Here we share advice on choosing the best lens for wildlife photography.
Choosing a lens is not an easy task. There are so many different types to choose from that it can be confusing and bewildering. This article will provide you with a list of things you should look for when choosing the right lens for your needs. In order to decide which lens would work best for you, we will consider your shooting style, budget, location and subject.
Table of Contents
1) Shooting Style
When it comes to choosing a lens, there are three main styles of photography – macro, wide angle and telephoto.
Macro photography is usually done using a specialised lens with a very large aperture. Macro lenses are used for closeup photography, which is a lot of fun and can be very useful. But macro lenses can cost a lot of money and are very heavy, so if you’re looking to shoot a lot of macro subjects it may not be suitable for you. If you are interested in macro photography we recommend visiting the Microscope Museum in London where you can see some wonderful examples.
Wide-angle lenses allow you to capture a bigger view than with the usual short telephoto range. They come in different focal lengths. For example, a 24mm wide angle lens has a much larger image circle than a 50mm f/1.4. Lenses with wider angles of view are great for travel and outdoor photography. They are often smaller, lighter and less expensive than a full-frame camera. If you are on a tight budget and looking to save money, then you may want to consider purchasing a wide-angle zoom lens.
A telephoto lens is similar to a standard zoom lens with a zoom range of between 18 to 200mm. When using a telephoto lens, you must set the camera to a narrower aperture so that you can use a long exposure time. It is ideal for wildlife photography because it gives you a clear image of animals moving away from you, but this also means you need to have a tripod.
2) Budget
The type of lens you want to buy is dependent on your personal budget. When buying a lens, you can either purchase it outright or rent it for a period of time, such as a week. You can buy a new lens or opt for a used one if you have a high budget and want something with a longer lifespan. Another option is to find a good deal on a lens, either from a dealer or online. This can be very helpful when it comes to saving money.
3) Location
If you’re not sure what kind of subject you want to photograph, your location can help you narrow down the field. If you are shooting an animal in the wild, for example, you’ll want to be in a place where you can take close-ups. A popular location for this is in national parks, so you can’t go wrong if you are near one. It is important to note that you should always check the regulations before entering a national park. For example, you need a permit to enter the most popular national parks, so you will need to know the regulations of where you are allowed to take pictures.
4) Subject
Choosing the right lens for the subject you want to photograph is extremely important. For example, a wildlife photographer might be looking for a 24-70mm zoom lens for a polar bear, or a wide-angle lens for a zebra. The quality of the subject you want to photograph will determine which lens you choose. If you want to take a photo of a butterfly, for example, you would want a macro lens to get the best shot possible. If you were photographing a bird in flight, you would be looking for a super wide-angle lens to capture its whole body.
Choosing the right lens for your needs can be difficult. It’s important to consider the type of subject you want to photograph and the size of the subject, as well as your personal budget.