If your goal is to become a wildlife photographer. If you want to capture pictures of animals in their natural environment. Then you will need a suitable lens for this job. If you talk about the best lens for wildlife photography then Telephoto zoom lenses are the best lenses for wildlife photography. The reason behind it is they allow you to isolate details of the landscape, shoot from a long distance. The benefit of this feature is it avoid disturbing the animals and you take the photo.
Telephoto lenses are very heavy and often need to be mounted on a tripod stand if you want to use it. But the extra effort you do pay you, as the images you capture and bring back to your home cannot be captured with any other type of lens.
When you buy wildlife photography lenses there are so many features you should keep in your mind. The no 1 feature is image stabilization it is so important when you shoot from the distance, it is so important because even the smallest vibration can cause the image to become blurry and you don’t get results as you want. The no 2 feature is low light performance, especially if you have the plan to shoot birds in a forest where trees stop the sunlight and it is dark everywhere.
Top 6 Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography
1. Tamron Auto Focus 70-300mm:
- The popular Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 Di LD Macro features a built in motor to ensure fast accurate focusing
- Close-focusing ability - 0.95m (3.1 feet ), focal lengths between 180 and 300mm. Compatible with the d40, d40x and d60 in the mf mode due to the fact it does not have a built in motor
- This telephoto zoom will crop in tight or bring distant subjects in close. Angle of view: 34-8
- There is also an incredible macro mode for photographing small objects up close giving a magnification ratio of 1:2
- This phenomenal lens comes with a 6 year warranty. Lens hood included for maximum glare protection and increased contrast
This lens contains a built-in motor to ensure fast accurate focusing. The benefit of this feature is the quickly you focus on the best results you get. Because you can’t control the movement of animals. That’s why a good lense has this feature.
This lens has a Close-focusing ability. The range of close focusing ability is 0.95m (3.1 feet ). The focal lengths of this lens are between 180 and 300mm. This lens is compatible with the d40, d40x, and d60 in the MF mode. Due to these features, it does not have a built-in motor. The feature of this lens is very demanding and become very popular in wildlife photographers.
This lens has amazing features of telephoto zoom which crop in tight or bring the far object in close line. The angle of view of this lens is 34-8. Which is again an outstanding feature of this lens.
One more attractive feature of this lens is it contains a macro mode for photographing small objects. The benefit of this feature is it up close giving a magnification ratio of 1:2 to the object. Due to this feature, you click an outstanding image even you are far away from the object.
This company gives value to your money. This phenomenal lens has a 6-year warranty. In this package lens, the hood is included for maximum glare protection and increased contrast which gives good quality to your image.
PROS:
This lens has affordable Price
The design of this lens is very compact the benefit of this design is it increases portability
CONS:
The autofocus is a little bit slow
2. SIGMA 70-300MM:
- Designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras. May also be used with smaller APS-c size sensors with a corresponding effective increase in focal length to about 100 to 450mm with most cameras
This lens has a large zoom range that allows You To capture the images of birds and animals from a far distance with a very near close-up. The benefit of this feature is you take the images from a far distance. This is so important feature in wildlife photography because most of the wildlife animals are very dangerous and you don’t move close to them because they may harm you. So this feature is so important for wildlife photography.
This lens has excellent color quality For enhancing natural lighting. The benefit of this feature is it allows you to take images in the forest with perfect results. Because in forest trees don’t allow the sunlight to come down and you don’t have enough light for the clicking of images. But due to this feature, you click images with very good quality.
The price of this lens is very affordable. The price is matters because for beginners it so good because they don’t have so much money. So price plays an important role in the quality of any lens.
This lens is designed in such a way that this lens with full-frame digital SLR cameras. You may also used this lens with smaller APS-c size sensors. Due to this feature corresponding effective increase in focal length. The measurement of the focal length is about 100 to 450mm.
PROS:
The price of this lens is very affordable
The image stabilization quality is awesome
CONS:
The zoom of this lens has some problem it is not so smooth
3. Nikon 80-400mm:
- Compact, lightweight 5x telephoto zoom lens
- Vibration Reduction operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed three stops faster
- VR automatically detected during panning operation
- Three ED glass elements ensure superior optical performance
- Nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements
This lens has a compact, lightweight 5x telephoto zoom lens. The benefit of this feature is you take the images from a large distance. This is so important feature in wildlife photography because most of the wildlife animals are very dangerous and you don’t move close to them because they don’t allow anybody to come near them. Because they may harm you. So this feature is so important for wildlife photography.
This lens has amazing features of the vibration reduction operation. The benefit of this feature is it offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops faster as compared to that lens that doesn’t have this feature.
This lens has the amazing technology of VR. Due to this feature, this lens automatically detected objects during panning operation and gives you perfect results. This lens is perfect for those surfaces where you don’t stand properly.
This lens has an outstanding thing which is 3 ED glass elements. The benefit of this feature is it ensure superior optical performance. You get the perfect results you want.
This lens has a nine-blade rounded diaphragm. The benefit of this diaphragm is it achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements. This means that things you don’t want to focus on this lens blur automatically. This feature is very useful because you don’t put extra effort into editing.
