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. 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. Bird Photography Camera on a Budget - Birdseed & Binoculars Unique VR modes like the Sports VR take the VR game a notch higher. This is a very specialized tool. 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). It is easy to get carried away by the camera body. The NIKKOR 200-500mm also features an autofocus system that you can override by turning the manual focus ring. Although it is an F-mount lens, it is still used by many Z-mount users with an FTZ adapter. View at Amazon. 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. Weighing a whopping 3.8 kilos, it is about as heavy as Nikons longest 600mm f/4 lens (more on the 600mm below). 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. Nikons Silent Wave Motor AF system allows for super fast autofocusing, but with just a turn of the manual focus ring, you can take control yourself. VR: Vibration Reduction is essential in unforgiving conditions. 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. Find out more about how we test. The price is quite hefty though, at close to $14,000. What is the best one you would suggest for wild life (perched birds) with Z6 and FTZ adapter ? The VC Mode II is specifically for panning, aiding the birds-in-flight photography. It all depends on the budget, the shooting style, prime or telephoto choice, and brand preference. The sheer range provided by Tamrons 150-600, especially when clubbed with a crop frame, is enough to enchant the buyers. The lens needs to be ready for the same. Nikon: Nikon Z9. Many aspiring wildlife shooters will no doubt be aware of the stratospheric prices of supertelephotos. The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 is a compact and ridiculously sharp lens that is perfect for larger birds and birds in flight. 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! It is about $550 more expensive than the 100-400mm, so why would you get this lens instead? Hand-holding, the Nikon D500, feels better. The next best wildlife lens is Nikons heavyweight super telephoto bazooka, the Nikon 400mm f/2.8E VR. Sony: Sony a7 IV. Nikon COOLPIX P1000 Super-telephoto digital camera But no matter what camera system you use, we've found the best lenses for bird photography. And what about probably the most popular Nikon lens the 500 f5.6 PF, why would you not include this as it is actually sharper than the 200-500, 1/3 of the price and so much lighter than the f4 500mm which you would need a mono all the time. Since this lens offers a 1.4X TC with still excellent image quality and significant 850g weight savings over the Nikon 400mm f/2.8E, this new Z mount 400mm f/2.8 could indeed be the ultimate wildlife lens. The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm is a great introductory telephoto lens for bird photography at a very good price point. longer. 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. Sigma also has two similar versions of the same focal range, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary and Sigma 150-600mm Sports. Simply, getting close is the best way to get a bigger subject in your viewfinder. 11 Best Lenses for Macro Photography (2023) Sigma Announces Three Lenses for Nikon Z-Mount Cameras 10 Best Travel Tripods You Can Buy (in 2023) Upcoming E-Mount Lenses: . Additionally, some good wildlife lenses simply are not available for Z-mount, such as a 300mm f/2.8 or 500mm f/4. Works well with Nikon Z6 using FTZ lens adapter. Starts with the 70-300, but ignores the 200-500 or new 100-400s also ignores all the pf lenses .. the 500pf being one of the best wildlife lenses out there. If you can find a way to deal with the weight, this lens with a D500 would still be a very capable wildlife setup. They, however, are prone to more lens aberrations and vignettes. Except that one. 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. Coupled with the Nikon Z9 you can use the newly developed Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM), which enables fast, highly accurate, and quiet AF control. The linear stepping motoris blisteringly speedy and practically silent in other words, exactly what you want for birding. Autofocus is fast and image quality is impressive in all respects, making this lens great value for an own-brand Nikon. Auto White Balance requires zero input from you, the photographer. In fact, it is significantly lighter than the F-mount 300mm f/2.8G II lens, which is very impressive! That makes it easier to capture sharp, frame-filling images of birds. Best portrait lens: CANON EF 85MM F/1.2L II USM. Continuous high-speed photography is achievable through this type of AE control. This has seen a weight saving of some 25%, though it still tips the scales at an arm-wobbling 3,810g. Lens for Nikon D5600 recommended for bird photography I have been shooting with the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR lens for the last 4-5 years and I can assure you that the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II is overall a better lens to buy (unless you shoot large animals from a close distance, like bears in Alaska). It is also dust and moisture resistant, and built for rough conditions, like the home of the birds. Id love to hear in the comments! Surprisingly u didnt included Nikon 200-500 /f5.6 lens one of the best selling lens for wildlife photography. Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Getting a gently used model could save you many thousands of dollars, which would go a long way towards other gear. I believe this article might have been written before that lens, not sure but an update to this article is coming soon. 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. Hand-held shooting is possible with the newer model. Triple-mode image stabilization is switchable for static and panning shots, with an additional option for applying stabilization only during exposures. Very informative write up, What about 200-500 mm lens? His expertise with equipment doesnt end there, though. It is a great buy that will get you to 300mm at just under $600 USD. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. DOWNLOAD THE ADVANCED AFFINITY PHOTO COURSE NOW! 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. Best cameras for bird photography - BirdWatching It was originally introduced as an answer to third-party large focal length telephoto zoom lenses. Camera body with a lens without zoom for shooting portraits. 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. 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. The Nikkor 70-300 f4.5-5.6G VR must be on the list of bird photography lenses purely to provide an entry. 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. The autofocus is extremely fast, thanks to an internal focus element, and you can easily override the autofocus if you want manual control. With advancement, the quality has come quite close to prime. Basically, if youre not sure which lens youll need, you definitely dont need this one. It brought everyone into action with this insane zoom range of 150-600mm. 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. PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels, By Nasim Mansurov 305 CommentsLast Updated On January 13, 2023. If youre looking for the longest reach without teleconverters, the Nikon 800mm f/6.3 is your lens! It is capable of producing relatively good bokeh, especially on its longest end, although its sharpness performance also drops quite a bit at 300mm. Best lenses for bird photography in 2023 | Popular Photography 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 opening in the lens that allows light to pass through. The biggest advantage of this lens is its maximum aperture of f/2.8. The Nikon 500mm f/4G VR works well with the TC-14E III teleconverter, giving an effective focal length of 700mm at f/5.6. 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 You can only shoot at the widest aperture possible on older Nikon bodies. The modern model is almost 2 lbs. 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. 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. Lens Weight: Heavier lenses are challenging to use without tripods. Pls. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. See my detailed Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II Review for more information on this lens. 1,725g (1,880g with tripod mounting ring), Amazing shot of angry birds wins Nature in Action Photo Competition, Sony releases first pictures of Earth from its Star Sphere space satellite, Hipster camera alert: A full-frame Nikon Z fc could be on the way, Should you use a full frame or cropped sensor camera for bird photography, 2. very long. 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. The 800mm focal length, while not easy to use, certainly shines when it is used properly. This large lens, when coupled with the DX-format sensor, gives him the optical equivalent of an 18x binocular. Traditionally, 400mm f/2.8 lenses were much more specialized tools, being very heavy and a bit short for smaller wildlife. Bird photography is now much more accessible than it used to be, and that's because long telephoto lenses that were once almost impossible to use and carry around have been developed in much smaller designs. +80Photoshop Actionsfor NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS. But this aint your daddys 400mm f/2.8. Lots of opinions why this and that lens is not on the list. It's pretty much the same weight as the Sigma and Tamron 100-400mm lenses for full-frame cameras. 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. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2, 16. The Nano Crystal Coat eliminates internal reflections and removes all chromatic aberration to provide the finest picture quality. The 7 Best Nikon Lenses For Wildlife Photography in 2023 This is the lens that many wildlife photographers get, especially those that photograph birds. 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. Sigma is not reporting equivalent focal lengths or f-numbers. Which Nikon Camera Is Best For Bird Photography? Guide To Nikon Cameras This is the lens that will get you to 800mm at f/5.6 with a 2x teleconverter! 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. With birding, you will likely be using the lens with its built-in teleconverter all the time. If you are looking for the best lens for bird photography with extreme capabilities, then this universal model is worth considering. 