Nikon 80-400 lens
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I think you should look at the signs 80-400mm OS. cheaper and better at everything 
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IQ wise it's pretty good to excellent, the only real thing it's criticized for is the painfully slow focussing. It's not an AFS lens (internal focus motor), but rather screwdriver drive, and it must have a really high geared focus cam, as it takes a long time to scroll from near to infinity focus, IIRC, it's one of Nikon's slowest ever focussing lenses.
When I had it some years ago, I negated this as much as possible by using the focus limiter to prevent the lens hunting over it's full range, and it then worked quite well. Not a lens I was would use for fast moving action, but on the higher end bodies with the more powerful focus motors, very usable. It has VR but it's first generation so realistically only good for about 2 stops, rather than the more modern set-ups of 3-4 stops.
Overall, it's not a bad lens optically you just need to be aware of it's limitations. Having said that, I do find that my 70-200 F2.8 VR II combined with the TC20 E III, gives very similar results, with much better focussing and VR. The one really good thing about the 80-400 is it's size. It's a really compact lens for a 400mm and that might well be a consideration ?
When I had it some years ago, I negated this as much as possible by using the focus limiter to prevent the lens hunting over it's full range, and it then worked quite well. Not a lens I was would use for fast moving action, but on the higher end bodies with the more powerful focus motors, very usable. It has VR but it's first generation so realistically only good for about 2 stops, rather than the more modern set-ups of 3-4 stops.
Overall, it's not a bad lens optically you just need to be aware of it's limitations. Having said that, I do find that my 70-200 F2.8 VR II combined with the TC20 E III, gives very similar results, with much better focussing and VR. The one really good thing about the 80-400 is it's size. It's a really compact lens for a 400mm and that might well be a consideration ?
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Hi Tony you again. Time you got back to work and helped me sort out this Apple for the wife.
The 300/2.8 lens with 2TC III is brilliant and the quality is superb. However, as I found out last Saturday at Newcastle and at other airshows the prime lens is a little limiting and inflexible and a zoom definitely has advantages and sometimes the fixed prime doesnt allow you to recompose a shot as the subject gets nearer. Planes are definitely standing off further particularly at seaside venues where they can stay over the sea for safety reasons and that is why I was looking at the 80-400. Obviously its a lens with problems and I won't be touching it. The 200-400 is super but telephone numbers to buy! No way.
The sensible thing is to use my 70-200 with 2TC III on my spare D300 camera with its cropped sensor and that will give me great range. Just trying to find something to spend my money on so will go and look at a Porsche instead! See you sometime at PC. Let me know about Portrush airshow if interested. merv
The 300/2.8 lens with 2TC III is brilliant and the quality is superb. However, as I found out last Saturday at Newcastle and at other airshows the prime lens is a little limiting and inflexible and a zoom definitely has advantages and sometimes the fixed prime doesnt allow you to recompose a shot as the subject gets nearer. Planes are definitely standing off further particularly at seaside venues where they can stay over the sea for safety reasons and that is why I was looking at the 80-400. Obviously its a lens with problems and I won't be touching it. The 200-400 is super but telephone numbers to buy! No way.
The sensible thing is to use my 70-200 with 2TC III on my spare D300 camera with its cropped sensor and that will give me great range. Just trying to find something to spend my money on so will go and look at a Porsche instead! See you sometime at PC. Let me know about Portrush airshow if interested. merv
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The Nikon 80-400mm isn't one of Nikon's better lenses especially for the money. 200-400mm f4 would be ideal, but a lottery win would be needed, but that's true of a few lenses (500mm f4 
).
What sort of budget are we talking about, the sigma 80-400mm ain't a great deal better and is still slow to focus, you do have sigma's newer long zoom offerings like the 120-400mm and the 150-500mm or 50-500mm, the last 2 being f6.3 but after a few airshows I've seen some impressive images with these 2 from togs who know what they are doing and you get 500mm (well 450mm) reach and the latest OS system.
And of course there's the sigma 120-300mm f2.8 OS, just thought I'd throw that in and finally the sigma 100-300mm f4 (used) but a great airshow lens and around £450-550 depending on conditions, was supposed to have been one of sigma's sharpest lenses. Think MPB has one
). What sort of budget are we talking about, the sigma 80-400mm ain't a great deal better and is still slow to focus, you do have sigma's newer long zoom offerings like the 120-400mm and the 150-500mm or 50-500mm, the last 2 being f6.3 but after a few airshows I've seen some impressive images with these 2 from togs who know what they are doing and you get 500mm (well 450mm) reach and the latest OS system.
And of course there's the sigma 120-300mm f2.8 OS, just thought I'd throw that in and finally the sigma 100-300mm f4 (used) but a great airshow lens and around £450-550 depending on conditions, was supposed to have been one of sigma's sharpest lenses. Think MPB has one
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As far as I can tell, the majority of Nikon users are eagerly anticipating an AF-S VRII 80-400. If Nikon were to make one, it would make an awful lot of people very happy.
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Phil Young said:I think you should look at the signs 80-400mm OS. cheaper and better at everything
Blasted phone!!! I meant sigma 120-400mm!
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I have the lens, and have found it to be very serviceable. You're talking about a lens that gets you to 400mm for well under $2000 U.S. that has excellent build quality, compact size and manageable weight and can produce some excellent results in good lighting. It can't compare to the various f/2.8 lenses that Nikon produces, but then you're not paying for that level of performance, either. If you can, rent or borrow one for a day to see if its strengths outweigh its limitations for your style of photography.