Nikon 80-400VR

nibb 100

nibb 100

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David
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I have a Nikon 70-300 lens, on my D700 it doesn't seem to reach as far as did on my D90 will a 80-400 be a better bet for wildlife

also is it worth the extra over the similar Sigma lens, I'm worried by Sigma's reputation for being soft and being a bit flimsy

any thoughts?
 
Your D90 is a crop sensor camera the D700 is full frame - that's the reason the reach doesn't appear the same.
 
thanks
yeah, I realize that, I just didn't expect it to be as much as it is, hence the need for a new lens, will I redress the balance with the 80-400
 
My preference is always for Nikon glass - although I do have two Sigma lenses. Don't have an 80-400mm though.
 
The 80-400mm is a fine lens, especially around f/8, but as many internet reviews will show it has comparably slow autofocussing compared to some other Nikon/non-Nikon lenses.

As wildlife is your bag this needs to be considered, but do not discount this lens based on all those internet reviews! As always, go to a local retailer and try one out on your DSLR and see what you think. Also bear in mind that the 18-month old rumour mill still points to this being replaced this summer...maybe!
 
nibb 100 said:
... on my D700 it doesn't seem to reach as far as did on my D90 ... any thoughts?
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Use the D90, if you still have it. If you don't have it, perhaps you might have kept it?

This is not meant as a facetious comment, rather I have read that using a DX camera with an FX telephoto lens is quite a good idea as the sensor has all its pixels in the sweet spot of the lens.
 
I have had the 80-400, 300 f4 AF-S and some longer stuff.

Once I got the 300f4 AF S I sold the 80-400, you will get better results using the 300 f4 AF S plus the TC-14EII, faster focusing and better image quality, and you can always add the TC-17EII at a later date.
 
If your doing wildlife - then whats wrong with the Sigma 100-300mm EX f4?

I have one & have used it with a 1.4 EX TC... Seems that after reading reviews when I was 1st looking this was classed as the one to have for wildlife.... Used it on a D90 in the past, now its used with a D300s..

Just my input & 2p's worth...
 
nibb 100 said:
I have a Nikon 70-300 lens, on my D700 it doesn't seem to reach as far as did on my D90 will a 80-400 be a better bet for wildlife

also is it worth the extra over the similar Sigma lens, I'm worried by Sigma's reputation for being soft and being a bit flimsy

any thoughts?
Click to expand...

D700 full frame 70-300 = 70-300mm lens
D90 1.5x crop 70-300 frames like a 105-450mm lens

The 80-400mm VR is a very average lens, autofocus is slow, as mention, stepped down to f8 the image quality improves, but for that amount of money I would expect better performance from a £1000 lens. Personally you would do better with the sigma 100-300mm f4 and/or 1.4x TC or the nikon 300mm f4 prime, both better lenses by far.

Unfortunately, if you want to go 400mm and nikon, it going to cost you alot of money, there are some sigma (120-400mm, 150-500mm etc) / tamron (300-500mm) alternatives, but you not talking fast optics, f5.6 or 6.3 at the 400/500mm end, most are soft wide open, so you need to stop down to get the best from these lenses and therefore need good light
 
thanks Pete,

so your thought would be to go with the Nikon 300 f4 prime and use it with a converter, I hadn't thought of that option, cost would be about the same,

oh I wish I had the money to go with one of their expensive primes
 
You could always consider an older Nikon prime....I have a manual focus Nikon 500mm f/4P (The 'P' denotes it's been chipped to enable metering on later SLRs and now DSLRs). If you've got the sighting ability manual focus isn't a problem...it's the way we all used to do it after all!

To ensure of good results, there's also the technique of 'bracket focussing' (apologies if there's a more correct term to use) where you know roughly where the optimum focus point is but to make sure you focus either side of it whilst rapid-firing the shutter. It can work well for in flight shots of birds, for example.

Secondhand prices for my lens are around the £1300-1500 mark, dependent on the usual quality factors for something built around 20 years ago.
 
hi everyone

I'm going on a safari park day-long photoshoot/masterclass in a couple of weeks and would like something longer than my 55-200VR, so was thinking of hiring a lens for the weekend.

at lensesforhire, the 70-300 isn't available but the 80-400VR is... would that be a good lens to have for the day? would be £42 for 3 days :)
 
benners said:
hi everyone

I'm going on a safari park day-long photoshoot/masterclass in a couple of weeks and would like something longer than my 55-200VR, so was thinking of hiring a lens for the weekend.

at lensesforhire, the 70-300 isn't available but the 80-400VR is... would that be a good lens to have for the day? would be £42 for 3 days :)
Click to expand...

I hope so as I've just hired one for the same purpose:D, Gorillas down in Port Lymn on 6th June!
 
Blackwijet said:
I hope so as I've just hired one for the same purpose:D, Gorillas down in Port Lymn on 6th June!
Click to expand...

no way that's exactly what i'm doing on 22 May!
right i'm going to go and hire it :D
 
i certainly shall :)
although there has been an error in the payment process so just got wait to hear back from the guys!
really looking forward to the day, especially if there are baby gorillas there!!
 
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