Some Cameras Are Better Suited

A good choice will be a bridge digital camera or super-zoom. These cameras have a longer focal length and generally have much more complex settings, permitting greater manage of photographic elements.

The best option will be a DSLR – even an entry degree DSLR will provide better picture quality and a lot more control over digital camera settings than a compact or a super-zoom. A lens having a focal length of 200mm is the minimum you require. A 75-300mm lens should work well for zoo photography. Something more than 400mm is probably overkill for most zoo photography. The quicker the lens, the much better you will be capable to manage DOF. An f/2.8 lens will use a much shallower DOF than an f/6.3 lens, and getting better control over DOF will result in much better zoo pictures.

If your using a DSLR or more sophisticated camera having a PASM setting, use Aperture priority mode and try the widest aperture you have – the wider the aperture, the shallower the DOF (see beneath). Most lenses aren’t at their sharpest at the widest aperture, so examine the LCD and make sure the background is sufficiently blurred if you crank down the aperture by a stop or two. If you don’t have a PASM choice, switch your camera to Portait mode – you’ll accomplish close towards the exact same effect in portrait mode.

Use the lowest ISO setting you can to preserve a decent shutter speed (generally 100-200). Don’t bother using the camera’s built in flash. If you don’t already do so, think about shooting in RAW. I won’t go in to detail about the benefits of RAW vs. JPG except to say that RAW will likely provide you with much better picture high quality and latitude in post-processing.

Should you use a more advanced digital camera, alter the focus to Spot Focus, instead of Local or Broad. It is usually greatest to make use of the Matrix Metering, but be certain to activate the Histogram and Blinkies to warn you about any under or overexposure difficulties.

Use Continuous shooting, not Single Shot. Remember, this is Mindful photography – we’re not just going to hold down the shutter, but we can take a few photos in rapid sequence if there’s some special action we wish to capture.