Lens for wildlife photography -camera Nikon D7200: Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm...

SODEB

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

SODEB wrote:

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

I've been using that lens for a year on a D500 & D7100, it's sharp and fast focus. Have fun.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

For the long end (500mm) and hand held you can't beat the Nikon 500mm f5.6 PF (pricey but worth every penny) has the same weight as the 70-200mm and on the D7200 has a crop factor equal to 750mm.

SODEB wrote:

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

SODEB wrote:

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

Will 70mm be wide enough. There is also the 28-300mm Nikon.

Recommended lenses for the D7200 -
https://dslrcamerasearch.com/best-lenses-nikon-d7200/
https://photophique.com/best-nikon-d7200-lenses/
https://www.digitalrev.com/article/5-lenses-you-must-have-for-nikon-d7000-or-d300s
http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/lens-databases-for-nikon/thoms-recommended-lenses.html

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

jerryc41 wrote:

Will 70mm be wide enough. There is also the 28-300mm Nikon.

Recommended lenses for the D7200 -
https://dslrcamerasearch.com/best-lenses-nikon-d7200/
https://photophique.com/best-nikon-d7200-lenses/
https://www.digitalrev.com/article/5-lenses-you-must-have-for-nikon-d7000-or-d300s
http://www.dslrbodies.com/lenses/lens-databases-for-nikon/thoms-recommended-lenses.html

You might be quite happy with the 28-300 range. If you are not a practiced long lens user, you would need to spend some time (a month or two) with anything longer than 300 on an APS-C body. 300mm is going to be like 450mm on a FF. If you were shooting a 500mm lens that would be like trying to control a 750mm lens on a FF. It is not easy. Even is you choose a longer lens, make it a zoom. Otherwise you might find yourself loosing track of your subject.

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

You might also want to consider the Tamron 18-400mm lens. I've had mine for over a year now and am very satisfied with it - it has a good reach and is sharp enough to do heavy cropping and still get a decent image. Plus, it is quite affordable and not extremely heavy.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Before you do anything call the outfitter and ask what focal length they recommend.

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

Bultaco wrote:

Before you do anything call the outfitter and ask what focal length they recommend.

Best advice!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

SODEB wrote:

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

Does the safari involve small aircraft fly overs? If so, check any in-cabin baggage limits.

SODEB

dsmeltz wrote:

Does the safari involve small aircraft fly overs? If so, check any in-cabin baggage limits.

No aircraft is involved

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

SODEB wrote:

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

I luv my Nikkor 28-300 for video on my D7200. Can be soft at 28 and at 300mm. If you can keep the aperture at f8 your images should be fine- sharp, clear, good color.
An inexpensive choice might be the Nikkor 55-300. Light weight, slower to focus than other lenses noted above. Inexpensive!

SteveR Loc: Michigan

If the Nikon 200-500 is too heavy, try the Tamron 100-400mm. It's nice and light, but a good lens. It's much lighter than the Nikon 80-400mm.

I recently purchased one for my daughter in combination with the D7500 for use for photographing outdoor sports, and it's a perfect size/weight combination for her.

The Tamron runs about $799, which is also a nice price. There is also a Tamron 18-400, but I don't know anything about that particular lens in regards to comparable sharpness, size, weight, etc.

SODEB

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

SODEB wrote:

Planning to go on a jungle safari in India. I am not a keen bird watcher. My camera is Nikon D7200. I have tried the 200-500mm lens,it is really big and difficult for me to use it handheld. Will the new Nikon 70-300 mm AF P 4.5-6.3 E be a good option ? Is it sharper than its predecessors ? I know that it is an FX lens.

If you find the Nikkor 200 - 500mm f5.6 a bit big, take a look at the Nikkor 300mm f4 PF ED VR and add to it a Nikkor TC14EIII. I used to own a Nikon D500 and the aforementioned lenses and 1.4TC. To be fair, I actually preferred the 200 - 500mm for birds in flight; but it is a bit big and heavy. On the other hand, the 300mm PF ED VR is amazingly light and compact, yet offers stunning performance. AF is very fast and accurate, even with the TC14EIII attached and optical quality superb. If budget is an issue, look for a good quality secong hand copy. Take a look at UHH member Steve Perry's review on YouTube for more information.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Check out the Tamron 18-400. It may just be the one you’re looking for!