If you’re searching for the finest lens for hen pictures, you’ve come to the correct place.
In this text, you’re going to find the most effective funds hen pictures lenses in the marketplace–in an effort to work out the right choice to your wants.
So to decide on the right hen pictures lens…
…learn on.
Bird Photography as a Subset of Wildlife Photography
Technically, hen pictures is wildlife pictures.
Birds are a sort of wildlife, which signifies that all hen photographers are wildlife photographers.
Of course, there are different kinds of wildlife photographers (as an illustration, those who {photograph} lions and tigers in Africa).
But should you’re planning to {photograph} birds, then it pays to begin pondering of your self as a wildlife photographer. That approach, you possibly can take heed to the recommendation given to wildlife photographers of all stripes.
Make sense?
Bird Photography Challenges
Photographing birds comes with some distinctive challenges, together with:
Tracking Fast-Moving Subjects
Birds are among the quickest creatures on the planet, which signifies that you’ll spend plenty of time making an attempt to trace them as they transfer round.
This requires a fast-focusing digital camera and a fast-focusing lens; in any other case, you’ll at all times be half a second behind together with your images–and also you’ll get persistently out-of-focus photos.
Handholding Giant Lenses
If you need to do hen pictures, you’re going to wish to get near your topic.
To do that, you’ll want a protracted lens (which I focus on in-depth beneath).
And longer lenses are actually, actually heavy.
Now, some hen photographers use tripods with out exception. But this makes you far much less versatile; in spite of everything, should you’re at all times carrying a digital camera hooked up to a tripod, you’ll steadily miss photographs since you gained’t have the ability to get setup in time.
That’s why you must observe handholding massive lenses–so you possibly can work out how to do that with out getting blurry images, and whereas nonetheless managing to maintain the hen within the body.
Keeping Your Images Sharp
Even should you’re comparatively good at handholding your lens, you’ll nonetheless want to ensure your shutter pace is quick sufficient for persistently sharp photographs.
I like to recommend utilizing a shutter pace of no less than 1/1600s (and 1/2000s is safer). That approach, you may get sharp photos of the fastest-moving birds, regardless of the scenario.
What Makes a Good Lens for Bird Photography?
When you’re selecting a hen pictures lens, it’s important to take a couple of traits into consideration:
Focal Length
The longer the focal size of a lens, the higher it’s for hen pictures.
Birds are comparatively small animals, which signifies that you gained’t have the ability to get beautiful, frame-filling photographs except you may get shut–and since birds are additionally very skittish, you’ll must get shut by means of your lens.
See additionally: Best Affordable Camera for Wildlife Photography
That’s why I solely ever suggest utilizing a 400mm lens, at minimal, for hen pictures. Anything shorter gained’t get you shut sufficient to get the photographs that you just’re searching for.
Note that I’m referring to a 400mm lens mounted on a full-frame digital camera; should you’re utilizing a crop-sensor digital camera, you may get away with utilizing a shorter lens (however the lens nonetheless should attain 400mm with the crop issue utilized).
Autofocus Speed
As I discussed above, birds are quick.
Which signifies that you want a lens that may observe them as they forage and fly and battle.
Some lenses provide gradual autofocus. This makes for many missed photographs–and also you’ll end up getting very pissed off as you wrestle, time and again, to get sharp photos of the hen in entrance of you.
See additionally: Animal Photography Tips
But the most effective lenses for hen pictures provide lightning-fast autofocus efficiency at each focal size.
Zoom vs Prime
There are two broad kinds of hen pictures lenses:
Zoom lenses, which supply a variety of focal lengths (similar to 100mm to 400mm).
See additionally: Best Wildlife Photography Equipment
And prime lenses, which supply a single, fastened focal size (similar to 400mm).
Both these kinds of lenses have benefits and drawbacks for hen pictures. Zooms are typically very handy as a result of you possibly can zoom out to {photograph} birds which can be nearer to you, after which zoom in to {photograph} extra distant birds.
But primes are typically optically superior, plus they’re so much cheaper.
While it’s doable to get very sharp zoom lenses, they’re going to be dearer than equally succesful prime options.
See additionally: Zoom vs Prime Lenses Explained
Ultimately, the choice is as much as you.
How Much Do You Have to Spend on a Bird Photography Lens?
The extra you spend, the higher the lens you’ll get (typically talking).
That mentioned, there are hen pictures lenses at each worth level:
Entry Level for Beginners ($500-$1000)
If you’re after your first hen pictures lens, you could possibly get away with spending within the $500-$1000 vary.
