7 Best Canon Lenses for Wildlife Photography in 2024

The best Canon lenses for wildlife photography will help you capture some stunning shots. With the right lens, photographers can take beautiful, detailed images of animals without disturbing them. Our top choice, the Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM, stands out for its lightweight design and innovative features. It’s a great pick for those long days in nature, and we’ll explore six other options that cater to various needs and preferences.

What Is the Best Canon Lens for Wildlife Photography?

Selecting the best Canon lens for wildlife photography involves balancing reach, speed, and image quality. Our curated list includes options that excel in capturing distant subjects with clarity. We also take into account autofocus speed and image stabilization for sharp results in the dynamic outdoors.

Our Favorite Canon Lens for Wildlife Photography

Let’s take a closer look at these Canon lenses. Some have remarkable zoom capabilities. While others offer impressive low-light performance. There should be a lens here to enhance every wildlife encounter. Explore our top picks to find your perfect match.

The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM lens is a sound choice for wildlife photography. Its focal length is ideal for capturing distant wildlife without intrusion.

The lens has an interesting design feature. When not in use, it collapses to roughly 2/3 of its full length. This is because all the elements are in the front of the lens. It means that it fits more easily in a camera bag or backpack. It has a fixed f/11 aperture, which might seem slow. But Canon’s RF mirrorless cameras will cope easily with AF at f/11. And with up to five stops of image stabilization, it’s a tempting choice. Especially as you’ll most likely be using a tripod for your shots.

Weighing just 930g, this lens is notably light for its class, easing the burden during long treks in the wild. However, its lack of weather sealing could be a concern for outdoor photographers who often face unpredictable elements. The lens doesn’t focus all that close. But its images are so sharp they will cope with cropping. There’s almost no falloff, color fringing, or distortion. It’s a great value gem!

In comparison, the Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM, while offering a wider aperture, is significantly heavier and more expensive. The f/11’s slower autofocus in dimmer conditions may miss fleeting wildlife moments. Whereas the f/4’s faster autofocus system excels. Yet, for those prioritizing portability and budget, the RF 600mm f/11 IS STM remains a good option.

The Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM lens is a fast pro-level prime lens. The 600mm focal length is perfect for wildlife photography. You can capture sharp images of distant animals and birds. The f/4 aperture is impressive for a telephoto this long. And its shallow depth of field will help to isolate your subjects from the background. However, the lens is quite heavy, making it less ideal for handheld shooting over long periods.

The RF 600mm f/4L IS USM is part of Canon’s L-Series. These are known for their robust construction and weather sealing. This makes it reliable in challenging outdoor situations. This is a key consideration for wildlife photographers who often face harsh conditions. The lens’s optical performance is exceptional, with two fluorite elements that help produce images with minimal chromatic aberration and excellent sharpness from edge to edge.

Autofocus is quick and precise given the lens size. It is helped by the option of AF limiters, and programmable presets. The AF is pretty much silent, thanks to the ring-type USM motor. The lens also features effective image stabilization, rated for up to five and a half stops of shake reduction. Much of its life might be spent on a tripod, where you won’t need IS. But it’s very useful for handheld shooting. The lens’s size and weight may be a drawback for some. But its optical quality and performance make it a valuable tool for professional wildlife photographers. It comes with its own very nice padded carry bag. But then this lens costs more than I’ve ever spent on a car. So you expect some luxury as well as performance!

The Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM is an extraordinary lens, at an extraordinary price. Once you get past the shock, though, you’re left with a very fast, optically superb telephoto. 

This is an L-Series lens. So it is beautifully made with top components and weather sealing. The autofocus system is a marvel of ingenuity. You can limit its range so that it doesn’t hunt far and wide. But you can also preset up to two focus positions. This allows you to snap back to, say, a bird’s nest the minute a chick appears. There is also the option of programmable powered manual focus. And normal always on MF as well!

The combination of a fast f/5.6 maximum aperture and up to four and a half stops of image stabilization makes this very suitable for wildlife photography in lower light. The IS has several modes to fit your shooting needs. Few photographers, other than specialists, will have the funds to buy this lens. But those who do will have access to one of the finest of its kind. And if 800mm is too short for you, it pairs perfectly with Canon’s 1.4 x and 2 x teleconverters.

The Tokina SZ Pro 300mm f/7.1 MF CF is a prime lens tailored for Canon EF-M mount cameras. On APS-C cameras, it has an equivalent focal length of 480mm. This reach is quite useful for wildlife photography, allowing for detailed shots from a distance. Its f/7.1 aperture, however, is less ideal in low light, often necessitating the use of a tripod or higher ISOs to maintain image sharpness.

