This lens keeps pushing the boundaries. I have the 500mm f4g VR, a crazy sharp lens. The best lenses for bird photography will help you get close to wildlife and there are great options for every camera mount. These features make this lens an even more excellent piece of treasure. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! Lens for Nikon D5600 recommended for bird photography The NIKKOR 200-500mm also features an autofocus system that you can override by turning the manual focus ring. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens. Going up to 500mm, while not the longest lens on this list or even in the Sony section, is pretty handy, and it's helped by the Tamron lens's real ace in the hole: it's super-fast autofocus system. It is the lightest native 800mm lens that Nikon makes. VR is Vibration Reduction that minimizes blur due to camera shake. You can only shoot at the widest aperture possible on older Nikon bodies. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 9. These are 600mm, 750mm and 900mm equivalent (35mm), i.e. Surprisingly u didnt included Nikon 200-500 /f5.6 lens one of the best selling lens for wildlife photography. Zoom lenses carry the advantage of flexibility. The camera is built to be used with a tripod. Finally, the Nikon Z 400mm is also 190 g lighter than the 100-400mm, which makes a difference if you are carrying the lens and other equipment all day. If one plans to use the camera hand-held, it is better to look for lighter lenses while compromising slightly on the range. The NIKKOR 70-300mm lens functions very well in daylight, but performance notably suffers in low light conditions, so youll want to invest in another lens if you plan to shoot often at nightfall. The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 is a compact and ridiculously sharp lens that is perfect for larger birds and birds in flight. Astrophotography in March 2023: what to shoot in the night sky this month, "Thats the beauty of photography, it is a democratic medium", AI portraits are hard work, says deceitful Instagrammer with 28K followers, The Lumix S5 II is a serious tool for content creators here's why, GuruShots: Winning photos from the Beautiful Nights competition, Sony's new camera is a "baby A7S III for vloggers", Motorola's mini $99 widget turns any phone into a satellite communicator, Good news! Its tripod-compatible VR offers up to 4 stops of Vibration Reduction. For hobbyists, a zoom lens might be a better shot. Let us know which is your favorite lens for bird photography. For most wildlife, the move from f/4 to f/5.6 will not impact image quality, and it is a fair trade for the increased versatility of never needing a tripod. 5 Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera Lens For Bird Photography At F2.8, it is the fastest lens for bird photography. Whereas 400mm and 600mm lenses work better for general wildlife photography outings. The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM (and the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM (opens in new tab)) is designed for EOS R-series mirrorless cameras and offers a very different experience to a typical prime telephoto lens. Additionally, some good wildlife lenses simply are not available for Z-mount, such as a 300mm f/2.8 or 500mm f/4. Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency (eBAND) coating and Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) coating make the optics even more refined. If you're shooting on the Nikon Z-mount system, then the newly released 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is a good choice. Other features include an OLED display, plus a customisable function button. Image quality wise: an entry level Nikon DSLR matches the image quality you can get from any other camera in Nikon's line up . It is fairly wide on a full-frame camera at 180mm so it can also be used to capture tighter landscapes. The Best Lens for Bird Photography - Birda See sample zoom photography (View in a lightbox) View the COOLPIX P1000 Product Tour . We've tested the best lenses for bird photography to bring you options for a range of prices, from budget telephoto lenses to professional lenses. The cost difference between the two is significant. That makes it easier to capture sharp, frame-filling images of birds. Instead, it will automatically adjust as the light changes. The biggest consideration when buying a Nikon lens for bird photography is focal length. If well-cared for, such F-mount lenses can still last many years. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR At a glance: 95mm filter thread 2.2m minimum focus 268mm length x 108mm diameter Weighs 2300g Nikon F mount Price: 1,399 / $1396 The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary is half the weight of the larger 150-600mm Contemporary lens and just a third of the weight of the Sports edition. Heres how it works. Overall performance and image quality are excellent, although outright sharpness drops off a bit at the long end of the zoom range. A 70-300mm lens, providing them an effective focal length of 450mm. Taking inspiration from the Nikon 180-400mm F-mount lens, the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 was Nikons first Z-mount lens to feature a built-in 1.4X teleconverter. It offers bird photographers an opportunity to capture almost anything in the wild. As always, this makes it a challenge to keep everything steady while shooting, but the Panasonic has excellent build quality and comes complete with a zoom lock ring, tripod mounting collar and optical image stabilizer, to help beat the shakes. The best lenses for bird photography provide you with enough magnification to fill the frame with a feathery subject and have a fast enough autofocus to track it as it moves. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What are the Best Lenses for Bird Photography? - Nature TTL Corner-to-corner sharpness and vivid colors are essential for bird photography. Nikon bird photography lenses Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Rating: 8/10 Mount: Nikon F Autofocus: Ultrasonic (ring type) Stabilised: Yes (although it's labelled as "vibration reduction") Filter size: 95mm Minimum focus distance: 2.2m Weight: 2.3kg Cost: ~1250-1500 Pros: Great zoom range This is not the lens you would pack in a backpack for hiking. Its equivalent focal range is so large, at 190-810mm, it just may inspire wildlife photographers to switch to the compact mirrorless Nikon 1 line of cameras. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm is a great introductory telephoto lens for bird photography at a very good price point. The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a classic example, costing more than some new cars. Even so, the 2x crop factor of MFT cameras gives the Panasonic a maximum effective focal length of 800mm, much like using a 150-600mm lens on an APS-C format body. The Nano Crystal Coat eliminates internal reflections and removes all chromatic aberration to provide the finest picture quality. The Vibration Compensation (VC, equivalent of VR in Nikon manufactured lenses) consists of three modes. The effects of camera shake are minimized by vibration reduction VRII. For example, the best 100-400mm lenses (opens in new tab) on a full-frame sensor will cover 150-600mm on APS-C and 200-800mm on Micro Four Thirds! It comprises 21 elements in 13 groups, having three LD (low dispersion) lens elements. It all depends on the budget, the shooting style, prime or telephoto choice, and brand preference. Its three-mode stabilisation system helps out here too birders will probably get the most use out of Mode 3, which only applies the stabilisation effect during actual exposures, making it easier to track erratically moving subjects. Unique VR modes like the Sports VR take the VR game a notch higher. Many aspiring wildlife shooters will no doubt be aware of the stratospheric prices of supertelephotos. Although significantly less expensive to buy, it features the same range of dual-mode stabilization, dual-mode autofocus and custom setup options, as well as fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements. Or would you prefer the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, which is a 400mm f/2.8 and a 560mm f/4? After falling head over heel hooks for climbing in a gym in Boston, she moved to Golden, Colorado because the mountains were calling. Now Kate spends as much time as possible exploring the crags of the Front Range and beyond, usually with her camera in hand. If you're looking for affordable options, these are the best budget telephoto lenses (opens in new tab). In fact, this lens is only 775g, which is almost twice as light as the Olympus 300mm f/4 lens for micro four thirds, and this is a full-frame lens! Sigma also has two similar versions of the same focal range, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary and Sigma 150-600mm Sports. Nikons 300mm F2.8 is fondly called a super-telephoto lens. The maximum effective focal length stretches from 600mm to around 900mm when shooting on an APS-C camera. A 70-300mm lens, providing them an effective focal length of 450mm. His expertise with equipment doesnt end there, though. But it will come in handy on a third camera at some point on some wildlife expedition. If you like birds, you might also like to see the best camera for wildlife (opens in new tab), as well as the best bird feeder cameras. Tamron 150-600mm Review and how to use it for Wildlife Photography, 24 Tips for Fantastic Flower Photography (2022), Video Courses from Friends of Photography-RAW. The Best Nikon Cameras for Wildlife Photography (2023) It took a while, but Sigma's 150-600mm Sports lens finally got a mirrorless makeover. If you can find a way to deal with the weight, this lens with a D500 would still be a very capable wildlife setup. But no matter what camera system you use, we've found the best lenses for bird photography. For more of our top outdoor photography gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides: Kate is a climber, creator, and community builder. It is possible due to the diaphragm blade unit with a drive mechanism. But lenses are an expensive purchase, so its important to really think through your decision about which Nikon lens to buy for bird photography. Its also plausible that Nikon will eventually release a 300mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 to match the F-mount lenses it already makes. A special Phase Fresnel element (the glass is cut in concentric circles instead of a solid piece) in the lens significantly reduces the size and weight of this lens, so you can take it with you wherever you go to search for birds. Best Budget Lenses for Wildlife Photography of 2022 It offers the quality and construction of Nikon, a top-notch auto-focus, and unparalleled versatility. Has a 20.9MP resolution and records 4K video in ultra-high definition. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The modern model is almost 2 lbs. The Sonys size and weight are fairly typical but feel a little more imposing on comparatively lightweight Sony Alpha mirrorless bodies. For the first time, it allowed shooters to reach 500mm at a fairly low cost compared to the 500mm f/4, and it is an easy lens to handhold all day at only 1.5kg. Weighing a whopping 3.8 kilos, it is about as heavy as Nikons longest 600mm f/4 lens (more on the 600mm below). Featured key specs: Notable reviews: 5. I would suggest that for most people, this lens is a little bit short for wildlife, especially at $9500. The addition of highly effective optical VR that works in tandem with IBIS in Z system full-frame cameras should ensure exceptionally sharp avian images. Its main advantage over the 600mm f/4 is its weight and its length. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. Image quality is fabulous throughout the entire zoom range. Works well with Nikon Z6 using FTZ lens adapter. No matter the focal length of the lens, the closer you are, the bigger the subject. The main downside of this lens is its 2.3kg weight, which is not very comfortable compared to some lighter options like the 500mm f/5.6PF. Whatever kind of wildlife you like to photograph, whether it be large mammals or small birds, you are sure to find the right Nikon lens. A unique Sport-VR helps take sharper images even while panning and using continuous shooting mode. Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. It is an upgraded version of the earlier lens. Check out our, For more of our top wildlife photography gear recommendations, check out the, For the best experience turn your device horizontally, BEST FOR: BUDGET-CONSCIOUS BIRD PHOTOGRAPHERS, BEST FOR: TAKING YOUR PHOTOS TO THE PRO LEVEL, THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING NIKON LENSES FOR BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY, A decent lens is an essential piece of camera equipment for capturing beautiful bird photos. Guide To Nikon Cameras For Birds. NY 10036. It brought everyone into action with this insane zoom range of 150-600mm. This fast lens features snappy autofocus, a 400mm telephoto, and top-quality lens construction by Nikon. Power O.I.S. You now know how to do the calculation: the 200-500 is the equivalent of 300 mm to a whopping 750 mm. So get the best lens you can afford, then learn to use . View at Amazon. My second best buy of my life. We check out the best cameras for professionals (opens in new tab). very long. In daylight conditions the Nikon 70-300mm VR can overall produce great results, but its performance does suffer in low-light situations something to be expected from a slow variable aperture zoom lens. A prime lens that excels for bird photography, the telephoto Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm is a quality addition to your camera kit. However, the modest f/11 rating enables a relatively compact and lightweight build with smaller-diameter lens elements. It has fully professional-grade build quality with comprehensive weather-seals and a dust-, freeze- and splash-proof construction. As of January 2022, Nikon just released their latest addition to the Z mirrorless system lens line-up. At 400mm, it's a powerful super-telephoto lens suited to wildlife and action photography, with or without a tripod. Is This the Best Bird Photography Lens? | Fstoppers Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to look at some lightly used F-mount lenses, the E-versions of which are still optically outstanding. November 14, 2018 May 6, 2019; . My 350 Nikon Wildlife Photography Kit D300 300mm F4 Af Lens Basically, if youre not sure which lens youll need, you definitely dont need this one. But, since you have a crop sensor camera, a lens zooming to 400mm, 500mm or even 600mm would be an option. It is easy to get carried away by the camera body. Best lenses for wildlife photography in 2023 - Amateur Photographer Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). This zoom lens offers a range from portrait to telephoto, so you can always get the shot. This makes the lens very versatile, giving 400mm and 560mm at the flick of a switch. First, it is 0.63 stops faster, which although small, does make a difference in challenging wildlife conditions. Yet, professional bird photographers prefer prime. Buy Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Lens: $2,696.95 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama. Introducing the 7 Best Nikon Lenses For Wildlife Photography Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED - Best Overall Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR - Best for Pros Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3G ED VR - Best on a Budget Nikon AF-S Nikkor DX 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR II - Landscape and Nature in One Although it is an F-mount lens, it is still used by many Z-mount users with an FTZ adapter. Again, not much to complain about in terms of optics and features. Interestingly, it is 3.25kg, which is not much heavier than the 2.9kg of the 300mm f/2.8. The camera makes the images. It has a super-fast ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system, a highly effective optical stabilizer with switchable static and panning modes, dual switchable autofocus modes giving priority to either automatic focusing or manual override, and switchable custom modes that you can set up via Sigmas optional USB Dock. It also features 2 FL (fluorite lens elements) to minimize weight and improve optics. From the basics of My 350 Nikon Wildlife Photography Kit D300 300mm F4 Af Lens to the latest trends