Other features: Internal focusing, weatherproof construction. Sigma 300mm f/2/8 APO EX DG HSM Auto Focus: This superb lens has apochromatic color correction and uses 2 ELD glass elements to deliver crisp, high contrast images even wide open and has a new multi-layer coating to minimize ghosting and flare. The Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens is a fantastic fixed aperture lens on the shorter telephoto focal length range that offers consistent and accurate performance for a wide variety of photographic situations. Ive had great experiences with Tamron recently. Panasonic Lumix Leica Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3: This new compact long telephoto zoom for Micro Four Thirds cameras is splash and dustproof, features Power Optical Image Stabilization, and delivers an equivalent focal-length range of 200-800mm. Pentax DA 560mm f/5.6 ED HD AW: This excellent super telephoto employs a telescope-type optical design with 2 extra ED glass elements to achieve bright, hi-res images with minimal chromatic aberration. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens. ratio at 200mm) this fine performing fast, lightweight, telephoto zoom also has a an AF/MF switchover mechanism for easy manual focusing, and a conveniently removable lightweight tripod mounting platform. Rest assured these folks know wheat theyre doing, because these lenses represent a long-term investment in excellence that lets them consistently capture sports images of the highest caliber. I have a Nikkor 70-200, but would love something to be able to get tighter shots and still have good low-light function. Approx. Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM AF: This second generation upgrade of Sigmas acclaimed fast telephoto zoom incorporates Sigmas advanced anti-shake system (OS), 2 FLD and three SLD glass elements for optimum image quality and color correction, anytime manual focus, a minimum focusing distance of 55.1 inches (1:8 max. Whereas a zoom lens provides a range of focal lengths simply by twisting the lens barrel. Its Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) provides fast, silent AF, and matched 1.4X and 2X converters enable focal lengths and maximum apertures of 420mm f/4 and 600mm f/5.6 respectively. Adorama price: . Need help choosing the best Nikon telephoto lens? Professional photographers that specialize in covering sports are particularly demanding when it comes to choosing lenses. Any of the lenses listed in this post can be used without a tripod, as long as youre using a fast enough shutter speed to compensate for any shaking. Generally speaking, telephoto lenses are those with focal lengths greater than 80 millimeters which create a more narrow depth of view. And Nikons superb Vibration Reduction technology allows handheld photography with 4 stops of blur-free shooting. The SWM is very fast and the Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element captures images with virtually no ghosting or chromatic aberration. Adorama price: , in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, or Sony mount. Adorama price: in Nikon, Canon, and Sony mounts. Read our story. Mount type: Nikon f bayonet, Minimum focusing distance : 280 cm/110.2 inches, focal length :150-600mm. Copyright Schubert Photography | All Rights Reserved |, Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR Zoom Lens, Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC All-in-One Zoom, Nikon 300mm f/4E PF VR AF-S ED-IF Telephoto Nikkor Lens, Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Zoom Lens, Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens, Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens, Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element captures images with virtually no ghosting or, Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens, Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD, Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR, Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras, Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, Sigma 70-200mmF/2.8 DG OS HSM for Nikon F, Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD for Nikon DSLR Cameras (Tamron 6 Year Limited USA Warranty), Nikons signature Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization technology, Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras, Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC All-in-One Zoom for Nikon APS-C Digital SLR, Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras, Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras, Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens for Nikon, https://www.schubertphotography.com/best-wide-angle-lens-for-nikon-d7000/#astrophotography, https://jimschubert.smugmug.com/Galleries/Alaska/i-DdWMWvq/, Angle of view from 76 degree to 5 degree 20'. This fixed