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This is not the lens you would pack in a backpack for hiking. Compared with Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Nikon cameras, this own-brand competitor comes up slightly short in maximum reach. The Nikon 800mm f/5.6 is no doubt an astounding and absurdly expensive lens. 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. 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. Weather Resistance: Bird photography is out there in the wild. This makes it easier to track the erratic movement of birds in flight. An eliminated ghosting and flare while shooting backlit or semi-back-lit subjects results from this improved optics capability. It's tough to do, especially when photographing moving birds. Nikon: Nikon Z9. Id argue that the 400mm f/2.8 is actually more versatile, because sometimes youll really need that f/2.8 maximum aperture. 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. 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 Best Lens for Bird Photography - Birda When you need to nail the definitive moment in wildlife photography, this is a lens you can surely count on. 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). I agree with all the conclusions, my thoughts are the same, why and how. It really depends on the types of subjects that you shoot. 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. 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. They have some great F-mount lenses that have been supplemented in the past few years with some amazing new Z-mount lenses. This means that with the teleconverter switched on you have a 560mm lens. 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 View at Amazon. Being around for much longer than the Z-mount, the F-mount currently has more lenses suitable for wildlife. The Nikon Z 100-400mm is currently the only Nikon zoom for Z-mount that has some reach. A Guide to Birding with Long Lenses | B&H eXplora Simply, getting close is the best way to get a bigger subject in your viewfinder. 2. Many hobbyists are foraying into this field who start with a crop frame body. I hope youll excuse the lack of sample photos, but by all indications, this lens is just as sharp and versatile as the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S. Would you find more use with this lens, which is a 600mm f/4 and an 840mm f/5.6? The 5-axis stabilization mechanism will keep shots sharper towards the far end of the zoom range, and while the f/5.6-8 is limiting in low light conditions, you can't argue with the lens's performance overall especially given its price. 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. Birds are tricky subjects for even the most experienced wildlife photographers; they move quickly, don't stay still for long, and they generally won't let you get very close without flying off. In this list, we've included some of the best telephoto lenses (opens in new tab) around right now. A prime lens that excels for bird photography, the telephoto Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm is a quality addition to your camera kit. Costing $6500, this lens is the cheapest way to reach this focal length. 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. Nikon has one more wildlife lens on its roadmap: a 200-600mm zoom, which competes directly with the Sony 200-600mm lens. The lens is fully weather-sealed and features a fluorine coating on its front and rear elements. Handling highlights include a customizable Lens-function button, a four-stop image stabilizer that gives up to a six-stop benefit when combined with in-camera stabilization, and an autofocus range limiter that can lock out either short or long focus distances. The uprated ring-type autofocus system is faster and more accurate, and a fluorine coating is added to the front element. Additionally, 2 ED glass elements work towards eliminating chromatic aberration. 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. Diaphragm control via electric signals from the camera body provides reliable AE control. Auto White Balance requires zero input from you, the photographer. It is still just possible to handhold, and it offers a lot of versatility with its zoom and very decent image quality. The Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 is about the same size and weight as Sigmas competing Contemporary lens, but adds a more comprehensive set of weather seals, similar to those of Sigmas more exotic Sports edition while splitting the difference in terms of price. The next best wildlife lens is Nikons heavyweight super telephoto bazooka, the Nikon 400mm f/2.8E VR. Best camera lenses of 2023 | Popular Photography But no matter what camera system you use, we've found the best lenses for bird photography. Capturing stunning images of birds is not easy, and you definitely need the right lens to be able to do it. The best lenses for bird photography in 2023 - digitalcameraworld 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. At 400mm, it's a powerful super-telephoto lens suited to wildlife and action photography, with or without a tripod. The Best Canon Lens For Bird Photography Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L is II USM Lens, Lens Only Compact, high performance L-series super-telephoto zoom makes it ideal for sports and wildlife photography Rotation-type zoom ring allows for more precise composition and excellent balance when handholding Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Nikon 200-500mm f5.6E redraws creative boundaries with a constant-aperture telephoto zoom. If well-cared for, such F-mount lenses can still last many years. For more of our top outdoor photography gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer's guides: Kate is a climber, creator, and community builder. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 9. 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. It all works together very well, except that stabilization can be relatively ineffective for panning. I would say a much longer lens would be significantly harder to aim. It is also dust and moisture resistant, and built for rough conditions, like the home of the birds. 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. I have the 80-400, never use it. Quick Answer - The Best Lenses for Bird Photography. Nikkor 600mm is the no-compromise lens for bird photography. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports, 13. As each birder's requirements are a little different, there is no one perfect camera and lens for bird photography. Because this lens is so new, its the only one here that our team at Photography Life hasnt used yet. When done well, you can get some truly magnificent photographs. Its also not quite as sharp, but it comes very close and its overall image quality is pleasing. If youre looking for the longest reach without teleconverters, the Nikon 800mm f/6.3 is your lens! If you are still shooting with a DSLR, then this might be a good option, since you cannot use the new Z-mount version. 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! A lens of a fixed focal length that cannot be zoomed. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Optically it is an insanely sharp lens, I would say about the same as the Nikon 600mm f/4E below. 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. You can only shoot at the widest aperture possible on older Nikon bodies. Performs well at broad daylight with quick auto focus. It also lets you play with selective focus to highlight the birds in your shot, due to the aperture opening and the amount of light it lets in. The camera makes the images. (Libor wrote a separate article on why thats his favorite budget combo.). Traditionally, 400mm f/2.8 lenses were much more specialized tools, being very heavy and a bit short for smaller wildlife. If you like the idea of a 300mm f/2.8G II but in a zoom, this is your lens. Has a 20.9MP resolution and records 4K video in ultra-high definition. But lenses are an expensive purchase, so its important to really think through your decision about which Nikon lens to buy for bird photography. 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 A useful range of handling extras ensure top-quality results time after time, with excellent consistency even in handheld shooting. Canon EF 100-400mm IS II. This lens is great for general wildlife, especially if you often shoot the large kind like moose and bears. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Give your opinion for 80-400 G ED VR.I believe the autofocus issue is on the D version. 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. It does feature a Tripod Mode, to reduce camera shake from ground vibrations you might not even notice, as well as a Sport Mode that can be useful when youre following birds in flight. Optical quality is first-rate as you'd expect for a high-end Nikon prime, while the autofocus performance doesn't disappoint either. You are a bit mixed up. Sharpness, contrast and other image attributes are excellent and very consistent throughout the entire zoom range. 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. Nikons 300mm F2.8 is fondly called a super-telephoto lens. 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. The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a classic example, costing more than some new cars. Bought it because it can be hand held. On the other hand, if you like to shoot when the sun is almost down or even set, f/5.6 is a little slow even with todays amazing sensors. For bird photography, the Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 Contemporary is the perfect complement to the S5's light and streamlined ergonomics perfect for the hand-held photographer on the go. A mixture of zooms and primes, these are the lenses that bring distant subjects closer, filling the frame with birds and animals and making the most of your camera's sensor to capture them in all their gorgeous detail. With its MFT mount, it will work on Olympus mirrorless cameras, as well as compatible Panasonic Lumix models. I get 10 times more keepers with this lens than with my 500mm, and 20 times more keepers than with my 80-400. Give your opinion for 80-400 G ED VR on D850 and D500. The best cameras for bird photography will help ensure that your patience pays off. In fact, it is significantly lighter than the F-mount 300mm f/2.8G II lens, which is very impressive! The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S is a pro-grade zoom that goes all-out for speed and performance. 2. But it is only half part of the story. How to Photograph Birds 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. 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. 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. It renders the lens incompatible with older Nikon DSLRs. Except that one. Then again, for maximum image quality at the longer focal lengths, the 600mm f/4 TC VR S would be the one to beat. When engaged, it turns the lens into an 840mm f/5.6. 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). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.