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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. Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life, based out of Denver, Colorado. In this list, we've included some of the best telephoto lenses (opens in new tab) around right now. A 70-300mm lens, providing them an effective focal length of 450mm. In fact, for many situations, it will be too long, and f/6.3 may not be bright enough. A full set of weather seals is incorporated, and a fluorine coating on the front element helps to repel moisture and fingerprints. A prime lens may force you to, though, unless you know the exact bird locations and schedule. 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. The lens is fully weather-sealed and features a fluorine coating on its front and rear elements. Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 When photographing wildlife, whether capturing birds in flight or photographing bears in Alaska, one of the most important factors in choosing a lens is its focal length. 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. A system that automatically focuses on the subject to keep it crisp and clear. Canon EF 100-400mm IS II. Lens Weight: Heavier lenses are challenging to use without tripods. 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. Still, weighing just 1,725g without the tripod collar, the Tamron 150-500mm is perfectly useable hand-held. But this aint your daddys 400mm f/2.8. Overall performance and image quality are excellent, although outright sharpness drops off a bit at the long end of the zoom range. It is optimized to deliver results quickly and perfectly. 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 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. It is still just possible to handhold, and it offers a lot of versatility with its zoom and very decent image quality. But it will come in handy on a third camera at some point on some wildlife expedition. It has very impressive optical features and it delivers exceptionally good-looking images, especially at its maximum aperture of f/2.8. It's not cheap, but less than half the price of the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S. This recent addition to Sonys E-mount line-up has the same 600mm maximum focal length as Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Canon and Nikon SLRs. It all depends on the budget, the shooting style, prime or telephoto choice, and brand preference. Even so, the difference isnt particularly noticeable in practical terms and the Nikon lens has the advantage of a constant-aperture design, so f/5.6 remains available throughout the zoom range, rather than dropping to f/6.3 at the long end. Nikon 200-500mm f5.6E redraws creative boundaries with a constant-aperture telephoto zoom. If you can find a way to deal with the weight, this lens with a D500 would still be a very capable wildlife setup. Autofocus itself is very fast and image quality is fabulous. If you like the idea of a 300mm f/2.8G II but in a zoom, this is your lens. No matter the focal length of the lens, the closer you are, the bigger the subject. If you're shooting on the Nikon Z-mount system, then the newly released 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 is a good choice. In fact, it is significantly lighter than the F-mount 300mm f/2.8G II lens, which is very impressive! 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. Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. View at Amazon. Its a very good lens but rather expensive for a 100-400mm, and lacks the outright telephoto reach of more recent 150-600mm independent designs. 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. As of January 2022, Nikon just released their latest addition to the Z mirrorless system lens line-up. It is fairly wide on a full-frame camera at 180mm so it can also be used to capture tighter landscapes. Some of the features that one needs to keep track of for bird photography lenses are: The above lenses cover a variety of focal length ranges and lens features, covering both hobbyists, semi-professionals, and professionals along the way. 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. Having VR is a definite plus when hand-holding the lens. Performs well at broad daylight with quick auto focus. The 800mm focal length, while not easy to use, certainly shines when it is used properly. Sony premium: Sony 1. I would suggest that for most people, this lens is a little bit short for wildlife, especially at $9500. Or would you prefer the 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, which is a 400mm f/2.8 and a 560mm f/4? It is a great buy that will get you to 300mm at just under $600 USD. However, neither of them seems to have impressed you. For hobbyists, a zoom lens might be a better shot. This typically happens in wildlife after the sun goes down. The Canon EF . 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. I believe this article might have been written before that lens, not sure but an update to this article is coming soon. This is not the lens you would pack in a backpack for hiking. This is especially true with mammals, which like to come out during such times. Further anti-reflection technologies help create even sharper pictures with great picture quality. It is the professional photographers who strive to go that extra mile and look for perfect pictures. 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. For more of our top wildlife photography gear recommendations, check out the Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography. 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. Theres also considerably lower quality owing to the higher number of lens elements. The Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3s main application is birds and other small animals. Your prices on the three lenses are off by over $2000.! 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. Canon: Canon EOS R7. Nikon has always been a great choice for wildlife shooters. It's pretty much the same weight as the Sigma and Tamron 100-400mm lenses for full-frame cameras. 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. The one thing I would not use this lens for is birding. 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. A tack-sharp AF precision allows panning shots to be perfectly sharp. Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD, 10. Digital Camera World is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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. 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. 2. Its also plausible that Nikon will eventually release a 300mm f/2.8 and 500mm f/4 to match the F-mount lenses it already makes. One can also double their effective focal length using teleconverters. very long. 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 If you are still shooting with a DSLR, then this might be a good option, since you cannot use the new Z-mount version. The lens has 11 elements (3ED) in 8 groups. All of these can be used on Z-mount cameras with the FTZ or FTZII adapter, and since some of these do not yet have Z counterparts, they are worth a look whether you shoot a Nikon DSLR or a Nikon Z mirrorless camera. The Sports model is a superior lens for photographing birds. 