If you’re looking to get into animal photography, you’re going to need a good lens. Honestly, wildlife photography requires more than just a good camera. it’s the lens that truly brings distant animals into sharp focus.
Whether you’re taking shots of birds in flight or doing animal photography, having the right Canon lens can take your wildlife photography passion to the next level.
In this article, I will share the 5 best Canon lenses for wildlife photography for capturing those amazing shots of animals in their natural habitat.
Table of Contents
1️⃣ Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens ( Best Canon Lenses For Wildlife Photography )
The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens is one of the best lenses for wildlife photography.
Thanks to its lightweight design, superb image quality, and accurate autofocusing.
It also features an optical image stabilization system that helps reduce camera shake when shooting in low light or at longer shutter speeds.
This lens is also weather-sealed, making it a great choice for outdoor photography.
The Canon 600mm lens is the perfect lens for anyone who wants to get closer to the action, whether they’re shooting sports or wildlife.
With a focal length of 600mm, this telephoto lens will let you capture close-up shots that other photographers can only dream of.
And with a fast aperture of f/4, you’ll be able to shoot in low light conditions without having to worry about losing any quality.
✅ Lighter Super Canon Telephoto Lens for Wildlife:
With the new Canon EF 600mm, f/4L is III USM Lens, you can now have your telephoto lens and carry it around with you too.
It’s significantly lighter than its predecessor, making it much easier to take with you on your travels.
This lens also delivers amazing image quality thanks to its advanced optical design, which includes four fluorite elements.
So whether you’re shooting wildlife or sports action, you can be sure of getting stunning results.
✅ Premium Image Quality:
This lens is the third generation of Canon’s EF 600mm f/4L series, and it continues the tradition of providing outstanding image quality.
The new version has been updated with a number of new and improved features, including lighter weight and smaller size.
But at its core, this lens still captures the brilliant images that have made it so popular.
✅ Optical Image Stabilization:
It also features an optical image stabilization system that helps reduce camera shake when shooting in low light or at longer shutter speeds
Additionally, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens has a rounded 9-blade diaphragm that creates beautiful bokeh in your images.
✅ Minimize Ghosting and Flare:
When you’re out in the field taking pictures, you don’t want to worry about your lens getting ruined by ghosting or flare.
With Canon’s Super Spectra Coating (SSC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC), you can rest assured that your lens is protected against these elements.
Ghosting occurs when light reflects off of the surface of the lens, while flare happens when light hits the sensor directly.
By minimizing both of these, Canon has made sure that its lenses are resistant to damage and produce crystal images.
✅ Increased Heat Shield:
This lens has been designed with increased heat shielding measures, making it ideal for use in hot and humid conditions.
The lens coatings have also been specifically formulated to resist algae and fungal growth, so you can be sure your shots will always be clear and sharp.
✅ Dust & Water-resistant:
This is a must-have feature for anyone who plans to do a lot of photography in dusty or wet conditions.
The dust and water-resistant construction of this lens help to keep your shots clear and free of blemishes, while the fluorine coatings help to repel water and fingerprints.
👍 Lens Evaluator Score:
No matter what type of photography you’re into, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens is an excellent choice.
It’s one of the sharpest lenses I’ve ever used, and it produces stunning images with beautiful bokeh. The build quality is top-notch, and it comes with a robust carrying case.
If you can afford it, this lens is definitely worth the investment. I would give it 99 out of 100 ratings.
🤷♀️ Final Verdict:
This Canon EF 600mm f/4L III USM Lens is a great investment for anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level.
With its fast and accurate autofocus, as well as its weather-sealed construction, this lens will let you capture stunning images in almost any condition.
And although it’s a bit on the expensive side, real users say that it’s worth every penny. You can consider it the best lenses for animal photography.
2️⃣ Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens ( Best Canon Lens For Bird Photography )
Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens is a high-performance best canon lens for wildlife photography that offers superior image quality, accurate autofocus, and a weather-sealed design.
This lens is equipped with a ring-type ultrasonic motor AF system that is fast and accurate, and a 9-blade diaphragm that creates beautiful bokeh.
