Which Nikon Lens?

U

ukpbz

Messages
1,226
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi

I currently have a Canon setup and use a 7d and 100-400 Is or 300 f4 is but find I get great results with a d90. I am going to make the swap to Nikon and sell my gear

I shoot aviation mostly. Which would be closest to my 100-400. The Nikon 80-400 or the Bigma?

Thanks
 
Havent used the 80-400 but it gets very varied reviews from being the worst nikon lens ever made to one of the best. I think most issues are to do with the focusing, which is supposedly very slow.

Ive used a bigma on a D200 at airshows and it was only my lack of technique that let it down. Granted not the sharpest at 500mm, but still acceptable.

Also consider the Sigma 150-500 and maybe even an AF-S 300 f/4 with a TC.
 
What kind of budget are we talking here?! Presumably sub~£1.3k? I was going to suggest something like the 70-200mm f/2.8 coupled the TC-20E III, on a D90 the crop factor of 1.5x would give an equivalent of 600mm wouldn't it?!
 
Cost effective best buy the Nikon 300 f4 AF-S plus 1.4 or 1.7 TC. Great lens.
 
Nikon newbie said:
What kind of budget are we talking here?! Presumably sub~£1.3k? I was going to suggest something like the 70-200mm f/2.8 coupled the TC-20E III, on a D90 the crop factor of 1.5x would give an equivalent of 600mm wouldn't it?!
Click to expand...

I just purchased a 70-200 and Nikon TC-20E II and the combination is very good, as mentioned, with the crop you get up to 600mm f/5.6 and in good light stop it down to about f/8 and the results are fantastic! Well worth considering!
 
The best option imho is to get the 70-200 VR an TC it. The 80-400 is a joke of a lens, as you will be in the grave before it has focused. The Sigma 50-500 is a faster focusing lens, but frankly, optically it is a waste of time. Don't bother with these two unless money really is that tight. The newer versions of he 50-500 might be better optically, but the one I had was a PoS imho.

Another option would be to look at the Sigma 120-300mm, or the 100-300mm (I cant remember which is the F/2.8 one, but that is the one to look at). It has HSM, so should provide the focusing speed you require. Sticking a 1.4 or a 1.7TC on that will give you 420mm or 510mm respectively before your sensor crop takes effect. I hear this specific lens is very good optically, and will give you more reach than the 70-200 + 2.0TC, and drop less light through the TC stage. Indeed, I'm not sure on the price of said Sigma lens, so it might well be above your price ceiling. S/H might be an option though?
 
Last edited:
ukpbz said:
I currently have a Canon setup and use a 7d and 100-400 Is or 300 f4 is but find I get great results with a d90. I am going to make the swap to Nikon and sell my gear
Click to expand...
I don't want to be rude, but that's a great Canon combo you've got there. Why do you think you get better results from the D90? Is it because you haven't worked out how best to customise the 7D's autofocus? Is it because your long-lens technique isn't spot-on and you're comparing 7D with long lens to D90 with short lens? Obviously I know nothing about your situation and these two suggestions may be very wide of the mark. But when somebody says they can't get great results from a 7D and 100-400L, my first instinct is that the problem may be with the user...
ukpbz said:
I shoot aviation mostly. Which would be closest to my 100-400. The Nikon 80-400 or the Bigma?
Click to expand...
Neither. If you've been using a 100-400L then you'd find either of those lenses a HUGE and frustraing disappointment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top