Posted by Mark Kraus on December 9, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Need some help picking out a new piece of glass. I use a Nikon d200 and my main nature lens is a Sigma 180 macro and I love it. Also have an old Nikon 70-300mm 5.6 ED lens. It is just OK for what I want to do. It lacks sharpness at the 300 end and is clunky and hunts in auto focus. Macro is about 70% of my Photography. I want to branch out more. I would like to do more bird and other animal photos. There is no way I can afford big glass. I am sort of obsessive about sharpness. So I have been thinking about 2 options on what would be in my budget. The sigma 100-300 f4 EX or the Nikon 300mm f4 AFS either combined with a 1.4 tele. I understand both these lens are smooth and very sharp even when used with a 1.4. I have heard the Nikon or Sigma 80-400 aren’t so great on focus speed and lack sharpness at the 400 range.
Any help on advice or suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
MK
I know this is not one of your choices.... but Im shooting a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 70/300 with macro. I am real happy with this lens. Eventually I would like to get somthing like your 180 macro..... because that is mostly what I shoot.
We have used a Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4 with a TC-14E for almost 7 years. My wife refers to it as her lazy person's macro. It is extremely sharp, even with the the TC-14E or TC-20E, and focuses very quickly. It normally stays mounted on her D1-X with the TC-14E for home shots.
While not a true macro, it has a minimum focal distance of 4.8 feet and is capable of a 1:3.7 reproduction ratio. Though we have not done it, I suspect using the Canon 500D close up attachment with or without the TC-14E would be incredible. The Canon 500D may be overkill as with the TC-14E, the reproduction ratio is about 1:2.7 while with a TC-17E II it should be about 1:2.2.
One last thing, the lens is, or at least was, well built and has survived three drops with no damage. And on one of those drops, the bottom of the D1-X was dented!
Posted by Chuck Babbitt on December 10, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Mark,
I used the Nikon 300mm f/4 AFS with a 1.4TC for a couple of years as my "poor man's big glass" for shooting surf in Hawaii. It worked well and gave me sharp images.
Posted by Andre Joanisse on December 10, 2007 at 5:26 PM
Mark,
I use the 300mm f4 AFS with and without a 1.7TC and it performs great. With the TC, it may sometimes hunt a bit more in low light otherwise very fast. This is all with the D200. I don't have the Nikkor 80-400 but I have seen great results even at 400mm.
I have used the 300mm and TC for bird photography and it is really good but ultimately I'm saving for a 500mm but that will take me some time You always need more reach for bird photograhy
HTH,
Andre
Posted by Kent Staubus on December 10, 2007 at 11:11 PM
I have the 80-400mm VR, but for what you want to do, the 300mm f4 plus 1.4x is the way to go. If Nikon were to ever come out with a VR version I just might sell the 80-400mm VR and go for it. The Canon 500D is a great addition for macro capability.
One other thing, the AF-S 300 f/4.0 with the TC-14E is almost as quick focusing as without the TC. However, it tends to hunt when using the TC-20E unless it is very bright.
I just missed getting a shot of a Cooper's Hawk sitting on top of a feeder in the center of our backyard. It was about 30 feet from the camera and would have required shooting vertical with the 300mm and TC-14E But, he saw me move for the camera which is set up in our breakfast room.
Posted by Basil Greber on December 13, 2007 at 4:08 PM
I've never used the 100-300/4, but heard it's not the best performer close-up (while it's excellent at normal distances). So it mightn't be what you're looking for. In that case, the 300/4 + TC may very well be a good option (I guess Ronnie Gaubert's work could convice you quickly).
Other than that - I have a Sigma 400/5.6 APO Macro, and it's a great lens, very sharp, focuses down to 1:3 reproduction ratio on its own. Mine doesn't focus properly (front focus), so make sure you can try it before buying, but if the focus is on target, it's really excellent, and miles ahead of the 70-300 AF-S VR Nikkor (which is supposed to be a bit better than the 70-300 D ED).
Discussion
7 repliesAny help on advice or suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks
MK
While not a true macro, it has a minimum focal distance of 4.8 feet and is capable of a 1:3.7 reproduction ratio. Though we have not done it, I suspect using the Canon 500D close up attachment with or without the TC-14E would be incredible. The Canon 500D may be overkill as with the TC-14E, the reproduction ratio is about 1:2.7 while with a TC-17E II it should be about 1:2.2.
One last thing, the lens is, or at least was, well built and has survived three drops with no damage. And on one of those drops, the bottom of the D1-X was dented!
I used the Nikon 300mm f/4 AFS with a 1.4TC for a couple of years as my "poor man's big glass" for shooting surf in Hawaii. It worked well and gave me sharp images.
I use the 300mm f4 AFS with and without a 1.7TC and it performs great. With the TC, it may sometimes hunt a bit more in low light otherwise very fast. This is all with the D200. I don't have the Nikkor 80-400 but I have seen great results even at 400mm.
I have used the 300mm and TC for bird photography and it is really good but ultimately I'm saving for a 500mm but that will take me some time
HTH,
Andre
Kent in SD
I just missed getting a shot of a Cooper's Hawk sitting on top of a feeder in the center of our backyard. It was about 30 feet from the camera and would have required shooting vertical with the 300mm and TC-14E But, he saw me move for the camera which is set up in our breakfast room.
Other than that - I have a Sigma 400/5.6 APO Macro, and it's a great lens, very sharp, focuses down to 1:3 reproduction ratio on its own. Mine doesn't focus properly (front focus), so make sure you can try it before buying, but if the focus is on target, it's really excellent, and miles ahead of the 70-300 AF-S VR Nikkor (which is supposed to be a bit better than the 70-300 D ED).
Basil