Nikon 300mm vs Sigma 150-600
Feb 24, 2015 12:36:36 #
Here's a question I have been trying to sort out.
I have been offered a very nice Nikon 300mm f/2.8 Af IF lens with original case for $1500. I would wind up buying at least a used 1.4x and probably a 2x converter so I would be into this setup for somewhere just North of $2000. Am I better off with that lens or waiting for the upcoming Sigma 150-600 Sports version lens for aprox $2000 ??
Most of the time I'll be stationary on a heavy duty Manfrotto tripod with a D7100 shooting Osprey on or coming into the nest and birds of prey. Mostly wildlife. I may try to set up at a car race sometime...............
I have been offered a very nice Nikon 300mm f/2.8 Af IF lens with original case for $1500. I would wind up buying at least a used 1.4x and probably a 2x converter so I would be into this setup for somewhere just North of $2000. Am I better off with that lens or waiting for the upcoming Sigma 150-600 Sports version lens for aprox $2000 ??
Most of the time I'll be stationary on a heavy duty Manfrotto tripod with a D7100 shooting Osprey on or coming into the nest and birds of prey. Mostly wildlife. I may try to set up at a car race sometime...............
Feb 24, 2015 12:44:41 #
My 2 cents. I have the sigma 50-500 which I love. If I had to replace today it would be the 150-600 sport. Great wildlife lens.
Feb 24, 2015 13:22:06 #
wingclui44
Loc: CT USA
GC likes NIKON wrote:
Here's a question I have been trying to sort out. ... (show quote)
Go for it for the Nikon, because it's a pro prime from Nikon You can't beat that price, It's fast even after adding the 2.0x TC. check the condition fist because it's a used one!
I have the Nikon 300mm AF-s ED f4.0 D version prime with 1.4x TC. great combination!
Feb 24, 2015 14:10:56 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
Here's a question I have been trying to sort out. ... (show quote)
Adding both a 1.4x and a 2.0x will reduce the light by an equivalent of 3 stops which means the f/2.8 becomes f/8 and you may have difficultly focusing in low lighting conditions. Also, any teleconverter reduces the IQ of the entire setup. So you'd be taking a very high IQ lens and deteriorating it with 2 teleconverters. While the Sigma Sports may have a lower IQ than an Nikon prime, my guess is that it would be better than the 300mm with 2 teleconverters. I'd go for the Sigma, which is on my bucket list as well.
Feb 24, 2015 14:24:21 #
ecobin wrote:
Adding both a 1.4x and a 2.0x will reduce the light by an equivalent of 3 stops
I think that is an either/or situation, not considering two TC's together. That can't be done with Nikon TC's anyway.
Feb 24, 2015 14:27:37 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
I would be into this setup for somewhere just North of $2000.
It's only a couple of hundred difference, but I got Nikon 1.4 and 1.7 TC's used from KEH for about $300 each and they're in perfect condition.
Feb 24, 2015 14:40:40 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
Here's a question I have been trying to sort out. ... (show quote)
GC, if it where me, I would get the zoom.
I don't know either lens, but I can't begin to imagine that there are any advantages to using the 2x on a 300 and it would be stretched to as thin as it could go.
I assume that with the 600 you could still put a 1.4x behind it and comfortably get even more reach.
The beauty of the 2.8 is hand holding for sports.
If you shoot a ton of sports and can get a lot of double duty out of the lens, then I might consider that as a possible viable option until you could get a more proper bird lens, as the 2.8 is way better for tight, handheld sports. Just my opinion as I've never even seen either lens. ;-(
SS
Feb 24, 2015 15:23:24 #
OddJobber wrote:
I think that is an either/or situation, not considering two TC's together. That can't be done with Nikon TC's anyway.
There's a UHH member who regularly uses 2 Kenko TCs and gets decent results. It would be interesting to compare a really good prime like the Nikon 300mm + 2x TC with the Sigma at 600mm. I'd bet on the Sigma but I've been wrong many times. However, I'd bet that the Nikon 300mm + 1.4x TC would have better IQ than the Sigma.
Feb 24, 2015 15:43:25 #
ecobin wrote:
There's a UHH member who regularly uses 2 Kenko TCs and gets decent results. It would be interesting to compare a really good prime like the Nikon 300mm + 2x TC with the Sigma at 600mm. I'd bet on the Sigma but I've been wrong many times. However, I'd bet that the Nikon 300mm + 1.4x TC would have better IQ than the Sigma.
Supposedly the 600 is pretty sharp till 500. So the comparisons should be kept to the sweet spot on the 600, not its weakest point.
The 300 with 2x is only at 600mm.
The 600 even at 500 with 1.4x is at 800 so there should be no comparison when what your trying to do is maximize reach and have a balance of IQ. Just my opinion on it.
You certainly don't want to get either lens just to make the comparison.
If you go to The Digital Picture, you might be able to make that exact comparison side by side on a test chart. ;-)
SS
Edit: actually I don't think the Sport is out yet, is it?
Feb 24, 2015 15:53:13 #
OddJobber wrote:
I think that is an either/or situation, not considering two TC's together. That can't be done with Nikon TC's anyway.
I would not be using two T/C's stacked. But having both would give me versatility @ 300, 420 & 600 mm.
Last year using a Sigma 150-500, I shot one Osprey nest consistantly at around 400. After the chicks hatched, I wanted to get in a little tighter and 600 would have been nice.
Feb 24, 2015 15:56:56 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Edit: actually I don't think the Sport is out yet, is it?
Edit: actually I don't think the Sport is out yet, is it?
According to B&H it is not available yet........ Pre-order @ $1999.00
Feb 25, 2015 06:06:08 #
DaveHam
Loc: Reading UK
On it's own the Nikon prime lens offers minimum 1 stop advantage at 300mm and is considerably sharper and wide open also is sharp. With the Nikon 1.4 TC attached you loose the 1 stop and image quality drops off particularly at the edges with about a 5% deterioration in sharpness in the centre. This would bring it into the sort of image quality that the Sigma is being reviewed as having. With the Nikon 2.0 TC you have an 5.6 600mm which can produce good results but it has to be said that most people would struggle to get the IQ of the Sigma with this rig.
The sigma offers you a greater focal range and more flexibility; likely to be the best solution for what you describe.
The sigma offers you a greater focal range and more flexibility; likely to be the best solution for what you describe.
Feb 25, 2015 06:26:11 #
GC likes NIKON wrote:
Here's a question I have been trying to sort out. ... (show quote)
I suggest you call Nikon and find out if they support the AF-IF lens - I think you will find out that it has been so long out of production that the answer will be no. Which begs the question - do you really want to get a lens that if it breaks - either from wear and tear or accident, cannot be repaired?
To answer your question - the quality will likely be better with the 300 and the 1.4, about the same with a 1.7 and probably a little worse with the 2x. Using these extenders will rob 5%, 17% and 25% sharpness. if your prime lens is exceptionally sharp and your technique flawless, even a 25% loss of sharpness will still yield great images.
This is a friend's site- she uses a full frame Canon 5DMkIII and a 300 F2.8 with a 2x extender. It's hard to argue with her results.
http://www.laurameyers.com/
Feb 25, 2015 08:06:50 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Supposedly the 600 is pretty sharp till 500. So th... (show quote)
The Sport version is out, probably back ordered. The Contemporary is available for pre-order.
Feb 25, 2015 09:36:54 #
RKL349 wrote:
The Sport version is out, probably back ordered. The Contemporary is available for pre-order.
Sport: Adorama- Available for Pre-order
B&H - Coming soon, Date not available
Contemporary: Adarama - Pre-Order available 5/15
B&H - Pre-Order Expected 3/20
I know there are a few reveiws out there on B&H and Adorama with people saying that they have received and tested them. However, I always question these early glowing reviews as to WHO wrote thm and how these "lucky" and talented reviewers got these lenses before anyone else. Paid by Sigma or Sigma employees creating hype ???
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