Bird photography

Hi andreas,

The longer the better for bird photography. If you end up with a fast lens (f4 or greater) you may even be able to use a teleconverter to get even closer to the birds. The longer faster lenses can be extremely expensive.

For the Nikon system I can not recommend enough their 300mm AF-S F/4 lens. It is very sharp fully open at F4 and it also has a very short minimal focus distance of 1.4m. So on the odd occasion where that bird allows you to get very close to it you can get some amazing close up shots without having to step back. It does not have VR stabilisation although that is only useful if your subject is not moving and birds move most of the time or the branches they are standing on are moving. I own one and its my favourite lens. You can also use a 1.4x TC with it. That makes it a 420mm f5/6 and you dont lose a huge amount of sharpness fully open and once stopped down a little its great.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/1909/AF-S-NIKKOR-300mm-f%252F4D-IF-ED.html#tab-ProductDetail.ProductTabs.TechSpecs

If you want to spend more then get a faster 300mm F2.8 or then you can go to a 600F4 or 400 F2.8.

The everyday zooms are generally slower and not as sharp wide open as the primes. Best bang for buck though in my opinion is the 300 AF-S F/4.

Good luck.