Close Encounters: Choosing the Right Telephoto Lens for Birding and Wildlife Photography & Videos

The thrill of photographing a majestic bird in flight or a powerful predator on the prowl is an experience every wildlife photographer craves. That is where super telephoto lenses come in. They bring you closer to your subjects, allowing you to witness these moments while maintaining a respectful distance. Nikon offers a comprehensive selection of NIKKOR Z telephoto zoom lenses and telephoto prime lenses perfectly suited for wildlife photography and videography. To start off, every NIKKOR Z lens leverages a large mount diameter and incredibly short flange distance to gather more light for unprecedented low-light performance, autofocus precision, and image quality.

Now, several factors will influence your specific lens selection, including subjects, shooting environments, and personal preferences. Here's a breakdown of key considerations to help you get started when choosing the best telephoto lens for your wildlife photography and videography.

A top priority to consider is your lens’ focal length. This will determine how close you appear to be to your subject in photos and videos.

For beginners venturing into wildlife photography, a good starting point is a telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 300-400mm. This reach lets you snap beautiful wildlife or bird photos without getting too close, minimising disturbance to the animals and their habitat. 

A versatile option for hobbyists is the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S. Weighing approximately 1,355g, this super telephoto lens is remarkably comfortable to handle, even on extended shoots. The built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) compensates up to 5.5 stops, letting you confidently shoot handheld while maintaining excellent image quality from the Z mount advantage. Its zoom range also provides flexibility to adjust your composition on-the-go, whether you are seeking for a tight shot of an animal portrait or showcase the wider environment it inhabits.

Separately, for professionals seeking ultimate reach, the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S is a strong contender.  From a soaring bird high in the sky to the intricate details of a hidden forest critter, this lens allows you to capture with precision and silence from the near-silent stepping motor that also powers the autofocusing system.

This super-telephoto prime lens is designed with an in-lens VR that effectively combats camera shake up to 5.0 stops (or 5.5 stops via Synchro VR with compatible cameras). Plus, the centre of gravity is positioned close to your body for enhanced stability, making it comfortable for handheld shooting and smooth panning sequences.

What truly sets this lens apart is the added Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element. Powerfully suppressing chromatic aberration, it delivers superior image quality in a remarkably compact and lightweight design compared to other traditional lenses in the same class. The lens, currently the longest Nikon lens in the mirrorless lens range, is also highly customisable. With one L-Fn button and four L-Fn2 buttons for assigning preferred functions, and a memory recall function that saves frequently used focus positions, you can focus on the moment with less time spent fiddling with your settings.

Next, understanding your subjects' behaviour and habitat determines the lighting conditions you will encounter. Your chosen telephoto lens should adapt well to these environments.

For instance, peak wildlife activity, especially for animals like birds, typically occurs during early mornings or late afternoons. If you want to maximise available light, lenses with a maximum aperture of f/4.5 or f/2.8 are ideal. Larger apertures also produce brighter images and enable faster shutter speeds to freeze motion — this is highly useful for scenarios such as photographing dramatic shots of birds and freezing their action mid-air.

The NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S is a prime example of a high-speed telephoto lens ideal for such situations. Its Meso Amorphous Coat and ARNEO Coat effectively combat flare and ghosting, ensuring pristine image quality even under harsh lighting. Geared towards professional photographers who require exceptional performance, the telephoto lens boasts a near-silent, high-speed autofocus system thanks to its Silky Swift Voice Coil Motor (SSVCM). This allows you to capture even the most skittish subjects without causing any disturbance. Take it to an extra range of 560mm at an f/4 aperture with just a flick of the switch from its built-in teleconverter.

Another lens with a large aperture is the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S. This super-telephoto prime lens strikes a good balance between light gathering capability and portability, making it an excellent choice for wildlife (and even sports) photographers. The lens features the Nano Crystal Coat that minimises unwanted reflections and flare, ensuring superb image quality even in bright or backlit situations.

While wildlife or bird photography often involves capturing distant subjects, some interesting opportunities might present themselves right at your feet, such as photographing insects, reptiles, or small mammals. A lens with a low minimum focus distance allows for macro-like close-up shots, adding versatility to your shooting style and allowing you to capture the intricate, often overlooked, details of the natural world.

The NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is a popular super telephoto zoom lens for nature photography trips due to its versatility and impressive zoom range. With a minimum focusing distance of 1.3m at the wide-angle end and a 0.25x reproduction ratio at the telephoto end, this lens is suitable for capturing a wide range of subjects, from smaller animals like butterflies and spiders to birds and large mammals. The VR image stabilisation ensures sharp images even at slower shutter speeds when focusing close-up. This lens is one of the best super-telephoto lens options for photographers who want a single lens solution for their wildlife adventures, eliminating the need to carry and switch between multiple gear.

Nikon's NIKKOR Z lenses are designed for the demands of wildlife photography, offering both comfort and performance. Their ergonomic design makes them comfortable to handle in the field, while the advanced VR technology provides exceptional stability when shooting handheld. Furthermore, the dust- and drip-resistant robust designs ensure your peace of mind when shooting in unpredictable weather and challenging environments. 

While these telephoto lenses excel at capturing stunning photos, their capabilities extend to high-quality videos as well. A click-less control ring design minimises operational sounds from being captured in your videos. Experience stable exposure through the footage with smooth aperture control. This makes them ideal for today's creators who require exceptional performance across both mediums. 

Every aspect of these NIKKOR Z lenses, from the highly engineered and meticulously designed lens elements to the advanced coatings, seeks to deliver uncompromising image quality for stills and videos. Packaging it altogether in a summary of optical excellence, the Nikon Z mount is more than just a physical attribute for these NIKKOR Z super telephoto lenses; it enables faster communication between the lens and the Z series award-winning mirrorless cameras. 

Explore the full range and find the perfect lens for your next adventure here.