and innovations, you'll find a wide range of articles that cover all aspects of this field. A full set of weather seals is incorporated, and a fluorine coating on the front element helps to repel moisture and fingerprints. View at Amazon. In fact, it is significantly lighter than the F-mount 300mm f/2.8G II lens, which is very impressive! Image quality is impressive, while the size of the lens makes it excellent for handheld shooting and, overall, its a great choice for bird photography. It boasts 2 focus modes with fast auto, silent focusing with a minimum focus range of 4.9 feet. If you just want one lens that can do it all for bird photography, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm is an excellent option. A finely-crafted lens, the Panasonic 100-400mm is relatively large for a Micro Four Thirds format zoom and weighs almost a kilogram. Here at The Adventure Junkies, we have sorted through a variety of Nikon lenses to give you the lowdown on your options and help you choose the best Nikon lens for bird photography to keep in your camera kit. Best camera lenses of 2023 | Popular Photography Bird photography is a tough job. A prime lens may force you to, though, unless you know the exact bird locations and schedule. Theres also lens lightness that helps them enjoy the process and learn the art of bird photography. Wildlife situations come and pass quickly and this lens is easy to deploy quickly, fast optics, feather weight, and has VR. One of the newest Nikon telephoto lenses at the moment is the 600mm f/4 TC VR S. Just like the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, this 600mm lens has a built-in 1.4x teleconverter. The Essential Guide to Photographing Birds in Flight It is still just possible to handhold, and it offers a lot of versatility with its zoom and very decent image quality. On the other hand, mirrorless doesnt necessarily mean spending more money. If youre heading out into the backcountry, you might not want to lug around a heavy lens, but if youre only planning to hike short trails, that might be okay. Sigma is not reporting equivalent focal lengths or f-numbers. Best low light lens for Z-Mount - Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S (2,299) Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S. The Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S is Nikon's premium 50mm lens for Nikon Z series cameras, giving excellent image quality, as well as beautiful bokeh. That is all the reach you will need. The lens is light and compact, making it easy to carry it around when scouting for wildlife in parks and wildlife spots. Built from the ground up as an APS-C format lens, it only needs to produce a relatively small image circle, compared with a full-frame compatible lens, but is still pretty weighty for a 100-400mm zoom. +80Photoshop Actionsfor NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS. The downsized build has been achieved by a modest f/6.3 aperture rating and a Phase Fresnel optical element, a technology thats commonly used to focus the beam in a lighthouse. The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports isn't just a quick reskin of the DSLR version (below); it's actually been retooled from the ground up with mirrorless cameras in mind, and it's an impressive 760g lighter. I may have got lucky because mine is very sharp. Sharpness, contrast and other image attributes are excellent and very consistent throughout the entire zoom range. The auto-focus works a charm in broad daylight. An eliminated ghosting and flare while shooting backlit or semi-back-lit subjects results from this improved optics capability. An extreme telephoto lens, it can beautifully capture birds at a very long distance. In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide. Forget about trying to hand-hold it, even if you have arms as big as Schwarzeneggers. There will barely be anything you cant catch that you cant see with the iconic Nikkor 500mm F4G ED R. It is rugged, having a magnesium die-cast barrel which makes it highly resistant to dust and moisture. You might be wondering, does it still make sense to get an F-mount lens now that Nikon is focusing its effort and support on Z-mount? This lens of course belongs to the S-line, which means superior performance. In fact, Nikon specifically released the TC-20E III together with this lens, which makes this lens almost like a reference lens for use with teleconverters (with the TC-20E III, the lens becomes a 600mm f/5.6 lens). Upgrades over the original Tamron lens include a revamped 4.5-stop optical stabilizer with three switchable options for static, panning and exposure-only modes, the last of which leaves the viewfinder image unadulterated, and makes it easier to track erratic movement. Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary. It renders the lens incompatible with older Nikon DSLRs. It provides an edge-to-edge sharpness and compatibility with all Nikon teleconverters for greater reach. Nikkor 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR is the next-gen model of the 2007 Nikkor 400mm f2.6G ED VR. Its also the sharper lens at 400mm, although the 100-400mm is no slouch. Autofocus itself is very fast and image quality is fabulous. A major plus point is that the aperture rating of f/4 is relatively fast, compared with most zoom lenses that drop to f/5.6 or f/6.3 at a similar focal length. Optically it is an insanely sharp lens, I would say about the same as the Nikon 600mm f/4E below. The best mirrorless cameras for bird photography - BirdWatching The Sports model is a superior lens for photographing birds. Best Canon: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens Best Canon premium: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens Best Nikon: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED Best Nikon premium: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED Im the owner and editor of Photography-RAW. What are the best Nikon lenses for wildlife photography? (Libor wrote a separate article on why thats his favorite budget combo.). Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sport, 14. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Fancy features include a dual-mode, 4.5-stop VR (Vibration System) system and an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm for adjusting the aperture. The construction is uncompromised with the new magnesium alloy barrel and fluorite elements. The optical image stabilizer is effective on its own and even better when coupled with in-body stabilization, featured in later Sony Alpha A7 and A9 mirrorless cameras. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2, 16. How to Improve your Bee Photography and Capture Amazing Photos? Thus, if you are still using a Nikon 200-500 on an F-mount camera and are looking to transition to Z-mount, I would wait for this lens to come out, instead of buying one of the other Nikon Z lenses above. B&H offers a good rundown of how to build your camera kit for birding, and a Nikon ambassador Moose Peterson shares his favorite setup to give you some ideas. The lens needs to be ready for the same. The construction involves 3 ED glass elements, minimizing chromatic aberration and achieving super sharpness. Sporting a clever retractable design, this lens collapses down to 200mm. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Tamrons 150-600mm was a gamechanger. We also have bird lenses for Nikon and Canon. Because the 300mm f/4 is so small and takes a 1.4X TC teleconverter reasonably well, it is a perfect lens for wildlife shooters who absolutely do not want to carry a huge lens. Some of the features that one needs to keep track of for bird photography lenses are: The above lenses cover a variety of focal length ranges and lens features, covering both hobbyists, semi-professionals, and professionals along the way. The only possible con for the lens is the electromagnetically controlled aperture. A decent lens is an essential piece of camera equipment for capturing beautiful bird photos. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm is a versatile lens that lets you get up close and personal with birds, whether they are nearby or far away. It also has a retractable mechanism to cut down on stowage size, making it ideal for use anywhere and everywhere from local sporting events to wildlife shoots in far-flung corners of the world. In particular, its much easier to use a 1.4x teleconverter with this lens, turning it into a very reasonable 560mm f/6.3. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It goes without saying that you need a good support system for this lensa very sturdy Gitzo Systematic series tripod with a Wimberley Gimbal head is what I would get to hold this monster. But if youre photographing small birds that are 10-15 meters away from you or greater (30+ feet), 800mm will be ideal. My super favorite lens is the AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR. Sony budget: Sony 6400. Not only does its resolving power drop with the teleconverter engaged, but it will be a 560 f/5.6 at its longest end and hence not provide an advantage over the Nikon 500mm f/5.6 lens, which is nearly four times cheaper. Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR The Nikkor 70-300 f4.5-5.6G VR must be on the list of bird photography lenses purely to provide an entry. and a game-changer for birders, sports and wildlife enthusiasts, travel photographers and even those aspiring to venture to the moon and beyond without leaving their backyard. The Nikon 200-600mm lens in particular will be the generalist wildlife lens suitable for most shooters who need the versatility of a zoom. The best bird photography lenses help you grab those moments. The fixed zoom mechanism feels smooth throughout the entire range and is near silent, which is exactly what you want if you're stalking skittish wildlife and don't want to alert it to your presence. Nikon budget: Nikon Z50. A VR lens helps create sharper pictures and provides three stops insurance. Download our FREE Macro Photography Quick Start Guide. Best Budget Lens for Bird Photography This makes it easier to track the erratic movement of birds in flight. Nikon has always been a great choice for wildlife shooters. They, however, are prone to more lens aberrations and vignettes. The price is quite hefty though, at close to $14,000. There are two versions of this lens: VR and non-VR. Personalized Recommendations Show All AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR The Best Lens for Bird Photography in 2023 (Updated) If you are looking for the best lens for bird photography with extreme capabilities, then this universal model is worth considering. I have a personal sweet spot for the 200-500 mm for its versatility as well as sharpness as also for the 500 mm PF for its lightweight as well as sharpness. This Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM super-telephoto lens for Canon EOS R-series full-frame mirrorless cameras gives phenomenal reach but is much smaller and more lightweight than competing lenses for DSLRs.