May 16, 2023

What's My Favorite Big Telephoto Lens?

What's My Favorite Big Telephoto Lens?

My new Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC is the sharpest lens I own. It is a fantastic and versatile lens. On safari in Kenya, with the polar bears in Canada and capturing the bison in Yellowstone, the new Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC helped me make the best wildlife photos of my life! In the dugout for baseball, or on the sidelines for football and rugby, a fast-focusing, wide-aperture 400mm lens with an internal 1.4x converter is the perfect choice!

Owning a big telephoto lens will change your picture and video creations. It will allow you to capture subjects at a distance and create spectacular isolation with a cleaner background. You need to decide whether the amazing photos from a "BIG LENS" are the best place to spend your money and make your award-winning photos.

My decision on a big lens is based on:

  • Image quality: superb sharpness, contrast and color
  • Speed: fast focus and tracking
  • Versatility: capturing every situation

For me and most of my sports and wildlife friends, the right "big lens" is the 400mm f/2.8. Why? The 400mm focal length is the right size for sideline shooting at sporting events. It allows us to capture game action and sideline portraits with one lens. 400mm is often the best choice for larger animals in the wild. For smaller beasts and birds you can easily add a 1.4x converter for wildlife at 560mm, birds or distant action. A 2x extender takes your 400mm to 800mm for extreme distances.

The f/2.8 aperture is a requirement for shooting in low light, for fast and accurate focus, and most importantly for the creamy out-of-focus background. There is no substitute for an f/2.8 lens to make those amazing photos!

Traditional 400mm f/2.8 lenses were beasts at over ten pounds and $15,000. The new generation has dropped to six pounds, and quite a cost savings!

  • Canon RF 400mm f/2.8: $11,999, 102 oz
  • Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S: $13,999, 104 oz, includes a built-in 1.4x converter
  • Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM: $11,999, 102 oz

Many of you will ask, "What about a zoom?" You can choose a zoom telephoto, but with lower resolution, slower apertures and lower focus performance. I prefer the discipline and performance of a prime telephoto lens.

"What if I can't afford $10K for a lens?" Look for an older-generation used lens, or save for the lens of your dreams. Once you shoot with a 400mm f/2.8 you will be hooked!

Be sure to watch What's in Mark's Bag and Why for more insight.

Don't believe me? Read what three amazing photo gurus have to say: