best lens for bird photography nikon

Its built-in teleconverter means you can reach 560mm. lighter. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. Next comes getting closer to the birds. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens Deputy Director of Audubon North Carolina Walker Golder uses the discontinued Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR lens on his Nikon DSLR to capture images of birds. It is fairly wide on a full-frame camera at 180mm so it can also be used to capture tighter landscapes. If one plans to use the camera hand-held, it is better to look for lighter lenses while compromising slightly on the range. The maximum effective focal length stretches from 600mm to around 900mm when shooting on an APS-C camera. Bird photographers carrying a lot of gear find the 500mm f/4 a bit easier to travel with compared to the 600mm f/4. 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 VR II provides up to 3 stops of insurance, resulting in sharper images overall. 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. This lens is the real winner for use on any Nikon body: a 200-500 mm zoom with vibration reduction. If you are in situations where you only shoot larger animals at dusk or dawn, and you really need the shorter focal lengths, then I can see a case for this lens. With birding, you will likely be using the lens with its built-in teleconverter all the time. The lens is fully weather-sealed and features a fluorine coating on its front and rear elements. 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 second edition of the lens has a more typical twist-action zoom ring and a host of upgrades. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports, 13. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. That makes it easier to capture sharp, frame-filling images of birds. Lots of opinions why this and that lens is not on the list. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. The Nano Crystal Coat eliminates internal reflections and removes all chromatic aberration to provide the finest picture quality. Auto White Balance requires zero input from you, the photographer. Personally, I prefer to shoot landscape, nature and macro photography. Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency (eBAND) coating and Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) coating make the optics even more refined. Theres no other difference between the two versions. Except that one. It is still just possible to handhold, and it offers a lot of versatility with its zoom and very decent image quality. Nanocrystal provides for even better construction. You now know how to do the calculation: the 200-500 is the equivalent of 300 mm to a whopping 750 mm. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens. Nikon Lenses for Bird Photography Nikon 200-500 mm Telephoto. Costing $6500, this lens is the cheapest way to reach this focal length. My super favorite lens is the AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR. It is good. A full set of weather seals is incorporated, and a fluorine coating on the front element helps to repel moisture and fingerprints. It comes at half the price of a decent 300mm prime. Many hobbyists are foraying into this field who start with a crop frame body. Or would you prefer the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, which is a 400mm f/2.8 and a 560mm f/4? The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 is a compact and ridiculously sharp lens that is perfect for larger birds and birds in flight. Both DSLR and mirrorless full-frames should be considered. The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 is also an insanely sharp lens, so it still looks good at 560mm and thus is suitable for many varieties of wildlife. The construction is uncompromised with the new magnesium alloy barrel and fluorite elements. The flip side is that no optional tripod mounting ring is available, which would have enabled a better balance, especially in portrait orientation shooting. The lens is meant to be used with fast Nikon DSLRs from the high-end range. Our Top Picks Best Price: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR Best Choice: Nikon 300mm f/4E PF VR AF-S ED-IF Telephoto Nikkor Lens Best Overall: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 80-400mm f.4.5-5.6G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens Most Durable: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens As in the Sigma and Tamron lenses, this enables more consistency in rapid-fire exposures but, with older Nikon bodies, youll only be able to shoot at the widest aperture. The lens is light and compact, making it easy to carry it around when scouting for wildlife in parks and wildlife spots. 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. Canon premium: Canon EOS R3. In this list, we've included some of the best telephoto lenses (opens in new tab) around right now. Sony: Sony a7 IV. This makes it easier to track the erratic movement of birds in flight. It has a tripod detection mode that helps minimize shutter release vibration, making it an intelligent VR workhorse. Very informative write up, What about 200-500 mm lens? 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. 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). 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. If you always find yourself at the long end of your zoom, it definitely makes sense to get this lens instead of the 100-400mm. It is possible due to the diaphragm blade unit with a drive mechanism. With its MFT mount, it will work on Olympus mirrorless cameras, as well as compatible Panasonic Lumix models. There are two versions of this lens: VR and non-VR. Download our FREE Macro Photography Quick Start Guide. Featured key specs: Notable reviews: 5. Guide To Nikon Cameras For Birds. Continuous high-speed photography is achievable through this type of AE control. It renders the lens incompatible with older Nikon DSLRs. Hand-holding, the Nikon D500, feels better. You will be able to capture all sorts of birds in the perfect frames with these cameras for sure. The best lenses for bird photography will help you get close to wildlife and there are great options for every camera mount Included in this guide: 1 Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM Check Price 2 Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Check Price 3 Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM Check Price 4 Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM Check Price 5 Nikon The best lenses for bird photography let you get closer to birds and capture incredibly sharp, beautiful images. They have some great F-mount lenses that have been supplemented in the past few years with some amazing new Z-mount lenses. As each birder's requirements are a little different, there is no one perfect camera and lens for bird photography. The one thing I would not use this lens for is birding. Canon EF 100-400mm IS II. 