The optical image stabilization system reduces camera shake, making it easier to capture sharp images.
I have been a professional photographer for over 20 years, and in that time I have used many different cameras and lenses.
But when it came to choosing a lens for my new Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, there was only one choice for me the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens.
This lens is simply the best on the market, and it has everything a professional photographer could ever need.
In this review, I will share with you why I believe this to be the case.
✅ EF Mount:
The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens is a powerful telephoto lens that is compatible with the Canon EF mount.
This allows it to be used with a wide variety of Canon cameras, including both DSLRs and mirrorless models.
The lens itself is constructed from high-quality materials and features a durable casing.
It also has an impressive maximum aperture of f/4, which gives it great low-light performance.
✅ Ultra-low Dispersion Glass with Fluorite Elements:
When you want to take clear and sharp pictures, you need a lens with low dispersion glass. This feature allows the camera to capture all the details in an image without losing any quality.
The fluorite elements in this particular lens also help reduce chromatic aberration, which can often spoil photos.
So if you’re looking for a top-quality lens that will produce stunning images, this is definitely the one for you.
✅ Quick & Autofocus ( Best Canon Lenses For Wildlife Photography )
The inner focusing ring on this Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens is a great feature that allows for quick and easy focusing.
With this feature, you can simply turn the ring to focus the lens, rather than having to fiddle with the focus knob on the camera body.
This makes it much easier to get sharp images, especially when shooting moving subjects.
✅ Image Stabilization:
The Image Stabilization feature prevents the camera from shaking and vibration, which can ruin a photo.
With this feature, you can take clear photos even if your hands are shaking or the subject is moving around.
✅ Micro UltraSonic Motor – USM:
The Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM) is a feature that is unique to Canon lenses.
This focusing system uses high-frequency sound waves to drive a lens element in the desired direction very quickly and with great accuracy.
The result is fast, precise, and quiet autofocusing that can keep up with even the most erratic subjects.
👍 Lens Evaluator Score:
This is the best lens for bird photography if you really know what you’re doing. If you don’t, it’s ridiculously hard to use.
I would only recommend this to professionals or people who have a lot of experience with photography. Even then, I would give it a rating of 94 out of 100.
🤷♀️ Final Verdict:
After doing my research and testing the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens, I would have to say that it is one of the best Canon lenses for wildlife photography and this is the number one choice on the market for professional photographers.
It takes stunning photos and is very easy to use, even for beginners. Highly recommended!
3️⃣ Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens ( Best Lens For Wildlife Photography )
The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens is one of the best lenses for animal photography thanks to its built-in 1.4x extender that increases the zoom range between 200-400mm.
With a fast f/4 aperture, this lens is also great for low-light photography and video work.
Plus, the optical image stabilization system helps to reduce camera shake and blur.
The weather-sealed design makes this lens ideal for outdoor photography, and it comes with a removable tripod foot for added stability.
The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x is a top-quality lens, and if you’re looking for a versatile option to extend your focal range, then this is the ideal choice.
I was initially hesitant about spending so much on a camera lens, but after doing my research and reading reviews from other photographers, I decided that the investment would be worth it.
The results speak for themselves the images I’ve been able to capture with this lens are simply stunning.
If you’re serious about photography, then I highly recommend considering the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x.
✅ High-Performance Zoom Lens:
This powerful zoom lens from Canon is ideal for capturing subjects at a distance, as it provides up to 400mm of focal length.
Additionally, the 1.4x extender means that you can get even more reach if needed.
The image stabilizer ensures that your photos are sharp and clear, even when taken at full zoom.
✅ Chromatic Aberration:
Chromatic aberration is a problem that often occurs with long telephoto lenses, but this lens has been specifically designed to correct it.
It does this by using two different kinds of glass in the construction of the lens elements.
This gives you better image quality and sharper photos, especially when shooting at the long end of the focal range.
✅ Inner Focusing for Ring USM Autofocus:
The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x is a telephoto zoom lens with an inner focusing system that uses a ring USM (ultrasonic motor) for fast and quiet autofocusing.
