The key to photographing birds, in addition to a quality SLR camera, is a lens or objective designed explicitly for the conditions in which these shots are taken.
Are you just starting, or are you an expert? I have prepared an analysis of the best objectives to take photos of birds and all those questions to choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
Telephoto lenses for beginner and amateur birds
Next, we will show you three lenses that beginners or amateurs could well use with little experience in bird photography since they do not require a very high investment and offer the possibility of taking perfect shots.
Tamron 18-400mm f / 3.5-6.3 DI II VC HLD
It is known as an ‘ all in 1 ‘ because it allows you to adjust the focal length from 18mm to 400mm, translating into high-quality images. The best thing about this lens is that it has autofocus technology (for professionals, it can be somewhat limited) and adjustable aperture and is resistant to moisture, which is essential when working in high humidity environments.
Panasonic LUMIX G II Vario 100-300 MM
It is a lightweight option for its weight and dimensions, with a great zoom capacity for those who work with a Panasonic Lumix GX85.
It has improved support for adverse weather conditions, mainly for wind. Although image stabilization is not very good, if you need a lens with a high focal length or travel a lot, keep that in mind because it is reasonably priced.
Sigma 100-400mm f / 5-6.3 DG OS HSM
The telephoto lens, combined with a good SLR camera (available for Canon, Nikon, and Sigma), provides excellent versatility when photographing moving birds.
Its features include the focal length, which varies from 100 to 400mm, the built-in autofocus function, and the dust-proof seal.
However, it is somewhat heavy and does not include image stabilization. It is ideal to start to photograph nature or wildlife scenes, both for their quality and price.
Professional telephoto lenses for photographing birds
These models have a higher cost because they are advanced telephoto lenses for experts and professionals. Even with this, you can find cheaper than others; This depends on the quality and benefits they offer.
Canon EF 100-400mm f / 4.5 – 5.6L IS II USM
It is one of the most used lenses by experts and professional bird photographers because it provides excellent versatility and functionality. Its price is high, but the quality of the photos made with it is far superior.
This high-performance lens delivers crystal-clear bird shots with image stabilization, compatible with Canon SLR cameras. It is not suitable for close-ups, but it is ideal for long distances, typical for wildlife photography, and in dusty or rainy conditions.
Sony FE 100-400mm f / 4.5-5.6 GM OSS
If you have a big budget, this goal is for you. Although the focal length does not reach a wide height, the images’ quality cannot be better.
Not surprising because it’s a high-end telephoto lens with premium features capable of overshadowing more expensive options like the more advanced Nikon and Canon models.
Sigma 60-600mm f / 5-6.3 Sport
The Sport version of the Sigma lens is designed for professional photographers who will use it continuously and intensively in adverse environmental conditions.
Therefore, it is a high-end telephoto lens with a high price but very reliable, versatile with its extensive focal range and qualities that make it one of the best today.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200–500mm f / 5.6E ED VR
This telephoto lens is one of the most used by Nikon camera users because it loses some focal range (at short and long distances) compared to the previous model. It gains in maximum aperture, being constant throughout the focal length.
It is suitable for photographs of flights of animals or planes and nature and sports competitions since the lens has a high optical performance with reduction of vibrations. This lens also features ultra-fast and very quiet autofocus.
Superzoom for bird photos
There are many compact cameras with superzoom known as ‘bridge superzoom’ or ‘compact superzoom.’
They are characterized by having a zoom range from 20x, which is very good if we compare it with SLR lenses, which are around 3x or 4x. However, this makes them more limited when lighting conditions are not perfect as the sensor is relatively small and cannot deliver the quality that specific lenses provide.
These cameras are an exciting alternative because they have good optics, focal lengths greater than 600mm, easy to use, light, and very cheap.
We recommend that you take a look at these models.
Key points when choosing a lens for bird photography
There are some issues that your telephoto lens for bird photography should have, here you will know them all :
Fixed focal vs. variable focal
The most common thing in this mode of photography is always to use the highest possible focal length.
In most cases, whether you are a beginner or not, to make a close-up of the bird, you will have to cut the image due to the complexity of approaching these animals at a distance that allows optimal framing.
