Sony 70-400 G2 lens for BIF: I have used the original version of the lens (G1) and have found it to be just tolerable for BIF unless the bird is pretty close. Based on my experience...

LA Loc: Little Rock, AR

I have used the original version of the lens (G1) and have found it to be just tolerable for BIF unless the bird is pretty close. Based on my experience and others, I believe the issue is that the focus is not fast enough. The G2 lens is supposed to be faster. How much faster is a matter of some disagreement. What is the experience of others with this lens and BIF, especially those who can compare it with the original G1 version. FWIW my camera is the Sony a77 II.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

LA wrote:

I have used the original version of the lens (G1) and have found it to be just tolerable for BIF unless the bird is pretty close. Based on my experience and others, I believe the issue is that the focus is not fast enough. The G2 lens is supposed to be faster. How much faster is a matter of some disagreement. What is the experience of others with this lens and BIF, especially those who can compare it with the original G1 version. FWIW my camera is the Sony a77 II.

I have owned both with the a77II. The second version is much better but gave it up for something better. My Nikon D500 with Nikon 200-500 f5.6. Enjoy and keep on shooting until the end.

LA Loc: Little Rock, AR

billnikon wrote:

I have owned both with the a77II. The second version is much better but gave it up for something better. My Nikon D500 with Nikon 200-500 f5.6. Enjoy and keep on shooting until the end.

Thanks so much. What do you mainly like better about the Nikon lens?

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

LA wrote:

Thanks so much. What do you mainly like better about the Nikon lens?

It's the D500 body. Nikon now have a second processor for focusing, it has increased the speed and accuracy of focusing. I use GROUP AUTO FOCUS. My keep rate for BIF is almost 98%. The Nikon 200-500 is as sharp as my Nikon 300 2.8 and 200-400 4 and is much liter for me to carry around. I print 16X24 and 20X30 prints with no problems.