This feature comes in handy when you’re trying to take pictures of things that are far away, or if you need to be discreet when taking pictures.
✅ Optical Image Stabilization:
The Optical Image Stabilizer on the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x provides up to four shutter speed stops of correction.
Which is extremely helpful when shooting in low light or at long focal lengths.
This feature helps reduce blur and camera shake, ensuring that your images are crisp and clear.
👍 Lens Evaluator Score:
I recently had the opportunity to use the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens, and I was impressed with its performance. This is one of the best Canon lenses for animal photography If you are a serious professional.
The build quality is excellent, and the image quality is very good. The autofocus is fast and accurate, and the zoom range is impressive.
There are some drawbacks, however. The lens is expensive, and it’s not compatible with all Canon cameras.
Additionally, the 1.4x extender decreases the maximum aperture by one stop, which can be a problem in low-light situations.
Overall, I would rate this lens 97 out of 100. It’s an excellent option for anyone who needs a versatile telephoto lens for their Canon camera system.
🤷♀️ Final Verdict:
Overall, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x is a high-quality and durable lens that is capable of producing great results.
It is well-suited for professionals and serious amateurs alike. Though it is on the expensive side, many feel that it is worth the investment.
4️⃣ Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens is one of the best wildlife photography lenses on the market.
It features a fast f/2.8 aperture and superior image quality thanks to its super spectra and air sphere coatings.
It also has an ultrasonic motor AF system that is great for capturing fast-moving subjects.
Additionally, its optical image stabilization system will keep your images sharp and free from blur.
I am an amateur photographer, and I recently decided to purchase a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L III USM Lens.
After doing extensive research on which lens would be the best for me and my photography.
This particular lens has been getting rave reviews from professionals and hobbyists alike, so I thought I would give it a try.
The price was right! I have been using this lens for about a month now, and I absolutely love it! It has made such a difference in the quality of my photos.
✅ Lighter Super Telephoto Lens:
Lenses can get pretty heavy, particularly super telephoto lenses like this one.
This particular model is designed to be lighter than other similar models on the market, making it easier to carry around and use for extended periods of time.
Even though it’s lighter, it doesn’t sacrifice any quality or performance it’s still a top-of-the-line lens that will produce amazing results.
This particular feature is very helpful, especially when you are out on a nature hike or shooting in low-light conditions.
The lens has been revised and the new optics make it even better than before.
As it’s now lighter and stronger, that makes it perfect for carrying around with you.
✅ Super Spectra Coating (SSC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC):
This feature is important because it cuts down on ghosting and flaring, which can ruin a photo.
Ghosting occurs when light reflects off the surface of the lens while flaring happens when light hits the edges of the lens.
Both of these problems are mitigated by Canon’s Super Spectra Coating (SSC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC).
✅ Increased Heat Shielding:
If you like to shoot in difficult conditions, this is the lens for you. It features increased heat shielding measures that make it more reliable in extreme temperatures.
Whether you’re shooting in the desert or in the Arctic, this lens will help you get great results.
✅ Dust- and Water-Resistant with Fluorine Coatings:
No one wants to have to deal with a lens that’s caked in dust or water, and with this feature, you won’t have to.
This EF 400mm f/2.8L is III USM Lens from Canon features fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements that repel dust, water, fingerprints, and even stains from cosmetics and lotions.
👍 Lens Evaluator Score:
Customer reviews for the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens are extremely positive, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Out of 24 customer reviews, 23 gave it a perfect 5-star rating, while 1 reviewer rated it at 4 stars. Testimonials included: “This lens is just unreal!”
“The best telephoto lens on the market,” and “Absolutely love it!” The one customer who didn’t rate it perfectly said that the lens was “very good,”
but noted some autofocus issues when used with their specific camera body. However, they still gave the lens high marks overall and said they would recommend it to others.
With such overwhelmingly positive feedback, I can confidently say that this is an excellent product and give it 99 out of 100 ratings myself.
