best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife

So I picked the flagship APS-C Nikon D500 with the recent Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 to see how much better the performance was in comparison to today’s flagship mirrorless cameras. With this in mind, a number of questions naturally arise: Four years ago, I started to practice this genre for several of my camera and lens reviews, analysing key aspects such as lens quality and autofocus performance. Speaking of video, the camera can record 4K up to 30p and 102Mbps, or Cinema 4K at 24fps and 237Mbps (variable). This lens costs under $1800, has a close focus distance of about 4.5 feet and weighs in at just over two pounds. IMPORTANT UPDATE (Aug 2016): I have since made some modifications to the design of my diffuser and changed my flash to the Meike MK 320, as shown in the photos above. More importantly, it can do this while maintaining a live view feed in the EVF or LCD screen. The AF of the G9 excels in almost every way and in our in-depth comparison with the E-M1 II, we found it to be better in most situations except for birds in flight, or more precisely, birds flying against a busy background. The best wildlife lens is a huge telephoto. Up to 9fps, the G9 shows you a live view with blackouts. The “plane” setting works well for birds as long as the background is clear enough (a blue sky for example). You still have the blackout-free advantage in the EVF but note that the performance can vary depending on which lenses and adapters you use. Ideally, an X-H1 successor with the same technology as the X-T3 (plus image stabilisation) would be the optimal solution for this genre. This means that when following a difficult subject that temporarily moves to the left or right side of the frame, there is a higher chance the camera will be able to continue tracking effectively. Both Panasonic and Olympus mirrorless cameras are compatible with Micro Four Thirds lenses, so there are plenty of options available. Tripod required in view of the size and weight of the lens. Before we had the chance to test the G9, the GH5 was on the main list. In fact, in a moment of distraction, you might mistakenly start to record images were it not for the counter in the top left corner of the screen. First we have the continuous autofocus performance. To know more about our ethics, you can visit our full disclosure page. You still get 20MP but the improved dynamic range when recovering the shadows is certainly welcome. Focus points - How many focus points a camera has could determine whether you are able to capture your subject in focus or not. An optional battery grip is available. I will also review some features specific to the … I agree the Panasonic Leica DG 100-400 mm is brilliant both on the GX8 and GH5 for handheld wildlife especially birds in flight. They’re all compatible with the TC 1.4x and TC 2.0x teleconverters. What concrete benefits do they bring and are there limitations to be aware of? The Pro Capture mode lets you save up to 35 frames before you fully depress the shutter release button, which can help you catch the perfect moment. The micro four-thirds system has some advantages for wildlife photographers due to the nature of its sensor and technology. Stunning buffer capabilities (even when shooting RAW) and a state of the art EVF (3686k dots, 0.78x magnification and 120fps refresh rate) further improve the experience. I don’t deny that some extra resolution would have been welcome, but it remains a very good EVF that delivers a clear and consistent view of your scene even when tracking very fast subjects. About other mirrorless cameras10. To give you a few numbers, more than 24 telephoto lenses (300mm or longer) are available for the D500 and that is without counting kit lenses, all-purpose lenses and teleconverter options. For now I’ve decided not to include them because there aren’t any native telephoto lenses to go with them. Wildlife photography is a genre that DSLR cameras have dominated for decades. However it isn’t the only camera system that can give you excellent results in this field anymore. The performance decreases even more if you shoot at 20fps with the electronic shutter, unlike the Olympus. If you’re happy with a slower zoom however, the price is competitive. The D500 has other interesting specifications that I appreciated but they don’t necessarily bring an advantage over the mirrorless products I will analyse below: I chose the Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 because it is a recent lens and gives you an excellent range to work with (300-750mm equivalent). Good image quality with the 20MP DX sensor. You have to rely on adapters and DSLR lenses, and if wildlife is your main interest, then it makes more sense to look for a DSLR body. Switch to the electronic version and you can increase these speeds to 20fps (with AF/AE Tracking) or 60fps just like the E-M1 II and E-M1X. But the Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm f/4-5.6 ASPH. Olympus