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. Other features include an OLED display, plus a customisable function button. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Theres also lens lightness that helps them enjoy the process and learn the art of bird photography. Interestingly, it is 3.25kg, which is not much heavier than the 2.9kg of the 300mm f/2.8. After falling head over heel hooks for climbing in a gym in Boston, she moved to Golden, Colorado because the mountains were calling. Now Kate spends as much time as possible exploring the crags of the Front Range and beyond, usually with her camera in hand. My second best buy of my life. 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've tested the best lenses for bird photography to bring you options for a range of prices, from budget telephoto lenses to professional lenses. They improve the all-weather shield for shooting in the most severe conditions. Its main advantage over the 600mm f/4 is its weight and its length. Best portrait lens: CANON EF 85MM F/1.2L II USM. I am a wildlife photographer, started in the 70s. But if you have the budget, then the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR II is the best option for image clarity. The uprated ring-type autofocus system is faster and more accurate, and a fluorine coating is added to the front element. Nanocrystal provides for even better construction. The camera is built to be used with a tripod. Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, 11. As we've touched on, Canon's EF 100-400mm zoom has been an incredibly popular lens for Canon DSLR shooters, so it's no surprize to see something arrive for the brand's EOS R range of full-frame mirrorless cameras. There will barely be anything you cant catch that you cant see with the iconic Nikkor 500mm F4G ED R. It is rugged, having a magnesium die-cast barrel which makes it highly resistant to dust and moisture. 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). Sir, Pls. Give your opinion for 80-400 G ED VR on D850 and D500. If well-cared for, such F-mount lenses can still last many years. 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. Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera. The maximum effective focal length stretches from 600mm to around 900mm when shooting on an APS-C camera. Although it is an F-mount lens, it is still used by many Z-mount users with an FTZ adapter. Camera body with a lens without zoom for shooting portraits. Best lens for street photography: NIKON AF NIKKOR 35MM F/2D. The NIKKOR 300mm is not a zoom lens with a varied focal length. A Nano-crystal coat and fluorine coat cut down on all reflections. 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. Its my favorite because i can get it up and shooting anytime Im in a hurry, which is often. 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. This is the first ultra-telephoto lens made for the APS-C format. Compatible Camera Mount: Canon EF Features Dust And Water Resistant Design Autofocus Is Both Smooth And Quiet Wide Focal Range Allows A Wide Variety Of Shots The Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF lens was a breakthrough lens for Nikon. Best Canon: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens Best Canon premium: Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens Best Nikon: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED Best Nikon premium: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED I make sure that you get the best articles about photography. 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. 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. 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+. The lens is under $600 and is among the cheapest lenses to achieve any bird photography. Many aspiring wildlife shooters will no doubt be aware of the stratospheric prices of supertelephotos. 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. The equivalent lenses in full frame would be approximately 24mm f2, 45mm f2, and 85mm f2. 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. The opening in the lens that allows light to pass through. Lots of opinions why this and that lens is not on the list. There are two potential downsides with this lens, and they go hand-in-hand. 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. 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. The second is that 400mm isnt always long enough for smaller or more distant birds. For absolute beginners with a lesser budget, a non-VR version may suffice. Dont worry, this article will be updated in October! Similar to the Nikon 300mm f/2.8G VR II, it also works exceptionally well with all teleconverters, including the Nikon TC-20E III. lighter. Still, it is heavy and big to carry around and takes time to set up. Featured key specs: Notable reviews: 5. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. 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. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Sony budget: Sony 6400. When you need to nail the definitive moment in wildlife photography, this is a lens you can surely count on. 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 Coupled with the Nikon Z9 you can use the newly developed Silky Swift VCM (SSVCM), which enables fast, highly accurate, and quiet AF control. More so, it has a focal range of 70-300mm. 2. Generally, the longer the lens (in focal length), the better. The VC Mode II is specifically for panning, aiding the birds-in-flight photography. Theres no other difference between the two versions. And you'll also find lenses for Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus cameras. But, since you have a crop sensor camera, a lens zooming to 400mm, 500mm or even 600mm would be an option. Simply, getting close is the best way to get a bigger subject in your viewfinder. Instead, it has one telephoto length, so it is best for searching the skies and the trees, rather than capturing birds right in front of you. It is about $550 more expensive than the 100-400mm, so why would you get this lens instead? An image stabilization system that reduces the effects of camera shake and the consequent blur that causes. Autofocus is very quick and highly accurate and image quality is excellent overall, although sharpness drops off a little at the longest zoom setting. Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency (eBAND) coating and Broad-Band Anti-Reflection (BBAR) coating make the optics even more refined. If you love birdwatching, visit our best bird feeder camera (opens in new tab) guide! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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! Because this lens is so new, its the only one here that our team at Photography Life hasnt used yet. 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 specially shaped lens hood with a thumb and finger groove helps with this. It is capable of producing relatively good bokeh, especially on its longest end, although its sharpness performance also drops quite a bit at 300mm. In addition to using the twist-action control ring, you can alter the zoom setting in a push-pull fashion. 