Best lens for wildlife photography in 2022

Best lenses for wildlife photography – When it comes to wildlife photography then getting in close is key. There are many long lenses on the market and depending on your budget and what camera type and brand you own will determine what is available to you.

To help you make a better informed decision we’ve rounded up the very best wildlife lenses from those that are compatible with DSLRs to Mirrorless, and we’ve included all the major brands so there is something in there for everyone.

When it comes to purchasing longer lenses unfortunately prices get pricey! For those on a tighter budget we have thrown in a couple of budget suggestions, but it’s also worth having a look at the second hand market to see what is available. Often you can save at least a third of the full retail price when shopping second hand.

So without further ado, here are our recommendations for the best lenses for wildlife photography:

Best Nikon DSLR lenses for wildlife photography

1. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR – £1,399

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/32

Maximum aperture f/5.6

Lens construction 19 elements in 12 groups (including 3 ED glass elements)

95mm filter thread

Weighs 2300g (including tripod collar)

The versatile 200-500mm Nikon lens is perfect for those wildlife photographers needing to shoot at a variety of distances. The f/5.6 maximum aperture setting will feel slightly limiting in low light but during daylight is more than adequate. Weighing in at 2300g this lens will add a lot of extra weight to your camera bag, however the variable focal length makes up for this.

2. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II – £6,299

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/22

Maximum aperture f/2.8

Lens construction – 11 elements in 8 groups

52mm filter thread

Weighs 2900g

If you’re after high quality imagery then the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II is a beauty of a lens but at just shy of £6,300 it is by no means affordable to most! You can get it cheaper by shopping around and on the second hand market we found one at £3300 making it more of a viable option for some.

There is no doubt that having those extra stops of light up to f/2.8 with the 300mm reach will get you superb results and the 9 blade circular aperture diaphragm helps produce perfect background blur. This lens also uses a 4 stop Vibration Reduction system meaning you can be confident when out in the field that you are eliminating camera shake. Any Nikon user wanting high quality and professional looking results should consider this lens.

Best Canon DSLR lenses for wildlife photography

3. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM – £ 2,200

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/32

Maximum aperture f/2.8

Lens construction – 23 elements in 19 groups

77mm filter thread

Weighs 1480g

You can’t go wrong with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. Their versatile nature makes them not only useful to wildlife photographers but also almost for every other genre of photography too!

This lens comes with a 3.5-stop image stabilisation guard against camera shake and can track with precision thanks to a ring-type USM autofocus system.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM is also water and dust resistant, which will give you great peace of mind when out in the field in harsher conditions.

4. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III – £240

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III

At a glanceMinimum aperture f/45

Maximum aperture f/4

Lens construction – 13 elements in 9 groups

58mm filter thread

Weighs 480g

For those who are just starting out or on a tight budget then the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lens is well worth considering. This affordable lens is by no means perfect and comes with some restrictions such as its variable maximum aperture range, however when it comes to value for money you can’t argue with what you get. Its lightweight construction and flexible zoom are ideal if you are travelling, and thanks to its integrated AF motor it’s also fast to focus and track moving subjects.

The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III is compatible with Canon DSLR cameras and EOS-M mirrorless cameras with an EF-EOS M Mount adapter.

Best third party DSLR lenses for wildlife photography

5. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM S – £1,329

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM

At a glanceMinimum aperture f/22

Maximum aperture f/5

Lens construction – 24 elements in 16 groups

105mm filter thread

Weighs 2860g

The Sigma 150-600mm f/5 – 6.3 DG OS HSM is not only incredibly versatile having a reach from 150mm to 600mm, it is also built to withstand. This is thanks to its dust and splash resistant structure and its oil-repellent coating on the forefront and rear lenses that can be easily wiped to prevent oil and fat from sticking to the surfaces.

The lens comes with an intelligent OS (Optical Stabiliser) function feature that includes 2 modes. Mode 1 is for general photography and mode 2 helps track moving subjects with accuracy making it ideal for wildlife photographers.

