WildLife Lens?

LewisHall

LewisHall

Suspended / Banned
Messages
567
Name
Lewis
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey i'm looking at getting a bigger zoomed lens for wildlife photography as the biggest lens i have is my Nikon 70-300mm and didn't know if there was any particular lens anyone could recommend i was thinking maybe up to a 600mm? or bigger? was thinking about spending roughly £600 if thats reasonable if not more :( haha.
 
I think that it depends on what type of wildlife you are mainly going to take images of

If you are going the Nikon route there are various options to get to 600mm

300mm f4 plus TC14Ell will get you to 600mm at f5.6 on a DX body

300mm f2.8 will get you to 600mm with the TC20lll on an FX body again at f5.6

The 200mm - 400mm f4 zoom will get you there on a DX body and almost there on an FX body, with a TC14

Those are the "cheaper" options

after that it gets more expensive with the 500mm f4 and 600mm f4

the 300mm f4 plus the TC14ll used will set you back maybe £1,000

If you are on a reasonably sensible budget go for the 300mm f2.8 and TC20lll …… will set you back £3,500 max used

If I were shooting general wildlife, say Safari type shots I think that I would seriously consider the 200mm - 400mm f4 and TC14ll ……. maybe £3k used

For birds it would be the 300mm f2.8 plus TC20lll

If budget is no problem then go for the 500mm and 600mm with a TC or two

or if budget is really tight go for a Sigma

IMHO
 
Last edited:
You'll get a new sigma 150-500 for £629 after the £100 cash back. The tamron 150-600 looks good but is very hard to find and is a lot more at around £1k.
 
BillN_33 said:
I think that it depends on what type of wildlife you are mainly going to take images of

If you are going the Nikon route there are various options to get to 600mm

300mm f4 plus TC14Ell will get you to 600mm at f5.6 on a DX body

300mm f2.8 will get you to 600mm with the TC20lll on an FX body again at f5.6

The 200mm - 400mm f4 zoom will get you there on a DX body and almost there on an FX body, with a TC14

Those are the "cheaper" options

after that it gets more expensive with the 500mm f4 and 600mm f4

the 300mm f4 plus the TC14ll used will set you back maybe £1,000

If you are on a reasonably sensible budget go for the 300mm f2.8 and TC20lll …… will set you back £3,500 max used

If I were shooting general wildlife, say Safari type shots I think that I would seriously consider the 200mm - 400mm f4 and TC14ll ……. maybe £3k used

For birds it would be the 300mm f2.8 plus TC20lll

If budget is no problem then go for the 500mm and 600mm with a TC or two

or if budget is really tight go for a Sigma

IMHO
Click to expand...

Thanks mate forgot to add ive got a Nikon D3200
 
LewisHall said:
i was thinking maybe up to a 600mm? or bigger? was thinking about spending roughly £600
Click to expand...

600mm for £600, I think your expectations if you want quality are unrealistic!
A fixed aperture mirror lens is a possible for under £300 or, as above, the Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 possibly under £600 but a S/H 600mm prime will cost you in excess of £4K unless manual focus, then maybe £2-3K
 
gramps said:
600mm for £600, I think your expectations if you want quality are unrealistic!
A fixed aperture mirror lens is a possible for under £300 or, as above, the Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 possibly under £600 but a S/H 600mm prime will cost you in excess of £4K unless manual focus, then maybe £2-3K
Click to expand...

Tbh mate id probably go for either the Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 as i dont just do wildlife so over 1K is a lot of money for the amount ill probably use it
 
Hand held v not hand held

I started with a 70 300vr f4.5/5.6 - no problems hand held
Then the 300mm f4 (it's none VR), good hand held but you need a little practice

I have never been successful in hand holding the 300mm f4 with TC14ll, or the 300mm f2.8 with or without TC's ……..I have tried the 500mm f4 and the same goes ….. I would think the 200mm 400mm f4 is the same - you need a tripod, monopod or something to rest it on ………. they severely reduce your mobility
So guys will say that they can hand hold everything

It is a very big change from a 70 300mm zoom to 500mm prime, or even the 300mm f2.8 ………. you have to live with this and get to know each lens …… they can take some time to get used to.

Also FOV ….. BIF are OK with the 70 300mm VR - flexibility becomes a problem with primes ……. and even finding the bird can take valuable seconds with a 600mm

I was thinking about a 500mm f4 …….. but I will still with my 300mm f2.8 with and without the TC …….. and I think that if I were to buy another long lens it would be the 200mm 400mm f4 for general Wildlife photography

Good luck with your decision - a new lens can take some time to get used to but once you have "cracked" it you will see it's virtues, (I hope)
 
BillN_33 said:
Hand held v not hand held

I started with a 70 300vr f4.5/5.6 - no problems hand held
Then the 300mm f4 (it's none VR), good hand held but you need a little practice

I have never been successful in hand holding the 300mm f4 with TC14ll, or the 300mm f2.8 with or without TC's ……..I have tried the 500mm f4 and the same goes ….. I would think the 200mm 400mm f4 is the same - you need a tripod, monopod or something to rest it on ………. they severely reduce your mobility
So guys will say that they can hand hold everything

It is a very big change from a 70 300mm zoom to 500mm prime, or even the 300mm f2.8 ………. you have to live with this and get to know each lens …… they can take some time to get used to.

Also FOV ….. BIF are OK with the 70 300mm VR - flexibility becomes a problem with primes ……. and even finding the bird can take valuable seconds with a 600mm

I was thinking about a 500mm f4 …….. but I will still with my 300mm f2.8 with and without the TC …….. and I think that if I were to buy another long lens it would be the 200mm 400mm f4 for general Wildlife photography

Good luck with your decision - a new lens can take some time to get used to but once you have "cracked" it you will see it's virtues, (I hope)
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your help, I find the 70-300mm is good for wildlife it's just in some situations it's just not close enough so just looking for that little bit etc ;) thanks again
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top