The bread and butter of sports and wildlife photography, super-telephoto lenses are a mainstay for shooters looking to both capture distant subjects and fill the frame with smaller subjects like birds. Super-telephoto lenses—lenses that typically start around 400mm—are also the type of lenses around which many shooters build their entire system; a good telephoto lens is something photographers might want to prioritize before choosing a camera, as it’s something with a longer lifespan than most digital cameras nowadays.
Whether the purchase represents an entry into the world of sports and wildlife photography, a leveling up in your game, a rounding out of a cultivated lens collection, or the desire to clearly see things at a remove, this roundup will give you the lay of the land for the top lenses in the category across the major brands.
Canon
Canon has perhaps the most robust stable of super-telephoto options for its RF-mount mirrorless cameras, especially among the primes. Starting with the RF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM option, the top models increase in length while closing by a stop, with the RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM, the RF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM, and culminating with the incredible RF 1200mm f/8 L IS USM behemoth.
For something a bit more modest, there are two slower, fixed aperture primes: the RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and RF 800mm f/11 IS STM. Both come in at a fraction of the price of the L lenses and still bring image stabilization and autofocus, at the expense of some aperture flexibility and image quality. Another option with baked-in super-telephoto versatility, the RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM zoom lens offers image stabilization and swift and near-silent autofocus along with a focal length range to cover a wide variety of subject types.
Nikon
While Nikon’s Z-mount mirrorless offerings don’t quite have the same reach as Canon’s, they do match in speed and build quality. The thoroughbreds in the stable are the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S and the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S primes, each bringing Vibration Reduction, Nikon’s Silky Swift VCM autofocus, and a built in, 1.4x teleconverter that can push the reach to 560mm and 840mm, respectively.
The best-value primes are the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S and the NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S, which hit a sweet spot in terms of speed and size to be very usable, handholdable lenses for wildlife photography and birding. Nikon’s longest option, the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, also exchanges some speed for a more modest price and sports a Phase Fresnel element to reduce its weight and length in addition to its VR and STM AF capabilities. These three super-tele primes are also perfect options for those looking to travel with a long lens, since their overall length and weight is significantly less than Nikon’s fastest super-telephoto primes.
Finally, Nikon also has an exceptionally sharp super-tele zoom, the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens, which features VR and STM AF. This lens matches the 600mm f/6.3 prime at the long end, offers a close focusing distance of just 4.5’, and comprises an expansive zoom range that makes it suitable for a wide variety of subjects—it’s the most versatile super-telephoto in the Z-mount lineup.
FUJIFILM
FUJIFILM released a super-telephoto zoom lens back in 2022: the XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens that that has a 229-914mm equivalent range for exceptional versatility. Adding to this impressive range is built-in OIS, a relatively portable build, and a sophisticated optical design.
In 2024, FUJIFILM debuted its first X-system super-telephoto prime, the XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR, which offers a 762mm-equivalent focal length. Interestingly, FUJIFILM has also released the GF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR, a 396mm-equivalent prime for their medium format system. Both of these lenses share an optical layout, OIS, and AF tech, with the lenses differing in mount and length, as well as color, with the X model being a shimmering white and the GFX version being a sleek black.
Micro Four Thirds
Micro Four Thirds has long been a favorite format among sports and wildlife photographers, with its 2x sensor crop effectively doubling the equivalent full-frame perspective and the format lending itself to smaller camera and lens constructions. The standout prime for the format is the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S., which offers a 400mm-equivalent field of view along with a bright f/2.8 maximum aperture.
For a quality zoom option, the OM SYSTEM M. Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC 1.25 IS PRO achieves a 300-800mm-equivalent range and an integrated 1.25x teleconverter extends this further to an effective 375-1000mm range. The lens is OM SYSTEM’s flagship, offering high-speed AF and 8-stop IS while managing to keep a compact and lightweight form factor for handheld use.
Some other super-telephoto zooms for Micro Four Thirds include OM SYSTEM’s M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm f/5-6.3 IS and a pair of Panasonic options, the Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 II ASPH. POWER O.I.S. and the Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4-5.6 II POWER O.I.S.
Sony
Full frame E-mount shooters have a pair of G-Master level super telephoto primes to choose from—the FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS and FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS—with both bringing renowned optical designs and speedy performance to the top tier in Sony’s lens line. While by no means compact and lightweight, these beasts of image quality both benefit from Sony’s patented OSS and AF technologies for easier, more reliable use.
Sony also makes a G series super-telephoto zoom, the FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS, which also features OSS and AF capabilities along with more versatility in focal length and sporting a much more affordable price tag.
Sigma
Sigma also offers a super-telephoto prime, the 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports, which is available for both L-Mount and Sony E cameras. A rarer focal length for the category, the lens is handholdable thanks to its impressive optical design and further features, image stabilization, quick AF, and a robust build. Although its maximum aperture is modest, the lens’s affordability makes it an attractive option.
This list is by no means comprehensive—there’s plenty other great options out there for sports and wildlife photographers, or anyone in need of a long focal length. If you have other suggestions or thoughts about the super-telephoto category for mirrorless cameras, be sure to let us know down below!
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