On the downside the variable maximum aperture setting between f/5 and f/6.3 (which is determined by where the focal length is set) is restrictive in lowlight conditions, however this lens still works out as great value for money at just over £1300.

6. Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD – £819

Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/45

Maximum aperture f/4.5

Lens construction – 17 elements in 11 groups

Minimum object distance 1.5m

Weighs 1135g (Canon fit), 1115g (Nikon fit)

If weight is an issue then the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD is comparably much lighter to many of its market rivals. The Canon fit weighs slightly more than the Nikon fit, which comes in at a light 1115g.

Key features of the Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD are the autofocus system and a moisture resistant construction and fluorine coating aimed to give you peace of mind in bad weather. The lens also has three low dispersion lens elements that compensate for chromatic aberrations.

Finally this lens is compatible with Tamron’s 1.4x teleConverter, which if you want that extra reach but can’t afford to upgrade to a longer lens is a great solution.

Best mirrorless Canon lenses for wildlife photography

7. Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM – £2,980

Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/32 at 100mm / f/54 at 500mm

Maximum aperture f/4.5

No. of diaphragm blades 9

Filter thread 77 mm

Weighs 1530g

For Canon mirrorless shooters the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens is an excellent option that comes with a large variable focal length and also produces high quality results.

This lens comes with a 5-stop Image Stabilisation feature giving greater flexibility in lowlight, and includes ASC technology, which stands for Air Sphere Coating to prevent flare and ghosting in images. The Dual Nano USM motor is also worth a mention that enables fast, smooth and near silent AF shooting. It isn’t cheap though at just shy of £3000, however it has much to offer wildlife shooters.

8. Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM – £1,100

Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/11

Maximum aperture f/11

Lens construction 11 elements in 8 groups

Filter thread 95mm

Weighs 1260g

If you need a long reach then the Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM should be on your list. This lens is aimed at the enthusiast, and ideal for any wildlife photographer needing to keep their distance but wanting to get shots close in on the action – for example on a safari.

On the downside the fixed aperture setting at f/11 will feel restrictive at times, however in good light this won’t be an issue. On the positive side this lens only weighs 1,260g which is incredibly light for a lens with this kind of reach. It also only measures 281.8mm in length making it easier to transport. It’s worth noting Canon makes a similar 600mm model that retails at £860.

Best mirrorless Nikon lenses for wildlife photography

9. Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S – £2,419

Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/22

Maximum aperture f/2.8

No. of diaphragm blades 9

Filter thread 77 mm

Weighs 1440g

The Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is an excellent lens and produces superb quality results. This model comes with ghosting, flare and chromatic aberration combative features and is pinpoint sharp thanks to its accurate tracking and AF feature. This lens has a minimum focus distance of just 0.5m at the wide end of the zoom, and 1m at the telephoto end.

The versatile nature of a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is not only great for capturing wildlife – for example bird photography – but it’s also useful for shooting other genres as well so is a worthy investment.

10. Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S – £1,049

Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/32

Maximum aperture f/2.8

No. of diaphragm blades 9

Filter thread 62mm

Weighs 630g

For those Nikon mirrorless users who want to capture the smaller animal kingdom like butterflies and insects then the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S should be at the top of your list! This professional macro lens produces excellent results and includes Nikon’s anti-reflective ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings, which combat flaws like ghosting and unwanted image flare.

With a minimum focusing distance of 0.29m the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lets you get extremely close into your subject, and produces images at a 1:1 reproduction ratio for detailed results.

Best Sony FE mount lens for wildlife photography

11. Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS – £1,700

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

At a glance:Maximum aperture f/5.6

Dimensions 111.5 x 318 mm

No. of diaphragm blades 11

Filter thread 95mm

Weighs 2115g

For wildlife Sony shooters who are after a versatile lens the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS is a strong contender. This lens is fast and accurate to focus thanks to Sony’s DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) system, and the image quality is also excellent.

This lens comes with an 11 blade aperture mechanism creating desirable bokeh. It’s worth noting though the lens is limited to a maximum f/5.6 or f/6.3 depending on where the focal length is set.

This lens is centre weighted so feels balanced when out in the field, which is reassuring to know. If you want to extend your reach even further the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 is compatible with a 1.4x or 2.0x teleconverter. This gives a maximum focal length of 840mm (with a 1.4x) or 1200mm (2.0x) at f/13.

Best Fujifilm XF mount lens for wildlife photography

12. Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR – £1,699

Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

At a glance:Maximum aperture f/4.5

Minimum aperture f/22

No. of diaphragm blades 9

Filter thread 95mm

Weighs 1375g

The Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a super telephoto zoom lens capable of producing high quality results. With a 5 stop image stabilisation system this lens combats issues like camera shake and has automatic detection when panning.

At 1375g this lens is light enough not to cause too many issues whilst in transportation, and the 100-400mm reach gives most wildlife photographers a decent focal range to play with. This lens is dust and water resistant and will operate in conditions down to -10 °C. A great all rounder for those who need something versatile.

Best Micro Four Thirds lenses for wildlife photography

13. Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4.0 IS Pro – £2,599

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4.0 IS Pro

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/4

Dimensions 92.5 x 227mm

Filter thread 77mm

Weighs 1270g

Weighing in at 1270g the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4.0 IS Pro is an excellent choice for many wildlife pros and enthusiasts. Although Olympus have priced it at £2,599 with some shopping around you can get it around £500 cheaper than their suggested full price.

This lens benefits from Olympus’ sync IS system that provides enhanced camera shake reduction with the correct setup. Finally this lens is dust, freeze and splashproof, and gives a 600mm equivalent reach.

14. Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F/2.8-4 ASPH Power O.I.S. – £1,399

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F/2.8-4 ASPH Power O.I.S.

At a glance:Minimum aperture f/22

Maximum aperture f/2.8

Lens construction – 21 elements in 15 groups

Weighs 655g

This lens offers micro four third users great flexibility thanks to its variable focal length and wide maximum aperture settings that vary between f/2.8 and f/4 depending on where the focal length is set.

These wide aperture settings will come in handy in lowlight and produce brilliant bokeh when blurring out the background. This lens is weather sealed giving users greater peace of mind when out in the field. It also gives a 100-400mm equivalent.

Read More

Five of our favorite affordable 85mm primes for portrait photography

85mm prime lenses always used to come with pretty premium prices. However, times have changed. You can now buy 85mm primes that are ideal for portrait photography for less than you think.

If you want to break into portrait photography, but you’re on a budget, you need to look at the 85mm primes listed below. We know what you’re thinking. There must be some trade-offs to these affordable 85mm primes over more expensive options. Well, yes, that’s true; there are always trade-offs.

Some of these lenses don’t have weather sealing, and some are made entirely from composite materials. They’re still tough, but they might not have a premium feel. However, one thing you can count on is that the images you produce with these lenses will rock your portrait photography world. All of the lenses below offer the perfect balance between cost and performance. Let’s take a look at them.

Canon RF 85mm f/2 — The colors it produces are out of this world.

Canon decided to skip over f/1.8 and head for f/2 with this RF 85mm. It’s an odd decision, but the RF 85mm f/2 is still a fantastic lens for the price. Designed to work on Canon’s mirrorless cameras, this 85mm prime lens gives portrait photographers an affordable entry point into RF mount lenses. Make note, though — there is no weather sealing, which is a shame.

