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Zoom or Prime
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Apr 21, 2020 08:07:20   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Gjb1706 wrote:
I would like to get some opinions about lens preferences. I have a Nikon D750 and am currently looking at purchasing one of two telephoto lenses, either the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 or the Nikon 300mm F/4E PF prime lens. I intend to use the lens for wildlife photography and occasional moon photography. I have a Nikon TC-14E II Teleconverter that I can couple with either lens. Your thoughts would be appreciated.


Both lenses are the new E lenses from Nikon. The E glass has been especially formulated for today's higher pixel NIKON ONLY camera's, they all produce excellent results.
I own both the 200-500 5.6 and the 300 f4. I do many one man wildlife photography shows and have made 20X30 enlargements from both lenses used on the D500, D800, D810, D850, D4s, and D5. I would say if you are buying a lens for WILDLIFE, my first choice would be the 200-500 for it's versatility and reach.
Below are examples. The first is taken with the 300 on a D500 (cropped 450mm reach) and the second with the 200-500 on a D4s.





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Apr 21, 2020 08:20:50   #
Floyd2 Loc: Littletown WI
 
Enjoyable pics

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Apr 21, 2020 08:34:12   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Floyd2 wrote:
Enjoyable pics


Thank you. With my age and heat in Florida I am sort of OUT OF IT. Can't wait for the state wildlife preserves to open.
Interesting, the Sand Hill Cranes and Colt image were taken on a soccer field that is next to the wildlife preserve. When the family comes out on the soccer field play is suspended until the cranes are well off the playing surface, cool.

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Apr 21, 2020 08:36:37   #
mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois
 
sandiegosteve wrote:
200-500 can be great. The 300 is super sharp. So, you aren't looking at a really bad choice.

My experiences show the primes handle the 1.4 TC better.

Other thoughts on the prime include that it weights less, lets in twice the light and may AF faster. I know a lot of people who are still using the 200-500 and say the AF is a touch slower. You may not notice.

For the zoom, well, you get a great range. Primes are awesome, but you are limited to a focal length.

I personally tend to bump into light limitations, so I go with the primes for the wider apertures.
200-500 can be great. The 300 is super sharp. So, ... (show quote)


The real issue is just what's stated here: The trade off between lens speed and lighter weight vs greater versatility and heavier.

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Apr 21, 2020 08:45:34   #
gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast
 
The TC will give you better quality on the prime but the zoom will obviously be more efficient for cropping on the go.

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Apr 21, 2020 08:52:49   #
mborn Loc: Massachusetts
 
DirtFarmer wrote:
I have been using a 200-500 since around 2015. I find it sharp most of the way through, but a touch soft between about 450 and 500. It's not too heavy and performs well for me. The price is reasonable and the VR is excellent, allowing hand-held shots down as slow as 1/10 second at 500mm.

In general I prefer zooms because of the flexibility.



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Apr 21, 2020 08:53:12   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
billnikon wrote:
Both lenses are the new E lenses from Nikon. The E glass has been especially formulated for today's higher pixel NIKON ONLY camera's, they all produce excellent results.
I own both the 200-500 5.6 and the 300 f4. I do many one man wildlife photography shows and have made 20X30 enlargements from both lenses used on the D500, D800, D810, D850, D4s, and D5. I would say if you are buying a lens for WILDLIFE, my first choice would be the 200-500 for it's versatility and reach.
Below are examples. The first is taken with the 300 on a D500 (cropped 450mm reach) and the second with the 200-500 on a D4s.
Both lenses are the new E lenses from Nikon. The E... (show quote)



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Apr 21, 2020 08:56:08   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
PixelStan77 wrote:
Go with the 200-500. I have it and my copy is sharp through the entire range. You will also like the extended range with the 200-500 for wildlife.

Welcome to the forum.



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Apr 21, 2020 08:57:38   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
gvarner wrote:
The TC will give you better quality on the prime but the zoom will obviously be more efficient for cropping on the go.


I have used the 300 with a 1.4 and the 200-500. To say that the 300 prime with the 1.4 attached would produce better quality is a stretch in my opinion based on three years of extensive use of both in Florida wetlands. Unless you have used the 200-500 f5.6 E then you really don't know just how sharp it is.
The new Nikon 120-300 2.8 is equal to or even better in image quality to the Nikon 300 prime. Yes grasshopper, the new E series lenses from Nikon are that good.
The old argument about primes producing better quality than zooms are going fast. I also shoot the Sony 200-600 on the a9 and the results are just as good as my primes. Yes, that good.

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Apr 21, 2020 09:09:33   #
HRBIEL Loc: Rapid City, SD
 
Mac wrote:

The 300mm & TC combo is less expensive than the 200-500mm.
.


?? The Nikon 200-500 costs $1399 new while the Nikon 300mm f4 pf costs $1996

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Apr 21, 2020 09:14:02   #
Silverrails
 
Gjb1706 wrote:
I would like to get some opinions about lens preferences. I have a Nikon D750 and am currently looking at purchasing one of two telephoto lenses, either the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 or the Nikon 300mm F/4E PF prime lens. I intend to use the lens for wildlife photography and occasional moon photography. I have a Nikon TC-14E II Teleconverter that I can couple with either lens. Your thoughts would be appreciated.


If I am correct. the D750 is a "Crop-Sensor" Camera, please let me know if I am misinformed, so the Nikon 1.5 crop factor will be applied. So, the actual "A.O.V. or "F.O.V." will be 300mm to 750mm

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Apr 21, 2020 09:16:30   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Silverrails wrote:
If I am correct. the D750 is a "Crop-Sensor" Camera, please let me know if I am misinformed, so the Nikon 1.5 crop factor will be applied. So, the actual "A.O.V. or "F.O.V." will be 300mm to 750mm


You are mis-informed ...

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Apr 21, 2020 09:22:45   #
pila
 
Floyd2 wrote:
Enjoyable pics


Pictures are worth a 1000 words.

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Apr 21, 2020 09:30:33   #
ELNikkor
 
200-500

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Apr 21, 2020 10:06:14   #
frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.
 
SuperflyTNT wrote:
And how this relates to the subject is not apparent.


Subject...zoom or prime.....

Why do you ALWAYS have to be a sa and pick on people? Chill and enjoy life.

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