Nikon 300mm 2.8 VR for bird photography

Hi everyone. I am currently shooting my bird photos with my Nikon d200,and 80-400vr. However, I'm considering selling my 80-400vr and getting the Nikon 300mm 2.8 VR. and 2X teleconverter.

I'm just wondering if anyone has an opinion on this. Is it worth the money ($5000), and has anyone else used the 300mm with a 2X for bird photography?

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks

Why not get a 200-400/4.0? + teleconverters?
I'm currently shooting with a Canon 300/2.8L USM with teleconverters but would chance it to the Nikon 200-400/4.0 whenever I would have the money....seems like a great lens for wildlife and birds and is sharp as a tack!

I have heard th3 300VR is one of the sharpest lenses Nikon makes. It is also supposed to work great with both the 1.4x and 2x converters. I think you will need the 2x if you photograph small birds. It seems that most bird photographers that use the 600mm have a 1.4x on with that big lens most of the time. I have the 200-400VR and love it, but I really don't consider myself a "bird" photographer. I wanted an all-around big lens for mammals as well as birds. I find that with a 1.4x, the 200-400mm is much slower focusing, and really isn't long enough for small birds, unless you can get close enough (shooting from a blind, i.e.). One advantage of the 200-400VR is that it has a short minimum focus distance (around 7 ft I think). I think the 300VR is about the same in that regard.

I live and breath for the variable framing opportunity of zooms and feel quite confined by the fixes FL of my 300 and 500. I'd go for that 200-400VR in a heartbeat if I was doing more wildlife and birds these days. I suspect the fixed FL of the 300 will feel immediately confining to you after shooting your current 80-400, and ultimately will be a bigger factor than any gains in aperture or sharpness. The 200-400 gives you both the framing flexibility and sharpness in trade for the loss of one f-stop in aperture. Not a fair trade in my book.

I suspect the faster AF of an "S" lens will come into play more than the f2.8, but I could be wrong.


Kent in SD

I've been shooting birds since 1998 with a Nikkor 300/2.8 AF-S and the matched TC20E 2x. I think it is a great combination for birds for my style of shooting, where I seldom try to fill the frame with nothing but a warbler. I keep the TC14E 1.4x with me and occasionally am close enough to use it instead of the 2x. Probably everything of mine still showing here was taken with this combo.

I really like the portability of this lens and converter, and use it on a Gitzo 1325 with a RRS BH55 ball head and Sidekick. I can walk around for hours with this rig in the AZ heat.

I also like the close focus this provides - seldom a need for an extension tube for even close birds (compared to a 500 or 600 prime lens).

I also use this lens for dragonflies, but I couple it with an old 27.5mm extension tube and an even older TC14 1.4x converter.

I'm sure I'd like the VR version of this lens, but I don't hesitate to shoot this 300 and 2x at 1/60th, or 1/30th, and even at 1/15th when there's no alternative.

I'd also love to have the 200-400, and I'd use it with the TC14E mounted all the time for birds.

I have been shooting with the 300/2.8 for several years as well and love it! I use it in combo with both converters and the results are spectacular. I also have the 200-400 and it is extremely sharp. I purchased a 2x converter for it as well, but realize it is really only optimum with the 1.4X. Consequently I have a 2X for sale if you are interested.
Either lens is a win/win scenario.

Richard Buquoi
Georgetown, TX

I have the 200-400 which i use with the 1.4 and 1.7 converter. AF is still excellent with the 1.4 converter attached and becomes slow with the 1.7. I think its a fantastic allround lens and nothing comes close to this lens in terms of versatility. I use it a lot for birdphotography and as i do a lot of work from hides, i dont have any issues when a bird is too close or too far.....i just adjust the zoom!

I have considered the 300VR for flight shots but ended up with the 200/2 VR, extremely fast and extremely sharp!

Rene de Heer
www.naturepics.co.uk

After reading the above - I think I've finally developed lens envy.