3 Best Nikon Lenses For Bird Photography

Nikon has some of the most advanced cameras and lenses on the market. From fast speed devices like the Z9 to more budget cameras with great performance like the Z6 III, Nikon offers something for everyone. Similarly, the company has a wide range of lenses for various genres, and today, we are here to discuss with you the most excellent offerings for bird photography. Some primes and some zooms, this list is ideal for many professional photographers.

Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S

A budget-friendly bird photography lens, the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S has 25 elements in 20 groups, including 6 Extra-Low Dispersion and 2 Super Extra-Low Dispersion elements. It also features 9 rounded aperture blades, a minimum focusing distance of 2.5 ft, and a 0.38x maximum magnification ratio. It also has a 77mm filter thread, 3.9 × 8.7 inches in size, and 1435g in weight. The zoom range is great, and the lens is weather-sealed, making it ideal for various settings. Some other pros include sharp images, great colors, minimal focus breathing, and the AF, which locks on. “The Nikon Z 100-400mm captures sharply detailed subjects,” as we said in our review. “The lens is sharp enough that, when you zoom in to 100 percent, you can see the texture on a bird’s feathers. I could even make out the details on the snowflakes clinging to the bird’s beak.”

Nikon Z 400mm F4.5 VR S

The Nikon Z 400mm is a budget variant of the 400mm f2.8 lens. The lens was created with 19 elements in 13 groups, 9 rounded aperture blades, and a removable tripod collar. The lens also has a 6° 10’ angle of view, 0.16x magnification ratio, and weighs 2.7 lb. The lens has 5.5 stops of vibration reduction and a close focusing distance of 2.5m. Some of its great features include a small length, great colors, and sharp images. The VR is also good, making it easy to shoot with the lens handheld. It is also weather-sealed, and so, you can capture birds in a difficult environment. “As an S series lens, the 400mm delivers the look Nikon Z photographers are craving: rich colors and tack-sharp subjects. The longer focal length is enough to create good bokeh,” we said in our review.

Nikon Z 600mm F4 TC VR S

The Nikon Z 600mm f4 TC VR S is a telephoto lens perfect for bird photography. The Lens has a teleconverter, which helps the focal range reach up to 840mm. However, the f4 aperture will also increase when the teleconverter is on, to go up to f5.6. The 600mm is created with 26 elements in 30 groups, including 3 ED Glass, 2 Fluorite, 2 SR (Short-Wavelength Refractive) Glass, and 1 Super ED element. It has a minimum focusing distance of 14.11 ft, a 46mm filter thread, and 3260g of weight. Some of its excellent selling points are the teleconverter, the sharpness of the images, and the overall size. The f5.6 aperture at 840mm is also shallower. And, of course, AF tracking for fast-approaching subjects is superb as well. Since the lens is quite costly, it is only for professionals who can’t compromise on the image and autofocus quality.