Prioritise shutter speed and let the camera handle the rest. Shutter priority at 1/1000 with Auto ISO, continuous autofocus and a medium burst is a solid general wildlife starting point. Push to 1/1600 or faster for active animals, and 1/1600 to 1/2500 for birds in flight. These are starting points rather than rules, and a beginner using Auto or Program will still come home with excellent photographs.
Rough guide by subject:
| Subject | Shutter speed |
|---|---|
| Standing or slow penguin | 1/500 to 1/1000 |
| Active penguin or seal | 1/1000 to 1/1600 |
| Bird in flight | 1/1600 to 1/2500 or faster |
| Whale surfacing | 1/1000 to 1/2000 |
Aperture around f/5.6 to f/8 is a useful wildlife range. Auto ISO earns its keep here because light and subjects change fast, and a sharp photograph at higher ISO beats a blurred one at low ISO every time. Motion blur is much harder to repair than noise.
Use continuous autofocus, called AF-C, AI Servo or Continuous depending on your brand. Subject detection is very good now but it won't recognise every bird or marine mammal, so learn how to switch quickly to a larger focus area or a single point.
Short controlled bursts rather than holding the shutter down. Easier to sort afterwards, and less likely to fill the buffer just as something happens.