This is a catadioptric (or mirror) manual focus lens. The lack of autofocus can be a challenge when capturing quick-moving subjects. But the lens is remarkably light and compact, easing the strain of carrying gear in the field. Its metal construction adds a feel of durability without the bulk. The lens manages chromatic aberration well. The catadioptric design results in characteristic ‘donut’ shaped bokeh. It seems to be a matter of taste whether this is appealing or not.

Mirror lenses looked like they might take over the world back in the 1980s. They were light, relatively cheap, and compact. However, traditional lens quality has outstripped anything we could have imagined back then. And now mirror lenses are quite rare. The lack of autofocus and image stabilization with the Tokina SZ Pro 300mm f/7.1 MF CF may not suit everyone. But for wildlife photographers looking for an affordable entry point into long telephoto lenses, it’s well worth exploring. 

The Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM is a behemoth of a lens. It is designed for those who need unparalleled reach, and who have very deep pockets. Its 1200mm focal length is very desirable for wildlife photographers. It brings the seemingly impossible distant subject within reach. The f/8 aperture, while not wide, is a necessary compromise to maintain a manageable lens size and weight. This lens is not for the faint-hearted or casual shooter. It demands a commitment to carrying and handling a sizable piece of equipment.

Built with the professional in mind, it boasts a sturdy construction and weather sealing. You should be able to use it without anxieties for your outdoor photography. The lens’s sharpness is exemplary, capturing the minutest details of distant subjects. Its image stabilization is impressive, offering up to four stops of correction, which is essential for such a long lens. Fast and accurate autofocus ensures that even the quickest of creatures are captured with precision. And you’ll find the same sophisticated programmable focus and powered focus of the shorter RF 800mm lens.

For those dedicated to wildlife, sports, or astrophotography, the Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM is a remarkable tool. It’s a lens that demands patience and skill but rewards with images of extraordinary detail and clarity. You can even extend its reach with the same 1.4 x and 2 x teleconverters as its smaller cousins.

The Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG is an absolute beast. It has to be because it zooms from 200-500mm with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Its ability to maintain f/2.8 from 200mm to 500mm is exceptional. You might think you’ll need to use a tripod to shoot with this lens. You’d be wrong, unless you have a TV-standard fluid head setup. Otherwise, this is just too big.

Optically, the lens is equipped with low-dispersion elements that ensure sharp, high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration. The autofocus is reasonably quick, but the sheer size of the lens elements means it may not match the speed of smaller lenses. Lacking built-in stabilization, photographers must rely on other methods to minimize camera shake. It is power-hungry and has its own built-in rechargeable battery.

For professionals capturing wildlife or action sports, the Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 offers unmatched aperture size at extreme focal lengths. It comes complete with a 2 x teleconverter, that turns it into a hard-to-believe 400-1000mm zoom. However, its bulk and the need for additional support equipment make it less practical for those requiring mobility and hand-held shooting.

The Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM is a remarkable prime lens for wildlife photographers. Its 800mm focal length is perfect for photographing animals without disturbance. And the f/5.6 aperture, while not the widest, still allows for a shallow depth of field and decent low-light performance. The lens’s image stabilization is crucial, offering up to 4 stops of shake correction. This is particularly beneficial when shooting handheld.

This lens is part of Canon’s L series, ensuring professional-grade build quality and durability. It’s constructed with lightweight materials like magnesium and titanium, making it easier to handle despite its size. The autofocus is quick and accurate, essential for tracking fast-moving wildlife. There are focus presets, and selectable IS too, both of which are valuable for wildlife photography.

There’s no doubt that this lens is heavy and requires support for extended use. But its optical performance, with minimal chromatic aberration and excellent sharpness, makes it a valuable tool for serious wildlife photographers.

Conclusion: The Best Canon Lenses for Wildlife Photography

Selecting the right Canon lenses for wildlife photography can be a daunting task. But this article has highlighted some of the best options available in 2024. Each lens offers a unique combination of focal length, aperture, and features like image stabilization and weather sealing, tailored to suit different needs and preferences. Whether you’re a professional looking for top-tier performance, or an enthusiast seeking a budget-friendly option, there’s a lens on this list that can meet your wildlife photography requirements.

Our top choice, the Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM, stands out for its lightweight design and effective stabilization, making it ideal for long treks and steady shots. It’s a good balance of reach and portability. For those with different priorities, the six other lenses offer a range of features, from extreme reach to low-light capabilities, ensuring there’s a choice for every wildlife photography challenge.