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View Full Version : most affordable route to 400mm

alexsmith
01-05-2009, 20:30
hi all,
my current setup is d40 with 18-200. I love the lens (and the d40) but like taking pictures of wee birds... 200 mm isn't really enough and i'm told 300 isn't close enough either but and heres the rub... is there any affordable route to get 400mm. by affordable i mean £600 for body and lens or bit less for just lens?
I don't want to lose vr or equivalant and i don't want to have an old lens that only works manually..
Should I have gone with a sony type with built in IS?
I'm open to blue sky thinking here:)
Al
pearce_jj
01-05-2009, 20:47
theft?
alexsmith
01-05-2009, 20:51
:) love it :)
and if i get caught I'll get loads of time to read photography books right?
al
foggy4ever
01-05-2009, 20:53
£600 might just get you a sigma 100-300 f4 and a 1.4x tc.
fyonn
01-05-2009, 20:57
Well, I've just bought (but am still waiting for delivery of) a Nikon AF 300mm F4 lens and with a x1.4 teleconverter that would become a 420mm F5.6.

it won't have VR and it won't zoom, but at around £300-350 for the lens and somewhere in the £100 range for the TC, that's pretty affordable.

you ain't gonna get VR for this kinda money, but that doesn't have to be a huge problem, just tripod mount it or make sure your shutter speed is fast enough (1/500 or faster) for hand holding.

as for if you should have got a sony, well, that's your call but I'd not worry about it too much :)

dave
itsdavedotnet
01-05-2009, 21:45
sigma 70-200 f2.8, and a 2x tele is a good combo, giving you 400mm @ f5.6, and is probably on a par with 120-300 + 1.4x tc for image quality.
Dom
01-05-2009, 21:47
Bump of a rich relative, just make sure your in the will. :p
Uneducated_Rick
01-05-2009, 23:09
Switch to canon and get a 100-400mm :naughty:
grumpybadger
01-05-2009, 23:13
sigma 70-200 f2.8, and a 2x tele is a good combo, giving you 400mm @ f5.6, and is probably on a par with 120-300 + 1.4x tc for image quality.

OK, it was on Canon but I was disappointed with 70-200 and 2x with both Sigma and Canon versions.
stylgeo
01-05-2009, 23:54
So, you want long reach with IS/VR for about £600.

I think this (http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_Camera/PowerShot/PowerShot_SX1_IS/index.asp)is your safest bet
alexsmith
02-05-2009, 07:23
thanks for all the suggestions guys.. I might troll hrough the sales section price a couple up ... mmmm
al
arclight
02-05-2009, 07:59
£600 might just get you a sigma 100-300 f4 and a 1.4x tc.

£600 will get a Sigma 120 - 400mm f4.5 - 5.6.
famas
02-05-2009, 08:10
tokina also do a 80-400, might be worth looking at.
HoppyUK
02-05-2009, 12:37
It seems to be quite easy to get up to 300mm, with some good and affordable options. But at 400mm there's a big jump in cost, and it gets rapidly worse the longer you go.

For the budget, you might pick up a used 100-400 L. It's a popular choice before you need mega money. Or stick with 300mm and get a hide ;)
Philx1979
02-05-2009, 12:44
I`ve seen these lenses on ebay that are 500mm for a nikon for £89 now i should imagine they would be terrible but looking at all the feedback people seem to say they are great?!?!??!?!?!?!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/500mm-f8-0-Lens-for-Nikon-D100-D70s-D70-D50-D40X-D2X-D2_W0QQitemZ390048625137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Came rasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN? hash=item390048625137&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
Chumpalot
02-05-2009, 12:57
I`ve seen these lenses on ebay that are 500mm for a nikon for £89 now i should imagine they would be terrible but looking at all the feedback people seem to say they are great?!?!??!?!?!?!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/500mm-f8-0-Lens-for-Nikon-D100-D70s-D70-D50-D40X-D2X-D2_W0QQitemZ390048625137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Came rasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN? hash=item390048625137&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I personally wouldn't touch anything like that with a very long barge pole.
HoppyUK
02-05-2009, 13:03
I personally wouldn't touch anything like that with a very long barge pole.


If it was a bit longer you could use it as a barge pole.
Chumpalot
02-05-2009, 13:07
If it was a bit longer you could use it as a barge pole.

:p
fyonn
02-05-2009, 13:44
tokina also do a 80-400, might be worth looking at.

if you can stretch your budget a bit then you could look out for a second hand nikon 80-400mm VR. but then it's not AFS so it wouldn't autofocus with your D40. but then you wanted to upgrade to a D90 anyways didn't you :)

dave
nictry
02-05-2009, 15:53
£600 will get a Sigma 120 - 400mm f4.5 - 5.6.

I have a 120-400 and initially wasn't too impressed but actually when I went out to do some test shots as I was thinking of selling it I was so impressed even at 400mm that I have kept it! And this also has OS so even with the shaky hands it will still take a pretty mean shot!

Couple of examples here:

400mm

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3338761062_d6ae1a4e1a.jpg

100% crop

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/3338761866_3c2d250b1a.jpg
RichardtheSane
02-05-2009, 16:53
sigma 70-200 f2.8, and a 2x tele is a good combo, giving you 400mm @ f5.6, and is probably on a par with 120-300 + 1.4x tc for image quality.

Not even close bud, not even close.

I had a Canon 70-200 F2.8 and bloted a 2x on the front and while usable the results where nowhere near what my 120-300mm could put out. I moved my forst 120-300mm on because I believed images from a 70-200mm +2x would be acceptable - big mistake.

IMO 70-200mm +2x is a combination to be used when there is no other option and not relied upon.