best lens for bird photography nikon best lens for bird photography nikon

Nikon has made several innovations to make this lens lighter, but it is still quite a large lens, so you will benefit from a sturdy tripod setup to hold it steady. Coupled with the Nikon Z9 you can use the newly developed Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM), which enables fast, highly accurate, and quiet AF control. Whereas 400mm and 600mm lenses work better for general wildlife photography outings. The Nikon COOLPIX P1000 features a 3000mm super telephoto lens, . Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary, 15. 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. The VC Mode II is specifically for panning, aiding the birds-in-flight photography. The Silent Wave Motor further boosts this ability, helping create stable and dramatic images in the wild. It is the lightest native 800mm lens that Nikon makes. Weather Resistance: Bird photography is out there in the wild. 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. Wildlife situations come and pass quickly and this lens is easy to deploy quickly, fast optics, feather weight, and has VR. But this aint your daddys 400mm f/2.8. It results in faster and more precise exposure control and exposure consistency. Do you have any recommendations or questions? This large lens, when coupled with the DX-format sensor, gives him the optical equivalent of an 18x binocular. Pls. The older model was bulky and heavy and needed a tripod for support at all times. They improve the all-weather shield for shooting in the most severe conditions. It is also dust and moisture resistant, and built for rough conditions, like the home of the birds. However, neither of them seems to have impressed you. The Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3s main application is birds and other small animals. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I would say a much longer lens would be significantly harder to aim. And if you need an 800mm equivalent lens, you could always put a 2x TC on the 400mm f/2.8. You cant move much during wildlife photography, as you may disturb the surroundings. When engaged, it turns the lens into an 840mm f/5.6. How to Create an Online Portfolio Using Format? 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. 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. 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. 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 addition of highly effective optical VR that works in tandem with IBIS in Z system full-frame cameras should ensure exceptionally sharp avian images. The second is that 400mm isnt always long enough for smaller or more distant birds. Aperture: A faster lens like f/2.8 or f/4 allows you to use faster shutter speed, which is essential for bird photography. The Nano Crystal Coat eliminates internal reflections and removes all chromatic aberration to provide the finest picture quality. The flip side is that no optional tripod mounting ring is available, which would have enabled a better balance, especially in portrait orientation shooting. Guide To Nikon Cameras For Birds. Its also the sharper lens at 400mm, although the 100-400mm is no slouch. Very informative write up, What about 200-500 mm lens? Compared with Sigmas 150-600mm Sports lens, the Contemporary edition is smaller and almost a whole kilogram lighter in weight. I get 10 times more keepers with this lens than with my 500mm, and 20 times more keepers than with my 80-400. But no matter what camera system you use, we've found the best lenses for bird photography. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. But it is only half part of the story. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. In many cases, it still does. 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. 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. 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. Continuous high-speed photography is achievable through this type of AE control. Nikon budget: Nikon Z50. It has a vibration reduction of up to 5.5 stops. 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. 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. Nanocrystal provides for even better construction. Ergonomically, the Nikon D500 feels just right. A specially shaped lens hood with a thumb and finger groove helps with this. It is the professional photographers who strive to go that extra mile and look for perfect pictures. 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! On your Nikon, the 300mm is 450mm equivalent (35mm), i.e. Nikon 200-500mm f5.6E redraws creative boundaries with a constant-aperture telephoto zoom. I have the 80-400, never use it. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens is one of the sharpest and fastest lenses available. The Nikon Z 100-400mm is currently the only Nikon zoom for Z-mount that has some reach. Then again, for maximum image quality at the longer focal lengths, the 600mm f/4 TC VR S would be the one to beat. Which Nikon Camera Is Best For Bird Photography? 7 Best Camera for Bird Photography. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 is our choice as the best lens for bird 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. 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. Best lens for street photography: NIKON AF NIKKOR 35MM F/2D. A prime lens that excels for bird photography, the telephoto Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm is a quality addition to your camera kit. The optical path is top drawer too, featuring no less than five ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements plus a Super ED element. Image quality wise: an entry level Nikon DSLR matches the image quality you can get from any other camera in Nikon's line up . Nikon ambassador Moose Peterson shares his favorite setup, If youre heading out into the backcountry, Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography of 2022, Best Tripods for Wildlife Photography of 2022, Best Point and Shoot Cameras for Wildlife Photography of 2022, Aperture Allows for Good Low Light Performance, Super Integrated Coating Reduces Lens Flare, Or Glare From The Lens That Can Show Up On A Photo, Electromagnetic Aperture Gives Good Exposure Control So The Lighting Level Doesnt Get Too Dark Or Too Light, Internal Focus Allows For Speed In Focusing, Provides Shallow Depth Of Field For Selective Focus, Tripod Mode Reduces Shake From Ground Vibration, Vr Image Stabilization Compensates For Camera Shake, Coating On Front Of Lens Protects From Water & Dirt. Its my favorite because i can get it up and shooting anytime Im in a hurry, which is often. The next big jump (in terms of size, weight and cost) gets us to the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II a phenomenal lens. It is good. 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. 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. They, however, are prone to more lens aberrations and vignettes. An extreme telephoto lens, it can beautifully capture birds at a very long distance. 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. Weighing a whopping 3.8 kilos, it is about as heavy as Nikons longest 600mm f/4 lens (more on the 600mm below). Instead, the Nikon 180-400 f/4E lens is for those shooters who shoot larger mammals and landscapes, and wider shots of animals in their habitat. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Id argue that the 400mm f/2.8 is actually more versatile, because sometimes youll really need that f/2.8 maximum aperture. If any reason pls explain. These are 600mm, 750mm and 900mm equivalent (35mm), i.e. It has a 22.2x zoom and an 18-400mm focal length, its ultra-telephoto range matches 620mm in the 35mm format. 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 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. Still, its hard to beat the price of this lens at $1400. lighter. In fact, it is significantly lighter than the F-mount 300mm f/2.8G II lens, which is very impressive! These cookies do not store any personal information. Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency (eBAND) coating and Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) coating make the optics even more refined. I added this lens to the list because it is so good, but it is also questionable whether it is still worth its price, given that you can get a Nikon Z9 and a Z 800mm f/6.3 and still have over $4000 to spare. This fast lens features snappy autofocus, a 400mm telephoto, and top-quality lens construction by Nikon. Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L. Theres no other difference between the two versions. Works well with Nikon Z6 using FTZ lens adapter. Best macro lens: TAMRON 90MM F/2.8 Di VC USD. No also f/1.4. 17. This translates to a high price tag, with the lowest end of the spectrum averaging between $500 to $1,500, and the highest-quality / best reach lenses costing as much as $10,000+. At 1,260g, its perfectly viable for long periods of handheld shooting, aided by a highly effective optical image stabilizer. The only downsides of the mirrorless version are that the Z 800mm f/6.3 is a PF lens, it is very slightly slower, and so may show slightly worse bokeh in some rare instances. Find out more about how we test. New York, 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. 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. You now know how to do the calculation: the 200-500 is the equivalent of 300 mm to a whopping 750 mm. More so, it has a focal range of 70-300mm. Sigma stops developing Micro Four Thirds lenses; APS-C "also in decline", Every issue is packed with photo tips, kit reviews and inspiration. The lens is designed for Canon and Nikon DSLRs but is also an option for Canon RF and Nikon Z mirrorless cameras using a mount adapter. In addition to using the twist-action control ring, you can alter the zoom setting in a push-pull fashion. If you want the ultimate versatility in a single lens, it would be hard to go wrong with the Nikon 180-400mm f/4E lens. 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. Due to its slower f/4 aperture, it is a much lighter lens than the 400mm f/2.8E VR. We also have bird lenses for Nikon and Canon. 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. I have in fact met some people using this lens on a monopod. The one thing I would not use this lens for is birding. The best lenses for bird photography let you get closer to birds and capture incredibly sharp, beautiful images. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM This is a very specialized tool. But lenses are an expensive purchase, so its important to really think through your decision about which Nikon lens to buy for bird photography. At F2.8, it is the fastest lens for bird photography. 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. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens. My second best buy of my life. It is an upgraded version of the earlier lens. 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. It also makes it very easy to use teleconverters, especially the built-in 1.4x TC. Naturally, it has a fixed focal length, equivalent to 600mm in full-frame terms, and lacks the versatility of a zoom. It's pretty much the same weight as the Sigma and Tamron 100-400mm lenses for full-frame cameras. This makes the lens very versatile, giving 400mm and 560mm at the flick of a switch. But if youre photographing small birds that are 10-15 meters away from you or greater (30+ feet), 800mm will be ideal. 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. However, its weight and size are its biggest enemy. 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. That makes it easier to capture sharp, frame-filling images of birds. I have the 500mm f4g VR, a crazy sharp lens. This is the lens that many wildlife photographers get, especially those that photograph birds. The uprated ring-type autofocus system is faster and more accurate, and a fluorine coating is added to the front element. The Nikon 70 300mm telephoto lens with f/4.5 -5.6 maximum aperture is best for Nikon digital SLR cameras. 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. Sony: Sony a7 IV. A lens that can vary between focal lengths. Panasonic DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 Asph. The Nikkor 70-300 f4.5-5.6G VR must be on the list of bird photography lenses purely to provide an entry. 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. Bird photographers carrying a lot of gear find the 500mm f/4 a bit easier to travel with compared to the 600mm f/4. Sophisticated controls include switchable dual-mode autofocus options with priority given to autofocus or manual override, static/panning stabilization modes and dual custom setups. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{active_palette:0,config:{colors:{62516:{name:Main Accent,parent:-1}},gradients:[]},palettes:[{name:Default Palette,value:{colors:{62516:{val:var(tcb-color-4) ,hsl:{h:46,s:0.87,l:0.58}}},gradients:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{active_palette:0,config:{colors:{62516:{name:Main Accent,parent:-1}},gradients:[]},palettes:[{name:Default Palette,value:{colors:{62516:{val:var(tcb-color-4),hsl:{h:46,s:0.8692,l:0.01}}},gradients:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__. 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. Zoom lenses carry the advantage of flexibility. It literally eliminates axial and transverse chromatic aberrations. It is possible due to the diaphragm blade unit with a drive mechanism. And I dont want to spend thousands more on new zooms. 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. 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. The NIKKOR 200-500mm also features an autofocus system that you can override by turning the manual focus ring. The cost difference between the two is significant. 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. Compared with Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Nikon cameras, this own-brand competitor comes up slightly short in maximum reach. My super favorite lens is the AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR. With advancement, the quality has come quite close to prime. Forget about trying to hand-hold it, even if you have arms as big as Schwarzeneggers. If you have a favorite lens of yours for wildlife photography that is not listed below, please feel free to add a comment at the bottom of the page with some information and links to pictures (if you have any that you would like to share). 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.