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? If you are still shooting with a DSLR, then this might be a good option, since you cannot use the new Z-mount version. Sharpness is really impressive throughout the zoom range, so you can push it to 600mm with confidence that you're still going to get some great images. Would love to hear the reasons, if any. Compared with Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Nikon cameras, this own-brand competitor comes up slightly short in maximum reach. 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. That is all the reach you will need. Your prices on the three lenses are off by over $2000.! 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. The 400mm f/2.8 lens is ideal for situations where even an f/4 lens would be too slow. However, the modest f/11 rating enables a relatively compact and lightweight build with smaller-diameter lens elements. The lens is under $600 and is among the cheapest lenses to achieve any bird photography. VR is Vibration Reduction that minimizes blur due to camera shake. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm is a great introductory telephoto lens for bird photography at a very good price point. Personally, I prefer to shoot landscape, nature and macro photography. Important command dials for wildlife and bird photography are located on the camera body itself. 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. Autofocus is very quick and highly accurate and image quality is excellent overall, although sharpness drops off a little at the longest zoom setting. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. In addition to using the twist-action control ring, you can alter the zoom setting in a push-pull fashion. Extending the focal length gives it even more reach, though the trade-off is a pretty modest maximum aperture of f/7.1 at the long end. The Best Lens for Bird Photography - Birda Power O.I.S. The one thing I would not use this lens for is birding. 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 lighter weight helps in more rapid framing and composition, giving the extra few milliseconds to create the masterpiece. See sample zoom photography (View in a lightbox) View the COOLPIX P1000 Product Tour . The construction is uncompromised with the new magnesium alloy barrel and fluorite elements. I have the 80-400, never use it. Scouting for birds in national parks and bird sanctuaries is accessible with this range. The electro-mechanics diaphragm mechanism works in conjunction with the cameras shutter. 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. If any reason pls explain. Due to its massive size, this lens requires a good tripod setup. Is This the Best Bird Photography Lens? | Fstoppers Using DO (Diffractive Optics) and a relatively narrow f/11 fixed aperture rating, it's also pretty light at 930g. A decent lens is an essential piece of camera equipment for capturing beautiful bird photos. It is also quite lightweight for a lens, so you can easily take it with you into the wild. 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. It is good. Should you use a full frame or cropped sensor camera for bird photography (opens in new tab)? This means that with the teleconverter switched on you have a 560mm lens. Theres no other difference between the two versions. In fact, for many situations, it will be too long, and f/6.3 may not be bright enough. 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. These include a refined optical path with fluorite and Super UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements and high-tech Air Sphere coating. The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 is a compact and ridiculously sharp lens that is perfect for larger birds and birds in flight. Canon premium: Canon EOS R3. This makes it easier to track the erratic movement of birds in flight. The Best Nikon Cameras for Wildlife Photography (2023) DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor) autofocus is super-fast and comes complete with customizable focus-hold buttons mounted around the barrel. In addition, you will have to buy a good heavy duty tripod + accessories (batteries, memory cards, etc). It literally eliminates axial and transverse chromatic aberrations. 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. If you're looking for affordable options, these are the best budget telephoto lenses (opens in new tab). The NIKKOR 300mm is not a zoom lens with a varied focal length. At 1,260g, its perfectly viable for long periods of handheld shooting, aided by a highly effective optical image stabilizer. It has a 22.2x zoom and an 18-400mm focal length, its ultra-telephoto range matches 620mm in the 35mm format. lighter. Compared with Sigmas 150-600mm Sports lens, the Contemporary edition is smaller and almost a whole kilogram lighter in weight. The best cameras for bird photography will help ensure that your patience pays off. 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. The equivalent lenses in full frame would be approximately 24mm f2, 45mm f2, and 85mm f2. But lenses are an expensive purchase, so its important to really think through your decision about which Nikon lens to buy for bird photography. 