cheechwizard Loc: New Richmond, Oh.

Hi ya folks, I’m thinking that I would like to try some nature photos. Specifically birds. I’m retired and those high dollar telephoto lenses are out of my budget. Can someone recommend a decently priced lens that will allow me to try this and see how it works out and maybe I’ll go back to work and save up. Not sure if it matters but I have a Canon 60D. Thank tons!

Dave327 Loc: Duluth, GA. USA

The canon EF 75- 300mm is not a great lens, but reasonably priced and takes decent photos. There is one for sale on this site today for $90. I use it for birds in my yard at 30 to 50 feet. If you want longer reach look at this site, eBay, and Craigs List.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Knowing your camera is important. For wildlife you really want a lens that reaches to 400mm, even on your cropped EOS 60D. When working from a budget, you should shop used, possibly discontinued models, that may have a risk of no repair options. But, most lenses, especially Canon's L-series, are built to last forever. Online sources for used include eBay, MPB and KEH. Your 60D is limited to a configuration of f/5.6 or brighter. Everything listed below will be compatible for the focal length and aperture requirements of your camera. Just google each model with 'used' in the search and you'll begin to get pricing ideas.

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM w/ Canon Extender EF 1.4X III for 420mm at f/5.6
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (the original push-pull)
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary

Any of these ideas will get you started without needing to upgrade unless you fell onto some money later, that is, not buying entry level and then buying again later. They're all just older models of what used to be (or still are) cutting edge technology except for being smaller apertures best suited to daylight shooting. If the day came when you upgraded your camera, all these lenses would migrate seamlessly to a new Canon EOS body.

A general purpose option for the backyard, covering the flowers, butterflies, squirrels and the birdfeed is a newer model: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM. Alas, if walking around the neighborhood pond, you'll probably be back looking for something longer.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Sigma 150-600C. Usuall less than $1000

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

You might want to rent a lens from one of the reputable places like Lensrentals ( https://www.lensrentals.com/ ) - one of the ones already mentioned above - just to get a sense of what it takes to handle them etc. - including if you will need to use a tripod

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Go to http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm to calculate the field of view for any focal length lens at any distance. Plus many other calculations. You will need your sensor's crop factor. If your bird is 6" tall, you can tell at what distance it would take to fill the frame at any given focal length.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Some as mentioned,

Canon 400mm f5.6 L

Canon 70-300mm f5.6 IS II

Tamron 100-400 f6.3

The older Sigma 120-400 f5.6 OS DG
.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

What is your price range? Decently priced, out of budget, high dollar are all relative terms.

A good entry level lens is the 400mm F5.6 which you can get for under $1000. That fits your description. It does not have stabilization, but it does offer excellent sharpness, and very light weight, making it hand-holdable.

The Sigma 100-400 and the Tamron 100-400 are both pretty good. The Sigma is sharper, the Tamron offers a tripod collar. Both are short and light enough to hand-hold, and are around $800 new, and $600 used. I would pass on the old Sigma 120-400 - slow focusing, not very sharp at 120mm and Sigma likely does not support it with parts anymore. A Sigma 50-500 is decent as well, not as sharp as the others, but available with stabilization for under $800 used.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If you want to shoot hand held, I recommend a lens with image stabilization (Canon IS, Sigma OS or Tamron VC).

Some of the lenses mentioned in previous responses lack that, so will often need some sort of support such as a tripod or monopod, or an especially fast shutter speeds to minimize risk of camera shake blur.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

A little help would go a long way. What do you mean by "decently priced" and "my budget"? An actual number would REALLLY help.

OK. Lacking a real number, there is no help. Just give us a number.

In fact, if you truly want help, tell us what lenses you have now, what you like to photograph and what kind of birds you are thinking about. Shooting hawks over a mile on a ridge is very different from migrating sparrows.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Sigma 150-500 is at a good price used. I don't know if I miss that extra 100mm on the newer models.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

I've had an 80D for about 4 years and bought an EF 70-300 f4-5.6 IS II soon after I bought the camera. In fact, it is one of the primary reasons I moved from a bridge camera to the 80D. I am very happy with it.