In case you’re in search of the finest lens for hen images, you’ve come to the precise place.
On this article, you’re going to find one of the best price range hen images lenses available on the market–so that you could work out the right possibility on your wants.
So to decide on the right hen images lens…
…learn on.
Chook Images as a Subset of Wildlife Images
Technically, hen images is wildlife images.
Birds are a kind of wildlife, which implies that all hen photographers are wildlife photographers.
After all, there are different varieties of wildlife photographers (as an illustration, people who {photograph} lions and tigers in Africa).
However for those who’re planning to {photograph} birds, then it pays to start out considering of your self as a wildlife photographer. That approach, you’ll be able to hearken to the recommendation given to wildlife photographers of all stripes.
Make sense?
Chook Images Challenges
Photographing birds comes with some distinctive challenges, together with:
Monitoring Quick-Shifting Topics
Birds are among the quickest creatures on the planet, which implies that you’ll spend a variety 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 all the time be half a second behind along with your pictures–and also you’ll get persistently out-of-focus photographs.
Handholding Large Lenses
If you wish to do hen images, you’re going to wish to get near your topic.
To do that, you’ll want an extended lens (which I focus on in-depth under).
And longer lenses are actually, actually heavy.
Now, some hen photographers use tripods with out exception. However this makes you far much less versatile; in any case, for those who’re all the time carrying a digital camera hooked up to a tripod, you’ll continuously miss pictures since you received’t be capable of get setup in time.
That’s why it is advisable follow handholding massive lenses–so you’ll be able to work out how to do that with out getting blurry pictures, and whereas nonetheless managing to maintain the hen within the body.
Protecting Your Photographs Sharp
Even for those who’re comparatively good at handholding your lens, you’ll nonetheless want to verify your shutter pace is quick sufficient for persistently sharp pictures.
I like to recommend utilizing a shutter pace of not less than 1/1600s (and 1/2000s is safer). That approach, you will get sharp photographs of the fastest-moving birds, regardless of the state of affairs.
What Makes a Good Lens for Chook Images?
While you’re selecting a hen images lens, you must take just a few traits under consideration:
Focal Size
The longer the focal size of a lens, the higher it’s for hen images.
Birds are comparatively small animals, which implies that you received’t be capable of get beautiful, frame-filling pictures except you will get shut–and since birds are additionally very skittish, you’ll have to get shut by means of your lens.
See additionally: Greatest Inexpensive Digital camera for Wildlife Images
That’s why I solely ever advocate utilizing a 400mm lens, at minimal, for hen images. Something shorter received’t get you shut sufficient to get the pictures that you just’re in search of.
Be aware that I’m referring to a 400mm lens mounted on a full-frame digital camera; for those who’re utilizing a crop-sensor digital camera, you will get away with utilizing a shorter lens (however the lens nonetheless should attain 400mm with the crop issue utilized).
Autofocus Velocity
As I discussed above, birds are quick.
Which implies that you want a lens that may observe them as they forage and fly and battle.
Some lenses supply gradual autofocus. This makes for many missed pictures–and also you’ll end up getting very pissed off as you wrestle, time and again, to get sharp photographs of the hen in entrance of you.
See additionally: Animal Images Suggestions
However one of the best lenses for hen images supply lightning-fast autofocus efficiency at each focal size.
Zoom vs Prime
There are two broad varieties of hen images lenses:
Zoom lenses, which supply a variety of focal lengths (reminiscent of 100mm to 400mm).
See additionally: Greatest Wildlife Images Gear
And prime lenses, which supply a single, fastened focal size (reminiscent of 400mm).
Each these varieties of lenses have benefits and drawbacks for hen images. Zooms are usually very handy as a result of you’ll be able to zoom out to {photograph} birds which are nearer to you, after which zoom in to {photograph} extra distant birds.
However primes are usually optically superior, plus they’re so much cheaper.
Whereas it’s doable to get very sharp zoom lenses, they’re going to be costlier than equally succesful prime alternate options.
See additionally: Zoom vs Prime Lenses Defined
Finally, the choice is as much as you.
How A lot Do You Should Spend on a Chook Images Lens?
The extra you spend, the higher the lens you’ll get (typically talking).
That mentioned, there are hen images lenses at each value level:
Entry Degree for Inexperienced persons ($500-$1000)
In case you’re after your first hen images lens, you could possibly get away with spending within the $500-$1000 vary.
For this value, you’ll be capable of get a zoom lens with respectable autofocus capabilities and common sharpness. Chances are you’ll wrestle to discover a lens that reaches out previous 400mm or so, however with a crop-factor digital camera, this ought to be usable.
Price range Degree for Fanatics ($1000-$3000)
In case you’re a extra critical hen photographer, however you’re not planning on going professional anytime quickly, you’re going to wish to seize a hen images lens on this space.
These lenses function glorious autofocus, good optical high quality, and focal lengths reaching out to 500mm and past. They’ll serve you effectively, and also you’ll be capable of get some actually beautiful pictures.
Skilled Degree ($3000+)
In case you’re knowledgeable, then you definately’ll wish to put money into a hen images lens that prices not less than $3000 (and possibly rather more).
Professional-level wildlife images lenses supply lightning-fast autofocus, focal lengths of 500mm, 600mm, and 800mm, and razor-sharp photographs.
Nonetheless, this text received’t focus on any skilled hen images lenses; we can be protecting solely one of the best entry-level and one of the best price range lenses for hen images.
Extending Focal Size With Crop Sensor Cameras
As talked about above, you want a lens with not less than 400mm of efficient focal size if you wish to seize photographs of birds.