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. New York, 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. Important command dials for wildlife and bird photography are located on the camera body itself. 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. Traditionally, 400mm f/2.8 lenses were much more specialized tools, being very heavy and a bit short for smaller wildlife. A 70-300mm lens, providing them an effective focal length of 450mm. When engaged, it turns the lens into an 840mm f/5.6. In many cases, it still does. Instead, you need to decide which camera is perfect for YOU. Tamrons 150-600mm was a gamechanger. Instead, it will automatically adjust as the light changes. 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. 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. Add 4.5 stops of vibration reduction, and this lens qualifies as a mini beast for bird photography. Very informative write up, What about 200-500 mm lens? The autofocus is extremely fast, thanks to an internal focus element, and you can easily override the autofocus if you want manual control. You can switch focus mode by simply turning the focus ring. I may have got lucky because mine is very sharp. A prime lens that excels for bird photography, the telephoto Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm is a quality addition to your camera kit. This lens still has no equal in Z mount (or any other mount) and thus I have seen quite a few people adapting it to their Z50 cameras for a very lightweight and capable setup. 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. The optical image stabilizer is effective on its own and even better when coupled with in-body stabilization, featured in later Sony Alpha A7 and A9 mirrorless cameras. 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. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary, 15. Sophisticated controls include switchable dual-mode autofocus options with priority given to autofocus or manual override, static/panning stabilization modes and dual custom setups. A camera that takes high-definition images and comes with a lens for up-close shots of subjects. At 1,260g, its perfectly viable for long periods of handheld shooting, aided by a highly effective optical image stabilizer. This has seen a weight saving of some 25%, though it still tips the scales at an arm-wobbling 3,810g. Usually, hobbyist photographers are happy with a good bird in natural surroundings. Do you want a zoom lens that offers a focal range from up close to far in the distance? It has a tripod detection mode that helps minimize shutter release vibration, making it an intelligent VR workhorse. Theres more, however, with the construction boasting an upgraded lens construction. These large animals often need much wider focal lengths around 200mm and it would be difficult to capture them with a fixed prime in all situations. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Works well with Nikon Z6 using FTZ lens adapter. The second edition of the lens has a more typical twist-action zoom ring and a host of upgrades. So get the best lens you can afford, then learn to use . The Nikon COOLPIX P1000 features a 3000mm super telephoto lens, . But lenses are an expensive purchase, so its important to really think through your decision about which Nikon lens to buy for bird photography. Fujifilm XF150-600mm F5.6-8 R LM OIS WR, 12. 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. With its MFT mount, it will work on Olympus mirrorless cameras, as well as compatible Panasonic Lumix models. Want to learn more about a technical term? 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. He is also an encyclopedia when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 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. Hand-holding, the Nikon D500, feels better. There are two versions of this lens: VR and non-VR. The Nikkor 70-300 f4.5-5.6G VR must be on the list of bird photography lenses purely to provide an entry. 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. 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? The Nikon 70 300mm telephoto lens with f/4.5 -5.6 maximum aperture is best for Nikon digital SLR cameras. It was originally introduced as an answer to third-party large focal length telephoto zoom lenses. the best birds in flight photography lenses cost thousands of dollars, which just doesn't make sense for a beginner. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to look at some lightly used F-mount lenses, the E-versions of which are still optically outstanding. These enable different behaviors in the autofocus speed and stabilization effect, as well as fine-tuning for autofocus accuracy for individual camera bodies, plus the application of firmware updates. 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. Then there's the full frame pro or serious enthusiast DSLR body with a Canon or Nikon 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, or even an 800mm prime 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. 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! You will be able to capture all sorts of birds in the perfect frames with these cameras for sure. Among other notable features are a lag-free switch from automatic to manual focus. The lens is meant to be used with fast Nikon DSLRs from the high-end range. Compared with Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Nikon cameras, this own-brand competitor comes up slightly short in maximum reach. See sample zoom photography (View in a lightbox) View the COOLPIX P1000 Product Tour . The Nikon 500mm f/4E VR is sort of a sweet middle between the 400mm and 600mm lenses. Its tripod-compatible VR offers up to 4 stops of Vibration Reduction. 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. Power O.I.S. Read more about Nasim here. The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM (and the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM (opens in new tab)) is designed for EOS R-series mirrorless cameras and offers a very different experience to a typical prime telephoto lens. Nikons 200-500mm f5.6E has carved a space of its own among hobbyist and semi-professional wildlife photographers. Should you use a full frame or cropped sensor camera for bird photography (opens in new tab)? This is the lens that will get you to 800mm at f/5.6 with a 2x teleconverter! They, however, are prone to more lens aberrations and vignettes. Autofocus is fast and image quality is impressive in all respects, making this lens great value for an own-brand Nikon. With birding, you will likely be using the lens with its built-in teleconverter all the time. It's tough to do, especially when photographing moving birds. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 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. 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. The camera makes the images. View at Amazon. 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. Both DSLR and mirrorless full-frames should be considered. It is an upgraded version of the earlier 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. Nikon: Nikon Z9. 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. Weather Resistance: Bird photography is out there in the wild. But if youre photographing small birds that are 10-15 meters away from you or greater (30+ feet), 800mm will be ideal.