As a photographer, you know that the right lens can make all the difference in your shots.
Whether you’re shooting photos of wildlife or landscapes, having the right lens can help you capture amazing images.
When it comes to capturing wildlife, you’ll want a lens that can help you zoom in on your subject so you can keep your distance while also providing a wide field of view.
You’ll also want a lens that is fast and can handle low-light conditions.
If you’re looking for the best Canon wildlife lenses, read on to learn more about our top picks.
In a hurry? Here’s the quick rundown:
- ⭐ Best Overall Canon Lens for Wildlife Photography
- 🦁 Best Canon Lens for Long-Distance Wildlife Photography
- 🐯 Best Canon Lens for Medium-Distance Wildlife Photography
- 💸 Best Budget Canon Lens for Wildlife Photography
How to Choose the Best Canon Lens for Wildlife Photography?
Focal length: A longer focal length is generally better for wildlife photography, as it allows you to capture distant subjects without getting too close. Examples of good canon lenses for wildlife photography with long focal lengths include the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM, EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Aperture: A fast aperture (low f-stop number) is important for wildlife photography as it allows for a shallow depth of field, which can help to isolate the subject and make it stand out from the background. A lens with an aperture of f/4 or lower will allow for good low-light performance and give more bokeh.
Image stabilization: Image stabilization is important for wildlife photography, as it can help to reduce camera shake and capture sharp images of moving subjects.
Durability and Weather-Sealing: Wildlife photography often requires rugged, durable lenses that can withstand the elements. Look for lenses with weather sealing to protect against dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures.
Table of Contents
10 Best Canon Lenses for Wildlife Photography
1. Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Maximum aperture: F4
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 600 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- Image stabilization rating: 5 stop(s)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 3050 g (6.72 lb)
- Diameter: 168 mm (6.61″)
- Length: 448 mm (17.64″)
- Materials: Magnesium alloy
- Sealing: Yes
The best wildlife lens for Canon is the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM.
The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM Lens is the perfect tool for wildlife photographers using Canon cameras.
With a super UD, fluorite, and aspherical element design, this lens offers superb image quality and resolution.
The ring-type Ultrasonic Motor AF system provides fast and accurate autofocusing, while the optical image stabilizer ensures sharp images even in low light conditions.
The weather-sealed design and fluorine coating make this lens resistant to dust and moisture, making it ideal for outdoor photography.
The detachable, rotatable tripod collar makes it easy to set up and take down your camera gear, while the rounded 9-blade diaphragm creates beautiful bokeh effects.
I love this lens because it offers great image quality, fast and accurate autofocusing, and a weather-sealed design that is resistant to dust and moisture. This lens is also relatively lightweight for its size, making it easy to carry around when you’re out photographing wildlife.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Feels comfortable in the hands
- Exceptional image quality
My Cons With This Lens:
- It does cost a penny, but worth it
2. Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Maximum aperture: F4
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 500 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops claimed)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 3190 g (7.03 lb)
- Diameter: 146 mm (5.75″)
- Length: 383 mm (15.08″)
- Materials: Magnesium alloy barrel, metal mount
- Sealing: Yes
The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Lens is a high-performance wildlife lens that’s perfect for capturing stunning photos of animals in their natural habitats.
With its two fluorite and four aspherical elements, the lens delivers superior image quality and reduced aberrations, while its sub-wavelength coating minimizes ghosting and flare.
The ring-type ultrasonic motor AF system ensures quick, accurate autofocus, and the optical image stabilizer provides up to 4 stops of compensation against camera shake.
Additionally, the lens features a weather-sealed design for protection against the elements, as well as a detachable, rotatable tripod collar for easy mounting on a tripod or monopod.
And thanks to its rounded 9-blade diaphragm, the lens produces beautiful bokeh effects.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Manual focusing comes very easy
- Focuses very fast
- Gorgeous colors
- Very sharp wide open
My Cons With This Lens:
- Costs a pretty penny but worth it
3. Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Maximum aperture: F4
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 200–400 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops claimed)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 3620 g (7.98 lb)
- Diameter: 128 mm (5.04″)
- Length: 366 mm (14.41″)
- Materials: Magnesium alloy barrel
- Sealing: Yes
The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens is a powerful and versatile tool for wildlife photographers using Canon DSLRs.