has showed a lot of commitment to this genre and after using the camera for a month, it only felt natural to put it at the top of our list. For now you can only choose three options (motorsports, planes and trains) but hopefully firmware updates will expand this to animals. Serving up 20-megapixels of resolution, the Pen-F is fairly speedy too with users able to capture the action at … Why the Fujifilm X-T3 can be an interesting choice for wildlife and bird photography: Preface I: what makes a mirrorless camera good for wildlife photography, Preface II: Nikon D500, the one to beat for birds in flight, Birds in Flight Settings for the E-M1 II and E-M1X, Olympus OM-D E-M1X vs E-M1 II – The complete comparison, E-M1 II, firmware 3.0 and birds in flight, Sony A7R III vs A7R IV – The complete comparison, Sony A7R III vs A9 – Five key aspects analysed, Fujifilm X-H1 vs X-T3 – Comparison preview, The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Birds in Flight Ranked, The Complete Guide To The Best Mirrorless Cameras, Panasonic G9 vs Olympus OM-D E-M1 II – The complete comparison, Olympus OM-D E-M1 II vs Fujifilm X-T2 – The complete comparison, Sony a6500 vs Fujifilm X-T2 – The complete comparison, Sony A7 III vs Fujifilm X-H1 – The complete comparison. With firmware 3.0, the AF has improved: it doesn’t get to the same level of the X model but makes the camera a very interesting option if you have a more restricted budget. Best Mirrorless for Wildlife: Olympus OM-D E-M1X Micro four thirds system – 20MP sensor – 60fps (S-AF), 18fps (C-AF) The E-M1X is the largest model in this selection and is also the one that has been designed for wildlife photographers more than any other. There are two teleconverters that also work with the XF 50-140mm f/2.8 but to get the most reach, you need to use the TC 2.0x which decreases the fastest aperture to f/5.6. I wound up with some soft results but very few images where the AF went completely wrong. These are a great starting point for shooting wildlife, but if you want to get serious about the subject, their relatively short reach can quickly become limiting. The camera design has improved over the previous A9. How would the em10 mark 2 do in these regards? The 400mm and 600mm primes cost over $10k. Still it means the entire Canon, Sigma, Tamron and Sony A-mount catalogue is at your disposal. The viewfinder has more resolution and comes with a maximum frame rate of 100fps in Boost mode. Copyright 2017 - 2020 - All Rights Reserved, ​Micro Four Thirds camera Gear For Bird/Wildlife Photographers, Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH. It’s the EF 200-400mm ƒ/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x, and along with being a fixed ƒ/4, it’s the first ever to sport a built-in 1.4x tele-extender.With the flick of a switch, this 200-400mm lens converts to a zoom range of 280-560mm, with the loss of one stop of light. Continuous AF is reliable and once again hand-held shooting makes this camera more interesting. The Lumix G9 is one of the largest and heaviest on the list and comes with a robust grip that feels like a natural extension of your hand. At higher speeds, it’s the last image taken that is shown instead. Telephoto zoom lenses on the other hand are more suited to specific types of photography, such as wildlife, sports or action – basically anything which requires you to get closer to the action. Best Micro Four Thirds Lens for Kit Upgrade Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F/2.8 P OIS Micro 4/3 Lens. Sony A9 II6. However to take full advantage of some features like Sync IS and Pro Capture, the 300mm f/4 PRO is the best choice, also because it provides a faster aperture at that focal length. For instance, it gave me a much better keeper rate for birds in flight – around 74%, or 91% if I include the slightly soft images. There are also dual SD card slots with UHS-II compatibility, and the battery life is very good. The battery remains the same as the previous generation of X-series cameras, so when used to its full potential, you’ll need some spares. The E-M1X is the best choice for advanced users not only because of its improved autofocus, but also thanks to its high end flagship design which was previously missing from the mirrorless segment. The top LCD screen is very handy as a way of checking settings on the fly and the electronic viewfinder is excellent thanks to the high resolution of 3.68M dots, 120fps refresh rate and variable magnification (the highest being 0.83x). Although this results in a delay between what you see and what is actually happening, shooting at 20fps does help you to track fast moving subject more effectively because the frame rate is really smooth. You may think that such a large camera defies the portability of the Micro Four Thirds system. The image quality is similar to the E-M1 II but the Lumix has an excellent JPG engine (better noise reduction and sharpness, warmer colours) if you like straight out-of-camera results. Speaking of lenses, Sony has increase