Birding lens

merv

merv

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Mervyn
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Have Nikon d750 and looking for a good lens mainly for static bird shots. There's the new Nikon 200-500 at £1200 which seems to get good reports. Has anyone any suggestions about the Sigma range, 150-500 and 150-600 etc. For the money are they good.
Merv
 
merv said:
Have Nikon d750 and looking for a good lens mainly for static bird shots. There's the new Nikon 200-500 at £1200 which seems to get good reports. Has anyone any suggestions about the Sigma range, 150-500 and 150-600 etc. For the money are they good.
Merv
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you have got all the good value for money ones there ...... if you are happy with zooms

some very good images have been posted on here with the lens that you mentioned but the 150 500 is now not as popular as the other two

but I would chose a Nikon 300PF plus a 1,4 or 1,7TC ....... just because I prefer primes and also because the set up is much smaller and lighter, it is a very handy setup
 
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Thx for that. What do you think of the 300 f4? A good bit cheaper than the 2.8. I have a 1.4TC already. A new 300 f4 is about the same price as the 200-500. I suppose if you don't like zooms you'll avoid the 200-500. A suppose the 300f4 and buy a 1.7TC would be a good compromise and that would give me 510mm.
I read that the 200-500 with a 1.4TC is a good combo but not if you don't like zooms[emoji2][emoji2]
Appreciate your comments
Merv
 
the AFS 300 f4 is very very good, a classic - same IIQ IMHO as the 300 f4 PF - but heavier and no VR, (no worries generally especially if you support it) - and it takes the Nikon 1,4TC very well .. and you get 420mm at f5.6

not sure about zooms and TC's
 
You're definitely right about zooms with primes, they're a dubious combination.
Didn't know there was a 300 f4 PF. How does it differ from the AFS 300 f4? Does the PF have VR? Is there a price difference.
What about the 1.7TC on this lens
M
 
merv said:
You're definitely right about zooms with primes, they're a dubious combination.
Didn't know there was a 300 f4 PF. How does it differ from the AFS 300 f4? Does the PF have VR? Is there a price difference.
What about the 1.7TC on this lens
M
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There was one for sale on here I think for £1,250 - google or look at HDEW

the PF is smaller, lighter and has VR ........... compare the specs on Wex
 
Just read about the PF version amazingly light and small also has VR. Sounds a good investment must consider. Its a little dearer not a lot
 
merv said:
Just read about the PF version amazingly light and small also has VR. Sounds a good investment must consider. Its a little dearer not a lot
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If you stick it to the DX 7200 + 1.4TC, (I use it with the 1,4 and 1,7) = you get 300 x 1.5 x 1.4 = over 600mm at f5.6

but the IQ on the Sigma looks really good - but it is a big lens
 
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I see the lens at £1470 in Wex but they're looking £160 for the tripod ring. I would want to use the tripod. The 200-500 at £1200 I think includes the tripod support but then I'm going away from primes
 
merv said:
I see the lens at £1470 in Wex but they're looking £160 for the tripod ring. I would want to use the tripod. The 200-500 at £1200 I think includes the tripod support but then I'm going away from primes
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You can buy a tripod ring for under £20 on Ebay, but it's a very light lens and I have only ever used mine hand held, even with the 1,7TC .. and it has VR
I would think that the Chinese tripod ring which I have and @gramps does the job because the lens is so light

300PF
http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/nikon-af-s-nikkor-300mm-f4e-pf-ed-vr-3020-p.asp

200 500 is also under £1000 and 300mm f4 AFS £680

300PF on here has just been sold for £1,025
 
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Thanks Bill. are those prices for 'grey imports'? Seem very cheap.
I see myself shooting mainly in hides so portability not a big issue
Merv
 
merv said:
Thanks Bill. are those prices for 'grey imports'? Seem very cheap.
I see myself shooting mainly in hides so portability not a big issue
Merv
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HDEW have a shop in the UK - they are grey imports with a 2 or 3 year guarantee - check them out (on here) and in reviews
 
Thanks have already contacted them and they have explained their situation
Merv
 
Reading reviews on the 300 f4 PE. Seems an amazing lens think will maybe go for it. Apparently with the lens on camera you don't even need a footplate as its so light even with TCs, just use the camera tripod mount. What do you feel about that??
 
merv said:
Reading reviews on the 300 f4 PE. Seems an amazing lens think will maybe go for it. Apparently with the lens on camera you don't even need a footplate as its so light even with TCs, just use the camera tripod mount. What do you feel about that??
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I am sure that it is possible - as I said I use my 300PF + TC's as a carry around bird lens with my D750 - 90% on the time hand held - also I used it a lot with the D7200

I hardly ever use my 300mm f2.8VR now, I had the 300mm f4 AFS for a few years and that is a marvellous lens
 
Thanks Bill. Just don't like lenses hanging on the mount but this lens is maybe OK. Beginning to think the prime is the way to go with TC and not the 200-500 on balance. Would you agree better to crop a wee bit the 420mm PF image rather than take a 500mm zoom image? Mind you apparently a 1.4TC on the 200-500 is a good combo
Merv
 
Merv

I have no experience of zooms except the 70 300mm VR

For birding I use a 600mm f4 a 300mm f2.8VR and the 300mm PF f4 with the 3 Nikon TCs

You never have enough reach especially with small birds

Budget - you need to get as near to 600mm as you can on your budget if this is the only birding lens that you will get - under £2k gets you a very good set up - 600mm zooms or 300PF + TC's .....after that you are into £5k + for the 400 f2.8, 500mm and 600mm f4

you do not need VR on a tripod

Then it is DX or FX

If you are using a DX .... 600mm gets you 800mm, (technically 900mm) without any loss of light - using a TC will lose you up to two stops of light, (but the 1,4TC only moves you from f4 to f5.6).... it may affect focusing in low light but the IQ at 1,4 will be good .... but when you get to x 2 . you will loose IQ

Getting near - unless you get near you may be disappointed with most of your shots

It is always a compromise ..... you really need a few lens (and bodies) for birding ....... but the main thing is getting near and finding good light ...... you can get lousy images at ISO 200 in bad light and very good images at ISO 4000 + in the "right" light

If you want lightweight, flexibility, v good build quality and IQ, plus VR at f4 or f5.6 get the 300PF ........................ if you want less expensive and 600mm in a big zoom, (there are no small 600mm lens, even zooms), with good IQ consider the Sigma or the Tamron 150 to 600mm ....... and remember zooms IQ degrades as you get to the longer end ...... I believe both produce very good results and the Sigma seems to be favoured, (maybe for it's build quality), but the Tamron sell for well under £1,000 ................... but Nikon have the 200 500mm zoom which needs serious consideration.

Also check focus breathing - some 600mm zooms are less than that because they just are - a 200mm Nikon maybe be 200mm but a 200mm Sony may only be 175mm
 
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Have a look at the bird images taken by members on here with various lenses, that may give you a more 'real life' interpretation than other images on the net.

I use a tamron 150-600 and a Nikon 300 f4 af-s with and w/out a 1.4 tc and am very happy with same as I mainly have them on a tripod or monopod, I've only been taking images for less than 18 months so i'm in no position to offer substantive advice as I still have 'gas' when it comes to lenses..
 
Thanks Tom and Bill for that. After much agonising I have discounted the third party lenses and gone for Nikon.
The Sigma 150-600 SPORT seems a very good lens but is in the same price bracket as the Nikon 200-500. So, today I received my Nikon 200-500 and initial shots around my home are amazing. It is a very feasible lens to hand hold and will definitely work well at f8 on the D750. I also liked the single across the range aperture.
Shot at 1/60 second at 500mm and am delighted with the sharpness at 100 per cent so the VR works very well.
It is a big lens and can't compare with the 300f4 PF for portability. There is also a few hundred pounds price hike on the PF but that wasn't a serous deciding factor. I see myself mostly on a tripod.
Anyhow will try to get some bird shots soon and try to post them.
I normally feel that Nikon lenses are a ripoff but this one seems great value and am pleased to stick to Nikon.
Thanks guys for your unending help.
Merv
 
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