With a built-in 1.4x extender, this lens offers a huge zoom range of 200-400mm, making it ideal for shooting everything from birds to big cats.
The fast f/4 aperture lets you shoot in low light conditions, while the Optical Image Stabilizer ensures sharp, blur-free images.
The ring-type Ultrasonic Motor AF system is quick and quiet, making it ideal for tracking moving subjects.
The weather-sealed design and fluorine coating offer protection against the elements, while the detachable, rotatable tripod collar makes it easy to switch between
My Pros With This Lens:
- Sharp image quality
- The build is superb
- Has a rotating tripod collar
- Has an integrated teleconverter
My Cons With This Lens:
- The cost
- Bit on the heavier side
4. Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 400 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- Image stabilization rating: 5 stop(s)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 2840 g (6.26 lb)
- Diameter: 163 mm (6.42″)
- Length: 343 mm (13.5″)
- Materials: Magnesium alloy
- Sealing: Yes
From Canon, a world leader in optics and imaging, comes the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens.
This incredible piece of engineering is perfect for wildlife photography, thanks to its top-of-the-line optics and image stabilization system.
With a fast f/2.8 aperture, you’ll be able to capture razor-sharp images even in low light. The UD and Fluorite elements provide superior image quality, while the Super Spectra and Air Sphere coatings reduce ghosting and lens flare.
The ring-type Ultrasonic Motor AF system is fast and accurate, while the customizable electronic focusing ring lets you fine-tune your shots.
The optical image stabilizer ensures that your images are blur-free, while the weather-sealed design protects against the elements.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Pretty light for a 400mm
- Great optics
- The level of control over background blur is great
My Cons With This Lens:
- Pretty penny
5. Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Maximum aperture: F4.5 – 6.3
- Minimum aperture: F22 – 32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 60–600 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- CIPA Image stabilization rating: 4 stop(s)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 2700 g (5.95 lb)
- Diameter: 120 mm (4.72″)
- Length: 269 mm (10.59″)
- Sealing: Yes
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens is a versatile telephoto zoom lens that is perfect for wildlife photography.
With a focal length range of 60-600mm, it offers a wide field of view that is ideal for capturing detailed images of animals in their natural habitat.
The lens is also equipped with a number of impressive features, including three FLD elements, one SLD element, and a Super Multi-Layer Coating that helps to reduce glare and improve contrast.
Additionally, the Hyper Sonic AF Motor provides fast and accurate autofocusing, while the Intelligent OS Image Stabilization system minimizes camera shake for clear and sharp images.
The lens is also made from durable materials, with a brass bayonet mount and a water- and oil-repellant coating that protects against the elements.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Great image stabilization
- The build is phenomenal
My Cons With This Lens:
- A bit on the heavier end
6. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Maximum aperture: F4.5 – 5.6
- Minimum aperture: F32 – 40
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 100–400 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 1570 g (3.46 lb)
- Diameter: 94 mm (3.7″)
- Length: 193 mm (7.6″)
- Materials: Magnesium
- Sealing: Yes
This lens is perfect for capturing wildlife in stunning detail. With a range of 100-400mm, this lens can capture everything from small animals to large mammals with ease.
The Fluorite and Super UD Elements reduce chromatic aberration while the Air Sphere Coating helps to minimize ghosting and flare. And with Optical Image Stabilizer and a rotating zoom ring, you can easily adjust your shot in any situation.
Plus, the weather-sealed design ensures that your lens will stay protected no matter what conditions you’re shooting in.
So if you’re looking for an outstanding wildlife lens, look no further than the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Sharp throughout its zoom range
- I love that it is optically stabilized
- Feels compact in the hands
My Cons With This Lens:
- Noticed minor barrel distortion at 100mm
7. Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Prime lens
- Maximum aperture: F4
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 400 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes (4 stops)
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 2100 g (4.63 lb)
- Diameter: 128 mm (5.04″)
- Length: 233 mm (9.17″)
- Sealing: Yes
Canon’s EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM Lens is a superb wildlife lens, perfect for capturing shots of your favorite animal subjects in stunning detail.
The lens features Gapless Dual-Layer Diffractive Optics to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortion, and an aspherical element and UD element work together to minimize spherical aberration and ensure impressively sharp images.
Additionally, a Sub Wavelength Coating reduces ghosting and flare, while a ring-type ultrasonic motor AF system provides fast, accurate autofocus performance.
