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The kitbag staple for most wildlife photographers is a long telephoto prime or zoom with at least 400mm reach. This is because most wildlife subjects are difficult to get very close to, which means working from some distance away. Depending on the type of wildlife, the budget available and the weight of the lens the photographer is prepared to carry, there is a range of different options available in the Sigma range. On APS-C cameras, a crop factor applies, which gives users around 1.5x extra effective reach.
In some situations, such a photographing in a zoo, or if working with very tame animals, it may be possible to use shorter focal lengths. These have the advantage of being smaller and lighter, and they usually have faster maximum apertures.
Recommended by genre
The kitbag staple for most wildlife photographers is a long telephoto prime or zoom with at least 400mm reach. This is because most wildlife subjects are difficult to get very close to, which means working from some distance away. Depending on the type of wildlife, the budget available and the weight of the lens the photographer is prepared to carry, there is a range of different options available in the Sigma range. On APS-C cameras, a crop factor applies, which gives users around 1.5x extra effective reach.
In some situations, such a photographing in a zoo, or if working with very tame animals, it may be possible to use shorter focal lengths. These have the advantage of being smaller and lighter, and they usually have faster maximum apertures.
Anyone getting started in wildlife photography is likely to get the best results from a long telephoto lens, which will allow them to fill the frame with a relatively distant subject. Most such lenses are zooms, which tend to be much more affordable as well as more versatile.
All of the long telephoto zooms in the Sigma line-up have very fast AF that is compatible with the latest subject tracking technology, and image quality is exceptional for maximum detail capture. Fully zoomed in, they have a maximum aperture of F6.3 for fast shutter speeds and blurry backgrounds, and all have an Optical Stabilizer for keeping the lens still when working hand-held low light.
150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS
Extremely popular with wildlifers, the 150-600mm provides exceptional reach, razor-sharp results, a compact body and an affordable price-tag. A DSLR version is also available.
100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS
Weighing just 1.14kg, this full-frame zoom is ideal for photographers needing to travel light. On APS-C the effective focal length is 150-600mm. A DSLR version is also available.
60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS
The only 600mm full-frame lens with a 10x zoom, this highly versatile, weather-sealed zoom delivers superb image quality and ultra-fast AF. A DSLR version is also available.
In some situations, such a photographing puffins on clifftops or other less skittish animals, it may be possible to work with a shorter focal length. Most professional wildlife photographers will own a 70-200mm F2.8 for this very reason, which offers a wider aperture than most long telephoto lenses and is much smaller and lighter. Sometimes an even wider lens, such as a 50mm F1.4 may be ideal, offering a very wide aperture for an extremely shallow depth-of-field. Often wildlife photographer will photograph distant animals with a shorter focal length to show them in context with their environment, deliberately keeping them smaller within the frame.
Andrew is a leading UK wildlife photographer and Sigma Creator. He has photographed some of the world’s most threatened species in a wide variety of habitats, working most extensively in the Arctic, Antarctica, India, Africa and Russia. Andrew was Editor-in-Chief has over 30 years of experience as a photographer and writer, including as editor-in-chief of Practical Photography magazine for many years, and runs an online photography community called Foto-Buzz. He currently leads photographic workshops to some of the world’s most remote locations through his company Whisper and Wild (whisperandwild.com).
“This lens has an extremely versatile focal range that gives me plenty of reach at the tight end but also the opportunity to include more of environment at the wider end. I like the all-in-one not having to change lenses in difficult conditions.”
“I often have to carry my kit over long distances, so I love how light this lens is at under 1.2kg. The weight also makes it easy to hand-hold for long periods. An added bonus is that the lens doubles up nicely for landscapes, so it’s an extremely versatile tool.”
“I love the 50mm Art for its sharp optics and shallow depth-of-field. It’s very useful in situations where I can get quite near to an animal, but also for capturing close-up details of that animal’s natural environment. It allows me to tell the whole story about a place.”
Find out more about the world’s first and only 10x ultra-telephoto zoom for full-frame mirrorless cameras, which delivers a 1:2.4 maximum magnification, a powerful HLA focusing motor and an impressive Optical Stabilizer that offer 6 stops at the telephoto end and 7 stops at the standard end.
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