So, as always, there is never a perfect answer. I am so grateful for the time and thought you fine folks have put into my little dilemma. I own a D810 body and a D500 body. My current thinking - based upon what I have read above - has me leaning towards purchasing a Tamron 18-400mm lens, putting it on the D500 body, and not bother with carrying any other equipment. It's a bit of a compromise, but it will keep things simple, light, and (while not full-frame) quite effective. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Which bridge cameras with 1" sensors do you folks favor? [See suggestion above.] For the past four years I have only been shooting with my Nikon D810, and I am not at all current with regard to bridge cameras. Thank you.

I'm really loving these responses and the thought that is going into them. Leaning towards picking up a Panasonic TS100 for my pocket and taking only my Tamron 150-600 G2 on the D810 body in a backpack. Great point from @rmorrison1116 about the risks involved borrowing the P1000. I don't think I'd lend it to me either! :-)

Thank you all for the quick feedback. I greatly appreciate it and will check back for any further suggestions.

Hello all. Please advise. I will be taking a trip to Tanzania and Kenya for the great migration next year. My initial thinking was to bring my Nikon D810 and a pair of lenses to include a Tamron 150-600 G2. The problem is that overall weight is an issue because of flights within Africa. Also, I'd like to minimize changing lenses because of all the dust typically encountered on such trips; was even looking at bringing a second body for that reason. I have been rethinking the whole issue and am now considering bringing only a Nikon Coolpix P1000, which a friend is willing to lend me for the trip. I realize that in going that route I would be sacrificing quality in the interest of convenience and zoom range, and I am struggling with this decision. Any thoughts? Thanks so much.

Even more excellent recommendations. Lots to think about. Thanks so much.

sp

Thank you all so much for your prompt and valuable responses. This board is such an incredible resource!

sp

So when I first told my wife I was interested in an Amazon trip, she thought I was talking about visiting an amazon.com distribution center. Can't blame her; I'm about the least likely person around to be found trekking through a jungle! Anyway, in a couple of months we will be headed to Iquitos in NW Peru to begin our week-long Amazon adventure. The ship sleeps 32. Skiffs will take us where the waters are too shallow for the ship. And there will be a number of jungle hikes lasting three to four hours each max. The question - given heat, terrain, etc. - is one of lenses. I plan to take my D810 with a Nikon 28-300 f3.5-5.6 lens for my basic all-purpose set up. The question (and I realize it is one of stamina and personal preference) is whether it is worth the weight, bulk, hassle, etc. to take along my Sigma 150-600 C f5-6.3 as well. Any thoughts?

Thanks much.

sp

All comments greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

sp

All replies and links greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

sp

I am an enthusiastic amateur who has enjoyed using my Sigma 150-500 f5-6.3 handheld on my D810 for nature shots. My question is whether or not there is an appreciable difference in quality between that lens and the contemporary version of the Sigma 150-600 f5-6.3 besides the obvious additional 100mm of focal length.

Thank you.

sp

Hi All -

I am an enthusiastic amateur who has derived great pleasure from using my Sigma 150-500 f5-6.3 handheld on my D810 for nature shots like the attached royal tern preparing to dine on a shrimp. My question is whether or not there is an appreciable difference (pardon the ambiguous phraseology) in quality between that lens and the contemporary version of the Sigma 150-600 f5-6.3 besides the obvious additional 100mm of focal length.

Thank you.

sp

Royal Tern

Royal tern with shrimp photo below:
ISO 800; focal length 200mm; 1/2500sec at f/11
Shot at FX and cropped in LR

I neglected to follow up with you fine folks. First, thanks for all the suggestions. I ultimately decided to go with the AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED, which worked just fine. I took the two shots below with my D800 at an exposure of 13 sec at f/3.2 (ISO 1000). If I had to do it all over again, I'd likely bump up the ISO and use a faster shutter speed. The Northern Lights move more quickly than it appears to the eye, and I think the photos would have been better with less blur. Any thoughts in that regard would be appreciated.

Here are a couple more from the Galapagos using that 28-300. It's a compromise, I agree. But it gets the job done. I truly appreciate all the responses and suggestions in this thread.

Feeding Time for Blue-Footed Boobies


Española Sunset