To those who are passionate about birds, bird photography is a natural progression. It is not enough just spotting one of the beautiful creatures. Capturing them with your camera and lens is an expression of your fascination. You are inspired by them. That is why it is important to buy the right birding lens for the job.

The right camera, camera accessories, and birding lens will help you capture the bird in various types of situations. Sometimes, you get that rare opportunity to photograph a bird right as it lands. Other times, you want an action shot such as that of a goose taking flight or a hawk swooping in on its prey. Either way, the correct tools will help ensure that you are prepared for any situation.

You need to get close

One of the biggest challenges of bird photography is that you need to get close enough to be able to get a clear shot. If you are too far away, the bird will not have enough clarity and you will not be able to make out the details. Sure, you can always hide and wait for birds to come close to you, that way you will not scare them. You can wait in your house by a window, in your car, or even in a tent. But, sometimes that is not enough.

Purchasing a good birding lens will help out a lot in this situation, especially if it has good zooming capabilities. You want to get close enough so you can make out the bird’s features but not so close that you scare it off. In addition, photographing birds from behind something such as a window in your home or from behind a tree or tent poses some unique photography needs. You need to take all these scenarios when researching your first birding lens because it may affect your purchase.

Don’t make them flee

One of the unique challenges for bird photography is that when they get scared, they immediately take flight and go somewhere else. If you want to take good pictures, you cannot be the one to make them do that. As mentioned above, you can choose something to hide behind, or you can use an effective zoom lens. Other things to do include being cautious in general and make sure you have all the right equipment.

Equipment needed

At its simplest, all you need is a camera to take good pictures. However, since bird photography is specialized and therefore requires specialized equipment. First, you need to make a decision if you want to use digital photography or a regular film camera. If you choose a regular camera, you can either take pictures using prints or slides. You also need to determine which film speed is best for your overall needs. If the speed is too fast, the pictures will lack clarity.

Also, you will need to expand your zoom capabilities. That either means that you will buy a teleconverter to make the focal length longer, or buying a lens specifically devoted for your bird watching. Though a teleconverter may seem like a good idea, it can limit you. Buying a lens is the ideal scenario. You will also need a tripod to help give your shots more focus- relying on your own abilities to keep things steady with your hands may not be a good idea.

What to look for in a lens

There are many qualities to look for in a birding lens. First, finding a lens that has a lot of versatility is a great idea. You want something that will take a great shot zooming from close up or from far away. There are some lenses out there that are good for photographing anything from birds that are almost next to you to spotting a bird at a distance and photographing that. The versatile aspect of some lenses means that the lens will take a great picture in a variety of different scenarios.

You are also looking for a lens that is not only versatile, but that will help produce sharp images. Beware the lens that is only moderately good at a variety of functions, especially if you are a professional photographer. A lot of people end up with more than one lens for different birding situations. But for a first lens, versatility should be your main concern. Just make sure that the lens will still produce high quality lenses despite this.

Types of Photos

There are a wide range of bird photos that you can take, and understanding which situations you will be in can go a long way to helping you decide which birding lens to purchase. There are two different categories for the types of shots you may need to take. These are static pictures, and photos of birds in flight. You will also need to consider which birds you like to photograph, as these may also affect your lens purchase.

Budget Considerations

There are a lot of lenses on the market so there will be something out there that will accommodate your budget. However, some of the more expensive lenses will handle special situations better so if you know you will need a lens for some complicated scenarios, it is best not to skimp.

An inexpensive 18-55 mm lens is a good choice if you know that the birds you will photograph do not move much. This will include taking pictures of pet birds and maybe birds that are at a bird feeder or sitting on a surface. These lenses typically go for around $100.

For a little more than that, you can end up with a pretty good lens with a telephoto zoom. A lot of people consider these a great bargain, but most do not have the right capabilities to accommodate a teleconverter. Canon and Nikon make some pretty decent lenses in this category, such as Canon’s 75-300mm EF. They take a good photo and may be a good choice for a starter lens.

You may be considering a conventional 80-200mm telephoto zoom lens. Though these lenses have their place, they are not really good for photographing birds because they are not versatile and some who use them say the pictures do not seem to come out well. The basic problem is that they are not long enough. The price range for these is somewhere in between $300 and $1000.

Basically, if you can afford it, practical long lenses are amongst the best. Prices for these range from $1100 to $1600. This class of lens is probably one of the best for a first birding lens. This is because they fit the definition of versatility, and they also include a stabilization feature. Check out Nikon’s 80-400mm VR and Canon’s 100-400mm IS. There are also several others in this class that are great.

As you move up in price, the lenses get heavier. When you dip into the $5000 price range and above, it is true that the lenses are top quality. However, they are heavy. The take a great photo, but they may not be practical. The last thing you want to do is hike in the woods with lenses that weight a lot. However, to someone who is passionate, that may be worth it.

So, when finding your first birding lens, remember that there are several great lenses out there. Determine what you will need in a lens and your price range and do enough research that will help you be confident in your purchase.

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