A quality 24-70mm lens is hard to beat in terms of versatility, and Sigmas offering is a great balance of quality and price. A quality 50mm is something we recommend every photographer have in their kit, and this Sigma 50mm fits the bill. Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports review My main reservation with this lens is the speed (or, rather, lack of speed) of its autofocus. It has a new motor, a reworked optical design, a larger magnification scale (1:2.4 magnification at 200mm) and lower weight (2.5kg). The autofocus is quick and more accurate than past Art lenses. And of course, the f/5.6 aperture requires more thinking to achieve the desired subject separation. Performance benefits from super-fast autofocus, 4-stop dual-mode stabilization, and an autofocus limiter that you can use to select either the short or long section of the focusing range. Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S Nikkor - Digital Cameras, Digital We also looked at important specs such as aperture range, dimensions, and weight. As incredible as this lens is, I cant rank it in the top three because it weighs as much as an elephant (slight exaggeration) and has such a specialized focal length. Or, stick with the Contemporary lineup for something more compact. For as long as I have been photographing animals, I have done so with Nikon cameras. But my experience with third-party lenses leads me to some caution. Best Lenses For Nikon D5200 - Camera Kool However, according to our review, the Tamron has a hair worse optical performance compared to the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6. This is also shown by Nasims lab results. It comes with a special 1.25x teleconverter meant only for your 800mm f/5.6. Plus, they typically offer a lot of bang for your buck, since they are priced lower than first-party lenses. At its long end, its image quality drops off somewhat. He is also an encyclopedia when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. Though the older version of Sigmas 50mm Art lens isnt quite as sharp or high-contrast as the new Sony E-mount lens, it is still a worthwhile buy. At 5.5 pounds, it is a large lens, but its equipped with six stops of vibration reduction at the long end (and seven when zoomed out) to help with hand-holding even when using slower shutter speeds. The best Sigma lenses will help you get exceptional images, no matter what your preferred subject matter. The lens is sturdy and robust, despite its relatively lightweight compared with the likes of the Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f/4-5.6 ED VR, and incorporates weather seals. Whether your subject is people, wildlife, or sports, a telephoto lens bestows the ability to narrow the field of view, isolate the subject, and allow the photographer to remain at a comfortable distance. Visit our corporate site. Third-party lens options are especially limited for mirrorless systems at the time being. (1) with Z body it gets VR (2) the balance is splendid solid metal construction, fully removable tripod collar, (3) Excellent magnification ( even better than the PF lens) suitable for butterfly, snakes etc (4) Better transmission of blue-green colours ( possibly due to the smaller number of elements) (5) 77 mm filter for polarizer and ND/grad filters in landscape photography (6) excellent manual focus (7) cost (8) ability to function with aperture ring with dumb or smart extension tube or KENKO teleconverters ( have used tubes only) My personal opinion of course. A 70-200mm telephoto lens is an extremely versatile lens that is a favorite of photojournalists, wedding photographers, concert photographers, and sports photographers. And the winner of my private ranking of the best telephoto lenses for Nikon is the 600mm f/4 TC VR S. If I wrote that to buy the previous lens I would have to sell a kidney, in the case of this gem I would probably have to also sell the remaining one. More manufacturers need to make their lenses with native Arca-Swiss compatible tripod feet. When youre lying in the warm mud, with a camouflage net over you, its not easy to play with a teleconverter. Current price is $5,497. Ill look into it when I have the 70-200 f/2.8 available. And it has minimal vignetting, which is a common issue with this focal length. That is, wherever you appreciate its versatility. But the right choice among these three has nothing to do with the lenses themselves, rather the subjects you shoot. Youll be able to get some dramatic portraits with this one. You can see more of Libor's work on his Instagram page. A real game-changer! It's true that the quality of Sigma lenses is often equal to, or even better than, that of more well-known camera brands. For longer times I would also need the Bird Shake Reduction function. Our current crop of writers and editors have decades of professional photography and camera writing experience among them. What telephoto length is right for me? For me, this lens and its 750 used chum, my 70-200/f4, easily saw off the rather expensive 80-400. 