how to
photograph
wild birds

Types of lenses and selecting the right lens

What kind of lens will you need? How do you shoot close-up photos of wild birds? Once you've decided on a camera, the next step is selecting a lens. There are many kinds of lenses to choose from and various lenses let you capture a range of different images. Digital compact cameras (like Canon's PowerShot-series models) with a high-magnification zoom lens (40X or more) are also suitable for wild bird photography.

Whooper Swan

You can take a close-up photograph of Whooper Swans while they feed, but don't approach suddenly or they will fly away. When capturing images, approach slowly while crouching down. Then hold the camera near the water's surface and shoot photos while using the vari-angle display.

Image data

Aperture value: f/8
Shutter speed: 1/200 second
ISO speed: ISO200

Exposure compensation: 0
Focal length: 20mm
DSLR Camera (APS-C image format)

What does each lens name mean?

A lens name consists of numbers and letters. Each letter has a meaning.

1 These indicate the brand name and compatibility with cameras.

EF :: Indicates a lens that is compatible with EOS DSLR cameras
EF-S :: Indicates a lens that is compatible with EOS APS-C format DSLR cameras
Cannot be attached to 35mm full-frame DSLR cameras.
EF-M :: Inicates a lens that is compatible with EOS mirrorless cameras

Note: When used with Mont Adapter EF-EOS M, EF and EF-S lenses can be attached to mirrorless cameras.

2 Indicates the lens's focal length (angle of view)

The smaller the number, the wider the angle of view of the images the lens is capable of capturing. A larger number results in the subject appearing larger within the image. When capturing images of wild birds, it is best to use a telephoto lens with a long focal length (250 mm or greater).

3 The f/number refers to the maximum aperture of the lens, which determines the depth of field.

Although details will be provided in a later lesson, lenses with a small f/number are called "large aperture" lenses because they allow more light to enter, enabling image capture even in low-light conditions. The L refers to L (luxury)-series high-end lenses.

4 Indicates image stabilization and autofocusing

IS :: Indicates a lens equipped with an image stabilizer
STM :: Indicates a lens capable of smooth, quiet autofocusing that is suitable for shooting movies
USM :: Indicates a lens that offers fast and quiet autofocusing that is suitable for capturing fast-moving subjects

Which lenses are best suited for wild bird photography?

The most important consideration when photographing birds is the focal length, referred to in no. 2, above. If possible, it is best to use a lens with a focal length of 300mm or longer; using a lens that is at least 250mm is highly recommended, because it will enlarge birds that are far away.
Using an extender to extend the focal length may help, but could result in darker images and the autofocus function may not work properly under certain conditions. These are things that need to be checked before use.

What is a "zoom lens" and what is a "fixed focal length lens"?

Zoom lens

Zoom lenses allow the user to adjust the focal length. Such lenses are useful because the photographer can select the best focal length for the image. The minimum and maximum focal lengths are indicated in the lens name, such as "55-250mm."

Fixed focal length lens

Fixed focal length lenses have just one focal length. Many such lenses are lightweight and offer a “large aperture” performance. The focal length is indicated by a single number in the lens name, such as "50mm."

one point advice

I want the birds to appear larger in my photographs.

There is much to like about super telephoto lenses, but they are big, heavy and expensive. As an alternative, you can take a high-resolution photograph and fill the frame with the bird by cropping the image it later. Cropping can dramatically change the appearance of a photograph and can often be performed using the image-editing software bundled with your camera. But, be aware that excessive cropping can greatly reduce the image quality of your photo.

how to photograph wild birds