Buying guide
A long lens for wildlife and sport
How much reach you need for birds, animals and sport, why light matters so much at long distances, and six telephoto zooms worth buying used.
Shutterswoop · Updated 26 October 2026
The short answer
For sport and larger animals, 300-400mm is usually enough; for birds, aim for 500-600mm or more. Long zooms are heavy and expensive new but hold up well used. On an APS-C camera, every lens reaches about 1.5× further, which makes small, cheap zooms surprisingly capable.
How much reach do you need?
| Subject | Reach (full-frame) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Children's sport, dogs | 200-300mm | You're close to the action, and it's fast-moving |
| Football, rugby, motorsport | 300-400mm | You're at the edge of the pitch or track |
| Deer, zoo animals, safari | 300-500mm | Large animals, but you can't get close |
| Garden birds | 400-600mm | Small subjects; patience helps more than reach |
| Birds in the wild | 600mm and beyond | Small, wary and far away |
Why light matters so much
To freeze a running dog or a bird taking off, you need a fast shutter speed, often 1/1000s or faster. Long zooms are usually f/5.6 to f/8 at full stretch, so on a grey British day the camera will push the ISO up. Modern cameras cope well with that, and a sharp, slightly grainy photo beats a blurry clean one.
Stabilisation helps you hold the lens steady, but it can't freeze a moving subject: only shutter speed does that.
Weight is the hidden cost
A 600mm zoom is a serious thing to carry on a long walk. If a lens is too heavy to take with you, it doesn't matter how good it is. Try to hold one before buying, and think about a monopod for long sessions.
Six long zooms worth buying used
Best small long zoom, Sony APS-C
Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
Sony E · 70-350mm · f/4.5-6.3 · Zoom
Good for: Walks, holidays and garden birds on an a6000-series camera
A huge amount of reach for its size. Canon APS-C owners can look at the Canon RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM.
What's good
- Frames like about 525mm on full-frame
- Stabilised
- Small enough for a day bag
Worth knowing
- Made for APS-C only
- f/6.3 at the long end needs good light
Best value, Canon
Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
Canon RF · 100-400mm · f/5.6-8 · Zoom
Good for: Trying wildlife or sport without spending much
Surprisingly sharp for the money, and light enough to take everywhere. Even more reach on an APS-C body like the R7.
What's good
- Light for a 400mm zoom
- Stabilised
- Very affordable, especially used
Worth knowing
- f/8 at the long end needs good light
- Plastic build
Typical UK prices for the Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM →
Most reach for the money, Canon
Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM
Canon RF · 800mm · f/11 · Prime
Good for: Birds and distant wildlife on a budget
An unusual lens that works well in good light. The Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM is the shorter, easier-to-handle sibling.
What's good
- 800mm for a fraction of the usual price
- Stabilised
- Collapses shorter to carry
Worth knowing
- Fixed f/11: needs bright light
- No zoom, so close subjects won't fit
Best all-rounder, Sony
Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
Sony E · 100-400mm · f/4.5-5.6 · Zoom
Good for: Sport, wildlife and anything in between
A lens you can carry all day and use for almost any distant subject.
What's good
- Sharp
- Quick autofocus
- Much lighter than the 200-600mm
Worth knowing
- Costs more
- 400mm can be short for small birds on full-frame
Typical UK prices for the Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS →
Best for birds, Sony
Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Sony E · 200-600mm · f/5.6-6.3 · Zoom
Good for: Birds and shy wildlife
Very popular with bird photographers, so there's usually plenty of choice used.
What's good
- 600mm reach
- Stabilised
- Zooms inside the barrel, so it doesn't grow longer
Worth knowing
- Big and heavy
- Too long for most sport up close
Typical UK prices for the Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS →
Best all-rounder, Canon
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Canon RF · 100-500mm · f/4.5-7.1 · Zoom
Good for: Serious wildlife and sport
The lens many Canon wildlife photographers end up with. Buying used takes a big bite out of the price.
What's good
- 500mm reach
- Tough, weather-sealed L-series build
- Sharp, with excellent stabilisation
Worth knowing
- Expensive, even used
- Heavier than the cheaper Canon zooms
Typical UK prices for the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM →