This lens has a fixed aperture of f/11, and many birders might consider that rather too narrow, while others might be unimpressed that you cant alter the aperture. B&H offers a good rundown of. It has a tripod detection mode that helps minimize shutter release vibration, making it an intelligent VR workhorse. Canon felt that it would be hard to improve on the image quality of the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM so opted to extend the focal range even further with the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM. Camera body with a lens without zoom for shooting portraits. 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. Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera. 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. You need a pretty good reason to trade up from Panasonics 100-400mm zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras and it might just be this Olympus prime. The Best Lens for Bird Photography in 2023 (Updated) He is recognized as one of the leading educators in the photography industry, conducting workshops, producing educational videos and frequently writing content for Photography Life. 1. Sony: Sony a7 IV. Sigma also has two similar versions of the same focal range, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary and Sigma 150-600mm Sports. It took a while, but Sigma's 150-600mm Sports lens finally got a mirrorless makeover. View at Amazon. But no matter what camera system you use, we've found the best lenses for bird photography. The VC Mode II is specifically for panning, aiding the birds-in-flight photography. Nikon D7500 with Tamron 100-400 Lens Zoomed Out (with Hood) Picking the best camera for bird photography on a budget means balancing competing requirements. 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 The NIKKOR 300mm is not a zoom lens with a varied focal length. A specially shaped lens hood with a thumb and finger groove helps with this. If you are looking for the best lens for bird photography with extreme capabilities, then this universal model is worth considering. A Guide to Birding with Long Lenses | B&H eXplora 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C for Canon, DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH Power OIS, Massive telephoto reach in a compact, affordable package, The latest premium super-telephoto zoom for EOS R mirrorless cameras, This shouldn't be ignored for bird photography, Best own-brand Nikon lens for bird photographers, Nikon's mighty 600mm prime is a beast of a lens, A monster performer, if you don't mind the modest aperture and weight, Sonys biggest and best super-telephoto zoom for birding, Tamron's affordable tele-zoom for Sony boasts fearsome autofocus, Best Fujifilm lens for bird photographers, The longest X-mount lens is also lightweight and affordable, Sony E-mount and Leica L get a Sports lens to call their own, Best lens for bird photography for Canon & Nikon DSLRs, Best budget lens for birding for Canon and Nikon DSLRs, This Tamron lens combines the attractions of both Sigma lenses, A great lightweight, budget super-telephoto zoom, Best MFT zoom lens for birding, thanks to the 2x crop factor, Best prime lens for Olympus and Panasonic MFT cameras, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. My super favorite lens is the AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR. Personally, I prefer to shoot landscape, nature and macro photography. The effects of camera shake are minimized by vibration reduction VRII. The speed of continuous shooting is not compromised with modern cameras like D4S. 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 Nikon: Nikon Z9. Get the best camera deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable photography news and more! For longer reach, you can use the Nikon TC-14E III, which will give you 840mm of effective focal length to work with at f/5.6, although it certainly does not reach the insane resolving power of the native 800mm f/5.6 as we have shown in our tests on Photography Life. Overall performance and image quality are excellent, although outright sharpness drops off a bit at the long end of the zoom range. A prime lens that excels for bird photography, the telephoto Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm is a quality addition to your camera kit. 3 Best Nikon DSLR Cameras - Mar. 2023 - BestReviews By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Best Nikon Lenses for Wildlife Photography in 2023 Even so, the difference isnt particularly noticeable in practical terms and the Nikon lens has the advantage of a constant-aperture design, so f/5.6 remains available throughout the zoom range, rather than dropping to f/6.3 at the long end. It all depends on the budget, the shooting style, prime or telephoto choice, and brand preference. Still, it is heavy and big to carry around and takes time to set up. Due to its massive size, this lens requires a good tripod setup. Sony budget: Sony 6400. A camera that takes high-definition images and comes with a lens for up-close shots of subjects. 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. 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. ED glasses are Extra-Low Dispersion Glass, an optical glass developed by Nikon to reduce or remove chromatic aberration. The only possible con for the lens is the electromagnetically controlled aperture. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Im the owner and editor of Photography-RAW. Best lenses for low light, from just 129 - Amateur Photographer A Nano-crystal coat and fluorine coat cut down on all reflections. November 14, 2018 May 6, 2019; . Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. 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. The second is that 400mm isnt always long enough for smaller or more distant birds. 7 Best Camera for Bird Photography in 2022 - BirdsDepot Best lens for street photography: NIKON AF NIKKOR 35MM F/2D. Please keep in mind that the information I present below is a personal opinion based on my experience so far, which is subject to change. The optical path is top drawer too, featuring no less than five ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements plus a Super ED element. 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. That is all the reach you will need. This is 1.4 stops faster than the Nikon 400mm f/4.5 and thus will perform much better than slower lenses, both in terms of light-gathering and autofocus. The maximum effective focal length stretches from 600mm to around 900mm when shooting on an APS-C camera. Reviews - The Best Wildlife Photography Budget Lens Sigma 60 - 600mm f/4.5 - 6.3 Specs Type: Zoom Aperture: f/4.5 - 6.3 Dimensions: 4.7 x 12.7 x 10.6 in Focal Length: 60 - 600mm Weight: 4 lbs. Nature & Wildlife Photography Lenses | Nikon They can also be used on DSLRs, and I would say for 90% of wildlife, a mirrorless camera will not provide any significant advantages over a DSLR and an F-mount lens. Optical quality is first-rate as you'd expect for a high-end Nikon prime, while the autofocus performance doesn't disappoint either. A full set of weather seals is incorporated, and a fluorine coating on the front element helps to repel moisture and fingerprints. An image stabilization system that reduces the effects of camera shake and the consequent blur that causes. Your prices on the three lenses are off by over $2000.! Best Nikon Lenses for Wildlife Photography (2023) We check out the best cameras for professionals (opens in new tab). 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. The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 is a compact and ridiculously sharp lens that is perfect for larger birds and birds in flight. Its main advantage over the 600mm f/4 is its weight and its length. But there are still good values to be found, and I hope that this article can point you in that direction, too, if thats what youre after. Lens for Nikon D5600 recommended for bird photography It is about $550 more expensive than the 100-400mm, so why would you get this lens instead? 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. It offers the quality and construction of Nikon, a top-notch auto-focus, and unparalleled versatility. This typically happens in wildlife after the sun goes down. For Nikon, a good choice is the Nikon 200-500mm lens for DSLR cameras. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! Generally, the longer the lens (in focal length), the better. It comes at half the price of a decent 300mm prime. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary, 15. Capture birds in flight or bears on the hunt without disturbing them with powerful, high-quality Nikkor wildlife photography lenses designed for the nature enthusiast. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM VR is Vibration Reduction that minimizes blur due to camera shake. 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? It has very impressive optical features and it delivers exceptionally good-looking images, especially at its maximum aperture of f/2.8. The biggest advantage of this lens is its maximum aperture of f/2.8. The 800mm focal length, while not easy to use, certainly shines when it is used properly. A system that automatically focuses on the subject to keep it crisp and clear. But, since you have a crop sensor camera, a lens zooming to 400mm, 500mm or even 600mm would be an option. The second edition of the lens has a more typical twist-action zoom ring and a host of upgrades. Bought it because it can be hand held. You cant move much during wildlife photography, as you may disturb the surroundings. This lens gives you telephoto superpowers in a relatively lightweight package. Using DO (Diffractive Optics) and a relatively narrow f/11 fixed aperture rating, it's also pretty light at 930g. I used the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II for several months and I was very impressed by its performance, especially when coupled with teleconverters. This latest generation optic is significantly lighter than its predecessor thanks to the Flourite lens elements used. Best camera lenses of 2023 | Popular Photography Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life, based out of Denver, Colorado. The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm is a great introductory telephoto lens for bird photography at a very good price point. Sony premium: Sony 1. An extreme telephoto lens, it can beautifully capture birds at a very long distance. Instead, it has one telephoto length, so it is best for searching the skies and the trees, rather than capturing birds right in front of you. Basically, if youre not sure which lens youll need, you definitely dont need this one. Is This the Best Bird Photography Lens? | Fstoppers It's not cheap, but less than half the price of the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S. This recent addition to Sonys E-mount line-up has the same 600mm maximum focal length as Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Canon and Nikon SLRs. Find out more about how we test. It has a 22.2x zoom and an 18-400mm focal length, its ultra-telephoto range matches 620mm in the 35mm format. A fixed f/11 aperture isn't quite as limiting as it might first appear as thanks to the Dual Pixel AF sensor-based autofocus systems of EOS R-series cameras. For hobbyists, a zoom lens might be a better shot. Its wide range and 0.38x magnification (minimum focus distance of 75cm) make this lens well-suited to larger wildlife and pseudo-macro shots of insects. At 1,260g, its perfectly viable for long periods of handheld shooting, aided by a highly effective optical image stabilizer. In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide. The Nano Crystal Coat eliminates internal reflections and removes all chromatic aberration to provide the finest picture quality. 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. It is the lightest native 800mm lens that Nikon makes. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Ultimate Nikon Telephoto Lens Guide - Schubert Photography I have in fact met some people using this lens on a monopod. It is a great buy that will get you to 300mm at just under $600 USD. The sheer range provided by Tamrons 150-600, especially when clubbed with a crop frame, is enough to enchant the buyers. One of my favorite lenses for photographing birds at my feeders is the AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED. Compared with Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Nikon cameras, this own-brand competitor comes up slightly short in maximum reach. It results in faster and more precise exposure control and exposure consistency. It also features 2 FL (fluorite lens elements) to minimize weight and improve optics. (Libor wrote a separate article on why thats his favorite budget combo.). It is still just possible to handhold, and it offers a lot of versatility with its zoom and very decent image quality. If you want to get into wildlife photography on a tight budget, the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P is the lens you want to get. 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. With advancement, the quality has come quite close to prime. It is an upgraded version of the earlier lens. 10 Essential Bird Photography Camera Settings - Digital Photography School Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Theres no clear winner between the prime or telephoto debate. The best cameras for bird photography in 2023 Combined with Canon's legendary L-series build quality and stunning optical performance, it's up there with the very best Canon zoom lenses we've tested. Its also not quite as sharp, but it comes very close and its overall image quality is pleasing. Next comes getting closer to the birds. Due to its slower f/4 aperture, it is a much lighter lens than the 400mm f/2.8E VR. the best birds in flight photography lenses cost thousands of dollars, which just doesn't make sense for a beginner. The Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF lens was a breakthrough lens for Nikon. And you'll also find lenses for Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus cameras. It also has a dust- and moisture-resistant rubber gasket on the mounting plate, although it lacks the additional weather seals of the Sports lens. Corner-to-corner sharpness and vivid colors are essential for bird photography. If youre new to wildlife photography and you have only one lens in your kit, a zoom lens is the best option since it provides you more flexibility, But if youll be switching lenses out, you can use a variety of prime lenses based on the situation and terrain you find yourself in. Usually, hobbyist photographers are happy with a good bird in natural surroundings. The lens has 11 elements (3ED) in 8 groups. An accurate, high-quality focus powered by an upgraded Ultra Silent Drive (USD) motor results from fine engineering. So get the best lens you can afford, then learn to use . It's heavily weatherproofed, with oil-repellent coatings on the elements, and it's got 4-stop optical stabilisation to help keep things sharp at the telephoto end. Both DSLR and mirrorless full-frames should be considered. The autofocus takes a little setting up, and isn't quite as fast as that of rival lenses from Sony and Tamron, but this is still an impressive lens for birding. 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. That makes it easier to capture sharp, frame-filling images of birds. It also helps reduce weight and is ideal for outdoor shooting. 17. 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. More so, it has a focal range of 70-300mm. It is also dust and moisture resistant, and built for rough conditions, like the home of the birds. Focusing is very swift on Canon's two new mirrorless cameras, but could be quicker on the R and RP. 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. I agree with all the conclusions, my thoughts are the same, why and how. 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 Although it is an F-mount lens, it is still used by many Z-mount users with an FTZ adapter. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Canons original EF 100-400mm zoom was something of a classic, but wasnt to everybodys taste, especially in regard to its trombone-style push-pull zoom mechanism. It is optimized to deliver results quickly and perfectly. Fortunately, your camera offers a neat solution: Auto White Balance, also known as AWB. Theres a more effective, triple-mode image stabilizer and the Mark II also gains weather-seals and fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements. The camera makes the images. Lots of opinions why this and that lens is not on the list. A tack-sharp AF precision allows panning shots to be perfectly sharp. Its my favorite because i can get it up and shooting anytime Im in a hurry, which is often. There are two versions of this lens: VR and non-VR. The XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR covers the focal length of 229mm 914mm in equivalent 35mm film terms and also supports Fujifilm's 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. For sensors smaller than full-frame, there is a trade-off in terms of image quality but you'll get the advantage of a crop factor that amplifies the telephoto reach of the lens. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); I have kept my Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E VR AF-P as I moved from DSLR to Nikon Z5 and Z7-II. This is the lens that will get you to 800mm at f/5.6 with a 2x teleconverter! And lastly, I present you the Cadillac of all Nikon super telephoto lenses: the Nikon 600mm f/4E VR. Nikons 200-500mm f5.6E has carved a space of its own among hobbyist and semi-professional wildlife photographers. This lens still has no equal in Z mount (or any other mount) and thus I have seen quite a few people adapting it to their Z50 cameras for a very lightweight and capable setup. Sigma stops developing Micro Four Thirds lenses; APS-C "also in decline", Every issue is packed with photo tips, kit reviews and inspiration. Fujifilm XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR, 12. A 70-300mm lens, providing them an effective focal length of 450mm. Sharpness is very good at or near 600mm but less impressive towards the short end of the zoom range. Many hobbyists are foraying into this field who start with a crop frame body. For more of our top wildlife photography gear recommendations, check out the Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography. These include a refined optical path with fluorite and Super UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements and high-tech Air Sphere coating. All of these can be used on Z-mount cameras with the FTZ or FTZII adapter, and since some of these do not yet have Z counterparts, they are worth a look whether you shoot a Nikon DSLR or a Nikon Z mirrorless camera.