'I snap them up' — award-winning wildlife photographer explains why he collects second-hand DSLRs for his unique 'Camtraptions' devices, and why they are a better choice over modern mirrorless cameras
More than just value, DSLRs have technical advantages over modern mirrorless models for camera trap wildlife photography
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/tim-coleman · TechRadarNews By Timothy Coleman published 25 April 2026
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I was delighted to interview top wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas at this year's Sony World Photography Awards, after he scooped the top Wildlife Category prize for his 'Crossing Point' series.
His stunning and highly detailed photos were captured over a 6-month period and provided vital data on Kenya's iconic Masai Mara National Park's wildlife to local agencies. The park's rangers were stunned by some of the discoveries, all captured using Burrard-Lucas' unique, self-developed camera trap system.
As a camera nerd, I was especially keen to understand his camera setup and how he went about capturing the photos, which are now very much in the spotlight since the SWPA 2026 awards.
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What Burrard-Lucas shared with me was fascinating, and also goes to show that there can very much be life left in old camera gear yet.
'Where a lot of mirrorless cameras fall down'
You might expect the series to have been captured with one of the best mirrorless cameras. Burrard-Lucas does indeed primarily use Sony gear for wildlife photography in the field. However, for his remote camera traps used in this winning series, his gear choices were altogether different.
Burrard-Lucas' camera traps are based on his own 'Camtraptions' devices, specifically a highly advanced motion sensor for wired or wireless operation. He wirelessly paired the motion sensor with a full-frame Canon EOS 6D DSLR camera (fitted with a 35mm lens). That's right, a 14-year-old, enthusiast-level DSLR.
Given their age, and like most of the best DSLRs, you can only pick up EOS 6D's second-hand now, with 'excellent condition' models costing around $400 / £350 at leading retailers.
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