26 Apr. I currently shoot the sigma 150-600mm contemporary on my z6ii. No wonder it was out of stock for so long. The AF-S edition puts that to rights with speedy ring-type ultrasonic autofocus and 4-stop VR. Hear me out, its only something you will experience if youre in a rush of the moment, the bird in front of you is stealing your attention, and youre crouched in some awkward angle. As a result, its useful for all sorts of wildlife encounters, even when the animals get quite close. Price aside, the other feature in which the Tamron has the edge over the Nikon is the 100mm difference in focal length at the long end. Since 1937, weve been reviewing cameras, providing wisdom from well-known photographers, and generally just nerding out about all that goes into making great pictures. Does dead mean something else where youre from? If you need your telephoto lens to also reach the wide-angle compositions, be my guest. In certain lighting conditions with the lens at 500mm I am getting some pretty good results. This shows two things. It weighs just slightly more than the new super lightweight 400mm f/2.8 S in #2 Spot! They are typically quite a bit heavier than their OEM counterparts from the likes of Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Because they are more simple in terms of technology compared to zoom lenses, they are typically more affordable, offer wider maximum apertures, and better quality. This is a great resource for the uninformed or buyer! Thats pretty remarkable, considering it can replace separate dual 24-70mm and 70-200mm zoom lenses, albeit with a more restrictive aperture rating of f/6.3 at the longest setting. I agree. First, we've picked out the best telephoto lenses for Nikon F-mount DSLR lenses, and then we have a few options for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless lenses. Nikon achieved these parameters in part by using a Phase Fresnel lens element. Nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G - For general use. The Nikon 70-200mm f/4G is one of the most balanced telephotos that Nikon makes. 16-35mm f/4 VR (2010-today) top. Finally, the Contemporary lineup uses what Sigma says is, the very latest technology. As a result, the lenses are more compact than other Sigma lenses but still offer excellent optical quality and performance. To continue the trend of sharp lenses, Sigmas 135mm for Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sigma SA is an exceptionally sharp telephoto lens across the entire image. The Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon (10 Options in 2022) - PhotoWorkout For those wanting a more dramatic view than a wide-angle, this ultra-wide zoom hits the right notes. Also sold separately, it matches the latter in having a space-saving retractable design and is refreshingly lightweight, helped by the inclusion of a plastic rather than metal mounting plate. Best Sony lenses. The good news is that it appears to achieve similar, if not better performance at the long end compared to its predecessor. Want to keep your gear as small and light as possible? While it can be mounted on new Z mount cameras via the FTZ adapter, its AF will work best on bodies like the Nikon D6 or D500. And you can capture incredible wildlife photography without leaving your hide. Therefore, if the two lenses are very close, I prefer the original to a third-party lens. "Are you honestly ignorant?" Speaking of this particular one, the only fact that will make you hesitate whether or not to get this $2,697 lens is the existence of the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S. Why would you want this telephoto zoom lens? If performance is paramount and the price is no object, Nikon's stellar 120-300mm f/2.8E lens is in a league of its own. Best of all, image quality is every bit as good as from Nikons heavier and pricier 80-400mm VR. Massively undercutting the likes of Canon and Nikon's own-brand 500mm f/4 super-telephoto primes for the price, Sigmas 500mm F4 lens nevertheless justifies its ranking as the companys flagship Sports lens. Regardless of camera brand, you had the option to choose between a few classics like the 300 and 400mm with a maximum aperture of f/2.8, and the 500 or 600mm with f/4. Its autofocus is fast and essentially silent, and it offers plenty of controls on the lens body for easier use. If you like our content, you can subscribe to our newsletter to receive weekly email updates using the link below: Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S vs 400mm f/4.5 VR S. PopPhoto does. And finally, most Contemporary lenses are more affordable than Art lenses. Not long ago, the range of telephoto lenses across brands was boringly uniform. This makes it hard to recommend as a dedicated wildlife telephoto lens. But considering that I ranked its big brother one place higher, you know my answer. Read more: The trend were seeing a different, more interesting variety of telephoto lenses in recent years is great for several reasons. I see this lens on cameras around me quite often. Costing around half the price of the Nikon lens, this Sigma is a well-built lens that combines plastic elements with brass over a metal frame. Advanced features include a manual override focus option, in which you can swap to manual focusing simply by twisting the focus ring, without waiting for AF to initially lock onto an object. When the lens was out and its price tag turned out to be $6,497, it was a shock to most. On full frame cameras, sharpness will decline towards the edges (which is normal). As I have already mentioned, it is not always necessary to spend large sums of money for a ticket to the wildlife photo world. A (Art): This product line