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Contemplating a new (used) lens. Advice please.
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Oct 22, 2019 11:46:06   #
Overthehill1
 
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies around here over and flowers and fall colors fading I'll soon be looking for new subjects. I have been amazed at the many outstanding bird photos posted on this forum and would like to try my hand at it. I'm using a Nikon D7000 and my 80-200 F 2.8 with a 1.4X converter. That will probably handle most of the shots at the feeders we'll put up soon, but a few trips into the woods have me thinking I need more reach there. Budgetary reasons have me considering a 300mm F4 Nikkor. If my math is correct, that will give me the equivalent of 570mm at F 5.6. Or would I be better off with a manual focus older lens, like a 400mm. Thoughts?

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Oct 22, 2019 12:00:56   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Yes, IMO, 400mm is a better place to be .....but you MUST have AF ! Look at the Tamron 100-400 with the collar and dock.
.

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Oct 22, 2019 13:28:11   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Overthehill1 wrote:
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies around here over and flowers and fall colors fading I'll soon be looking for new subjects. I have been amazed at the many outstanding bird photos posted on this forum and would like to try my hand at it. I'm using a Nikon D7000 and my 80-200 F 2.8 with a 1.4X converter. That will probably handle most of the shots at the feeders we'll put up soon, but a few trips into the woods have me thinking I need more reach there. Budgetary reasons have me considering a 300mm F4 Nikkor. If my math is correct, that will give me the equivalent of 570mm at F 5.6. Or would I be better off with a manual focus older lens, like a 400mm. Thoughts?
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies a... (show quote)


You don't want manual focus. The 300mm F4 Nikkors are great lenses, the PF being their latest and greatest. I prefer it to a 100-400 zoom by Tamron or Sigma. There really is no comparison. If you are looking to get to 600mm you may want to try a Tamron 150-600 G2, which will set you back around $1200. It may be a little hard to hand hold on a cropped sensor body at full zoom, but it will be quite sharp, and even at shorter focal lengths, it will be comparable to a prime lens with a TC. And you won't have to take a hit on AF performance.

Here is a review on the PF which even includes how it works with a TC-14E III

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-300mm-f4e-pf-ed-vr/4

Here is a review of the Tamron 150-600 G2, with sample images, some taken with a crop sensor camera.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/tamron-sp-150-600mm-f5-6-3-g2

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Oct 22, 2019 13:40:04   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Absolute bargain lens - AF Nikkor 75-300 4.5 - 5.6 - an older FX lens. From Bugs to birds, fantastic on my D 7200 rendering a functional 450 top end. Can be had for as little as $75 online. I like it so well I bought an extra - can't tell the difference between the two performance wise. Check Roberts Used Photo Pro or other well thought of dealers.

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Oct 22, 2019 14:07:50   #
Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.
 
Overthehill1 wrote:
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies around here over and flowers and fall colors fading I'll soon be looking for new subjects. I have been amazed at the many outstanding bird photos posted on this forum and would like to try my hand at it. I'm using a Nikon D7000 and my 80-200 F 2.8 with a 1.4X converter. That will probably handle most of the shots at the feeders we'll put up soon, but a few trips into the woods have me thinking I need more reach there. Budgetary reasons have me considering a 300mm F4 Nikkor. If my math is correct, that will give me the equivalent of 570mm at F 5.6. Or would I be better off with a manual focus older lens, like a 400mm. Thoughts?
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies a... (show quote)


I use the AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR with a 1.4x teleconverter on my Df. 420mm gives me plenty of "reach".

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Oct 22, 2019 14:34:30   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
Another absolute bargain lens for the performance you get is the Nikon 200~500 at about $1,300. Very sharp from end to end and 750mm equivalent on a D7000. It's f 5.6 so a little slow for the deep woods but the D7000 does pretty well with higher ISO. ps. It's GREAT on the D500.

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Oct 22, 2019 15:36:17   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Retired CPO wrote:
Another absolute bargain lens for the performance you get is the Nikon 200~500 at about $1,300. Very sharp from end to end and 750mm equivalent on a D7000. It's f 5.6 so a little slow for the deep woods but the D7000 does pretty well with higher ISO. ps. It's GREAT on the D500.


Agree, with a strong BUT - 200-500 is quite large and heavy. 75-300 is tiny, light and (virtually free by price comparison). I don't stroll around with the 200-500, it out for a particular mission. I can walk around with the 75-300 as long as I care to, leave it in the car, etc. no special care or worry. They are not comparable purpose lenses



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Oct 22, 2019 16:12:25   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
quixdraw wrote:
Agree, with a strong BUT - 200-500 is quite large and heavy. 75-300 is tiny, light and (virtually free by price comparison). I don't stroll around with the 200-500, it out for a particular mission. I can walk around with the 75-300 as long as I care to, leave it in the car, etc. no special care or worry. They are not comparable purpose lenses


Well yes, I agree, with a small but... the OP indicated that he was interested in bird photography. In my experience the longer you can get the better off you are for birds. The extra 200 mm with the 200~500 would be very important in that endeavor.
I do stroll around with my D500 and my 200~500mm. I never know what I will find in the bush and I'm certainly not limited to just shooting birds. My Bobcat post from several months ago and one of my coyote posts were the results of wandering around in the bush not knowing what I would run into.
By the way, I would love to find one of those 75~300 lenses in good shape for a good price. But I don't know about that f 4.5. I'm not sure I could live with that.

