If you’re a serious sports or wildlife photographer then you need to own at least one telephoto lens in your kit bag. These lenses make it easier to get close to your subject without having to get too far away from the action and can help you achieve a clear image with little distortion.

There are many uses for a telephoto lens but they are especially useful when you’re trying to take pictures of distant subjects or animals such as birds or landscapes. They enable you to pick out details in the distance and also allow you to achieve a more blurred background which can be desirable for portraits.

Sony’s FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 OSS GM is a great option for people who want a telephoto lens that covers an extremely wide range of focal lengths. It’s compatible with teleconverters, so you can extend its range to double the size of the lens, and it also comes with a 2-stop optical stabilization system to reduce camera shake.

This is a top-quality, professional grade telephoto lens that’s perfect for sports photographers or those who are looking to capture large-scale events like football matches or concerts. It has an incredible focal length of 100-400mm which means that you can bring your subject right up close to them and it’s not much bigger or heavier than a normal 70-200mm lens.

It’s not as sharp as some telephoto primes but it’s still quite good and it’s a great choice for those who want a professional grade lens that offers excellent optical quality at a reasonable price point. It’s not quite as compact and lightweight as the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master OSS but it’s very quick to focus and has an excellent autofocus system that is perfect for use with Sony’s latest mirrorless cameras, including the A9.

Sigma has thrown its weight behind this lens, making it a seriously well-specced piece of optics. It has 19 elements in its complex optical path, featuring a pair of aspherical elements, six FLD (‘Fluorite’ Low Dispersion) elements and two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) elements. There are also a number of sophisticated coatings to minimize flare and ghosting.

Handling is also top-notch and the lens features a fluorine coating on the front element, as well as a comprehensive weather-sealed construction. The autofocus system is fast and unerringly accurate, while image quality is superb in terms of resolution and contrast.

Until more dedicated telephoto primes become available, this is the best option for those who are looking for a telephoto lens that’s capable of taking advantage of Sony’s latest APS-C mirrorless cameras. It’s a little expensive for the size of the lens, but it’s a superb quality and a very effective choice for anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level.

Samyang’s 135mm f/1.8 FE is a rival to Sony’s own 135mm f/1.8 G Master lens, and it’s packed full of high-end features at an affordable price. It offers excellent image quality with minimal color fringing and distortion, and it’s a very quiet focusing lens, ideal for using with Sony’s eye-tracking AF mode in portraiture.