In any case, it is one of the first characteristics that you have to consider when buying a lens, so we are going to briefly explain which are the two types of lenses that exist:
- Fixed focal length lenses: They offer more freedom in low-light or dark environments because they have a wider aperture and higher optical quality, but on the other hand, you need to be physically close to the bird since they reduce flexibility when framing.
- Lenses with variable focal length: they are the most used in bird photography because they allow the scene to be zoomed in and out without moving, avoiding movements or noises that can make the animal in question frighten.
Large focal length
It is essential to capture these types of images. Still, you have to bear in mind that this characteristic does not imply that the shots are exceptional since, in a good photograph (contest winner, so that we understand each other), other essential issues come into play, such as the knowledge you have about the bird, how to approach it and the environment, among others.
As we mentioned, it is not easy to take a snapshot of a bird in flight from miles away. For this reason, we recommend at least that you choose lenses from 300mm because, although they are not perfect, they are more than enough to start with.
Shutter speed
If you want to get sharp and detailed images, you will need a high-speed shot of at least 1 / 1000s as a minimum because the birds are in continuous movement, even when they are at rest. You can read more about shutter speed in this article and learn how to master it.
Good opening
If the lens has the right aperture, you can reduce the exposure time and therefore the jitter when taking a moving image.
It is not a matter of taking too much into account in the right light conditions, but if the lens you choose does not have a correct aperture, you will have difficulties focusing on automatic mode. However, this depends on other issues, such as the quality of the camera and its sensor.
Image Stabilizer
If you shoot hand-held or without a stable tripod, the Image Stabilizer achieves an additional margin of 2-3 light stops, which can save a photograph of a bird in flight that, without this function, would be blurred. You can always get a tripod with a ball head.
Teleconverters, an exciting accessory
Buying a lens with good aperture values offers an additional advantage that is none other than the use of teleconverters, also known as ‘ multipliers. ‘
This optical element cannot be adapted in all models for physical reasons or compatibility since it is an element that is located between the lens and the camera. Its function is to increase the focal length, although this directly affects the photograph’s overall quality, losing sharpness.
The most common is to find two types :
- 1.4x teleconverters: increase the focal length by 1.4x (thus, the 300mm angle of view becomes 420mm) and decrease the aperture to 1 light step (on an f / 4 lens, this would translate into an aperture of f / 5.6).
- 2x teleconverters: in these cases, the focal length is increased by a factor of 2 (continuing with the example from before, 300mm would become 600mm), and the aperture is reduced by two steps (that is, an f / 4 would become like an f / 8).
Other extra
In addition to the fact that the lens you choose has good optical quality and fast autofocus, it is interesting that it is built with robust materials, but that at the same time does not compromise its dimensions, portability, and use.
Most importantly, a must-have feature for outdoor photography is sealing; This matter will guarantee its use in rain or environments with dust or other particles and its durability.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a telephoto lens
Suppose you have just started in this modality or have only been around for a short time. In that case, you should know that photographing with telephoto lenses is not easy. As you increase the focal length (which in the case of this discipline is usually relatively high), they become evident issues that are not noticeable in short focal lengths.
The focal length is usually increased because the birds are generally very far away. Besides, external factors such as air quality and shake come into play, that is, the camera’s vibration reflected in the photograph as loss of sharpness. Even when the shutter speed is adequate, and a tripod is used.
This translates into first shots that will not have the quality you are looking for, especially at the beginning, not only because of your level of experience and the limitations of the equipment but also because of the environment.
Even with all this, using a specific lens to photograph birds has some benefits, including:
- A reach of the bird at a great distance
- Good image quality in less than optimal light situations
- Fast or automatic focus
- Image stabilization.
As a drawback, only one should be highlighted: the price.
In general, these photography accessories have a high price, but it is justified given their characteristics and qualities. So, let’s see which lenses are the best for photographing birds in value for money according to your experience level.
Conclusion
As you have seen, choosing the right lens for bird photography is essential to get good shots. A good starting point could be one with a focal length of at least 300mm, without forgetting other crucial issues. The lens you acquire is useful and capable of offering you the quality in the images you want.