Nikon 200-400mm VR
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- Rob
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When recently looking to upgrade my telephoto lens for wildlife I was choosing between the nikon 200-400 f4 vr and the nikon 300 f2.8 vr. After reading many reviews I ended up going with a 300 f2.8, mainly due to the faster aperture, ability to use the 1.4 TC and 2x TC and it being a very sharp lens. Having 300 f2.8, 420 f4 and 600 f5.6 gives me some flexibility, but not as much as a zoom can give. The extra stop of light can for me make a difference between getting a shot your packing up and going home when light gets low.
The thing that put me off the 200-400 was the focus issues Thom Hogan mentioned (and other reviews too). I think this issue is only seen at long focus distances if there is an interfering background (bushes etc). Close in (and I could pin point the exact distance) the focus was perfect. It depends what you are shooting and how close you are to your subject. My subjects can be close in and but also further away too.
The zoom will be more flexible than a prime so it depends on whether your position is fixed or whether you can move.
Others you could look at are the 500mm and 600mm lenses.
The reviews that were helpful to me were:
http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor-200-400mm-lensreview.htm
http://www.richardpeters.co.uk/blog/2008/10/02/200400vrreview/
The thing that put me off the 200-400 was the focus issues Thom Hogan mentioned (and other reviews too). I think this issue is only seen at long focus distances if there is an interfering background (bushes etc). Close in (and I could pin point the exact distance) the focus was perfect. It depends what you are shooting and how close you are to your subject. My subjects can be close in and but also further away too.
The zoom will be more flexible than a prime so it depends on whether your position is fixed or whether you can move.
Others you could look at are the 500mm and 600mm lenses.
The reviews that were helpful to me were:
http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor-200-400mm-lensreview.htm
http://www.richardpeters.co.uk/blog/2008/10/02/200400vrreview/
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Hi Ben
Just to throw in another option, I had some stunning results with a pre vr Nikon 500 f4 on my D800.
Might be worth a look.
Also iirc someone on here picked up the new 80-400 for about £1600 form Hdew, making that somewhat of a bargain.
cheers, cw
Just to throw in another option, I had some stunning results with a pre vr Nikon 500 f4 on my D800.
Might be worth a look.
Also iirc someone on here picked up the new 80-400 for about £1600 form Hdew, making that somewhat of a bargain.
cheers, cw
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- Mark Molloy
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The 500f4 Nikon is by far the favoured birding lens for many.