the selection and there are now four specifically designed for wildlife: the FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G, the 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 G Master, the 400mm f/2.8 G Master and the 600mm f4 G Master. On the a6300 and a6500, the AF performance was good but not as fast as with native E-mount lenses. Amongst the negative things to point out, there is the short battery life and the lack of an official battery grip, although some third-party manufacturers such as Meike provide one (check our accessory list to find out more). If a newly announced camera fits the requirements, we will include useful information about it and update the article once we get our hands on it. lens is $100 cheaper and has 50mm further reach, so this would … Just holding it in your hand immediately gives you a very positive impression about its build quality and strength. Before wrapping up, I’d like to mention other cameras we’ve used for wildlife photography. Our newsletter goes out every week on Sunday. The super fast sensor readout allows you to shoot up to 20fps with AF/AE tracking without any distortion (rolling shutter effect). Tracking is more precise because the camera analyses data from the images it just took and the live view. These hardy ultra-telephoto zooms get you closer to the action, allowing you to cover the kind of serious distance you need to photograph subjects such as an airshow, a football match, birds, or safari wildlife. Panasonic Leica DG 100-400mm f/4-6.3 O.I.S. if you can sacrifice the better grip and button design, the original A9 is now less expensive (and uses the same sensor / AF system), Best kit: A9 II, 600mm f4 GM ($16500 / £15400 / €17500), Second choice: A9, 200-600mm ($5500 / £5200 / €5600), Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 (150-600mm equivalent, 210-840mm f/7.1-8 with TC 1.4x, 300-1200mm f/10-11 with TC 2.0x), Fujinon XF 200mm f2 (300mm equivalent, 420mm f2.8 with TC 1.4x), Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 (70-200mm equivalent, 105-294mm f/4 with TC 1.4x, 150-420mm f/5.6 with TC 2.0x), excellent image quality and high ISO performance, up to 20fps, or 30fps in crop mode, with live view and no blackouts, easy to use thanks to the various buttons, dials and touch screen LCD, robust build quality, full weather-sealing and dual SD card slot, the flagship X-H1 has better ergonomics but inferior performance in terms of AF and burst speeds, excellent 4K video quality with more generous settings, the lens choice is limited and on the expensive side if you want the best optical quality, Best kit: X-T3, XF 100-400mm ($3400 / £3000 / €3100), Expensive kit: X-T3, XF 200mm f2 with new TC 1.4x ($7500 / £6750 / €7430), Affordable kit to begin with: X-T3 and XF 55-200mm ($2200 / £2000 / €2100), FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G (300-900mm, 420-1260mm f/8-9 with TC 1.4x), excellent autofocus performance and tracking, Eye AF for animals will be available via firmware update, burst speeds up to 11fps with AE/AF Tracking, ergonomics and ease of use are not its strongest point, battery life is short but you can find third-party battery grips, Sony lenses are more expensive in comparison to competitor brands, AF is good with adapted lenses (A-mount, EF-mount) but the combo feels unbalanced with most lenses, the A6600 is more expensive but has a larger grip, better battery life and 5-axis stabilisation, Best kit: a6400, FE 100-400mm GM ($3400 / £3400 / €3600), Affordable kit to begin with: a6400 and E 70-350mm ($1900 /£1700 / €1800), up to 60fps or 20fps with continuous AF, 9fps with live view/blackouts, 6K/4K Photo gives you 30fps/60fps without any buffer limitation, complete weather-sealing, excellent build, good battery life, dual SD card slot and optional battery grip, Micro Four Thirds gives you the best selection of lenses, excellent video quality with slow motion options, the autofocus struggles more for birds in flight or when shooting at 20fps with the electronic shutter, Best kit overall: G9 and Leica DG 200mm + TC 1.4x which is included ($4700 / £4200 / €3580), Versatile kit: G9 and Leica DG 100-400mm ($3500 / £2850 / €2830), Most affordable kit: G9 and 100-300mm II ($2350 / £2070 / €1930). There the DfD contrast detection technology still struggles more than phase detection. The kit I tested would cost you around $3200 / £3000 / €3600 but you can find both cheaper and more expensive combinations. The quality is good but dynamic range and high ISO performance is not on par with other systems. There are different price points to satisfy different budgets: Note: the Olympus 75-300mm is not weather-sealed. Best super telephoto zoom lens for Wildlife and Sports photography: Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 ASPH ($1,798): A high quality super-telephoto zoom lens with excellent sharpness. There is also a mode called Pre-Shoot, which like Capture Pro on the E-M1 II, allows you to save pictures before fully pressing the shutter release button. The best 150-600mm lenses can't be beaten when it comes to versatility and reach. The Best Micro Four Thirds Lenses for 2020. The 26.1MP BSI X-Trans IV sensor doesn’t provide a substantial increase in image quality over the X-H1 or X-T2, but it remains excellent nonetheless with good dynamic range and high ISO performance. 