aperture lens is perfect for detailed portrait shots. Adorama price: in Pentax KAF 3 mount. Filter-attachment size is 67 millimeter (p=0.75 millimeter), Virtually no chromatic aberration or ghosting, VR modes specifically designed for Sports & Action and tripod shooting, Fluorine coating on the front lens element effectively repels dust, water, grease or dirt, Compact super telephoto zoom lens for birding, wildlife, motorsports, events and more, 500 millimeter of zoom power on fx format DSLR; 750 millimeter equivalent on dx format DSLRs, minimum focus distance: 7.2 feet ( 2.2 meter), focal length range: 200 500 millimeter, Fast f/5.6 constant aperture for beautiful out of focus backgrounds and low light performance, 4.5 stops of vibration reduction with sports mode. Sign up for emails with all the latest in photography, awesome tips, and world class advice. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR: One of our highest rated lenses, this Nikon classic fast telephoto zoom is weather-resistant, and also lighter than its predessors allowing the sports photographer to perform with agility and shoot in a range of environments. Super Telephoto Lens The longest and heaviest of lenses, these are usually 300 mm or longer. However, at indoor venues the light level is often lower, which requires shooting at wide apertures, since using flash may not be an option. Now that weve shared our best telephoto lens for Nikon list, wed love to know which telephoto lens is your favorite. It has a minimum focus distance of 7.2 feet ( 2.2 meter). Full frame or cropped? Sony 300mm f/2.8 GII-Series: This outstanding lens employs 3 ED glass elements to achieve excellent color correction, has a built-in Super Sonic Wave Motor (SSM) that provides high torque at low speeds for quick, quiet AF, and features an internal focusing (IF) design to enhance balance and handling. All around, the Nikon AF-P DX Nikkor 70-300 mm f/4.5-6.3 ED VR is a great telephoto lens for those on a budget. Any suggestions? If cropped, you could go with the Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 Contemporary DG OS HSM Lens. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens: This is a special ultra-high-performance telephoto zoom lens designed specifically for demanding sports photographers. mag. Add a matched 1.4X or 2X Apo Tele Converter to make it a 420-1120mm f/8 or a 600-1600mm f/11 MF lens respectively! So you can get away without having to use a tripod if youve dialed in your camera settings to match your particular circumstances. Lightweight & compact in construction for higher usability.SIGMA TELE CONVERTER TC-1401 and TC-2001 are dedicated to Tele Converter lenses, which should be used with only listed lenses.The converter cannot be attached to the camera and lens whose mount is different.Do not use the SIGMA TELE CONVERTER on top of another SIGMA TELE CONVERTER, or any other kinds of converters. Warning: This lens is not compatible with the Nikon 1 FT1 adapter and the firmware 1.1! How To Choose The Best Nikon Telephoto Lens. The better the quality glass, the sharper your image will typically be. It is designed for cropped sensor dslr cameras. A range of zoom from 18 300 mm offers wildlife photographers the flexibility of being able to shoot subjects from near to far. mag. Water and oil repellent coating on front glass element makes maintenance of the lens surface easier, nature and landscape photography (capturing waves and the moon), portrait photography (in order to create a more blurred background). Put it all together and you can see why fast pro-caliber telephoto zooms and prime lenses favored by top sports photographers are often more expensive than the full-frame pro-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras theyre mounted on. The Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC All-in-One Zoom gives photographers a wide range of focal length for a variety of shooting situations at a very attractive price.

This guide will walk you through the best telephotos lenses on the market to help you take amazing wildlife, sports and landscape photography. Copyright Adorama Camera, Inc. All rights reserved. Last update on 2022-07-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API, What lens do you recommend for night photography for a Nikon d3500, Hey Kirsten. Finally, while panning the camera may be an effective technique when shooting horse or motor racing where the action moves straight across the frame, the vast majority of memorable sports images are tack sharp. Hey Jim, I have a D5600 and I want to get a telephoto lens for wildlife photography, but one that I can get away with not having to lug around a tripod hopefully. Short telephoto lenses are often lighter and easier to carry around all day. Prime telephoto lenses typically offer a faster, and this wider aperture lets in more light. The 70 300 mm focal range offers photographers versatility when shooting subjects near and far. Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG UF APO HSM AutoFocus: Affectionately known as the Sigmonster, this amazing lens employs 2 ELD glass elements to minimize chromatic aberrations and ensure sharp, hi-res images, and features am HSM motor, for fast, precise AF with full-time manual override, and has internal focusing and zooming to enhance handling. Adorama price: with Pro Accessory Bundle Kit. Check out these outstanding high-performance alternatives on the Adorama website: Get to know us. Designed for cropped sensor cameras, it has an angle of view from 76 degrees to 5 degrees and a minimum focal distance of 1.6 feet. This makes getting the perfect composition a lot easier. That requires lenses that deliver superb image quality even at their widest apertures. It has a rounded 9-blade diaphragm to enhance bokeh, an in-barrel DC motor ensuring smooth, precise AF, a built-in removable circular polarizing filter, and weatherproof construction. This Nikon super telephoto lens is built on an FX format and provides you with a maximum 500 mm focal distance on full frame cameras and a whopping 750 mm equivalent on DX cameras. Hope this helps! The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD is a very portable and versatile telephoto lens thats ideal for sports photography. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM AF: An upgraded version of Canons outstanding original, it incorporates 1 Fluorite and 5 UD elements, provides faster, more decisive AF performance, a next-generation optical stabilizer (IS II) giving 4 stops of anti-shake, a closer minimum focus distance (3.9 feet) at all focal lengths, and enhanced optical performance, especially at the widest apertures. The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR Zoom Lens offers superb clarity and versatility in one heck of a telephoto lens. 105-450Mm (35mm equivalent) Aperture range: f/45-63 to F/32, Nikon VR image stabilization. It has a minimum focus range of 0.8 meters and contains Nikons Silent Wave Motor technology to keep your focusing action quiet. This lens achieves 10.2 inches (280 cm) minimum focusing distance and is dust proof and splash proof for rugged photography adventures. Adorama price: with free Sigma USB Dock, in Nikon, Canon, and Sigma mounts. New USD (Ultra Silent Drive) motor for fast and quiet AF, VC anti-shake mechanism for steady shooting, Dual format Di design for use on fullframe and smaller sensor cameras, VC (Vibration Compensation) , Angle of View diagonal 1625' - 48' for full-frame format 1038' - 240' for APS-C format, Minimum Focus Distance of 2.7m (106.3in), Focal Length : 150-600mm, USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive), New eBAND (Extended Bandwidth & Angular-Dependency) Coating, Advanced Optical Technology.Max. Other features: 2 Direct Manual Focus (DMF) modes, 4 focus hold buttons, an electronic focus range selector, and a lightweight magnesium barrel. The lenses listed above have excellent quality glass, so you can feel confident choosing a telephoto lens from this selection. Zoom lenses, on the other hand, are perfect for capturing wildlife and fast moving sports where its important to quickly change your perspective by zooming instead of moving your feet. Adorama price: in Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts. Unlike a wide angle lens, a telephoto lens brings subjects that are far away and makes them appear closer. Magnification Ratio:1:5, F-mount lens/DX formatfilter-attachment size: 58mm, (p = 075 mm) Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 0.22x. Youll love this lens especially for the razor sharp images youll capture with it. I took a river rafting trip in Alaska a couple of years ago and took this photo while floating in a very bumpy raft (https://jimschubert.smugmug.com/Galleries/Alaska/i-DdWMWvq/) with a Tamron 150 600 mm at a 420mm focal length. Whether you choose a prime telephoto lens or a zoom lens, youll still need to decide which focal length suits your needs best. Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Hi LD (IF) Macro: With a versatile minimum focus distance of 37.4 inches over its entire zoom range (and a macro 1:3.1 mag. A prime (fixed) lens has one focal length. The Nikon 300mm f/4E PF VR AF-S ED-IF Lens is a very lightweight and versatile fixed telephoto lens in the longer focal length category. This budget telephoto lens also uses a pulse motor to help you focus very fast and nearly silently. This lens is designed for full frame cameras but will work fine on cropped sensor cameras, too. They offer a much higher magnification, making far away subjects like wildlife or sports car racing seem like they are right in front of you.

ratio) and a 9-bladed diaphragm for beautiful bokeh.

