Nikon 300 f4 or Sigma 70-200 +

mulch

mulch

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Hi
I’m looking at getting a new lens to attach to my D300s for the purpose of wild life photography, to include birds, bugs and flowers.
I was considering spending no more than £1000 and my research so far has led me to consider either the Nikon 300mm f4 or Sigma 70-200 + 1.4 convertor, which both come just inside my budget.
So I was wondering what peoples opinions or experiences of these two lens were. I have seen examples of the 300 f4 and it certainly ticks the box of excellent IQ, plus I could add a 1.4 convertor in the future for further reach (when funds allow) but the Sigma zoom would give more flexibility for getting in close to flowers/bugs…..but I’m not sure if the IQ is up with the Nikon - decisions, decisions.

I have 105 macro lens and the Nikon 18-200, so I was hoping to increase my reach on my next purchase.

Any assistance will be gratefully received

mulch
 
My opinion, having gone on a similar quest recently :naughty:, is ... get the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S. You won't regret it when you see the results ;).

I started off with the 70-300mm VR, but couldn't get the shutter speeds I needed for birds, so I bought a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II (not just for wildlife - I wanted one anyway ;)) and tried to use it with a 1.7x TC. The images were soft (unless stopped down even further :() and the shutter speeds were almost the same as the 70-300mm, which I had spent so much money to replace! All in all, not a good solution :thumbsdown:.

In the end, I did what people here had told me to do in the first place (when I posted a thread similar to this one :D) - I bought a brand new 300mm f/4 AF-S :). It's actually the sharpest lens that I own and I never have a problem with it being too long for wildlife shots. In fact, I use it on my D90 with a (Kenko) 1.4x TC on it much of the time, which gives me an effective FOV of a 630mm lens :eek:! Unlike the 70-200mm zoom, this prime seems to work well with TCs and some people here regularly use the 1.7x TC on it and get great results (although you'd need a fair amount daylight, or raised ISO to do this in a lot of cases :|).

I have no experience with the Sigma, but however good it is, I can't really see it being improved with the use of a TC :|.
 
Can't comment about the Siggy combination, but the 300 F4 does have a short focus distance, allowing for some interesting flying insect shots, which although not macro, are very impressive.
 
Thanks for the quick reply Andy

I'm slowly beginning to 'lean' towards the Nikon. I was hoping to hear from somebody like yourself who had been down a similar quest and I could learn from your/their experience.
Initially I was looking at going straight for the Sigma, but this will be my only chance to splash the cash for sometime, so I wanted to ensure I didn't regret going with the wrong lens for my needs.

Thanks again

mulch
 
PsiFox..."300 F4 does have a short focus distance, allowing for some interesting flying insect shots".....this is the type of subject I would be hoping to catch.

Thanks for the info

mulch
 
NP that was from some info in a thread on flickr.
With tubes distance drops to 3 ft apparently.
 
The 300 f4 AF S is a superb lens for Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies, it takes a 1.4 or 1.7 Teleconverter well which makes it a 420 f5.6 or 510 f6.7 for birds.

Minimum focus distance of 5 feet, and sharp wide open.

Here it is with a 1.7TC



And the images in this thread were taken with it

LINK
And this one

LINK

And finally this one

LINK


It is my lightweight option for Butterflies and Dragonflies when I do not want to lug the heavy stuff about.
 
I took the Sigma route about 2 years ago and have to say for wildlife you need the Nikon prime, you can also add a 1.4 Extender giving a good focal length for the small/distant stuff.
i was using FF but have now sold everything and buying a D300s and first on my shoping list is the Nikon 300 f4
 
I'm a big fan of prime lenses so I would suggest going for the Nikon F4.

There would be no harm in trying a teleconvertor on the sigma macro you have to extend its reach, taking the crop factor into account it would give you approx' a 235mm F4 macro
 
Nikon AFS 300 f4, not a shadow of doubt on that one.

For what you've stated you want it for, don't worry about the zoom.
 
Thanks everyone

My mind is now made up with the help I have received on here - I will be going for the.... Nikon 300 f4.

I called a few shops this afternoon to see if anybody had one in stock so that I could try it out on the camera tomorrow, but only to be told by Dalephotographic, Jessops, Jacobs (best price at £969), all of Leeds, that they would have to order it from Nikon, which takes 2 + weeks. Oh well, patience is a virtue...they say!

Thanks again

mulch
 
would love a Nikon 300 F4 AFS myself
cant afford it
BUT maybe could afford a previous model Nikon 300 F4 AFD as they go for about £400 ish
would I be sacrificing a lot?
 
Chrisbie said:
would love a Nikon 300 F4 AFS myself
cant afford it
BUT maybe could afford a previous model Nikon 300 F4 AFD as they go for about £400 ish
would I be sacrificing a lot?
Click to expand...

Optically similar, not quite as short minimum focus distance (8 feet), and slower focusing

See here Thom Hogan
 
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