Birds are some of the most challenging photography subjects to work with! Fast, active, and often shy, it takes speedy autofocus systems and versatile focal lengths to capture good images. In the old days, bird photography was reserved for photographers who are willing to spend a fortune. However, with the advent of relatively inexpensive super-zoom lenses from Sigma and Tamron, it is much easier to get into bird photography these days.
Fortunately, as popular as the Canon brand is, there are several fantastic choices for the hunt. Let’s look at the best Canon lenses for bird photography!
Best Canon Lenses for Bird Photography
1) Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
The red ring, white barrel, and Canon L-series branding tell us the 100-400mm is part of their premium Luxury lineup. These lenses feature fast to relatively fast apertures, weather sealing, and high-quality aspherical glass, fluoride, and ultra-low dispersion elements.
While f/4.5 isn’t as wide open as f/2.8 or f/4 it’s still plenty for nearly any sort of outdoor bird photography! This particular lens also features an Air Sphere Coating for additional flare minimizing and color contrast control.
The speed of the USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) system is top of the line as well to capture fast, erratically moving subjects like birds. Even paired with a 1.4x teleconverter for extra reach the EF 100-400mm can keep up in all but the lowest light conditions.
Specifications:
- Weight: 1640 g.
- Maximum Aperture: f/4.5
- Focal Length: 100-400m
- Weather Resistant: Yes
- Price: Check On Amazon
Photo By Frans & all
2) Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Sigma lenses are world-renowned for their value, excellent construction, and fantastic image quality. They make lenses for nearly all major brands, including Canon.
The main appeal of the 100-400mm is that it provides stellar photo quality, image stabilization, and a versatile focal range with a beginner’s budget price! At less than $700 for a full-frame compatible telephoto zoom, the Sigma 100-400mm is one of the best values around.
In exchange for that value, you do give up weather sealing and are stuck with a relatively slow f/5 maximum aperture. Both of which can make some bird shots more difficult or impossible to get. The light construction also makes it significantly smaller than the 150-600mm Contemporary and 60-600mm Sports lenses.
Specifications:
- Weight: 1160 g.
- Maximum Aperture: f/5
- Focal Length: 100-400mm
- Weather Resistant: No
- Price: Check On Amazon
Photo By Aya Iwasaki
3) Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
The all-metal and glass construction ensures not only a premium feel but keeps the unit weather-sealed against the outdoor elements. While somewhat bulky at just over 2 kg this lens provides more than enough focal range for all but the most difficult to approach birds.
And if you do need more reach the Tamron 150-60mm is also compatible with 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters, neither of which don’t negatively impact image quality and are also weather sealed.
While slightly soft wide open, particularly at 600mm, the 150-600mm improves dramatically when stopped down slightly to f/8. Corner performance is also improved by stopping down. And while not optimized for bokeh performance the Tamron 150-600mm is known for having some of the softest, most pleasant out of focus areas in its class!
Specifications:
- Weight: 2010 g.
- Maximum Aperture: f/5
- Focal Length: 150-600mm
- Weather Resistant: Yes
- Price: Check On Amazon
Image by Antonios Ntoumas from Pixabay
4) Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens
If the price is no object the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L is a fantastic choice for bird photography. It combines 400mm of reach for shy subjects with a fast f/2.8 aperture to create a shallow depth of field at a distance and superior low light exposure versus the other lenses listed here.
Fast aperture telephoto lenses can sometimes be difficult to work with because all of that heavy glass takes time to focus. However, the 400mm f/2.8 is optimized for rapid results.
The two Focus Presets can be programmed for specific distances to instantly acquire focus, perfect if you have a bird feeder or other known distance to work from. Second, the Electronic Manual Focus Ring not only works in tandem with autofocus but it can adjust sensitivity to the best effect.
Being a wide aperture telephoto weight is, unfortunately, a major consideration; at nearly 3 kg this is a specialty lens best suited to professional wildlife photographers.
Specifications:
- Weight: 2840 g.
- Maximum Aperture: f/2.8
- Focal Length: 400mm
- Weather Resistant: Yes
- Price: Check On Amazon
Photo by Tina Nord from Pexels
5) Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens
The Canon 600mm f/4L is the lens for professional wildlife photographers (or budget photographers looking to rent) in need of the best reach on a wide aperture prime.
Relatively recently released it also has the latest IS III Stabilization System, with up to 5 stops of shake correction for tack-sharp handheld images. At 3 kg the 600mm f/4 is not light but it’s still substantially smaller than the original version (5360 g.). High-quality fluoride glass elements replaced much of the original glass, saving weight and improving chromatic aberration control.
Best of all, the 600mm f/4 is compatible with the EF 1.4x and 4x Teleconverters for added reach without substantial impacts to image quality!
Specifications:
- Weight: 3050 g.
- Maximum Aperture: f/4
- Focal Length: 600mm
- Weather Resistant: Yes
- Price: Check On Amazon
Photo by mali maeder from Pexels
6) Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens
While not as low priced as the Sigma 100-400mm the 60-600mm provides a significantly more versatile focal range and a slightly brighter aperture for low-light imaging.
Sigma’s Intelligent OS image stabilization provides up to 4 stops of correction, almost on par with Canon’s best L lenses. And like the best professional lenses, it’s sealed against dust and moisture penetration despite the mostly plastic construction.
Unfortunately, like many wide-range superzooms, the Sigma 60-600mm is weakest at the long end, with softness appearing as you get close to 600mm. Center sharpness remains good but stopping down to f/8 improves both the corners and overall image across the focal range.
Specifications:
- Weight: 2,710 g.
- Maximum Aperture: f/4.5
- Focal Length: 60-600mm
- Weather Resistant: Yes
- Price: Check On Amazon
Photo by Abhinav Goswami from Pexels
On Budget?
Sometimes, Camera Lenses can be very expensive for a lot of people. However, Keh is a great option to get a used one for a reasonable price. Read the full review here.
Related posts
Bird Photography – Step By Step Guide
Best Telephoto Lens For Canon- The Full Guide
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the article if you have any questions just post them below & I will be happy to answer you.
The featured Photo by Jean van der Meulen from Pexels
If you enjoy the site, don’t forget to subscribe, we will only inform you when a new article is posted.
Great post that shows how a major Deep Learning accomplishment works
Thanks
What a great website Ehab. The photographs are so beautiful that they become the primary focus. And you bring out all the pros and cons of the modern lenses – first of all thanks for this great effort to consolidate all this information in one place and next congratulations on putting it up in such a beautiful way.
Best Regards,
Rohit
Wow! What great photographs have you put there. It is simply eye-catching. And aptly, your article is about photography!
First of all, the photographs of the lenses look great. The very first one is impressive. It looks that bird-photogaphy is also a static photographs – but as you have pointed out that bird photography is a very difficult subject as the subject can vanish anytime and it is important to focus quickly for the best shot. Canon EF 100-400mm seems to be built for bird photography.
Image stabilization is great and it shows in the photograph on Signa 100-400mm. But for bird-shots, it seems Canon 100-400m is the choice.
Thanks for sharing such a great article.
Glad that you liked it Rohit!
It is truly impressive that you covered this subject so well in your post. I’ve learned a lot from reading your article and developed a lot of knowledge about Canon Lenses for Birds Photography. You know nothing beats the feeling of increasing and boosting one’s chances of success by just learning it the right way. For me, I use small lenses for shooting videos but definitely it’s worth sharing it with my friends. Thanks for the wonderful review
Thanks for your input!