It also incorporates Tamrons VC (vibration compensation) system to minimize shake effects, and a USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) motor for swift, responsive, quiet AF. These lenses are heavy, more expensive and they usually capture the sharpest images when mounted on a tripod. Approx. Sports mode will give you 4 stops of vibration reduction, allowing you to capture tack sharp photos even while your subject is moving at high speeds. What would you recommend? Theyre great for wildlife photography and action sports where the subject is a little further away. The reason I was able to get such a clear crisp shot of the eagle was because I increased my ISO to 500 and used a 1/1250 s shutter speed to compensate for the moving raft and bumpy ride. Heres a brief rundown on a bakers dozen of great optical options for shooting sports. Access Lens settings in camera menu, The number of cameras Compatible with both lenses is limited even for compatible cameras, firmware update may be required* Fully compatible Models: D7500, D5600, D5500, D5300*, D3400, D3300*, D500 and later models, Compatible Models with limited functions: D5, D810 series, DF, D750, D7200, D7100, D5200, Nikon 1 Series with the ft1, Incompatible models: D4 series, D3 series, D2 series, D1 series, D800 series, D700, D610, D600, D300 series, D200, D100, D7000, D5100, D5000, D90, D80, D70 series, D3200, D3100, D3000, D60, D50, D40 series, film cameras, Faster, quieter and more precise autofocus, Maximum diameter: 75mm.Designed exclusively for APS-C DSLR cameras, VC (Vibration Compensation) for sharp handheld shooting, Internal focus, focal length: 85 millimeter, minimum focus range: 0.80 meter, Silent wave motor (SWM). That eagle was also about 30 yards away from me when I took the photo. Medium Telephoto Lens These lenses are typically 135 mm to 300 mm in focal length. The Vibration Compensation (VC) mechanism helps capture sharp images of fast moving subjects from far away, even handheld. Not sure which one has faster shutter speed, but I think you cant go wrong with either one. Its perfect for photographing wildlife or sports events and even portraits. Images that showcase the magic moments of sports like football, baseball, and soccer are often shot with long, wide-aperture telephoto lenses that have sufficient reach to capture close-up vignettes of distant action, and highlight the most significant aspects of a given play by softening the background. Ive personally taken thousands of photos with this lens in Alaska, capturing bald eagles, seals and other wildlife, as well as horseback riding competitions in Georgia. Adorama price: with kit in Nikon F and Sony Alpha mount. High-speed normal zooms and moderate telephoto lenses are popular options among top pros that specialize in shooting sports indoors and at closer distances. The Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR offers a solid performance telephoto lens at a very reasonable price. Short Telephoto Lens Generally from a focal length of 85 mm to 135 mm, this is what I call a walkaround lens. Adorama price: in Nikon, Canon and Sigma mounts. It features 2 FLD (fluorite equivalent), and 3 SLD elements to achieve impressive sharpness and color correction, weather resistant construction, an updated optical stabilizer (OS) with an accelerometer for improved horizontal and vertical panning, and customization and adjustment options via the Sigma USB Dock. This completely depends on how you intend to use your lens. Adorama price: in Sony Alpha mount. With a maximum focal length of 600 mm, this telephoto lens allows sports and wildlife photographers to get incredibly close to the action. It weighs nearly 13 pounds, so youll need a tripod.

Other sports like tennis and basketball may allow the photographer to get closer to the action so shorter focal-length prime lenses and zooms can also be very effective. Plus, the f/5.6 constant aperture produces gorgeous out of focus backgrounds and provides excellent low light performance. Privacy PolicyTerms of Use, 42 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011 (directions)800.223.2500, Ultimate Guide To Sports Photography Lenses, best lenses for professional sports photography, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, Sigma 300mm f/2/8 APO EX DG HSM Auto Focus, Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG UF APO HSM AutoFocus, Panasonic Lumix Leica Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens, How to Integrate a ParachuteRecovery System into Your Drone Setup(Part 2), 7 Forest Photography Ideas, Tips, and Examples, Tips for Fashion Photography with Lindsay Adler, Shoot Baseball Photos Like a Sports Illustrated Professional Photographer, NBA MVP Kevin Durant Photographs the Super Bowl, Unwoven Basket: The Selling of Corbis and the Transformation of an Industry. This makes it an easy favorite for wildlife photography and action sports photography, enabling you to get closer than ever before to your subject while standing far away. If full frame, I would recommend the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Zoom Lens. That lens also has a great Vibration Compensation (VC), which I had switched on. Its also more compact than its predecessor, measuring only 7.8 inches in length. Diaphragm blades: 9, First hyper-telephoto zoom from the Contemporary line, Dust proof and splash proof mount95mm filter. Im looking for a lens for stage photography specifically ballet/dance.