Whatbird.com

Hard lens choice

 

I have already outgrown my 70-300AF-S VR Nikkor and longing for a 400+ with the same VR & AF-S for my D80. I have a couple questions for those who walk with the heavy logs and stretch out their glass. Let me start with the type of birding I usually do which is on trails and hikes. Currently I do not carry a tripod and do not tire from holding my light weight 2.2lb. Nikkor 70-300MM f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR aiming for long periods. Now the two lens I am interested in are the Nikkor 200-400 f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR at 7.2lbs OR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF II AF-S VR + TC-17E II 1.7x AF-S

 (6.38lbs + TC.5lb) 6.88lbs.

I am looking for opinions on either lens choice and the ability to hand hold each. Both are practically the same $ and reviews are stellar on both.

 

300mm f/2.8G ED-IF II AF-S VR

TC-17E II 1.7x AF-S

 

200-400 f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR

 

CMF

 

I've owned the Nikkor 200-400mm AF-S VR lens, and although it's highly touted by nearly all the lens experts I've read, I must confess that mine seemed to be a bit lacking. Maybe it was user error or a bad sample. I often photograph waterfowl (in warm weather) on a lake from a kayak and thought the VR would help greatly, but my previous non-VR 500mm Nikkor always seemed to deliver sharper photos.

One other option you might consider is the Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM lens. It has optical stabilization, is amazingly compact, and is quite lightweight for hand-holding. I've just begun to use mine and am quite pleased with the results, both hand-held and on a mono-pod. There is also a 1.4 teleconverter available for it. All for under a grand. Of course, it is slower than the Nikkors and perhaps not quite as sharp wide open.

 Best,

Doug 

I don't know much about Nikon lens However I feel you already know what you want here is my suggestion you say you don't carry a tripod have you given any thought to a mono pod not only do they make a nice steady platform for your camera  they also can double up as a hiking stick ..

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Birds high above in the trees Serenade the flowers with their melodies - Line from the song "A Lovers Concerto"

My photo gallery http://thekiwi.org/photography/index.php

A monopod will be attached to this lens and I have been researching for a week plus and only getting more confused. The monopod will definitely be carbon fiber but the mount choice is giving me adgida.

CMF

Don't bother getting the 300+teleconverter, it only degrades the image quality. I don't know about the 200-400, but I own the Sigma 120-400 OS (which is their VR). It has great quality and is around 4 pounds,  think. So it's lighter and also much cheaper than the Nikkor.

I easily handhold it and the shots are crisp to around 1/40 second at 400mm.

 

 Good luck.

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Lifers: 134

Recent additions: Black-throated Green Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Great Horned Owl
Favorites: Osprey, American Kestrel, Reddish Egret

Just remember for wild bird photography longer is better! Period.

 

 

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Larry
http://MostlyBirds.com

I pulled the trigger on the Nikkor 200-400 f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR. It arrived two days ago and it has stopped raining yet! Gitzo CF monopod and a Really RS MH-01 / B2-Pro clamp. What a lens, I got the chills when I saw it.

CMF