New lens

[gazza2168]

Right, i am getting drawn more towards bird/wildlife photography more and more, and the question is IF i had to spend the money on just one lens, could some of you point me in the right direction. Thinking more of bird shots would something along the lines of a nikon 80-400 VR f4.5-5.6 serve the purpose? It would be coupled with a D300? Thanks.

 

[Martyn...]

Right, i am getting drawn more towards bird/wildlife photography more and more, and the question is IF i had to spend the money on just one lens, could some of you point me in the right direction. Thinking more of bird shots would something along the lines of a nikon 80-400 VR f4.5-5.6 serve the purpose? It would be coupled with a D300? Thanks.

I have owned that lens, I sold it after I got the 300 f4 AF-S + 1.4TC, the prime plus TC was sharper wide open, and focused faster.

The 300 f4 AF-S will also work perfectly well with the 1.7TC which will give you a 510mm f6.7.

Last time that I looked there was not much difference in the price of the 300/4 to the 80-400.

As an added bonus with a minimum focus distance of 5 feet, the 300/4 makes a great Butterfly / Dragonfly lens.

Here is an example of the D300 300/4 AF-S + 1.7TC @ f7.1 (ISO3200)

 

[gazza2168]

thanks for that martyn, had a quick look about and they do go for similar money, only thing is the TC pushes me too far over budget.

 

[Martyn...]

thanks for that martyn, had a quick look about and they do go for similar money, only thing is the TC pushes me too far over budget.

Looking on camera price buster, the 80-400 is £1146 new, and the 300/4 £966 + 1.4TC £299 = £1265, personally I would say for pure image quality the extra £120 is well worth it.

Used the 300/4 is around £700, the 80-400 £750.

I have a fair stash of lenses, the 300/4 is one of my sharpest.

But I do understand budget constraints, may I suggest getting the 300, then saving up for the TC and adding it later.

 

[gazza2168]

just as a matter of fact, is the 300 f4 fast enough and sharp/long enough to use as is?

 

[Martyn...]

just as a matter of fact, is the 300 f4 fast enough and sharp/long enough to use as is?

You never have enough reach with birding, the 300/4 on it's own would be OK from a fixed hide with birds getting close, it is certainly fast enough, and as I said it is really sharp.

You may be better off exploring the Sigma xx - 500 zoom, I see a few people using them for birding, I know a few on here rate them.

 

[gazza2168]

would i lose a lot of sharpness if i used a third party TC, like a jessops one or kenko, and would it slow the AF?.

 

[Martyn...]

From what I have read the Kenko ones are pretty good, but I have never tried one myself.

 

[rob-nikon]

I went for the Nikon 300mm f4, I tried the Nikon 80-400mm and the sigmas but i thought the 300mm f4 was the best so i went for that. I've now saved up for the Nikon 1.4 TC and just brought it. I'm happy with the combo, it gives either 300mm f4 or 420mm f5.6. The 300mm prime gives you the faster f4 aperture option that the 80-400mm can't. The 300mm f4 is so sharp too, dont think I heard any one complain about it. If there is only £120 in it then save up for the tc and purchase it later. The tc can always be used on other lens you purchase later so I see as an investment for the future. I may consider the 1.7 tc at a later date as those photos are so good and it would add the 510mm f6.7 option.

I can't wait to use the combo at gigrin farm soon for the red kites. The one question I asked myself was what do people upgrade to later and it seemed the 300mm f4 seemed to be the next step. I had thought I would miss a zoom but now find I think more about composition as I don't have to option to worry about zooming.

To be honest this is the fastest lens I can afford, the only thing that would tempt me to sell it would be a VR version if it ever comes out (300mm f2.8 lens or a 500-600mm f4 is out of question price wise for me).