Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P for landscapes anyone?

Son_of_Thor

Son_of_Thor

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I currently have a 70-200 2.8 FL in my kit bag which I use for family shots and the odd landscape. I have to say, it's a great bit of kit but carrying it around all day on family days out with all of my other kit is starting to get a bit old! So I'm pondering a change... I've used the 70-200 F4 before and it was reasonably decent, but I found it nothing particularly special (albeit it was considerably better than the old AF-S 70-300 VR I had before that).

So I'm wondering... Is anyone on here using the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P predominently for landscapes? Seriously considering a change so I'd be interested in the thoughts of anyone using one for landscape stuff (ideally on a D810/D850, but any input welcome) and what the output is like stopped down.
 
Son_of_Thor said:
I currently have a 70-200 2.8 FL in my kit bag which I use for family shots and the odd landscape. I have to say, it's a great bit of kit but carrying it around all day on family days out with all of my other kit is starting to get a bit old! So I'm pondering a change... I've used the 70-200 F4 before and it was reasonably decent, but I found it nothing particularly special (albeit it was considerably better than the old AF-S 70-300 VR I had before that).

So I'm wondering... Is anyone on here using the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P predominently for landscapes? Seriously considering a change so I'd be interested in the thoughts of anyone using one for landscape stuff (ideally on a D810/D850, but any input welcome) and what the output is like stopped down.
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I like the 70-300 f45-56 ED VR AF-P i like to take it out with my d750 but sometimes take the d850 but if I’m doing landscapes i like to go wide but nice lens
 
wee jake said:
I like the 70-300 f45-56 ED VR AF-P i like to take it out with my d750 but sometimes take the d850 but if I’m doing landscapes i like to go wide but nice lens
Click to expand...
Forgive my ignorance, but is a wide angle lens likely to be the best option for landscapes? I'm also struggling to understand why I'd use a long zoom either for landscapes.
 
Tulipone said:
Forgive my ignorance, but is a wide angle lens likely to be the best option for landscapes? I'm also struggling to understand why I'd use a long zoom either for landscapes.
Click to expand...
No not the best but i like to go out with the 20mm or 16-35 don’t no why just like it
 
Son_of_Thor said:
I currently have a 70-200 2.8 FL in my kit bag which I use for family shots and the odd landscape. I have to say, it's a great bit of kit but carrying it around all day on family days out with all of my other kit is starting to get a bit old! So I'm pondering a change... I've used the 70-200 F4 before and it was reasonably decent, but I found it nothing particularly special (albeit it was considerably better than the old AF-S 70-300 VR I had before that).

So I'm wondering... Is anyone on here using the Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P predominently for landscapes? Seriously considering a change so I'd be interested in the thoughts of anyone using one for landscape stuff (ideally on a D810/D850, but any input welcome) and what the output is like stopped down.
Click to expand...
My copy of the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P can be very sharp wide open on a D500, so stopped down should be no problem imho. :)
 
Only once long ago did I attend a club presentation from a photographer who used long lenses for landscape photography. Very interesting but it wasn't for me. All I can say is I've owned the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P lens for some time now. It's light, durable, very versatile and produces excellent images. I tend to use it for people shots anything from wide open to F11, and either on a D750 or D7200. On the D7200 when I'm shooting head shots and need the extra reach. On the downside the lens hood is a little flimsy. I usually carry my D750's over each shoulder, and in crowds the lens hood has been knocked off. I now apply a little black PVC tape. Not as secure as the Tamron G2 lens hoods with its button release.
 
The 2.8 FL is superb - really great centre to edge sharpness. My experience of the F4 is it wasn't a patch on the 2.8 FL in this area and I cannot envisage an even more budget lens being great - especially on high res bodies like the D850. Centre to edge sharpness matters as much as front to back sharpness - which is why only the most expensive and sharp lenses need apply for landscape use.
 
wee jake said:
I like the 70-300 f45-56 ED VR AF-P i like to take it out with my d750 but sometimes take the d850 but if I’m doing landscapes i like to go wide but nice lens
Click to expand...

Tulipone said:
Forgive my ignorance, but is a wide angle lens likely to be the best option for landscapes? I'm also struggling to understand why I'd use a long zoom either for landscapes.
Click to expand...

wee jake said:
No not the best but i like to go out with the 20mm or 16-35 don’t no why just like it
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback - I do generally shoot landscapes with a wide lens, using either a 20 or 35mm 1.8, but do occasionally want after something longer hence the question. A longer lens also doubles up for family shots and wildlife opportunities which have a tendency of presenting themselves if I've only got wide-angle lenses with me :)

A couple of examples of landscapes using a longer lens that just weren't on with a WA lens (not at the long end of the 70-200 or 70-300 range, but examples of what I'm getting at):

@90mm:
Glorious late evening light at Ladybower by Simon Lundbeck, on Flickr

@85mm:
Tranquil early evening at Wareham Quay by Simon Lundbeck, on Flickr
 
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steveb said:
Only once long ago did I attend a club presentation from a photographer who used long lenses for landscape photography. Very interesting but it wasn't for me. All I can say is I've owned the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6E ED VR AF-P lens for some time now. It's light, durable, very versatile and produces excellent images. I tend to use it for people shots anything from wide open to F11, and either on a D750 or D7200. On the D7200 when I'm shooting head shots and need the extra reach. On the downside the lens hood is a little flimsy. I usually carry my D750's over each shoulder, and in crowds the lens hood has been knocked off. I now apply a little black PVC tape. Not as secure as the Tamron G2 lens hoods with its button release.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info Steve, good feedback :) I'm leaning towards picking one up when the opportunity presents itself as another option when I don't fancy lugging the 2.8 (as opposed to selling the 70-200 and purchasing one of these, which is what I was previously considering). I too prefer the lens hoods with the button releases. I've had one or two of the non-locking Nikon lens hoods liberate themselves in the past too...
 
SFTPhotography said:
The 2.8 FL is superb - really great centre to edge sharpness. My experience of the F4 is it wasn't a patch on the 2.8 FL in this area and I cannot envisage an even more budget lens being great - especially on high res bodies like the D850. Centre to edge sharpness matters as much as front to back sharpness - which is why only the most expensive and sharp lenses need apply for landscape use.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback Steve, I agree regarding the 70-200 f2.8/f4 comparison. Think I may pick one of these up when the opportunity arises to use on family trips when the main priority is less/lightweight kit and keep hold of the FL for dedicated trips out
 
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