includes all the fastest Sigma prime lenses . And it can focus as close as seven inches, making it even more versatile. Lens upgrade path for wildlife & Bird photography? : r/Nikon - Reddit Canon/Nikon 135mm f/2 (and Sigma 135mm f/1.8) Daven Mathies/Digital Trends. To ah T! This makes it different from the competitors above. The sharpness and contrast of this lens are very high, albeit a tad shy of Nikons best-of-the-best. We considered a range of characteristics when selecting the Sigma lenses included in this guide. On the other hand, it was precisely that first version of the Tamron 150-600mm that started affordable telephoto lenses, followed by Sigma (although it already had cheap long lenses, but with poor optical quality). The aperture itself shrinks to a fairly narrow f/6.3 at the long end of the zoom range but that helps to keep the size and weight down. It packs a smorgasbord of features into a tough, weather-sealed magnesium alloy barrel, has exotic, high-end handling, and really delivers the goods in terms of image quality and all-round performance. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens 7. 1 and 2 are really expensive lenses. For this, I kiss the Tamrons (tripod) foot! Similarly, Tamron is the most highly rated, almost the first choice of every professional photographer to use its brilliance. Libor works as a biology teacher, guide, photographer and photography course lecturer. While the lens above extends into super telephoto territory, some may want a dedicated super telephoto zoom lens. Autofocus and performance characteristics remain good. As with lenses from the likes of Canon, Sony, and Nikon, Sigma makes both prime and zoom lenses. It offers exceptional sharpness for high-resolution images and stunning bokeh. First of all, the wonderful qualities of my wife, but more importantly, the difficulty of choosing the right lens. Mirrorless lenses: Best 50mm: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Best 35mm: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Best 85mm: Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Best telephoto prime: Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Best telephoto zoom: Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports Best super telephoto zoom: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports The Best Nikon Z Mirrorless Lenses for 2023 | PCMag The Nikon Z 50 is available in an attractive twin-lens kit that includes this telephoto lens as well as the Z 16-50mm standard zoom. Thank you for your opinion, Mainak. Read more: Nikon Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR review for more details. p.s. I saw that too, but had other fish to fry. A little more compact and lightweight than the competing Tamron 100-400mm lens, and rather less heavy than the Nikon 80-400mm, this Contemporary zoom from Sigma still feels solid and sturdy. But it is an excellent lens in almost every way, so dont take it as a negative that it didnt get a podium finish. Best Lenses for Nikon D780 in 2023 - Camera Times The lens body features plenty of controls, including an aperture ring and a customizable AFL button. It offers a fast f/1.4 aperture and is sharp even when shooting wide open. Theres a reason for that. First of all, because its a zoom. Though it lacks some sharpness on the edges when wide open, its overall nice and sharp with fast and accurate autofocus. Two custom settings can be applied to tailor the autofocus and stabilization systems to your requirements, via Sigmas optional USB dock. The drawbacks? Nikon 105mm f/2.8G - Macro lens. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Youll love everything else about this lens. The first is that a new camera or lens will make the photographers life a little easier. There are more practical choices, to be sure. Best Nikon lenses Believe me, it's very, very big! You can choose the one you need. Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR AF-S Lens 4. The last major reason to click the Add to Cart button is the weight (3260g / 7.2 lbs). It can focus very quickly, so you will get more winning shots even with moving subjects. Another advantage is the constant f/5.6 aperture. I know theyve always been sharp as long Ive been alive but nowadays theyve become surreal in how perfect they are in neatly every way, especially the top 5! Its not too expensive, not too heavy, and not bad optically. For the record, the lens has lost 550 g / 1.2 pounds compared to the previous version. Especially with the Z9, which uses both VRs at the same time (Synchro VR). They also are highly customizable with numerous function buttons to make the lens ideal for your use. But Sigma packed a lot of quality into it, making it worth the weight. Also interesting is the shortest focusing distance of 1.2m. I'm a nature photographer enthusiast, been at it for about 10 years. 