The Canon RF 85mm f/2 is a fast focuser. At f/2, images are tack sharp. The lens produces the gorgeous Canon colors we love. Even at f/2, bokeh is very nice. The RF 85mm also has a trick up its sleeve. This prime can do light macro work with a max magnification of 1:2. The lens also focuses as close as 13.8-inches. At under $600, this is a good choice for Canon RF portrait photographers on a budget.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S — It creates dreamy, creamy bokeh

Portrait photographers who shoot with Nikon’s Z series of cameras don’t have many 85mm lenses to choose from. However, the NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8 S just happens to be a brilliant budget-friendly option. Two extra-low dispersion elements keep chromatic aberrations and fringing under control, while the dual focus motors make the most of Nikon’s mirrorless autofocus systems.

Like the other 85mm primes in this list, the NIKKOR 85mm f1/.8 is lightweight yet still very well made. The body is made from composite materials, but it does feature a dust and moisture-resistant design. The optics are excellent. You’ll create portraits that are sharp, distortion-free, and that feature natural colors and gorgeous bokeh. It’s a little more expensive than others on this list, but at under $800, it’s a steal.

Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 (Sony E Mount) — A portrait photography powerhouse

The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 is one of the biggest bargains for Sony shooters. Rokinon/Samyang have always made lenses with fantastic optics, and this 85mm f/1.4 is no exception. Portrait photographers who use this lens will be treated to incredibly sharp images and extremely pleasing colors.

As you can imagine, at f/1.4, you can completely obliterate the background and create exceptional subject separation, which is ideal for portrait photography. The lens focuses quickly on Sony cameras and it works well with eye and face autofocus features. To top it off, this lens costs under $600 and features weather sealing. This is a must-have lens when it comes to 85mm primes.

Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 — One of the best lenses for portraits on any system

The Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 is one of the best budget portrait lenses I have ever used. And trust me, I’ve used a lot of 85mm primes. The Panasonic 85mm f/1.8 is small, light, weather-sealed and ridiculously sharp when shot wide-open. The bokeh this lens produces is nice and creamy, and there are no chromatic aberrations or distortions to worry about.

Autofocus performance is fantastic and the motors are silent. This lens produces very natural colors, wonderful skin tones and it costs under $600. If you shoot with any L mount camera, this is a must-have portrait photography lens.

Sony 85mm F/1.8 (E mount) — This lens makes portrait photography easy

Portrait photographers who use Sony cameras are spoiled for choice regarding affordable 85mm primes. The Sony 85mm f/1.8 FE is a solid option for many reasons. This lens will give you corner-to-corner sharpness with minimal distortions even when wide-open. Being a first-party Sony lens, the autofocus speeds are crazy fast too.

The double linear focus motors allow this lens to take advantage of Sony’s excellent eye tracking. The lens is weather-sealed, and it features a customizable function button. The colors and bokeh rendered are also fantastic! This lens handles magnificently and performs like a lens that costs twice as much. If you want a lightweight first-party 85mm prime lens from Sony to take on your portrait shoots, take a closer look at this lens. It costs under $600.

Brett Day

Read More

4 Reasons Not to Switch Camera Systems

Do you want to switch from Canon to Sony? 

From Sony to Nikon? 

From Nikon to Panasonic? 

From Panasonic to Fujifilm? 

Well, I’m going to ask you to stop, take a deep breath, and consider doing the most boring thing: absolutely nothing. Instead of switching camera brands, you should probably stick with what you have.

Reason #1: Cameras Are Getting Better… and More Similar

Sony’s Eye-AF used to be the only game in town when it came to eye detect autofocus. Then Canon and the other brands caught up.

Feature leads never last because the big boys just keep leapfrogging each other.

Pick any camera class — like high-resolution mirrorless cameras — and you’ll quickly realize that the cameras in that class are more similar than different.

So if your chosen camera system is missing some magic capability, wait about 6 months. Odds are that feature will come to your brand.

Most camera companies (Leica and Fujifilm are the exceptions) seem to design cameras based on feature comparison sheets. The industry is converging towards a future of good-at-everything, do-it-all, but ultimately lookalike cameras. 

