Nikon 300 f4 Af vs AF-S

Tractor Boy

Tractor Boy

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Hi folks,

Just wondered if anyone had any advice or comments on the AF vs AF-S on the nikon 300 f4. I will use it mainly for wildlife, predominantly birding, and will be looking to put either a 1.4 or 1.7 tc with it (probably Nikon but possibly kenko :shrug:).

My main concern is that the older AF model has a much longer min focus distance compared to the newer AF-S model, but also would like to know peoples feelings about AF speeds on them.

I get the feeling from reading bits around and about (not just KR et al) that optically there is not a lot to choose between them and as I will almost certainly be using it on the D300 not the D40 the lack of swm is not a huge issue.

I suppose my main reason for asking is that the older Af model is nearly half the price and as pennies count thought I ought to consider it, however don't mind saving if the AF-S is the better option.

Anyway thanks in advance for the advice :thumbs:
 
puddleduck said:
The 300mm f/4 AF-S is much better with TC's than the AF.

Test scene:

http://www.andydrakeimages.co.uk/stuff/Nikon300afs-vs-300af-scene.jpg

crops:

http://www.andydrakeimages.co.uk/stuff/Nikon300afs-vs-300af.jpg

The 300mm AF-S is critcally sharp with the 1.4x wide open, whereas the 300mm f/4 has less constrast and a hint off veiling.
Click to expand...

Andy,

Thanks very much for posting ( and taking) the links - very usefull info. I think based on that and the fact that I will almost certainly be using it with a TC I will save up and wait for the AF-S :thumbs:

Just out of interest have you used the AF-S with TC's other than Nikon :shrug: I suspect that I will look at the Kenko 1.4 as it seems to be quite well respected.

Thanks again for the info - just goes to show what a great helpful bunch of peeps we have on here :thumbs:
 
The Kenko works with EVERYTHING! I had it on a nifty fifty yesterday just as a demo :)
 
Tractor Boy said:
Andy,

Thanks very much for posting ( and taking) the links - very usefull info. I think based on that and the fact that I will almost certainly be using it with a TC I will save up and wait for the AF-S :thumbs:

Just out of interest have you used the AF-S with TC's other than Nikon :shrug: I suspect that I will look at the Kenko 1.4 as it seems to be quite well respected.

Thanks again for the info - just goes to show what a great helpful bunch of peeps we have on here :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Yep, the Kenko Pro 300 1.4x DG works very well - I probably shot 50% of my wildlife stuff with a Kenko and the other 50% with a Nikkor, and I never spotted any difference in image quality. Quite often I used to use either TC on the 300mm f/4 AF-S and the 70-200 VR interchangeably.
 
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