(new) Nikon 80 400mm f4.5/f5.6 VR2

BillN_33

BillN_33

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Morning,

I'm sorting my stuff out for S Africa, (my most look forward to trip of the year)

I cannot take my 600mm, (weights over 5kgs and I would have to take a big tripod and Wimberley) ……. I usually take my 300 f4, (which I will anyway), but should I take my 300 f2.8 VR, (but weight is almost 3kgs) …….. I can use it with the TC14Ell and TC20Elll ……………. OR as the new 80mm 400mm only weights 1.57 kg …….. not much more than the 300 f4, (1.44kg), I,m thinking about grabbing one as they seem reasonably priced at about £1,500

My questions are:
is anyone using this for birding ….. if so what is it like
anyone using it with the TC's .. if so how are you finding it ……. does it AF OK at the long end with a TC i.e. 2 x f5.6? ……. probably not …… maybe with the x 1.4 @f8?
Has anyone compared this lens with the 300mm f4 and 300mm f2.8 VR with and without the TC's

Cheers
 
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Have you considered renting the 600mm in country? If that's what you really want for your bird shots?
 
a1ex2001 said:
Have you considered renting the 600mm in country? If that's what you really want for your bird shots?
Click to expand...

Thanks Alex

I looked last year …… but anything exotic in S Africa is not at all easy to find, but we are there for 6 weeks and the cost would be high for all six weeks ……… talking to guy's in the odd hide that there is out there and 300mm seems the norm

If I bought the 80 400mm, for £1500 I could always sell it, (but I never do), when I got back
 
I managed to reluctantly sell a Canon 100-400mm after a trip to Sri Lanka, I got some lovely elephant and other wildlife shots with it and was very tempted to keep it but in reality I wouldn't have used it in the UK. It was even harder to sell my Samyang 14mm f2.8 after using it to shoot the northern lights in Iceland but it was for the best so I definitely feel your pain there!

If it were me I'd take the 300F4 and the 300 f2.8 and tele convertors no point in compromising on a trip like this!
 
Hi Bill

I don't use my 80-400 for birding - it's actually my walkabout zoo lens - but if it helps you I have to say I'm very impressed with it.
I have a 600 which stays on the tripod and a 400 2.8 which is pre-vr so not worth selling - much the same as your 600. I keep it for early morning ospreys!
The 80-400 isn't as good as either of these lenses - but it is still very good.
It's light, the vr works very well and having a zoom can be very useful - I get good results at 400mm
I'd have thought that it would work very well with your D7100 - I'd take a crate-load of pixels over a teleconverter any day.

If I can help at all give me a shout

cheers, cw
 
My wife has the D7100 & the 80-400mm VR2.. but I dont' think the pics are as good as me using the 300 VR2 with teles...
I love the 300 wide open with a 1.4 & if that was on a crop you almost have your 600mm.
 
Diving Pete said:
My wife has the D7100 & the 80-400mm VR2.. but I dont' think the pics are as good as me using the 300 VR2 with teles...
I love the 300 wide open with a 1.4 & if that was on a crop you almost have your 600mm.
Click to expand...

Thanks Pete ...... I suppose that one benefit is that the 80/400 is half the weight of the 300mm f2.8

carrying around and back of Landrover is that much easier
 
For me the only benefit is that it will zoom...
My wife does like it but I'd rather know its nailed & with the 300 & 1.4 it will be...
 
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