For this worth, you’ll have the ability to get a zoom lens with respectable autofocus capabilities and common sharpness. You might wrestle to discover a lens that reaches out previous 400mm or so, however with a crop-factor digital camera, this ought to be usable.
Budget Level for Enthusiasts ($1000-$3000)
If you’re a extra critical hen photographer, however you’re not planning on going professional anytime quickly, you’re going to need to seize a hen pictures lens on this space.
These lenses characteristic glorious autofocus, good optical high quality, and focal lengths reaching out to 500mm and past. They’ll serve you properly, and also you’ll have the ability to get some actually beautiful photographs.
Professional Level ($3000+)
If you’re an expert, you then’ll need to put money into a hen pictures lens that prices no less than $3000 (and possibly way more).
Pro-level wildlife pictures lenses provide lightning-fast autofocus, focal lengths of 500mm, 600mm, and 800mm, and razor-sharp photos.
However, this text gained’t focus on any skilled hen pictures lenses; we will likely be protecting solely the most effective entry-level and the most effective funds lenses for hen pictures.
Extending Focal Length With Crop Sensor Cameras
As talked about above, you want a lens with no less than 400mm of efficient focal size if you wish to seize photos of birds.
See additionally: Wildlife Photography Settings
And if you wish to purchase a lens within the “entry-level” class, you’re going to wrestle to search out lenses that provide a local focal size of 400mm or extra.
That’s why I like to recommend learners typically begin out with a crop-sensor digital camera; this may enhance your efficient focal size by an element of 1.5, 1.6, and even 2.0 (on cameras with Four Thirds sensors).
Plus, crop-sensor cameras are typically so much cheaper than their full-frame counterparts, so it’s a win-win!
Best Lens for Bird Photography for Beginners
Here are the most effective choices should you’re solely simply getting began in hen pictures:
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
Mount: Canon EF Mount
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Aperture: f/32-45
Maximum Aperture: f/4-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Weather sealing: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 3.94′ / 1.2m
Field of view: 34° to eight°
Weight: 1.6lb / 710g
Size: 3.2 x 5.7″ / 80 x 146 mm
The Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is about as fundamental because it will get. You can shoot at 300mm on the lengthy finish, which is sufficient to seize images of some birds, however solely with a crop sensor digital camera. Autofocus speeds are respectable, however will probably be a bit too gradual for monitoring birds in flight, whereas optics are respectable however don’t provide the extent of crispness that extra critical hen photographers will want.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 (for Canon or Nikon)
Mount: Canon EF, Nikon FX
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 5.25′ / 1.6m
Field of view: 24° to six°
Weight: 2.6lb / 1160g
Size: 3.4 x 7.2″ / 86 x 182 mm
The Sigma 100-400mm isn’t the most cost effective lens on this part (it prices round $700), nevertheless it’s a powerful all-around performer. You get a pleasant set of focal lengths, particularly on Canon or Nikon APS-C cameras, in addition to quick focusing for birds on the transfer. And for that worth, sharpness may be very sturdy, particularly at 400mm.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3
Tamron 100-400 f/4.5-6.3 (for Canon or Nikon)
Mount: Canon EF, Nikon FX
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 5.25′ / 1.6m
Field of view: 24° to six°
Weight: 2.6lb / 1160g
Size: 3.4 x 7.2″ / 86 x 182 mm
Coming in barely above the value of the Sigma 100-400mm (above), the Tamron 100-400mm gives equally spectacular efficiency for entry-level hen photographers. You get comparatively quick focusing and good attain, which signifies that you’ll have the ability to nab high-quality hen images with consistency. I barely want the sharpness on the Sigma, however the Tamron 100-400mm does a satisfying job.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3
Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3
Mount: Sony E-Mount
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Aperture: f/22-32
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 7
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 3.6′ / 1.1m
Field of view: 22° to five°
Weight: 1.4lb / 625g
Size: 3.0 x 5.6″ / 77 x 142 mm
If you’re a Sony shooter, your hen pictures lens choices are fairly restricted. Fortunately, Sony does provide this nifty 70-350mm lens, which options glorious sharpness and quick autofocus. Note that that is an ‘E’ lens, which solely works on Sony APS-C cameras (however, with a protracted finish at 350mm, you gained’t need to use this on a full-frame digital camera anyway).
