Discover the perfect lens to capture breathtaking wildlife moments. Our guide reviews a list including the best lens for shooting wildlife for every budget and skill level.
Unlike general and even professional outdoor photography, capturing wildlife stills is incredibly challenging and deeply rewarding, as it requires technical skills, top-tier camera gear, and a mix of patience and luck to capture that perfect moment in the wild.
Look for this in wildlife camera lenses.
1. Wildlife shots are usually taken from a distance without attracting the attention of the animals. Look for camera lenses with at least 300mm focal length - ideally longer. Lenses with focal lengths of 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, and even 800mm are commonly used to capture small animals from very far away.
2. Choose a lens with strong low-light performance and a wide aperture, preferably f/2.8 to f/4, for sharp images in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
3. A camera lens can also be characterized as the best lens for shooting wildlife if it can capture stable shots. Look for Vibration Reduction or Optical SteadyShot stabilization technologies to get sharp and shake-free stills.
4. Wildlife photography is incredibly unpredictable, and to capture shots in a blink, your lens should be equipped with advanced AF systems and high-speed focusing motors that can cope with this unpredictability.
5. It should be weather-sealed and covered with magnesium alloy, which is not standard for wildlife lenses, to protect them against the rigors of outdoor use.
Best lens for shooting wildlife in 2025
1. Canon has long been respected in the field of wildlife photography with its Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM & RF 600mm f/4L IS USM lenses and is considered legendary in its league.
The 600mm and f/4 combo is proven to be extremely useful with fast autofocus speeds, top-tier object isolation, and a weather-sealed body. It also features up to 5 stops of image stabilization correction and exceptional low-light performance. But all this comes with an incredibly hefty price tag, making it not relevant for those with tight budgets.
2. Another great option this year is the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS, which we love for its blazingly fast and accurate focus (powered by two XD linear motors) and the option of internal zoom, which is pretty useful to capture wildlife on the move.
The lens also comes with a 600mm f/4 combo, which can create stunning image quality from far away and is noticeably lightweight for its class.
3. In a budget, you can invest in the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS | Sports camera lens with E-mount that is capable of delivering professional-grade wildlife photos with its f/5−6.3 aperture and new optics. The lens is built to a “sports” level, indicating robustness and delivering sharp images, especially when stopped down slightly.
4. And lastly but not least, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR is also a worthy inclusion in this list due to its fantastic focal range and excellent image quality and gets a lot of love from Nikon users. It also features internal zooming with a far-reaching zoom and is quite cheaper as compared to the top dogs in this niche.
Wildlife Stills with Cinematic Edge
All the above lenses are tuned to capture clear, sharp frames with object isolation, but in the era of video content making and social media, wildlife photography is also experiencing a shift to a more artistic and storytelling approach. The SIRUI Venus Anamorphic Lens Kit is is a unique addition for those looking to add creative flair to their wildlife imagery.
The lens is designed on an anamorphic format and has a unique 1.6x squeeze ratio built in, which can capture stunning and immersive widescreen footage with smooth bokeh, making the animals and natural objects pop on the screen. The lens can also introduce characteristic horizontal lens flares, which can add a stylistic element to your wildlife shots, especially when you will be taking such stills into the light.
It is also pretty lightweight and has a rugged enclosure (all-metal construction) for wildlife photography use and is compatible with all modern mirrorless camera bodies. The SIRUI Venus Anamorphic Lens is surely a great addition to the list of best lens for shooting wildlife mentioned above, if you aim to add extra creativity to your shots without breaking the bank.