17. The Best Lens for Bird Photography: What To Look For When Shopping for The flip side is that no optional tripod mounting ring is available, which would have enabled a better balance, especially in portrait orientation shooting. 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. 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. Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary. Nikon budget: Nikon Z50. It renders the lens incompatible with older Nikon DSLRs. The Nikon 300mm f/4E PF is the smallest 300mm f/4 lens because of its phase-fresnel (PF) technology that has subsequently been used in the F-mount 500mm f/5.6 PF and the Z-mount 800mm f/6.3. 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. 5 Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera Lens For Bird Photography 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. So, join me on this journey of discovery, and let's explore the many wonders of My 350 Nikon Wildlife Photography Kit D300 300mm F4 Af Lens together! Two screw-on types of 95mm lens filters are available that are handy during bird photography. In this article, I will not only talk about which Nikon lenses I believe are the best for wildlife and nature photography but also when I use a particular lens, along with plenty of image samples from each lens. An eliminated ghosting and flare while shooting backlit or semi-back-lit subjects results from this improved optics capability. Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, 10. Forget about trying to hand-hold it, even if you have arms as big as Schwarzeneggers. 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. They help cut down on any reflection, including the reflection of the camera sensor. The narrower aperture range of f/5-6.7 is going to restrict you a little in terms of how much light you need, which is simply something to be aware of and factor in. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 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. My 350 Nikon Wildlife Photography Kit D300 300mm F4 Af Lens Pros Its a superfast (f/2.8) 400mm lens with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter (thats what the TC, stands for in the lens name). If well-cared for, such F-mount lenses can still last many years. Best wide-angle lens for landscapes: NIKON Z 14-24MM f/2.8 S. Best super telephoto lens for wildlife photography: SIGMA 60-600MM F/4.5-6.3. If you love birdwatching, visit our best bird feeder camera (opens in new tab) guide! 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. The D850 is Nikon's best all-purpose DSLR, striking a great balance between capability and affordability. When looking at lenses, consider how they'll interact with your camera sensor. Best lenses for low light, from just 129 - Amateur Photographer Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 9. The older model was bulky and heavy and needed a tripod for support at all times. 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. And lastly, I present you the Cadillac of all Nikon super telephoto lenses: the Nikon 600mm f/4E VR. The effects of camera shake are minimized by vibration reduction VRII. In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide. It results in faster and more precise exposure control and exposure consistency. Its more comfortable for long periods of handheld shooting and you can also use it with the camera body mounted on a tripod or monopod. 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. The second edition of the lens has a more typical twist-action zoom ring and a host of upgrades. Heres how it works. Small and light for such a long zoom, the lens retails for about $1,000. 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. You can switch focus mode by simply turning the focus ring. This latest generation optic is significantly lighter than its predecessor thanks to the Flourite lens elements used. It all works together very well, except that stabilization can be relatively ineffective for panning. A useful range of handling extras ensure top-quality results time after time, with excellent consistency even in handheld shooting. The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a classic example, costing more than some new cars. Add 4.5 stops of vibration reduction, and this lens qualifies as a mini beast for bird photography. The best cameras for bird photography in 2023 The best mirrorless cameras for bird photography - BirdWatching A lens that can vary between focal lengths. It has fully professional-grade build quality with comprehensive weather-seals and a dust-, freeze- and splash-proof construction. Optical quality is first-rate as you'd expect for a high-end Nikon prime, while the autofocus performance doesn't disappoint either. The cost difference between the two is significant. For Nikon, a good choice is the Nikon 200-500mm lens for DSLR cameras. 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 Lenses are the second half, and in some cases, the better half. Optically it is an insanely sharp lens, I would say about the same as the Nikon 600mm f/4E below. 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