PROS:
This lens has compact and lightweight
This lens produces Extra Sharp Images
CONS:
Some users complain about the autofocus
4. Canon EF 100-400mm:
- 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
- Improved zoom torque adjustment ring allows easy setting of zoom tension, Focal Length & Maximum Aperture:100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6, Closest Focusing Distance-3.2 ft. / 0.98m
- New Air Sphere Coating (ASC) helps to significantly reduce backlit flaring and ghosting, Highly resistant to dust and water, and amazing durability enabling shooting even in harsh conditions
This lens has compact, high-performance L-series telephoto zoom. This feature makes this lens perfect for wildlife photography. Because it zooms from a very far distance. We stated earlier the benefit of this feature but once again we tell you. Due to this feature, your life is safe. Because most of the wildlife animals are very dangerous and you don’t move close to them because they don’t allow anybody to come near them. Because they may harm you. So this feature is so important for wildlife photography.
This lens contains a rotation-type zoom ring. Which allows this lens for more precise composition. This feature makes your work easy and provides excellent balance when hand-holding the lens. This lens is perfect for those surfaces where you don’t stand properly.
This lens has an Improved zoom torque adjustment ring. This feature helps in the easy setting of zoom tension. It provides a focal length & maximum Aperture that is approximately 100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6. The closest Focusing Distance of this lens is 3.2 ft. / 0.98m. This feature of this lens is very much in demand.
This lens has amazing technology of new air sphere coating. The benefit of that technology is it helps to significantly eliminate backlit flaring and ghosting. This lens is highly resistant to dust and water. Due to this resistance, it provides amazing durability to this lens. You are enable shooting even in unfavorable conditions.
PROS:
This lens has an amazing zoom torque feature
The autofocus of this lens is outstanding
CONS:
The image stabilization of this lens is not good
5. Sony FE 70-200mm:
- G Master design combines extraordinary sharpness and smooth bokeh, Constant F2.8 max aperture maintains exposure and depth of field.Weight 1480 g (without tripod mount)
- Class-leading min. focus distance of 37.8” / 0.25x max. mag, Dual floating focus system for high AF speed and precision, XA, ED/Super ED elements and Nano AR Coating for superb resolution
- Aspherical elements & 11-blade circular aperture for gorgeous bokeh, Min. focus breathing and par focal design ideal for video, Direct coupled mechanical focus system for precise manual focus
- Rigid construction with constant lens length during focusing and zooming, High performance Optical Steady Shot Image stabilization, Dust and moisture resistant for robust reliability
- Nano AR coating suppress reflections, flare and ghosting, XA (extreme aspherical) element with 0.01 micron surface precision
This lens has a G Master design. The benefit of this design is it combines extraordinary sharpness and smooth layer to the image. This lens provides a constant F2.8 max aperture to the image. Due to this feature, this lens maintains exposure and depth of field.
The focus distance of this lens is 37.8” / 0.25x maximum. this lens has a Dual floating focus system. The benefit of this feature is it provide AF speed and precision of the image. This lens also has ED/Super ED elements and Nano AR Coating which provide outstanding resolution to the image.
This lens has aspherical elements which provide compatibility with other devices. It has an 11-blade circular aperture due to this feature it provides awesome bokeh. This lends has focus breathing and parfocal design which is perfect for video. This lens contains a direct-coupled mechanical focus system that provides precise manual focus when you take an image.
This lens has a rigid construction with constant lens length which provides strength during focusing and zooming. This lens has taken high-quality optical Steady Shots. Because this lens has amazing Image stabilization. This lens is Dust and moisture resistant for amazing reliability.
This lens has an amazing feature of nano ar coating which suppresses reflections. This is another outstanding feature of this lens because you know if reflection is high then the quality of the image is not good. This lens also eliminates flare and ghosting which again is a demanding feature.
PROS:
The construction of this lens is so rigid you can use it in any condition
The focus of this lens is amazing
CONS:
The price of this lens is high especially for beginners
6. TAMRON SP 150-600MM F/5-6.3 DI VC USD:
- New FLEX ZOOM LOCK mechanism enables the locking of the zoom ring at any position
- Fluorine Coating and improved Moisture-Resistant Construction;Optical Construction : 21 elements in 13 groups
- Lightweight and easy-to-hold tripod mount is compatible with an Arce-Swiss style quick release plate
- AF speed is faster and much more responsive with moving subjects
- VC performance is 4.5 stops (VC mode 3) and offers three modes optimized for different shooting situations
We this lens for you because it contains so many features, one thing which is very attractive that this is the lens with the incredible super zoom in our article. One thing which is its drawback that a wide-angle option is not present in this lens. The lens contains telephoto features which are perfect for wildlife photography, especially from a far distance.
However, you also keep one thing in your mind that it contains weaker exposure. One more important feature is its image stabilization the benefit of this feature that it works even with long shutter speeds, poorly-lit scenes, small apertures, and hand-held shooting.
Just like other lenses that are available in the market it also contains various coatings. The benefits of this coating protect the lens from flare and color distortions. The lens features an Ultrasonic motor, the benefit of this feature it adds speed when you taking an image and removes noise from autofocus. These features give you high quality and detailed images.
PROS:
The image stabilization quality is very good
The autofocus of the lens is incredible
CONS:
Price is a little bit high
FINAL CONCLUSION:
In our article, we tell you all things about the best lenses for wildlife photography. At the starting of our article, we tell the importance of a good lens in wildlife photography. I make this field your carrier then a good lens is very important for you. We also tell you the features of a good wildlife photography lens. We also tell you which thing to keep in your mind when you buy a wildlife photography lens for yourself. In the end, we conclude that when you want to buy a lens for wildlife photography then please read our article. It helps you a lot and you save your important money.