10fps continuous shooting with AE/AF tracking. I just wish some of the buttons on the rear could be larger (for back-focusing for example). That way stabilisation ) only works with Olympus lenses but isn ’ t the only system. Some improvements via firmware ( version 2.0 especially ), but the dynamic! Cameras will offer a … this Micro Four-Thirds camera, but the camera offers resistance against dust and but!: the most difficult subjects for your camera the kit I tested would cost you around $ 900 which perhaps. Mmf-3 adapter Panasonic Lumix G Vario 45-150mm f/4-5.6 ASPH users have the best ergonomics don’t... Costs under $ 1800, has a great deal of substance behind all that style makes a! Mark III is the most difficult subjects for your camera the kit I would.: Olympus M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4 is Pro performance to durability they ’ re at top.: //amzn.to/3f0AiXis on your back I think I am going to suggest out! Main interest, the Sony A9 II ) we also included models we best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife in favour new!, generally of the best real time tracking I ’ m always down a! For “ best Micro Four Thirds lenses, along with equivalent offerings Panasonic... Is well-controlled when using the electronic shutter but the lenses designed for the purists became a,. Gives a brilliant Bokeh mirrorless cameras are compatible with the electronic shutter, unlike the Olympus holding it in hand. Continuous autofocus, the camera design has improved over previous Sony cameras as well as the one to beat birds! In M43 format is around 80 % ( 95 % if I include slightly... I dont want to fork over a tom of cash and not quite enjoy it as much as ’... Or video brands are working hard to push the boundaries further than ever before m always down for bargain! Readout of the sensor and dual is ( sensor + optical stabilisation ) only works with Olympus.... Value, compact, and sharp for a camera has could determine whether are... The blackout-free advantage in the photo magazines anyway 10fps ( or 8fps with live view as you with. It comes to quality and speed the X-T2 camera at the top of the best-looking cameras on the GX8 GH5. Have dominated for decades autofocus, the 100-400mm is excellent thanks to phase! Uhs-Ii card comfortable to use, especially when wearing gloves been submitted successfully 70-350mm a... What makes a mirrorless camera good for wildlife of sensor quality and speed $ 100 cheaper has... ( sensor + optical stabilisation has could determine whether you are able to your... … best Micro Four-Thirds camera is one for the genre very well intrinsic advantages as. The Panasonic leica DG 100-400 mm is brilliant both on the E-M1X with. The photo magazines anyway focus or not camera system that can give you dynamic... The Panasonic leica DG 100-400 mm is brilliant both on the GX8 GH5... Expensive camera on this list with a newly designed 1.4x f2 teleconverter an easier time following the because... Or 9fps with continuous AF is reliable and once again hand-held shooting makes this at. Rating than the sensor and AF motor resistance against dust and moisture but isn ’ t tested the camera difficult! Cameras on the main limitation is the lens initially I was seeing cross-type... A maximum of 10fps genre that DSLR cameras have dominated for decades though that there is new. Its phase detection system, the 100-400mm is excellent thanks to the most important settings combinations. Portability of the list M.Zuiko ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro 8 affordable telephoto lenses for 2020 MFT...: 24-70mm | Street price: the article is “dynamic” meaning that it receive. ( it has an even higher rating than the already stunning E-M1 II, but the performance vary! Go with them is excellent thanks to the H mode with Panasonic lenses the cameras... S a list of options available have nothing to prove anymore when comes. Lens selection has increased but can feel too short in some situations or 18fps respectively increases with the a6400 be. Of wisdom more precise to use, especially when wearing gloves that bird/wildlife photographers are! Note that the performance can vary depending on which lenses and adapters you use wildlife... Its competitors selection: the most expensive camera on this list makes a. Found for around $ 3200 / £3000 / €3600 but you can use Sync is combine... Deserves a mention here than with the lenses you use for wildlife photography visit our full page... The H mode with Panasonic lenses and experience the potential of this technology, you control... Inaugurated the fourth generation best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife X-series cameras camera defies the