Optical image stabilization helps keep your shots steady, even when handholding in difficult lighting conditions and a weather-sealed construction ensures protection against the elements.
The rounded 9-blade diaphragm helps create beautiful bokeh for a natural look.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Feels compact in the hands
- Feels light in the hands
- Build quality is amazing
My Cons With This Lens:
- Hefty cost
8. Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Maximum aperture: F5 – 6.3
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 150–600 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Diameter: 105 mm (4.13″)
- Length: 260 mm (10.24″)
- Materials: Composite with metal sealed mount
- Sealing: No
Capture the beauty of wildlife from a safe distance with the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens.
This lens is perfect for Canon shooters who want to get close to nature without disturbing their subjects.
Featuring one FLD element and three SLD elements, this lens produces beautiful, sharp images with stunning color reproduction.
The Hyper Sonic Motor AF system ensures quick, accurate autofocus, while the OS image stabilization system helps keep your shots steady even in challenging conditions.
And thanks to the rotating tripod collar, you can easily switch between handheld and tripod shooting modes.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Very sharp image quality
- Focuses very quickly which is great
- Has a tripod collar
- Has a zoom-locking mechanism
My Cons With This Lens:
- Bit on the heavier side
9. Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Maximum aperture: F5 – 6.3
- Minimum aperture: F22
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 100–400 mm
- Image stabilization: Yes
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 1160 g (2.56 lb)
- Diameter: 86 mm (3.4″)
- Length: 182 mm (7.18″)
- Sealing: Yes
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens is a high-performance lens designed for wildlife photographers using Canon DSLR cameras.
Featuring a versatile 100-400mm focal length range, this lens is ideal for capturing close-up shots of animals in their natural habitat.
With four SLD elements and a super multi-layer coating, the lens produces clear and crisp images with minimal distortion.
The hypersonic motor AF system ensures fast and accurate autofocusing, while the OS image stabilization reduces camera shake for sharper results.
The rounded 9-blade diaphragm creates beautiful bokeh effects, making this lens the perfect choice for Canon photographers who want to take stunning wildlife photos.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Pretty high build quality
- The optics are stabilized
- Has a quiet AF
My Cons With This Lens:
- n/a
10. Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Lens Specifications:
- Lens type: Zoom lens
- Maximum aperture: F2.8
- Minimum aperture: F32
- Max Format size: 35mm FF
- Focal length: 70–200 mm
- Image stabilization: No
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Weight: 1310 g (2.89 lb)
- Diameter: 85 mm (3.33″)
- Length: 194 mm (7.62″)
- Materials: Metal barrel, metal mount
The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens is perfect for capturing wildlife in stunning detail.
With one fluorite element and five UD elements, this lens produces exceptionally sharp images with minimal chromatic aberration.
The air sphere coating helps to reduce flare and ghosting, while the ring-type ultrasonic motor ensures smooth, fast autofocus.
The optical image stabilizer minimizes camera shake, and the weather-sealed design protects your lens from the elements.
The detached, rotatable tripod collar allows you to easily attach or remove your lens from a tripod without having to unscrew the entire unit.
My Pros With This Lens:
- Build quality is very good
- Smooth focusing
My Cons With This Lens:
- n/a
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 600mm Enough for Wildlife?
600mm is a very long focal length and can be sufficient for many types of wildlife photography. It is ideal for capturing large mammals, birds of prey, and other subjects that are typically found at a distance.
Are All Canon Lenses for Wildlife Photography Expensive?
Canon lenses for wildlife photography can vary in price, with some being more expensive than others. Professional-grade lenses such as the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM, EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM are among the most expensive lenses that Canon offers, as they are designed for high-end photography and have advanced features.
Best Focal Length Range for Wildlife Photography?
A focal length range of 200mm to 600mm is considered ideal for most types of wildlife photography. This range allows you to capture both distant and medium-range subjects, such as large mammals, birds of prey, and other wildlife.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the best wildlife lenses for Canon. With any of these lenses, you will be able to take stunning photos of animals in their natural habitat.
So, if you are a Canon shooter and want to get close to nature, make sure to check out these incredible lenses.
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Nate Torres is a portrait photographer based in Southern California. Outside of photography, Nate specializes in SEO, content marketing, and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder of Imaginated.com, a platform for creator education.
