Photography, and Wildlife photography especially, is very expensive. The big telephoto lenses that are required to get close to wild subjects are costly, but if you are just starting out, or on a tight budget and are interested in wildlife, there are other options that can yield some great results. While I mainly use the heavy and expensive Nikon 200-400mm f/4 for my work, there is another lens that I use very often that is much cheaper (and lighter!).

The Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6  is a relatively inexpensive lens, currently sitting at around $600 NZD. It’s a great lens for wildlife, especially on DX (crop sensor) Nikon bodies where it yields an equivalent focal length of 105-450mm. It is light and relatively small, which is helpful if you are panning with flying birds, or otherwise needing to hold it up for long stretches. It’s not as fast as the 70-200mm f/2.8, or the 200-400mm f/4 that I favour, but it is a lot easier to use and transport, and it is perfect for travelling.

One of the best things about this lens is the versatility, allowing you to capture intimate portraits, and then zoom out and include the landscape in your image. I find it very useful for trying different compositions, and it is easy to swap from landscape to portrait and back again.

I use mine mainly when I’m at University – so it goes to Auckland Zoo, Muriwai, and I also use it for city birds. When I’m at home it is fantastic for photographing the birds that come to our back garden, as I can sit still with it held ready for a long time and not to scare them away. It has gone overseas with me on a brief trip to England, where I used it to photograph Robins.

It has made some of my favourite images, and one in particular (below) has recently been selected as a Finalist in New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year for 2014! Wish me luck for the awards ceremony at the end of October, and go and cast your votes for People’s Choice.

I’d really recommend the 70-300mm to anyone who is on a tight budget, or is just starting out, and wants to give wildlife photography a go. It’s a fabulous lens, and has become significantly cheaper than it was when it first came out.