As a nature photographer, lenses are my favorite piece of equipment to use. It is probably no surprise to find out that they are also my favorite topic to talk about. Whether you’re a nature photographer or not, it is worth it to pay attention to your lenses. There is no question that you can get excellent results with a camera, but unless you have a really good lens, you won’t get the results you want.
With this in mind, we suggest you pick up a tripod and have a look at some of the best lenses for nature photographers.
• Nikon 14-24 mm f/2.8G ED
I’ve had three Canon EF lenses over the years. Two EF primes: the 18-55 and the 80-200 f/4L, and a 40 mm f/2.8. Then I upgraded to the 50 mm f/1.8. These lenses are all superb, but for some reason, I just never had the urge for the faster, longer lenses. But, I had to have it when I saw the Nikon 14-24 mm f/2.8G ED. Why? I’ve always been interested in wide angle photography, and in the past, I had been using my Canon 16-35 mm f/4L and 70-200 mm f/2.8. Both are superb lenses, but there’s
• Sony FE 16-35 mm f/2.8 GM
Although the Sony FE 16-35 mm f/2.8 GM is a nifty lens, it isn’t for everyone: it’s expensive, heavy, and slow to focus. So, what should you use the Sony FE 16-35 mm f/2.8 GM for? And is it really any good for landscape photography? Well, we found out in our tests that it’s a really good lens/.
• Tamron SP 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
As with many other lenses, the SP 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD has a very specific purpose, and it’s not to take a lot of everyday pictures. The SP 70-200 mm f/2.8 is designed for nature photographers who need to get up close and personal with their subjects. It’s a good choice for those who want to take shots of flowers, animals, and close-ups of people. Tamron SP 70-200 mm f/2.8 Di VC USD is the 2nd fastest telephoto lens that can be used on full-frame cameras. It is a sturdy, solid, and compact lens that has a lot of power packed into a small package. It is best used with full frame or APS-C cameras, the combination of which gives you the best overall picture quality.
• Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 GM OSS
Aside from their image quality, another main reason the Sony FE 70-200 mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens is a great choice for nature and wildlife photography is its size. With a diameter of only 78 mm, the lens is fairly compact. In addition, it features a fast, silent autofocus motor that can track subjects in both stills and videos. A large number of the best lenses for nature photographers are zoom lenses. There’s nothing worse than being out looking for wildlife and not being able to zoom in to take a close-up shot. But, having the right lens is one thing. Having the right technique to take a good photo is a whole other thing.
• Nikon 70-200 mm f/2.8G ED VR II
These lenses provide a super sharp and clear image. It’s an ultra-telephoto lens for digital SLR cameras. It’s a combination of quality and performance. It’s a very amazing lens. For the past 6 years, I’ve been using the Nikon D300S, which is a great camera but clunky, heavy, and a bit dated. So, when Nikon announced the D500, I was extremely excited to see what they had cooked up. Unfortunately, the D500 is not much different from the D300S, which is why I continue to reach for the D300S instead. I’m perfectly happy with my D300S, but the D500 is just that bit better. Nikon glass is world-renowned for its high-quality optics and sturdy build, especially for the higher-end models. This is mostly due to the production and testing routine the company follows. To put the idea into practice, only the most promising and tested products are selected for mass production and launch in the market.
• Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
When we think of a prime lens, we often think of a relatively fast lens that focuses from far away, but it can also be a great all-around lens that can be used for portraits, landscape, wildlife, sports, and so forth. The Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens is a good example of a lens that can handle a broad range of subjects. The telephoto lens has a moderate maximum aperture of f/5.6, which allows for a modest background blur when shooting at 300 mm and allows for a high level of subject isolation when shooting from a distance. If you want a lens that can handle a range of subjects, then the Canon EF 70-300 mm.