Nikon medium ish zoom - 80-400 or ?

[Hertsman]

Currently use the Nikkor 70-300, which is ok, but a little soft at 300.

Wondering which lens to upgrade to once I have my D500.

Would like a little extra length....

Have tried a 150-600 Sig Sport and found it a little cumbersome, plus I dont really need that focal length. Plus I had an old 70-300 APO Sigma that puts me off them.....

Tempted by the Nikkor 80-400 AFS and wondered what you guys thought?

 

[foggy4ever]

Have you thought of the C version of the sigma, lighter cheaper and a thread here about it.

I would be tempted myself if I hadn't just picked up a nikon 300mm f/4.

Comparison s vs c

 

[Hertsman]

Yeah, been looking at the C, but its still a Sigma...... and its a bit long on the short end for me.

 

[Nawty]

Are you looking at more reach or just higher quality in the 70-300 range? If the latter then the 80-400 would seem a good choice.

 

[Dave in Pendle]

It produces quality images but for what it is I think it's overpriced, especially compared to the Sigma/Tamron lenses. That said, if money is no issue I'd get the Nikon.

 

[Hertsman]

Are you looking at more reach or just higher quality in the 70-300 range? If the latter then the 80-400 would seem a good choice.

Bit of both. I always felt that using a 70-300 at full length was asking for trouble, and even garden birds need more length than 300.

So, buy replacing a d300 for a d500, and then upgrading my long lens, Im looking for utopia.....

 

[Hertsman]

Has anyone got experience of the later AFS 80-400 ?

 

[Nawty]

The later version has much better AF (the original is a bit slow) and is sharper too.

If you're primarily aiming at wildlife the new 200-500 is worth looking at - you can never have too much length with wildlife, especially birds.

 

[Hertsman]

I know the latest version is a big step up from the earlier one, but the length fits my gear and useage primairly.
Silverstone or garden birds are the only occasions I wish I had more length to avoid big crops.

However, the incoming D500 to replace my D300 may well be all I need.

I have heard some say the Nikkkor 70-300 is s bit sharper at the long end with the D500....

 

[AdamSi]

Has anyone got experience of the later AFS 80-400 ?

I had one a few years back and to be honest I miss it as some of my best images were from that's as very versitile as it's from 80mm all the way to 400mm nano coated and ultra fast focusing

 

[Gremlin]

Yep I use one on my D7200/D7100 bodies and can't fault it, focus is fast and even at full zoom it gives good resuls

 

[OldCarlos]

Has anyone got experience of the later AFS 80-400 ?

It's a tad expensive, but although it's no 300 F2.8, I find it a very good lens, fast to focus & VR pretty good. I've used it on both the D800 & D7200.
I much preferred it to the 150-600 tammy.