Do Jessops

store check the lens you are interested,this will tell you if in stock
 
Do a Google search for your nearest store, Should turn up with a phone number. Mine did.
 
For what it's worth the 400 2.8 is much bigger than the 120-300 2.8. They are in completely different leagues!

Here are the two next to each other:

DSC_5901-01.jpg


The 400 2.8 is quite different from the 120-300 handling wise. It has an excellent shoulder strap that makes carrying it a breeze. The tripod collar is built in (the Sigma one comes off). You will probably need to replace the tripod foot itself on the 400 to a lower profile Kirk or Wimberley one.

The thing that annoys me about the Sigma lenses is that the finish on them is so prone to scratching. I take the lens collar on and off the sigma each time it comes out of the bag and the marks on the lens where it fits are awful :(

The Sigma wil fit in a Lowepro Nature Trekker with hood on and body (no grip) attached.

The 400 needs a dedicated long lens bag such as the Lowepro 600 or a Kinesis L622.

HTH
 
I can only help with the 120-300. If you never had a fast long lens before you'll be amazed by the size and weight of it. But it is very usable and you can handhold it for short periods of time, even though I wouldn't advice it just for the lack of IS, even tough I did have a few keepers while handholding this lens.

These are a couple of 100% crops of handheld shots of a female blackbird.

f/2.8
IMG_59451.jpg


f/3.5
IMG_5973.jpg


These are unprocessed, no sharpening at all. Sorry about the noise, I did apply a bit of noise removal on the background for the final photo but I'm uploading a completely unprocessed photo just to show how the lens performs. THe 3.5 photo is a beauty with just a little bit of USM.

Even though I do like this lens a lot, and i managed to get some photos i would only dream of before (check out my flickr account) my suggestion would be, if you can afford it, to go for a long prime. Don't get me wrong, the lens is great but with wildlife, and especially small birds, you can never have enough reach, and I keep the 1.4X teleconverter always on my lens. I am saving money to get either the canon 500mm, or the 600mm and I am actually thinking of checking out the Sigma 300-800 mm.

Dont know if Nikon does something similar to the Canon 500mm f/4 L, but if you intend to do a lot of trecking, the combination of weight and reach oo that lens makes it a no-brainer.
 
B**ger, I was up near Glasgow for a week in November. I would happily have let you use the 200-400mm for the day.
Unless you plan on coming down here sometime??? Just be aware though. For handholding it can be quite heavy after a while...


Kev.
 
That 400 does look nice!!!! Oh no here we go again.....
 
kevshore said:
That 400 does look nice!!!! Oh no here we go again.....
Click to expand...

Luckily I'm cured lusting after big glass... I find anything over even say a Nikkor 24-70 just gets left at home nowadays.

I found the 120-300 too big really... just looking at the 400mm pulled a muscle thinking about it :)
 
it looks insane lol

if you come near to newcastle soon you can try out the 120-300

sorting through pics from today at present taken with it and alot was wide open, wil add a link later
 
Had my Nikon 300 f4 out today and it just isnt long enough. I was at ISO 800 on the D300 so i didnt want to use the 1.4tc that i have due to the lighting conditions. Just cant get close enough. I think a 400 f2.8 s the way to go as it would usually be fine with the tc.But then again a 500 or a 600.........lol...
 
If you really want to know what the big glass is like you need to borrow or hire it for a day. You really need a real shoot to play with it and for you to have to live with it all day/weekend.

Above things like the 70-200 VR (or 70-200 2.8 IS for the Canoneers) you are talking some seriously weighty glass. Lovely glass, but weighty glass.

Its not for everyone and a day out with a loaner will let you know (via back pain probably) whether or not your potential several grand toy will spend time laughing at you everytime you get back from the chiropracter...
 
markyboy.1967 said:
Im sure i could find Calumet.At this stag im just looking and not sure if i want to take this on or not.Would be great to see and handle a few bigger lenses to give me an idea if i could live with them or not.
Click to expand...
In Glasgow Calumet are in Oakbank Industrial Estate, just off the M8 at Cowcaddens.
There's an Edinburgh branch too if you are more easterly.
they also have some rental stock so may have the lenses that you are interested in for you to try for a day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top