Nikon 300mm f4 AF-S

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Guys,

I have a cheap cheap tamron 70-300 lens (Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di) that have given some surprising results but after a visit to a safari park and seeing so many that are just fit for the bin it's time for a change.

Most of the photography is wildlife or motorsports and I find I shoot mostly 250-300 length (I know it's not this on my D90).

The lens I have been looking at on the net is the Nikon 300mm f4 AF-S.

What do you guys think about this one rather than the Sigma offerings like the Bigma or the cheaper Nikons etc ?

Cheers,
Gareth
 
Superb lens. Works well with the 1.4 and 1.7 tc,in my experience, focusses in to about five foot.

Can`t fault it to be honest.
 
I aggree with fracster. If you do get this lens it is worth upgrading the collat.
 
I recently upgraded to the Nikkor 300mm f4, found I used the 300mm end of the nikkor 70-300mm vr lens most of the time. I researched the sigma lenses in the 300-500mm range (150-500mm os and 50-500mm os), the main deciding factor for me was f4 at 300mm compared to f6.3 on the sigma 50-500mm os in the 300-500mm range. Being faster than my nikkor 70-300mm mean i can justify the cost of an addition lens, i see this as a forward move getting the fastest lens i can afford.

I had spent months researching different lenses, kept changing my mind but always went back to the nikon. I went to focus at NEC,tried them all and decided there the nikkor 300mm was the one to get. I plan to couple this with the 1.4 tc to get 420mm f5.6.
 
fracster said:
Stop it down to F8, much better..........:thumbs:
Click to expand...

I will quite happily use mine wide open with either 1.4 or 1.7TC fitted and still get sharp results, the lens is optically one of the best out there.

It's performance with the 1.4TC is cited as the reason Nikon have never made an AF 400 f5.6
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

A friend has suggested a Nikon 70-200 f2.8 would be a better choice with a teleconvertor to give more options.

I wouldn't be able to buy new at that price. What do you guys think about this option instead of the 300 please ?

Also how do the Tamron and Sigma 70-200 f2.8s compare please ?
 
The 300mm AF-S is a stonker of a lens, but I would also consider the Sigma 120-400 OS.
It was just as sharp as my old 300mm AF-D and the 300mm AF-S I hired. I had the bigma and wasnt hugely impressed, plus its a beast of a lens to carry around
I also used both the Nikons with a Kenko 1.4 TC, and it didnt really have any noticable effect on IQ. Never tried it on the Sigma though, so 400mm would be your max reach.
 
Martyn... said:
I will quite happily use mine wide open with either 1.4 or 1.7TC fitted and still get sharp results, the lens is optically one of the best out there.

It's performance with the 1.4TC is cited as the reason Nikon have never made an AF 400 f5.6
Click to expand...

I agree with you Martyn....great wide open ....but has to be on a rock steady tripod in my experience.

Great way to get close with DX and a TC..
 
Thanks for the responses chaps, I am swaying towards the 300 as I went to look at a Nikon 70-200 F2.8 lens and realised I am a complete weakling as lifting that for periods of time started to ache the arm :)
Mind you I've never tried a lens that big on a camera before.
Was quite impressive and I know it would give more options but I just worry it will be too short and could only afford a secondhand one and not a TC straightaway.

Say if you guys were going anywhere like a zoo and you have your 300 lens on, do you only take photos with that lens and ignore anything that should be shot closer ? Or do you go round first with the 300 and then change it and go back round with something smaller ?
 
My 300mm AF-S is always shot hand held, on the D700 & the D7000, with or without the 1.4 TC. At an effective 630mm, it does require a bit of care and a fast shutter speed, but only a problem in dim light. Great for BIF; also for butterflys, dragonflies etc.

For Marwell, the 300mm can often be the wrong lens for a situation, but can
also give an unusual aspect if you don't demand the whole beast to be in the frame.

Never considered stopping down; no complaints with sharpness wide open. If it aint sharp, then it's my fault.
 
"Never considered stopping down; no complaints with sharpness wide open. If it aint sharp, then it's my fault."

Now i can fully support that statement.... :-)
 
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