joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
I'd like to here your assessment of this lens if you are currently using it.
joer wrote:
I'd like to here your assessment of this lens if you are currently using it.
Me too. It is on my wish list. I understand there are several (perhaps 3) versions though so please clarify which one. I'm inclined towards the AF-S version, which I think is newest, but if the price difference is too large might go for the AF version...I can use it on my D800.
I'd prefer the AF-S version so it will autofocus on my D5300 which I use for most tele shots to get the crop factor.
I have the current version of this lens and use it extensively on my D7100, mainly for wildlife photos. Many of which I have posted on the hog...most recently from our trip to Grand Teton N.P. and the Burrowing Owl I posted this past Monday.
It is a stellar lens that focus's fast, has excellent IQ and renders color and contrast well. Also, it does great for landscapes and even closeup shots of flowers, bugs etc. Moreover, although on the heavy side, can effectively be handheld with the right shutter speed.
I'm using my Sony a6000 camera more now than the Nikon because of its compact size/weight. The Sony has a similar 24 megapixel sensor as the Nikon and the photo quality is every bit as good as the Nikon D7100. Having said this, I would most likely never part with the Nikon D7100 and the 80-400G unless Sony came out with a quality super zoom for the a6000.
We are blessed with a variety of excellent equipment to select from...almost mind boggling. I heartily recommend the Nikon 80-400G.
joer wrote:
I'd like to here your assessment of this lens if you are currently using it.
I have it & love it , I use it constantly. I will be the first to admit the price is a bit rough, but worth every penny. Several years ago I purchased a brand X 500mm and have never been happy with it. Money wasted.
If you would like to see results click on my flickr link below.
Phil
I have the AF-S and use it on a D7100.
In my view it is an excellent lens, fast focus, nice VR and sharp. I use it on a tripod almost always. It is a real work horse because of its versatility (80-400 mm). I tried the earlier versions and they did not perform nearly as well.
It is quite heavy, almost as much of the Tamron 150-600mm and quite pricey. But still, I would not trade it for all the world.
pierre
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
Photosmoke wrote:
I have it & love it , I use it constantly. I will be the first to admit the price is a bit rough, but worth every penny. Several years ago I purchased a brand X 500mm and have never been happy with it. Money wasted.
If you would like to see results click on my flickr link below.
Phil
Your comments are appreciated.
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
MtnMan wrote:
Me too. It is on my wish list. I understand there are several (perhaps 3) versions though so please clarify which one. I'm inclined towards the AF-S version, which I think is newest, but if the price difference is too large might go for the AF version...I can use it on my D800.
I'd prefer the AF-S version so it will autofocus on my D5300 which I use for most tele shots to get the crop factor.
I have decided to buy it to use on y D800E after much consternation over the sticker shock .
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
Pierre H.J. Dumais wrote:
I have the AF-S and use it on a D7100.
In my view it is an excellent lens, fast focus, nice VR and sharp. I use it on a tripod almost always. It is a real work horse because of its versatility (80-400 mm). I tried the earlier versions and they did not perform nearly as well.
It is quite heavy, almost as much of the Tamron 150-600mm and quite pricey. But still, I would not trade it for all the world.
pierre
How does it compare to the Tamron at similar focal lengths?
joer wrote:
I have decided to buy it to use on y D800E after much consternation over the sticker shock .
joer.....I would recommend that you rent it somehow before purchasing it. I recently purchased the 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8. Then I started wondering if I should have purchased the 80-400mm. After all, it has the gold band, it's nano coated, it costs a ton and lot's of people like it. I made inquiries on UHH and the responses I received were that the 80-400mm somewhat of a disappointment for $2800 for use on a D800. Instead, I would suggest a 300mm f4 and a 1.4x to achieve the focal lengths you'd like to achieve but with a much better i.q.
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
SteveR wrote:
joer.....I would recommend that you rent it somehow before purchasing it. I recently purchased the 24-70mm f2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8. Then I started wondering if I should have purchased the 80-400mm. After all, it has the gold band, it's nano coated, it costs a ton and lot's of people like it. I made inquiries on UHH and the responses I received were that the 80-400mm somewhat of a disappointment for $2800 for use on a D800. Instead, I would suggest a 300mm f4 and a 1.4x to achieve the focal lengths you'd like to achieve but with a much better i.q.
joer.....I would recommend that you rent it someho... (
show quote)
Thanks for the sensible suggestion.
I have already ordered it from my favorite dealer that has an excellent return policy. Although from the reviews and comments most likely I will be keeping it.
I'm sure the combo you mention is good but I have the 300 f/2.8 VR II and TC14E II which is super sharp but weighs a ton. At about 7 pounds I tend to shoot it from a stationary location.
Looking for more versatility and portability.
joer wrote:
Thanks for the sensible suggestion.
I have already ordered it from my favorite dealer that has an excellent return policy. Although from the reviews and comments most likely I will be keeping it.
I'm sure the combo you mention is good but I have the 300 f/2.8 VR II and TC14E II which is super sharp but weighs a ton. At about 7 pounds I tend to shoot it from a stationary location.
Looking for more versatility and portability.
I hear that. The 70-200mm f2.8 also weighs a ton. I'm thinking that the new 300mm f4 is lighter. You might want to take a look at a camera store. M7 28-300 is a good weight....and I like it on vacations, but I'm trying to upgrade. I'm not ditching the 28-300, though.
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
SteveR wrote:
I hear that. The 70-200mm f2.8 also weighs a ton. I'm thinking that the new 300mm f4 is lighter. You might want to take a look at a camera store. M7 28-300 is a good weight....and I like it on vacations, but I'm trying to upgrade. I'm not ditching the 28-300, though.
I like it as well and am not ditching mine either. Its the most versatile lens I own and the weight is manageable.
I use it a lot at the longer end and there are times when a little more reach would come in handy.
Here is a shot taken recently that I like, heavily cropped.
joer wrote:
I like it as well and am not ditching mine either. Its the most versatile lens I own and the weight is manageable.
I use it a lot at the longer end and there are times when a little more reach would come in handy.
Here is a shot taken recently that I like, heavily cropped.
I don't understand why it gets a bad rap. I've never been anything but happy with it.
joer
Loc: Colorado/Illinois
SteveR wrote:
I don't understand why it gets a bad rap. I've never been anything but happy with it.
Since Nikon does not share its codes I suspect that the people criticizing it are not using the Nikon software to process the images.
It corrects for some of the design compromises.
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