See additionally: Wildlife Images 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 novices usually begin out with a crop-sensor digital camera; it will improve your efficient focal size by an element of 1.5, 1.6, and even 2.0 (on cameras with 4 Thirds sensors).
Plus, crop-sensor cameras are usually so much cheaper than their full-frame counterparts, so it’s a win-win!
Greatest Lens for Chook Images for Inexperienced persons
Listed below are one of the best choices for those who’re solely simply getting began in hen images:
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM
Mount: Canon EF Mount
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimal Aperture: f/32-45
Most Aperture: f/4-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Climate sealing: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 3.94′ / 1.2m
Subject of view: 34° to eight°
Weight: 1.6lb / 710g
Dimension: 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 may shoot at 300mm on the lengthy finish, which is sufficient to seize pictures 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 supply the extent of crispness that extra critical hen photographers will choose.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/22
Most Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 5.25′ / 1.6m
Subject of view: 24° to six°
Weight: 2.6lb / 1160g
Dimension: 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), however 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 value, sharpness could be very sturdy, particularly at 400mm.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/22
Most Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 5.25′ / 1.6m
Subject of view: 24° to six°
Weight: 2.6lb / 1160g
Dimension: 3.4 x 7.2″ / 86 x 182 mm
Coming in barely above the worth of the Sigma 100-400mm (above), the Tamron 100-400mm affords equally spectacular efficiency for entry-level hen photographers. You get comparatively quick focusing and good attain, which implies that you’ll be capable of nab high-quality hen pictures with consistency. I barely choose the sharpness on the Sigma, however the Tamron 100-400mm does a satisfying job.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/22-32
Most Aperture: f/4.5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 7
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 3.6′ / 1.1m
Subject of view: 22° to five°
Weight: 1.4lb / 625g
Dimension: 3.0 x 5.6″ / 77 x 142 mm
In case you’re a Sony shooter, your hen images lens choices are fairly restricted. Luckily, Sony does supply this nifty 70-350mm lens, which options glorious sharpness and quick autofocus. Be aware that that is an ‘E’ lens, which solely works on Sony APS-C cameras (however, with an extended finish at 350mm, you received’t wish to use this on a full-frame digital camera anyway).
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/22
Most Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 9.2′ / 2.8m
Subject of view: 16° to 4°
Weight: 4lb / 1830g
Dimension: 4.1 x 10.2″ / 105 x 260 mm
In a variety of methods, the Sigma 150-600mm is the last word lens for entry-level hen photographers. It’s not the sharpest possibility on the market, however 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, due to the broad zoom vary, you’ll additionally be capable of {photograph} bigger, extra approachable birds with ease. At lower than $1000, this lens is an absolute steal.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value for the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Greatest Price range Lens for Chook Images Fanatics
In case you’re a extra critical hen photographer, you’ll wish to buy one in every of these choices:
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II
Mount: Canon EF
Filter Diameter: 77mm
Minimal Aperture: f/32-38
Most Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 3.2′ / 98cm
Subject of view: 24° to 7°
Weight: 3.6lb / 1640g
Dimension: 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 unbelievable sharpness throughout the board. Sadly, this lens does value over $2000, however for the efficiency, it’s price it. As with the opposite 400mm lenses on this record, you’ll wish to work with a crop-sensor digital camera, assuming you’re capturing smaller birds.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/32-40
Most Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 5.7′ / 1.75m
Subject of view: 31° to 7°
Weight: 3.6lb / 1640g
Dimension: 3.5 x 8″ / 96 x 203 mm
The Nikon 80-400mm is a superzoom that may seize practically something, together with beautiful hen pictures. Whereas I’d nonetheless advocate you employ this with an APS-C digital camera, 400mm goes to get you sufficient attain for frame-filling hen photographs, 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 opponents, however it affords comparatively crisp photographs, and can be sufficient to fulfill much more critical hen snappers.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/32-40
Most Aperture: f/4.5-5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 3.2′ / 1m
Subject of view: 24° to 7°
Weight: 40oz / 1395g
Dimension: 3.7 x 8″ / 94 x 205 mm
In case you’re a Sony photographer and you’ll afford it, the Sony 100-400mm is a incredible hen images possibility. Certain, it’s extraordinarily expensive, however it affords spectacularly sharp photographs 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.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/32-40
Most Aperture: f/5-6.3
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 7.2′ / 2.2m
Subject of view: 17° to 4°
Weight: 4.4lb / 2010g
Dimension: 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 may count on, sharpness is nice, even on the lengthy finish, leading to detailed pictures of birds, in addition to expanded cropping choices. Autofocusing is decently quick, making for a very good capturing expertise, although you’ll should be ready to cope with a comparatively heavy, massive lens.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value 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
Minimal Aperture: f/32
Most Aperture: f/5.6
Aperture Blades: 9
Auto Focus: Sure
Stabilization: Sure
Minimal Focusing Distance: 7.2′ / 2.2m
Subject of view: 12° to five°
Weight: 5.1lb / 2300g
Dimension: 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 capturing small birds. You additionally get quick focusing plus sharp photographs stretching from 200mm all the way in which to 500mm, and never for an exorbitant value, both; the 200-500mm clocks in at underneath $1500. The largest disadvantage is the lens’s measurement, although Nikon does add picture stabilization to make handholding simpler.
Examine Purchaser Opinions & Value for the Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E VR
Conclusion
Now that you just’ve completed this text, it’s best to know all about one of the best lenses for hen images–and which lens is finest on your wants.
See additionally: Tutorials for Wildlife Images for Inexperienced persons
So go forward and seize your self a hen images lens.
And begin taking beautiful hen photographs, instantly!