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Sony E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM (for Canon or Nikon)
Mount: Canon EF, Nikon FX
Filter Diameter: 95mm
Minimum Aperture: f/22
Maximum Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 9.2′ / 2.8m
Field of view: 16° to 4°
Weight: 4lb / 1830g
Size: 4.1 x 10.2″ / 105 x 260 mm
In plenty of methods, the Sigma 150-600mm is the last word lens for entry-level hen photographers. It’s not the sharpest choice on the market, nevertheless it’ll get you 600mm of attain, which interprets to a whopping 900mm on Nikon APS-C cameras (960mm on Canon APS-C cameras). And, because of the broad zoom vary, you’ll additionally have the ability to {photograph} bigger, extra approachable birds with ease. At lower than $1000, this lens is an absolute steal.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Best Budget Lens for Bird Photography Enthusiasts
If you’re a extra critical hen photographer, you’ll need to buy one in all these choices:
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II
Mount: Canon EF
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Minimum Aperture: f/32-38
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 3.2′ / 98cm
Field of view: 24° to 7°
Weight: 3.6lb / 1640g
Size: 3.7 x 7.6″ / 94 x 193 mm
The unique Canon 100-400mm was a powerhouse of a lens–and the Canon 100-400mm II kicks it up one other notch, providing glorious autofocus and unimaginable sharpness throughout the board. Unfortunately, this lens does price over $2000, however for the efficiency, it’s value it. As with the opposite 400mm lenses on this checklist, you’ll need to work with a crop-sensor digital camera, assuming you’re taking pictures smaller birds.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II
Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G VR
Mount: Nikon FX
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Minimum Aperture: f/32-40
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 5.7′ / 1.75m
Field of view: 31° to 7°
Weight: 3.6lb / 1640g
Size: 3.5 x 8″ / 96 x 203 mm
The Nikon 80-400mm is a superzoom that may seize practically something, together with beautiful hen images. While I’d nonetheless suggest you utilize this with an APS-C digital camera, 400mm goes to get you sufficient attain for frame-filling hen photos, and the 80-400mm focuses quick sufficient to make sure you’re well-equipped to deal with motion. On the 400mm finish, this lens isn’t fairly as sharp as a few of its rivals, nevertheless it gives comparatively crisp photos, and will likely be sufficient to fulfill much more critical hen snappers.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6
Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 OSS
Mount: Sony E
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Minimum Aperture: f/32-40
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 3.2′ / 1m
Field of view: 24° to 7°
Weight: 40oz / 1395g
Size: 3.7 x 8″ / 94 x 205 mm
If you’re a Sony photographer and you may afford it, the Sony 100-400mm is a incredible hen pictures choice. Sure, it’s extraordinarily expensive, nevertheless it gives spectacularly sharp photos at each focal size, to not point out quick focusing for monitoring birds in flight. You additionally get picture stabilization, which is simply icing on the cake.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 OSS
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 (for Canon or Nikon)
Mount: Canon EF, Nikon FX
Filter Diameter: 95mm
Minimum Aperture: f/32-40
Maximum Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 7.2′ / 2.2m
Field of view: 17° to 4°
Weight: 4.4lb / 2010g
Size: 4.3 x 10″ / 108 x 260 mm
The Tamron 150-600mm prices noticeably greater than the 150-600mm Sigma, although at lower than $1500, it’s nonetheless positioned on the cheaper aspect of the market. As you would possibly count on, sharpness is nice, even on the lengthy finish, leading to detailed photographs of birds, in addition to expanded cropping choices. Autofocusing is decently quick, making for taking pictures expertise, although you’ll have to be ready to take care of a comparatively heavy, massive lens.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 OSS
Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E VR
Mount: Nikon FX
Filter Diameter: 95mm
Minimum Aperture: f/32
Maximum Aperture: f/5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Yes
Stabilization: Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance: 7.2′ / 2.2m
Field of view: 12° to five°
Weight: 5.1lb / 2300g
Size: 4.3 x 10.5″ / 108 x 268 mm
The Nikon 200-500mm options so much to be impressed by–you get 500mm of attain on the lengthy finish, which is true within the candy spot for taking pictures small birds. You additionally get quick focusing plus sharp photos stretching from 200mm all the best way to 500mm, and never for an exorbitant worth, both; the 200-500mm clocks in at below $1500. The greatest disadvantage is the lens’s dimension, although Nikon does add picture stabilization to make handholding simpler.
Check Buyer Reviews & Price for the Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E VR
Conclusion
Now that you just’ve completed this text, it is best to know all about the most effective lenses for hen pictures–and which lens is finest to your wants.
See additionally: Tutorials for Wildlife Photography for Beginners
So go forward and seize your self a hen pictures lens.
And begin taking beautiful hen photos, instantly!