wildlife: To all you wildlife photogs, I've have a Nikon d90 with a 70-300mm lens as well as the kit lens which is an 18-105. Currently in Canada an have seen some wonderful bucks and...

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

To all you wildlife photogs, I've have a Nikon d90 with a 70-300mm lens as well as the kit lens which is an 18-105. Currently in Canada an have seen some wonderful bucks and looking forward to seeing other wildlife. What is a good lens for that type photography.??

MtnMan Loc: ID

deanna_hg wrote:

To all you wildlife photogs, I've have a Nikon d90 with a 70-300mm lens as well as the kit lens which is an 18-105. Currently in Canada an have seen some wonderful bucks and looking forward to seeing other wildlife. What is a good lens for that type photography.??

Sigma 150-500

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

I have a Sigma 150-500 which I really like. Works really well with my D-90 and D-7000.

Goldwinger Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Longer is better , Sigma gets great reviews here .

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I've got many friends that shoot Nikon and they use Nikor 300mm f2.8 and 500mm f4 lenses for most of the wildlife they shoot. I use a 100-400mm and a 500mm Canon lens for my wildlife. A fast lens like these will work with the teleconverters i.e. the 1.4x or 2.0x

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

The Tamron 200-500 is lighter than the Sigma.

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

Thanks all for your input.

fergal

Sigma 150-500 - you will get used to the weight - use a monopod which can also be used as a stick and a leaning post if you get tired.

fergal

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

Love my sigma 150-500

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

JC56 wrote:

Love my sigma 150-500

Ditto - so glad I got it.

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

deanna_hg wrote:

To all you wildlife photogs, I've have a Nikon d90 with a 70-300mm lens as well as the kit lens which is an 18-105. Currently in Canada an have seen some wonderful bucks and looking forward to seeing other wildlife. What is a good lens for that type photography.??

Don't just get a lens, also get an extender and a good tripod.

George

DaveHam Loc: Reading UK

I shoot wildlife a lot in both Europe and Africa. The first point is the conditions for the shoot; if you are walking long distances the weight of the lens / tripod can be a key factor; you have to get to the shoot to take the photos, after all! Using Nikon the lens I prefer is the 600mm F4 (weights a ton though), and after that the 200-400 F4, the former without VR as it can only be used on a tripod, the latter with VR as it can be used hand held. Teleconverters are useful, both Nikon and Kenko BUT they affect the f stop setting and seriously impact on the speed of autofocus except in the very best of light conditions. The Nikon teleconverter I usually choose is the 1.7 which give a little over 1000mm at F6.7 on the 600mm lens and 680mm on the 200-400 at full extension, again at F6.7.

deepdiverv Loc: arizona

My favorite nikon lens for wildlife is my nikon 80-400mm. Ihave used it in Africa with great results. A good tripod will help also.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

There is nothing on the market that will compete with the Sigma 150-500mm OS lens for wildlife in that price range. I have in my inventory a Nikon 300mm F2.8, a Nikon 500mm F4, and a Sigma 800mm F5.6, but whenever I am out shooting I always have the Bigma mounted on a body ready for a fast shot.
The Nikon 200-400mm is a fantastic lens, at 5 times the price of the Sigma.
The Nikon 80-400mm is pretty good also, but the one I demo'd was very slow to focus with the VR turned on. It focused much faster with the VR turned off. It will be a LOT better when Nikon upgrades it to the VR II system I am sure.
The Tamron 200-500mm is a little lighter, but is much slower to AF, softer images on the long end, and does not have stabilization. Having Optical Stabilization is a MAJOR advantage in a lens of this focal length when handholding, otherwise you are limited to tripod shooting.

Teacher Loc: Alabama

I agree with most everyone about the Sigma. I have a 50-500mm OS and use it on a D7000 DX and from about 100 to 400 it is very sharp. This is of course with the understanding that there are better lenses out there costing 8 to 10 thousand dollars. Having said this, I really think the best investment in wildlife photography is money spent on access to "tame" wildlife.
Also time spent learning the behavior of the animals you pursue and setting yourself up in the right place at the right time. I've gotten some of my best white tailed deer photos with a 70-200mm Nikon lens.