1. My 300/f4D cost 800 used in 2014. Nikon seems to have listened to my lamentations and for the first time in its history with this lens has included a 1.4x teleconverter as an integral part of the optical system. The best Nikon telephoto lenses in 2023 | Digital Camera World As the best Nikon cameras is a broad category, and you need to make sure you get the right lens for your camera, we've split this guide into sections. Nikon D3500 lenses offer a wide array of possibilities to photographers from Sigma's prime portrait machines to wide-angle Nikkor models and Tamron's telephoto barrels. One of the best 70-200mm lenses in the world, and not just the Nikon world, is Nikons 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR for the F mount. Does this affect the quality and operability of the lens? When I was sitting in the hide with other photographers, my back almost broke through its back wall. After all, its F mount predecessor, the Nikon AF-S 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR, costs a whopping $16,300. Still, if conditions are bright enough, the resulting 800mm f/9 will provide excellent reach while still delivering good image quality. Case in point: Handing over top dollar for an expensive rig may leave you unsatisfied if it doesnt fit your preferred shooting style. The best 50mm lenses And I love my camera because its smaller and lighter for my somewhat older wrists! Thank you Patrick for your contribution. This guide will walk you through the best telephotos lenses on the market to help you take amazing wildlife, sports and landscape photography. Best Sigma Lenses Features / Best Sigma Lenses Here are the top Sigma lenses that have been reviewed by ePHOTOzine so you can pick the best lens that's right for you. 70-200mm f2.8 DG OS HSM Sport Lens - Nikon F Fit, 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S for Nikon, 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C for Nikon, An excellent performer and affordable for an own-brand lens, too, New-generation autofocus and aperture control, Superb optical stabilizer and image quality, Incompatible with a variety of older DSLRs, If you want a pro 70-200mm f/2.8 for your DSLR, this is the best, Intelligent and effective image stabilization. And thankfully, its tiny size is not counteracted by compromises in optical quality. The Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 is our top telephoto lens. However, its telephoto reach is a little limited by the latest standards and its very pricey to buy. It can focus quickly and accurately and provides sharp, highly detailed images. While they CAN do anything they like, and Im not begrudging them for it (although I guess it sounds like I am), its no different than taking drugs or getting drunk as soon as it wears off, you have to start over. Its more of a temporary solution, for the transition period from F To Z. With the new lenses, its hard to separate the VR of the lens from the VR of the camera. Sigma explains that the Art line is focused on sophisticated optical performance. As the name implies, the Art lenses are intended to be used for creative expression. First, its an F-mount lens. Secondly, it is only 300mm. Tokina 14-20mm f/2. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"UAcEAJtZbrARCvwzTMMIkZqPRd0UtGbsKtUJk1T1.fA-93600-0"}; (And Jasons review of the 500mm f/5.6 PF bears that out.). Most telephoto lenses are designed for full-frame cameras but will still work in DX format; we've made sure to point out if any lenses will only work on one or the other. Its not true happiness. And most importantly, it results in excellent image quality even when shooting wide open. Sigma lens Abbreviation: 1- Sigma Lens Category. Best Nikon D5600 Lenses for Photography - Lens & Shutter Nikon has more analogs, one of which is the powerful but expensive DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens for $1,000. I was simply unable to focus on the nearby songbirds. In fact, on the Tamron, the aperture flips to f/6.3 at a focal length of 428mm. It offers attractive bokeh, and minimal distortion, especially for a 35mm lens. Read more: Tokina SZX Super Tele 400mm F8 Reflex MF review for more details. No, you dont. You can read our in-depth review here. Sigma makes a variety of lenses for most major camera systems. Very close and almost I discernible differences in all aspects of IQ. So if you have the spare funds to buy this lens and find a use for it, then there is no reason to hesitate. It has also begun making lenses for Nikon, though thus far, that only includes three prime APS-C lenses. And the second is that people just like to make themselves happy with new things. The best superzoom lenses for Nikon DX DSLRs Its a heavy lens2.65 poundsbut it is built with professionals in mind with weather-sealing and oil- and water-repellent coating on the front element. I doubt I would pick a 70-200mm f/4 for my type of wildlife photography, but this is a very popular landscape photography lens among Nikon DSLR photographers. the Nikon 55-300mm telephoto lens is ideal for sports . The Best Telephoto Lenses for Nikon (10 Options in 2022) by Editorial Team Updated February 23, 2022 Are you struggling to choose a Nikon telephoto lens? Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 - For any photographer. Unfortunately, not all Sigma lenses are available for every mount. As such, this lineup includes fast maximum apertures and extremely sharp optics. We were always big fans of Nikons AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR and this recently launched replacement is even better. Also, Nikon Z photographers have an even better 70-200mm f/2.8 option, which is why this lens is not ranked even higher on my list. Incredible quality for affordable prices. And as an Art lens, it boasts a durable build, so you can use it confidently even in less-than-ideal conditions.