Pretty much every model gets every feature, so how does a brand stand out?

And you’ve probably noticed that in just about every camera comparison video, the results look pretty much the same. So why bother switching?

Thankfully, some companies like Canon still stand out in the lens department, but we can’t say that across the board.

Reason #2: You Are Upgrading to a New Set of Problems

That happy, smiley enthusiastic YouTuber just switched from Camera System A to Camera System B, and they’re gushing over all the cool stuff their new camera can do.

Here’s the problem: they did the same thing 2 years ago.

They switch to Camera System B and pretend it’s perfect. Then 2 years down the road, they crap on Camera System B and say Camera System C is perfect.

Well, why didn’t they tell us the negatives about Camera System B when they made that first switch?

Here’s a problem too few camera switchers talk about: whenever you make a big gear switch, you are also upgrading to a new set of problems.

For example, when I switched from Canon DSLRs to Sony mirrorless, I got an electronic viewfinder, in-body image stabilization, and superior video capabilities.

But I also got worse battery life, weaker durability, and inferior ergonomics. The grass is always greener on the other side. But once you get there, you might realize you actually had it pretty good before.

Reason #3: There Are Switching Costs

Switching brands isn’t free. Unless you’re good at wheeling and dealing with used gear, or downsizing your overall setup, odds are you’re going to shell out some cash.

Selling used gear can be a royal pain in the you-know-what. You either pay a pile of cash to eBay and PayPal or roll the dice with characters from Facebook or Craigslist. I don’t know where you’re from, but in New York City, a guy will offer you $200 for your Phase One and act like he’s doing you a favor.

And then there’s time getting to know your new system, which means discovering little annoyances you never expected to deal with. So you lose money and time.

Reason #4: You Could Be in for a Rude Awakening

As you know, a new camera system can introduce more problems than it solves. But there’s another potential area for disappointment: your own skills

You can spend thousands of dollars switching and hours getting to know your new gear… only to find you’re getting the same old pictures. I know I felt that after my switch to Sony.

Yes, I loved the new lenses and the overall look of the images, but I wasn’t any better as a shooter. In fact, I was probably worse because it took me some time to adjust to the new system.

A new system is not a fix-all for your poor skill.

2 Reasons to Switch Camera Systems

So when should someone switch camera systems?

It’s actually pretty simple.

There are pretty much 2 valid reasons to switch:

1. When you want or need a radical change in capabilities

2. Your current system is holding you back in specific, meaningful ways

For example, switching to Leica makes sense if you want a more analog feeling, classic photography experience.

Switching to Fujifilm medium format makes sense if you need massive prints with maximum quality.

Switching to Olympus is probably a good idea if your back is killing you after 20 years of lugging around giant full-frame cameras.

Or maybe your brand doesn’t have the super-telephoto lenses you need for wildlife.

But most of the time, switching from Canon to Sony or Sony to Nikon is pretty much pointless. Because as you know, the cameras really aren’t all that different from each other. And odds are, whatever advantages you gain will be offset by new problems you didn’t see coming.

In a way, I’m writing this to myself because every so often, I think about switching from Sony to Canon or Fujifilm. And I need to remember that I’m going to be the same old photographer.

The Switch I Recommend You Make Right Now…

Instead of spending $3,899 on a new Canon R5, I have a better idea.

For a limited time, I’m offering you a 50% discount on my “Photographer Super Skills” course.

So you’ll pay just $47.50 for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enhance your skills — a way better investment than a $3,899 camera.

Actually, I’m kidding! I’m kidding! This is NOT a product pitch.

But in all seriousness, before you throw your money at new gear, invest in your skills. Improving your lighting or post-processing ability will impact your pictures 10 times more than a new camera. And improvements in skills last forever.

I own some fancy $1,000+ lenses. But none of them made me any better. You know what did change my life? Studying portrait photography books, taking courses, and of course, shooting as much as possible.

Michael Comeau

Read More