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Why telephoto lenses are great for capturning wildlife
Wildlife photography requires precision, patience, and the right equipment. A high-quality telephoto lens is essential for capturing distant subjects without disturbing them in their natural habitat.
In this guide, we explore the top five telephoto lenses for wildlife photography, compatible with Sony, Nikon, and Canon mirrorless cameras.
What to Consider When Choosing a Telephoto Lens
When selecting a lens for wildlife photography, key factors include:
- Focal Length & Zoom Range – A longer focal length helps capture distant subjects.
- Image Quality & Sharpness – High-quality optics reduce distortion and aberrations.
- Autofocus Speed & Accuracy – Essential for fast-moving wildlife.
- Weight & Portability – Heavier lenses offer more reach but can be difficult to carry.
- Image Stabilization – Reduces blur when shooting handheld.
Since no single lens meets all requirements, choosing the right one often involves balancing these factors.
Best Sony Telephoto Lenses: Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS
For Sony mirrorless cameras, the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS is an excellent choice. This G Master lens delivers exceptional image quality, even at 400mm. Optical SteadyShot (OSS) image stabilization minimizes camera shake, helping to capture sharp shots of fast-moving wildlife.
The lens features a fantastic zoom range and has a weather-sealed construction for durability, especially when shooting in challenging outdoor conditions. It has a fast autofocus system and customizable focus hold buttons to make taking clear imagery much simpler. It has optical image stabilization known as Optical SteadyShot, which is great for reducing camera shake, creating sharper images at long ranges.
However, it has a variable aperture of f4.5-5.6. This isn’t a particularly fast lens, so it is best used in ample lighting conditions.
Key Features:
- Fast autofocus with customizable focus hold buttons.
- Weather-sealed construction for durability in outdoor conditions.
- Sharp image quality across the zoom range.
🔹 Alternative Option: Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS
- Provides a longer focal length (600mm).
- Heavier at 2.1kg compared to the 100-400mm’s 1.39kg.
- The 100-400mm offers sharper images and better autofocus.
Best Nikon Telephoto Lenses: Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
For Nikon mirrorless cameras, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S stands out. With a constant f/2.8 aperture, it excels in low-light conditions, providing a beautiful background blur (bokeh effect).
The lens features VR vibration reduction technology, providing up to 5.5 stops of image stabilization, ensuring sharp photos even when shooting handheld. It weighs around 1.4kg and offers fast and accurate autofocus, a critical feature for capturing fast-moving wildlife, minimal focus breathing, dust and splash protection, and teleconverter compatibility. However, one con of this lens is that its tripod foot is not ARCA compatible.
The lens is considered to be expensive, but many users believe that it’s well worth the outlay due to the stunning image quality, superb handling characteristics, super fast autofocus, and highly effective optical stabilization.
Key Features:
- Vibration Reduction (VR) technology with up to 5.5 stops of stabilization.
- Fast and precise autofocus.
- Weather-sealed for outdoor use.
- Teleconverter compatibility for extended reach.
🔹 Alternative Option: Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR
- Lighter (570g vs. 1.4kg).
- More versatile but not as effective in low-light conditions.
- A good all-in-one lens, but the 70-200mm offers superior optical quality.
🔹 Newer Release: Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
- Released in August 2023.
- Weather-sealed with excellent close-up capabilities.
- Weighs 2kg but remains hand-holdable.
- Some reviews mention slower autofocus and average low-light performance.
- Can be paired with Nikon’s 1.4x converter, extending it to 252-840mm f/9.
Best Canon Telephoto Lenses: Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
For Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras, the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM is a professional-grade telephoto zoom lens.
The lens provides a focal length range of 100-500mm, offering fantastic versatility for shooting subjects at various distances, from close-ups to distant wildlife and action sports. It features optical image stabilization technology, ensuring sharp handheld shots, even at longer focal lengths.
As part of Canon’s L-series, this lens is known for its exceptional optical quality. With advanced elements to minimize chromatic aberrations and deliver sharp, contrast-rich images, the lens is constructed with weather sealing to protect against dust and moisture, making it ideal for challenging outdoor conditions as well. It also features Canon’s ultrasonic motor technology, and that provides fast and quiet autofocus performance.
A lot of users also prefer its customizable control ring which allows you to adjust various settings on the fly quick and smoothly. And at around 1.37kg without its tripod collar, it’s one of the lighter lenses on the list.
But of course, it does come with some drawbacks. The maximum aperture is known to be quite slow and more limited in low-light conditions. The autofocus speed is not as impressive as some others on the market too, especially when paired with the Canon EOS R and EOS RP bodies. And for many people, the main issue is the big price tag, as it’s one of the most expensive lenses on this list
Key Features:
- 100-500mm focal length for versatile shooting.
- Optical image stabilization for sharp handheld shots.
- Weather-sealed L-series construction.
- Fast and quiet autofocus with ultrasonic motor (USM).
- Customizable control ring for on-the-fly adjustments.
- Lightweight for its class at 1.37kg (without tripod collar).
🔹 Downsides:
- Maximum aperture is slower at 500mm.
- Autofocus speed may lag on Canon EOS R and EOS RP bodies.
🔹 Alternative Option: Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
- Adaptable to various camera systems.
- Vibration Compensation (VC) stabilization.
- Zoom lock switch to prevent lens creep.
- Requires an adapter for mirrorless cameras.
Best Budget-Friendly Superzoom Lenses: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
For Canon, Nikon, and Sony DSLR users, the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary offers an impressive zoom range for capturing distant wildlife.
This lens offers a broad zoom range that lets you get extremely close to distant wildlife subjects. The lens includes Sigma’s optical stabilization OSS technology, which helps minimize camera shake effects.
It also has a hypersonic motor HSM for quick and silent autofocus. Definitely a plus for wildlife photography. The lens is constructed with durability in mind and includes water and oil-repellent coatings on the front and rear elements for easy maintenance in the field. Just make sure to use the correct adaptor when pairing with your camera body.
Key Features:
- Optical Stabilization (OS) minimizes shake.
- Hypersonic Motor (HSM) for quiet, quick autofocus.
- Water and oil-resistant coatings for durability.
- Weighs around 1.93kg, making it relatively portable.
🔹 Comparison with Sigma 150-600mm Sports Version:
- The Sports model has better build quality, faster autofocus, and superior stabilization.
- Much heavier (2.9kg vs. 1.93kg).
- The Contemporary version is a more practical choice for most users.
Thanks for reading, I hope this review helped you find the best camera telephoto lenses! If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop, make sure try our Laptop Finder Quiz. Otherwise, check out our similar tech reviews on the links below.