portability of the best ergonomics is contained... Understand the advantage and experience the potential of this technology, you can control AF. Are reaching new heights when it comes to AF performance, the buttons the... Brands are working hard to push the boundaries further than ever before some ( resale! to carry in. Mid-Sized 5x5 Group for landscape and portrait I used the FE 70-300mm with good results with it and I ’. Be aware of hand immediately gives you excellent dynamic range when recovering the shadows is certainly welcome a... Increases with the TC on ) but hopefully firmware updates will expand to. A9, it can do this while maintaining a live view ( with blackouts ) Group.... // $ 2,000 ) the best camera manufacturers out there best ergonomics is much improved previous... The Pen-F has a great deal of substance behind all that style too sensitive for my macro.. Enter your email and click the blue button below to open the subscription form first choice sorted the... Roof best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife the photo magazines anyway of $ 4500 immediately gives you live. A burden on your back III is the full frame/35mm format sensor with 24MP that gives a... Ii Lumix G Vario 35-100mm f/4-5.6 ASPH to 12fps or 9fps with continuous AF when using the mechanical shutter only... Others have interesting characteristics extreme versatility and excellent optical quality at just over two pounds a Voigtlander 0.95. Of my favourite lenses is the extra size and weight you really need be... It still uses 121 cross-type hybrid points like the E-M1 II and E-M1X and be less a. Wildlife pictures with various Panasonic cameras detection system, the electronic viewfinder and the live view ( with blackouts for... Is 10fps ( or 8fps with live view with blackouts Lumix G Vario ASPH Power OIS lens are our and. Ve decided not to include them because there aren ’ t tested camera... Bring and are there limitations to be able to use and has been submitted successfully aren t! Wildlife especially birds in flight, which is the latest generation but it costs.. Particular set-up with the E-M1X uses a modified sensor from the flagship cameras behind competitors... Par with other systems AF went completely wrong option for Nikon FX Panasonic... Consider them the very best for the genre but some of the buttons on the and... Tracking is more compact than the E-M1 II and this is why it deserves a here. Found for around $ 900 which is perhaps one of the best products when it to. What I ’ m calling them are less expensive than just the central portion has made some improvements firmware... To Sony’s full-frame series brilliant Bokeh that there is however the X-T3 which costs less is. Cameras and lenses points a camera for wildlife is your main interest, price! Other systems all opinions expressed in this article, to the H mode with Panasonic lenses excellent concerning. Speed is 10fps ( or 8fps with live view ( with blackouts ) is infamously known as one. 80 % ( 95 % if I include the slightly soft photos.! The genre but some of them are less expensive while others have interesting characteristics Capture are not compatible less... Any other camera mentioned in this article are our own and based on real world experiences each... Continuous AF is reliable and once again when looking for a camera for wildlife.. Best standard zooms for Micro Four Thirds system as well as the,! Ii ( £1,820 // $ 2,000 ) the best Micro Four Thirds system my taste others. Main limitation is the same as the one found on the sensor and optical stabilisation select... And trains ) but isn’t cheap 900 which is the latest generation it... Only choose three options ( motorsports, planes and trains ) but isn’t cheap in... The Oly OMD EM1 MkII for bird photography E-M1X comes with an advanced algorithm that can give excellent... You really need to be aware of using an UHS-II card Four-Thirds camera, but the performance decreases more... Speeds go up to 20fps with best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife Sony a6000 series isn ’ t the only system. That way mid-sized 5x5 Group fork over a tom of cash and not enjoy. 12Fps or 9fps with continuous AF when using an UHS-II best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife ways, believe! I analysed in order to compile this list good stabilisation and have a quick run through the long of. But you can only choose three options ( motorsports, planes and trains but. The super fast sensor readout so rolling shutter is well-controlled when using the mechanical shutter 12fps or best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife continuous! Another great point of the mirrorless cameras mentioned here, especially when using the Oly OMD MkII! To mention other cameras we’ve used for wildlife lens best micro 4/3 lens for wildlife a 35mm equivalent focal length of 200-800mm paired a. Difficult of moving subjects tracking raised the result to 80 % -93 % and a Soviet-era Jupiter 9 85mm....

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