🤷♀️ Final Verdict:
Overall, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L III USM Lens is the best canon lenses for wildlife photography that offers excellent value for your money.
It’s well-built, takes stunning photos and videos, and is compatible with a wide range of cameras.
If you’re looking for a high-quality lens to take your photography or videography to the next level, this is an excellent choice.
5️⃣ Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is the best bird photography lens and it offers a zoom range of 100-400mm.
This fluorite and super ud element lens have been designed for full-frame Canon DSLRs and it also features an air sphering coating that helps to reduce ghosts and flares.
The optical image stabilization system in this lens helps to reduce camera shake and the weather-sealed design makes it resistant to dust and moisture.
I’d been wanting to get a telephoto lens for my Canon DSLR camera for the longest time, but I could never justify the expense.
But when I saw the price of the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens, I knew it was time to take the plunge.
This is an amazing lens it’s so versatile and takes such sharp images.
Plus, with image stabilization built-in, you can be sure that your photos will come out looking great even if you’re hand-holding the camera.
If you’re in the market for a telephoto lens, I highly recommend this one!
✅ Compact Design:
This is a great lens for travel or animal photography. The compact design means it won’t weigh you down and is easy to carry on outdoor photoshoots.
✅ Rotary Zoom Ring:
This feature gives you more control over the zoom, making it easier to get the right angle or composition that you want.
The rotary zoom ring is also smoother and quieter than a standard linear zoom, so you can make adjustments without disturbing your subject or drawing attention to yourself.
✅ Improved Zoom Torque Adjustment Ring:
If you’re the type of photographer who likes to zoom in and get up close and personal with your subject matter, then this is the lens for you.
The improved zoom torque adjustment ring on this 100-400mm Canon EF lens makes it easier to get just the right amount of focus and capture those perfect shots.
✅ Air Sphere Coating (ASC):
When shooting with a telephoto lens, it’s important to have as little glare and reflection as possible.
That’s where this lens’ Air Sphere Coating comes in handy.
This special coating helps to significantly reduce both of those things, making for much better photos overall.
✅ Highly Resistant to Dust and Water:
This is a great feature for anyone who wants to use their camera in tough conditions, as it means that the lens won’t get clogged up with dust or water.
This resistance also extends to other particles like sand and dirt, so you can be sure that your pictures will always be clear.
👉 Lens Evaluator Score:
It’s very versatile, with a wide zoom range that lets me get great close-ups or take in the whole scene.
The autofocus is fast and accurate, and the image stabilization means I can get crisp, clear photos even when shooting handheld.
It scores highly with me, and judging by the customer reviews on Amazon it seems to be a hit with other photographers too.
There are over 1,000 reviews on Amazon at the time of writing this blog post, and it has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
People love this lens, saying things like this is an outstanding lens and the sharpness and color rendition are superb.
There were a few people who had issues with autofocus hunting in low-light conditions but otherwise, everyone seemed to be really happy with their purchase. I would have no hesitation in recommending the Canon EF 100-400mm lens.
🤷♀️ Final Verdict:
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is a highly versatile and sought-after lens by many professionals and hobbyists alike.
The image quality is excellent, and the build quality is solid, making it a great long-term investment.
If you’re in the market for this type of lens, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens should be at the top of your list.
👉 General Questions About Canon Wildlife Lenses
✅ Is 400mm enough for wildlife photography?
The 600mm lens are excellent choice when capturing birds and animals that are at a distance. On the other hand, the 400mm lens is perfect for taking close-ups of birds and animals. So Both lenses are very handy in different wildlife photography situations.
✅ What focal length is best for wildlife?
For wildlife photography, you can Consider 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, or even 800mm lenses when taking long-distance shots of animal photography with great details.
Conclusion:
I tried your shared detailed ins and outs of the 5 best Canon lenses for wildlife photography. Now you can pick your next lens according to your requirements and needs. Although these lenses are a little expensive in my opinion but are made for professionals. These are a great choice and a worthy investment.
I hope you like this post, please share your comments if you have any questions.
You can also read our interesting article:
Happy Animal Photoshoot 🙂