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 really depends on the types of subjects that you shoot. Quick Answer - The Best Lenses for Bird Photography. 2. These large animals often need much wider focal lengths around 200mm and it would be difficult to capture them with a fixed prime in all situations. Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. 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. I would suggest that for most people, this lens is a little bit short for wildlife, especially at $9500. Best macro lens: TAMRON 90MM F/2.8 Di VC USD. Pls. 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 The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is a lens designed exclusively for Sony E-mount; it's made for full-frame bodies, but will work with APS-C, delivering an effective focal length of 225-750mm (though it will produce a pretty unbalanced setup). The older model was bulky and heavy and needed a tripod for support at all times. Our readers often ask us about lenses for nature photography, and while I have already written about which Nikon lenses I consider to be the best for landscape photography, I have received numerous requests to write about lenses for wildlife photography as well. The camera makes the images. This is the first ultra-telephoto lens made for the APS-C format. It is easy to get carried away by the camera body. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary, 15. If you dont have your lens with you, it cant help you capture stunning bird images, so youll want to factor in the weight of lens you choose. ED glasses are Extra-Low Dispersion Glass, an optical glass developed by Nikon to reduce or remove chromatic aberration. The second is that 400mm isnt always long enough for smaller or more distant birds. Sharpness is very good at or near 600mm but less impressive towards the short end of the zoom range. Read the full Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C review (opens in new tab). 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 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. Nikkor 400mm f2.8E FL ED VR is the next-gen model of the 2007 Nikkor 400mm f2.6G ED VR. At 400mm, it's a powerful super-telephoto lens suited to wildlife and action photography, with or without a tripod. 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. If you're looking for affordable options, these are the best budget telephoto lenses (opens in new tab). Works well with Nikon Z6 using FTZ lens adapter. The Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3s main application is birds and other small animals. It is a massive lens for a reason its large aperture of f/2.8 requires huge glass elements to transmit so much light into the camera. Compared with Sigmas 150-600mm Sports lens, the Contemporary edition is smaller and almost a whole kilogram lighter in weight. Capturing stunning images of birds is not easy, and you definitely need the right lens to be able to do it. If you are passionate about bird photography, but want to keep your costs under $10,000, the Z-mount 800mm f/6.3 offers an insane amount of reach at a lower cost than the traditional f/4 primes. Diaphragm control via electric signals from the camera body provides reliable AE control. 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. However, this lens is fairly hefty, so it will add some weight to your pack, which is something to consider if youre going on a long adventure in the backcountry. Undoubtedly, the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 is the most popular budget lens for bird shooters. The main problem with prime is that it requires a photographer to observe the birds behavior and spots. The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a classic example, costing more than some new cars. Want to learn more about a technical term? 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. VR is Vibration Reduction that minimizes blur due to camera shake. In addition to using the twist-action control ring, you can alter the zoom setting in a push-pull fashion. Theres no clear winner between the prime or telephoto debate. The Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM is a lens that works really well in birds and wildlife photography, a great tele-zoom of choice, and whose weight, although very unbalanced, we do not believe to be excessive even for carrying out wandering photographic hunting activities. Theres also considerably lower quality owing to the higher number of lens elements. A cheap APS-C macro lens is coming, for almost all mounts, Shots fired! Instead, it will automatically adjust as the light changes. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 9. When you need to nail the definitive moment in wildlife photography, this is a lens you can surely count on. Nikon budget: Nikon Z50. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below: Getting F-mount Lenses in a Z-mount World, Best Nikon Lenses for Landscape Photography, Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G DX VR AF-P Review, Best Nikon Lenses for Wedding Photography. 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. (Libor wrote a separate article on why thats his favorite budget combo.). Triple-mode image stabilization is switchable for static and panning shots, with an additional option for applying stabilization only during exposures. View at Amazon. The Nikon TC-17E II nor the new Nikon TC-20E III can work but not as reliably. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its a very good lens but rather expensive for a 100-400mm, and lacks the outright telephoto reach of more recent 150-600mm independent designs. As we've touched on, Canon's EF 100-400mm zoom has been an incredibly popular lens for Canon DSLR shooters, so it's no surprize to see something arrive for the brand's EOS R range of full-frame mirrorless cameras. 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. The best lenses for bird photography will help you get close to wildlife and there are great options for every camera mount. 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. Dont worry, this article will be updated in October! 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. In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide. For Nikon, a good choice is the Nikon 200-500mm lens for DSLR cameras. 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. 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. Many aspiring wildlife shooters will no doubt be aware of the stratospheric prices of supertelephotos. Nikkor 600mm is the no-compromise lens for bird photography. 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. I am a wildlife photographer, started in the 70s. Impeccably turned out, the XF100-400mm looks and feels a high-quality item Looks arent deceiving either, as the internals include a super-fast autofocus system based on dual linear stepping motors, and a high-performance 5-stop optical stabilizer. I make sure that you get the best articles about photography. This is a very specialized tool.

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