Looking For a wildlife lens for My Nikon D610: Hi I always get great answers from this site so here I go again, I am looking for a lens that won't put me in the poor house , but is...

CJsFotos Loc: Cambridge Ontario Canada

Hi I always get great answers from this site so here I go again, I am looking for a lens that won't put me in the poor house , but is good quality sharp images , have looked at sigma 140-400 OS and nikon 80-400 VR but I am open to info on what some of you wildlife & landscape photographers out there have experience with, I am sure that there are some that started as I am without the bank roll in my pocket lol. Thanks for any input! Take care!

Gobuster Loc: South Florida

CJsFotos wrote:

Hi I always get great answers from this site so here I go again, I am looking for a lens that won't put me in the poor house , but is good quality sharp images , have looked at sigma 140-400 OS and nikon 80-400 VR but I am open to info on what some of you wildlife & landscape photographers out there have experience with, I am sure that there are some that started as I am without the bank roll in my pocket lol. Thanks for any input! Take care!

I have a D610 and have been looking too. At one point I thought the Sigma C 150-600 would be a good choice but then Nikon announced the new 200-500 F5.6 for around $1400, claiming 4 plus stops of VR, so I've pre-ordered one and hope it fills the bill. I've had such good luck with Nikon lenses in the intermediate price range, that I think this one should be good. It can also use Nikons 1.4x TC.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I just went through the same dilemma this week. Good luck....I went with the 80-400VR and the Nikon 1.4 TC, and my few test shots are quite pleasing. For shorter shots and low light, I could have chosen the 70-200. I'm trying to talk my wife into getting it for her, but so far it doesn't look too encouraging. Yeah, right....

It's all a matter of what you perceive to be your greatest use and within a realistic budget. Dave.

CJsFotos Loc: Cambridge Ontario Canada

I will look it up , if you get it soon post some pics, Thanks

Gobuster wrote:

I have a D610 and have been looking too. At one point I thought the Sigma C 150-600 would be a good choice but then Nikon announced the new 200-500 F5.6 for around $1400, claiming 4 plus stops of VR, so I've pre-ordered one and hope it fills the bill. I've had such good luck with Nikon lenses in the intermediate price range, that I think this one should be good. It can also use Nikons 1.4x TC.

CJsFotos Loc: Cambridge Ontario Canada

Would like to see your pics without the 1.4 , I have a 1.7 but would like to see without, Take care Thanks for reply!

DaveO wrote:

I just went through the same dilemma this week. Good luck....I went with the 80-400VR and the Nikon 1.4 TC, and my few test shots are quite pleasing. For shorter shots and low light, I could have chosen the 70-200. I'm trying to talk my wife into getting it for her, but so far it doesn't look too encouraging. Yeah, right....

It's all a matter of what you perceive to be your greatest use and within a realistic budget. Dave.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Gobuster wrote:

I have a D610 and have been looking too. At one point I thought the Sigma C 150-600 would be a good choice but then Nikon announced the new 200-500 F5.6 for around $1400, claiming 4 plus stops of VR, so I've pre-ordered one and hope it fills the bill. I've had such good luck with Nikon lenses in the intermediate price range, that I think this one should be good. It can also use Nikons 1.4x TC.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

jjestar Loc: Savannah GA

I have a very nice one for sale if you talk her into the 70-200 2.8G VRII $1800 plus shipping.

DaveO wrote:

I just went through the same dilemma this week. Good luck....I went with the 80-400VR and the Nikon 1.4 TC, and my few test shots are quite pleasing. For shorter shots and low light, I could have chosen the 70-200. I'm trying to talk my wife into getting it for her, but so far it doesn't look too encouraging. Yeah, right....

It's all a matter of what you perceive to be your greatest use and within a realistic budget. Dave.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

That is a very good offer, but I think fear and common sense may prevail, at least for a few weeks!

MtnMan Loc: ID

CJsFotos wrote:

Hi I always get great answers from this site so here I go again, I am looking for a lens that won't put me in the poor house , but is good quality sharp images , have looked at sigma 140-400 OS and nikon 80-400 VR but I am open to info on what some of you wildlife & landscape photographers out there have experience with, I am sure that there are some that started as I am without the bank roll in my pocket lol. Thanks for any input! Take care!

You probably know the two leaders today are the Tamron and Sigma 150-600, both about $1,000. (Sigma C)

You can get buys now on the few remaining new or used Sigma 150-500s.

I'll be selling mine in a couple of months when my Nikon 200-500 arrives.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Gobuster wrote:

I have a D610 and have been looking too. At one point I thought the Sigma C 150-600 would be a good choice but then Nikon announced the new 200-500 F5.6 for around $1400, claiming 4 plus stops of VR, so I've pre-ordered one and hope it fills the bill. I've had such good luck with Nikon lenses in the intermediate price range, that I think this one should be good. It can also use Nikons 1.4x TC.

Mine is on order also.

I have a 1.4 TC on the way but plan to send it back when it arrives based on comments from Tony Northrup. He says you are better off to crop. I can also plunk the lens on my D5300 to get similar effect...albeit at reduced MP (24) from my D800 (36). Or I can use it in DX mode on the D800 (about 16 MP).

The other reason I'm sending the TC back is that I learned it won't work on my Sigma 150-500 or my Nikon 28-300 in the mean time and the Nikon won't come before the return period expires. I might try the TC again after the Nikon lens arrives so I can test it within the return period.

MtnMan Loc: ID

DaveO wrote:

I just went through the same dilemma this week. Good luck....I went with the 80-400VR and the Nikon 1.4 TC, and my few test shots are quite pleasing. For shorter shots and low light, I could have chosen the 70-200. I'm trying to talk my wife into getting it for her, but so far it doesn't look too encouraging. Yeah, right....

It's all a matter of what you perceive to be your greatest use and within a realistic budget. Dave.

I see a Sigma 150-600 C in the future for my wife. :D

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

MtnMan wrote:

I see a Sigma 150-600 C in the future for my wife. :D

Funny how they like a lot of the same things that we do. :lol: :lol: :shock: :shock:

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

MtnMan wrote:

I see a Sigma 150-600 C in the future for my wife. :D

Is that an even trade? How does she feel about it? :shock:

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

CJsFotos wrote:

Hi I always get great answers from this site so here I go again, I am looking for a lens that won't put me in the poor house , but is good quality sharp images , have looked at sigma 140-400 OS and nikon 80-400 VR but I am open to info on what some of you wildlife & landscape photographers out there have experience with, I am sure that there are some that started as I am without the bank roll in my pocket lol. Thanks for any input! Take care!

I do a lot of wildlife and I don't care what lens you have you'll find it's never long enough. Good luck.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

CJsFotos wrote:

Hi I always get great answers from this site so here I go again, I am looking for a lens that won't put me in the poor house , but is good quality sharp images , have looked at sigma 140-400 OS and nikon 80-400 VR but I am open to info on what some of you wildlife & landscape photographers out there have experience with, I am sure that there are some that started as I am without the bank roll in my pocket lol. Thanks for any input! Take care!

I do a lot of wildlife and I don't care what lens you have you'll find it's never long enough. Good luck.