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Oct 22, 2019 16:44:05   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Retired CPO wrote:
Well yes, I agree, with a small but... the OP indicated that he was interested in bird photography. In my experience the longer you can get the better off you are for birds. The extra 200 mm with the 200~500 would be very important in that endeavor.
I do stroll around with my D500 and my 200~500mm. I never know what I will find in the bush and I'm certainly not limited to just shooting birds. My Bobcat post from several months ago and one of my coyote posts were the results of wandering around in the bush not knowing what I would run into.
By the way, I would love to find one of those 75~300 lenses in good shape for a good price. But I don't know about that f 4.5. I'm not sure I could live with that.
Well yes, I agree, with a small but... the OP indi... (show quote)


Ask and you shall receive! $70. https://usedphotopro.com/products/usedlenses/used-slr-lenses/used-autofocus-lenses/nikon-nikkor-af-75-300mm-f4-5-5-6-lens-75-300-4-5-5-6-267383?source=category

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Oct 22, 2019 17:34:28   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 


Thanks, QD. I've never been there before. LOTS of stuff.

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Oct 22, 2019 18:12:01   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Retired CPO wrote:
Thanks, QD. I've never been there before. LOTS of stuff.


Every one of the many items I've purchased there was better than described. My one return was my fault and was handled without question.

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Oct 23, 2019 06:59:21   #
ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA
 
Overthehill1 wrote:
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies around here over and flowers and fall colors fading I'll soon be looking for new subjects. I have been amazed at the many outstanding bird photos posted on this forum and would like to try my hand at it. I'm using a Nikon D7000 and my 80-200 F 2.8 with a 1.4X converter. That will probably handle most of the shots at the feeders we'll put up soon, but a few trips into the woods have me thinking I need more reach there. Budgetary reasons have me considering a 300mm F4 Nikkor. If my math is correct, that will give me the equivalent of 570mm at F 5.6. Or would I be better off with a manual focus older lens, like a 400mm. Thoughts?
With the season for hummingbirds and butterflies a... (show quote)


You are correct in your assumption that, for birds, you need more reach. Your current setup already gives you close to 300mm, so you would probably be looking for something longer.

It is generally agreed that the Nikon 200-500 or the Tamron 150-600 G2 are excellent choices for long lenses that are not priced in the stratosphere. IF you intend to hand-carry your gear, however, it is a simple question of weight. And, as you can see in the responses so far, different people have different capabilities and preferences. If the 200-500 is comfortable for you to carry, go for it.

I am among those that chooses not to handhold my 200-500, so the fallback choices have already bern mentioned: the Nikon 300 f/4 PF with TC or the Tamron 100-400. I have both of these also, and for IQ the Nikon is the better choice. BUT, you may run into situations in which you need a zoom. In those cases, i bring the Tamron.

Basically, you can’t go too far wrong with any of these lenses. Try them, carry them for a bit, see what feels right to you.

Good luck!

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Oct 23, 2019 08:03:39   #
Canisdirus
 
You mentioned ... If my math is correct, that will give me the equivalent of 570mm at F 5.6 (from 300 f/4).

No, It will be 459mm at f/6.12 ... on your Nikon D7000.

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Oct 23, 2019 08:27:53   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
You mention budgetary concerns. As such, that pretty much eliminates the 200-500 Nikkor and the Tamron 150-600 G2. I have the Tamron 150-600 1 version, while not quite as sharp as the 2, is still good. I also have a MF 400mm F5.6 Nikkor. Your camera can use the older MF glass in "A" or "M" modes. For birds in flight, the MF is a bit tricky to get good captures with but it can be done. For stationary birds, no problems. I do use my Tamron G1 more though. It cost me about $450 used...I have that 80-200 F2.8 like you do, but I wouldn't use it for birds and I don't care to use TCs. I should mention that that 400mm Nikkor is very light, but still you are better off using a monopod or tripod with such a long lens.

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Oct 23, 2019 08:38:02   #
fetzler Loc: North West PA
 
Gene51 wrote:
You don't want manual focus. The 300mm F4 Nikkors are great lenses, the PF being their latest and greatest. I prefer it to a 100-400 zoom by Tamron or Sigma. There really is no comparison. If you are looking to get to 600mm you may want to try a Tamron 150-600 G2, which will set you back around $1200. It may be a little hard to hand hold on a cropped sensor body at full zoom, but it will be quite sharp, and even at shorter focal lengths, it will be comparable to a prime lens with a TC. And you won't have to take a hit on AF performance.

Here is a review on the PF which even includes how it works with a TC-14E III

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-300mm-f4e-pf-ed-vr/4

Here is a review of the Tamron 150-600 G2, with sample images, some taken with a crop sensor camera.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/tamron-sp-150-600mm-f5-6-3-g2
You don't want manual focus. The 300mm F4 Nikkors ... (show quote)


Indeed I would look to these lenses. I would add the Nikon 200-500mm to my list as well. The Sigma/ Tamron 100-400mm lenses are light enough.

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