Weekend from £125 - hire now!
The Canon XF705 is seen in the industry as the Swiss Army knife of fixed lens 4K camcorders; it boasts an image stabilised, L Series 15x f/2.8-4.5 optical zoom, which is approximately a 25-382mm 35mm equivalent – giving you plenty of reach and versatility. Plus, this focal length is multiplied up to 30x if you are happy to shoot in 1080p. It’s slightly bigger and more cumbersome than some cheaper options, but in return for this slight downside you get 4K UHD 50P footage in 4:2:2 10-bit and wonderfully sharp image quality, thanks to Canon’s L Series glass. In addition to all of this, the camera can shoot with a shallow depth of field, meaning you can isolate the subject from the background and produce truly professional, cinematic results. Blue Planet eat your heart out!
The Canon XF705 features infrared shooting, which allows you to shoot in almost complete darkness. The images won’t have the same colours as footage shot in the day, but the detail you’ll capture of nocturnal creates, such as badgers, owls or even hyenas if you're travelling to a far-flung location is incredible. Just don’t leave the safety of the vehicle!
The camera has two memory card slots, meaning you can set it to switch to the second card the moment the first is full, or record to both simultaneously – meaning you have an instant back up on the second card the instant your footage is captured.
The physical design of the camera is well thought-out, it’s tough, durable and weather sealed, giving you peace of mind when out in the field and giving you freedom you to create without worry. Additionally, buttons and dials are positioned in logical and comfortable locations, allowing for a truly intuitive shooting experience – whether you’re left- or right-handed.
Autofocus is fast and responsive and can be fine-tuned using the touchscreen to select the exact point you need pin-sharp. This is a super handy tool when you want to lock on to a fast or erratically moving subject and is much quicker than relying on a joystick to move the focus point to where you need it.
Option 1 - Canon XF705
Weekend from £125 - hire now!
The Canon XF705 is seen in the industry as the Swiss Army knife of fixed lens 4K camcorders; it boasts an image stabilised, L Series 15x f/2.8-4.5 optical zoom, which is approximately a 25-382mm 35mm equivalent – giving you plenty of reach and versatility. Plus, this focal length is multiplied up to 30x if you are happy to shoot in 1080p. It’s slightly bigger and more cumbersome than some cheaper options, but in return for this slight downside you get 4K UHD 50P footage in 4:2:2 10-bit and wonderfully sharp image quality, thanks to Canon’s L Series glass.
Option 2 - Nikon Z 7 II With FTZ Adapter, Nikon Z 70-200mm F2.8 Lens, Nikon Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 Lens, Rode Videomic Pro+
Weekend from £269 - hire now!
For the best mirrorless experience Nikon has to offer, look no further than the Z 7II. Its powerful 45MP full frame sensor, backed up by a pair of Expeed 6 image processors deliver ultimate speed, accuracy and resolution when shooting video all the way up to 4K 60P. Despite these assets the camera’s body is super light and portable – without being fiddly for those with larger hands. It’s forged from magnesium alloy, making it tough yet lightweight, plus its weather sealed to provide protection against the elements.
Built-in image stabilisation is an absolute must – particularly if you are tracking your subject from a moving vehicle, and this camera boasts 5-axis image sensor shift.
Dual card slots can be configured to either record the same footage to both simultaneously to create a backup; overflow from one onto the other – seamlessly or if you want to shoot more than video you can reserve the second for stills making post-production a doddle. All in all, this camera is a real rugged juggernaut that won't weigh you down.
Nikon’s Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is an absolute dream, offering a maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range. Like the Z 7II, weather sealing offers ultimate freedom and peace of mind.
The new Nikon 100-400mm gives you the reach you need for far away subjects, whilst striking the balance of not being too bulky or difficult to lug around. With silent zooming and smooth operation, coupled with the gorgeous quality of Nikon lenses in general and robust weather resistance, this is a must for any Nikon shooter exploring the wildlife and nature around them.
For even greater lens choice, this package includes the FTZ adapter, opening up the full range of Nikon’s DSLR F mount lenses for you to investigate. Finally, the Rode Videomic Pro+ is also included, offering crystal clear on-camera audio recording.
Option 2 - Nikon Z 7 II With FTZ Adapter, Nikon Z 70-200mm F2.8 Lens, Nikon Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 Lens, Rode Videomic Pro+
Weekend from £269 - hire now!
For the best mirrorless experience Nikon has to offer, look no further than the Z 7II. Its powerful 45MP full frame sensor, backed up by a pair of Expeed 6 image processors deliver ultimate speed, accuracy and resolution when shooting video all the way up to 4K 60P. Despite these assets the camera’s body is super light and portable – without being fiddly for those with larger hands. It’s forged from magnesium alloy, making it tough yet lightweight, plus its weather sealed to provide protection against the elements.