best lens for bird photography nikon
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 lens is meant to be used with fast Nikon DSLRs from the high-end range. A 600mm f/4 is the gold standard for birding and other types of wildlife, and its a lens that still does not exist in Z-mount. Or do you want a high-quality prime lens with a set focal length? 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. The Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm is a great introductory telephoto lens for bird photography at a very good price point. The main downside of this lens is its 2.3kg weight, which is not very comfortable compared to some lighter options like the 500mm f/5.6PF. 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. 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 uprated ring-type autofocus system is faster and more accurate, and a fluorine coating is added to the front element. For full compatibility with Canon EOS R and Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras, V2 or later firmware can be applied via Tamrons optional USB-linked TAP-in Console. Still, weighing just 1,725g without the tripod collar, the Tamron 150-500mm is perfectly useable hand-held. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens. It boasts 2 focus modes with fast auto, silent focusing with a minimum focus range of 4.9 feet. It is also only about 2.4kg, which means it is handholdable for longer periods compared to most supertelephotos. If well-cared for, such F-mount lenses can still last many years. Power O.I.S. Its tripod-compatible VR offers up to 4 stops of Vibration Reduction. One can also double their effective focal length using teleconverters. Performs well at broad daylight with quick auto focus. DOWNLOAD THE ADVANCED AFFINITY PHOTO COURSE NOW! The construction involves 3 ED glass elements, minimizing chromatic aberration and achieving super sharpness. Due to its massive size, this lens requires a good tripod setup. 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). It really depends on the types of subjects that you shoot. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary, 15. How to Create an Online Portfolio Using Format? Its also not quite as sharp, but it comes very close and its overall image quality is pleasing. The Silent Wave Motor further boosts this ability, helping create stable and dramatic images in the wild. The 800mm focal length, while not easy to use, certainly shines when it is used properly. Although significantly less expensive to buy, it features the same range of dual-mode stabilization, dual-mode autofocus and custom setup options, as well as fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements. This lens will let you shoot birds up close, and although the zoom isn't the longest out there, it will still allow you to capture birds in the distance. 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. The lighter weight helps in more rapid framing and composition, giving the extra few milliseconds to create the masterpiece. A finely-crafted lens, the Panasonic 100-400mm is relatively large for a Micro Four Thirds format zoom and weighs almost a kilogram. The auto-focus works a charm in broad daylight. The lens is under $600 and is among the cheapest lenses to achieve any bird photography. 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: . Image quality wise: an entry level Nikon DSLR matches the image quality you can get from any other camera in Nikon's line up . 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. Pros It is more compact than the flagship gripped cameras like the Z9 and D6, and yet it still is very capable in the autofocus department. Again, not much to complain about in terms of optics and features. Sold all other FX lenses to get a full set of Z lenses. lighter. The Nikon 70 300mm telephoto lens with f/4.5 -5.6 maximum aperture is best for Nikon digital SLR cameras. View at Amazon. They have some great F-mount lenses that have been supplemented in the past few years with some amazing new Z-mount lenses. The best lenses for bird photography will help you get close to wildlife and there are great options for every camera mount. The autofocus is extremely fast, thanks to an internal focus element, and you can easily override the autofocus if you want manual control. 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. The Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF lens was a breakthrough lens for Nikon. Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 VR. DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor) autofocus is super-fast and comes complete with customizable focus-hold buttons mounted around the barrel. But it is only half part of the story. It is easy to get carried away by the camera body. A camera that takes high-definition images and comes with a lens for up-close shots of subjects. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Ergonomically, the Nikon D500 feels just right. 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! It comes at half the price of a decent 300mm prime. The Canon EF . That's why, in my opinion, the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is the best bird photography lens for the money at a touch over $2000 (or significantly cheaper pre-owned). Traditionally, 400mm f/2.8 lenses were much more specialized tools, being very heavy and a bit short for smaller wildlife. Heres how it works. Naturally, it has a fixed focal length, equivalent to 600mm in full-frame terms, and lacks the versatility of a zoom. 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. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Fujifilm XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR, 12. Out of the many options available for you in the market, here are the bird photography cameras that are worth the purchase. Sophisticated controls include switchable dual-mode autofocus options with priority given to autofocus or manual override, static/panning stabilization modes and dual custom setups. ED glasses are Extra-Low Dispersion Glass, an optical glass developed by Nikon to reduce or remove chromatic aberration. The Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR is one of the company's longest focal length lenses available, and with a price tag that's nudging five figures, it's squarely aimed at the professional sports and wildlife photographer. It is optimized to deliver results quickly and perfectly. The biggest consideration when buying a Nikon lens for bird photography is focal length. It renders the lens incompatible with older Nikon DSLRs. 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! But lenses are an expensive purchase, so its important to really think through your decision about which Nikon lens to buy for bird photography. 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. For Z-mount users, the Nikon 100-400mm seems far more attractive at 1.4kg, and the 500mm f/5.6 PF is a great alternative if you are mostly at 500mm. Nikon has one more wildlife lens on its roadmap: a 200-600mm zoom, which competes directly with the Sony 200-600mm lens. It is the professional photographers who strive to go that extra mile and look for perfect pictures. 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. 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. This is a very specialized tool. With birding, you will likely be using the lens with its built-in teleconverter all the time. Today's clever optical designs like the CanonRF 800mm F11 IS STM (opens in new tab) offer massive telephoto reach in a refreshingly compact and affordable package. That said, pair it with the EOS R5 or R6 and the combined image stabilisation delivers up to 6 stops compensation (5 stops on the EOS R or RP). Sharpness is very good at or near 600mm but less impressive towards the short end of the zoom range. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. 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. Although it is an F-mount lens, it is still used by many Z-mount users with an FTZ adapter. There are two potential downsides with this lens, and they go hand-in-hand. 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. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2, 16. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. 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. Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Generally, the longer the lens (in focal length), the better. Why you can trust Digital Camera World 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. It also helps reduce weight and is ideal for outdoor shooting. If you are still shooting with a DSLR, then this might be a good option, since you cannot use the new Z-mount version. This telephoto zoom lens can capture beautiful images of birds far in the distance as well as birds who fly closer to you. Your prices on the three lenses are off by over $2000.! Basically, if youre not sure which lens youll need, you definitely dont need this one. 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. 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. 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. Then again, for maximum image quality at the longer focal lengths, the 600mm f/4 TC VR S would be the one to beat. Unlike landscape and portrait photography, where you could get away with a cheap lens and still get great results, wildlife photography pretty much requires high-quality, fast-aperture telephoto optics. It literally eliminates axial and transverse chromatic aberrations. They improve the all-weather shield for shooting in the most severe conditions. 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.