Do I Run 2 Systems? Best Lens and body Choice Crop?
Hi all, I really need some help working out what to do with a second body/lens gear choice and I know this is the best place to ask. Bit of a back story, I've recently switched to Nikon from Canon but I'm a bit of a serial switcher. I've now got a D810 and a 500mm F4 VR. I love the quality from the D810 it's fantastic although I've had some problems getting the focus right with the 500mm which has raised doubts but now I've Micro Adjusted the focus right though Im still not sure about it with the 1.4x. I made the switch from a 7D MK II which I just didn't seem to find much of an upgrade ( perhaps I didn't give it much of a chance in all fairness) and a 100-400mm MK I ..probably the reason why I didn't like the camera?. I purchased the new Nikon 300mm F4 VR PF lens and received it yesterday only to find it had a well reported issue with VR being on at around 1/160 of a second giving very blurry images. The online shop I got it from has issued me a refund as they can't guarantee a time frame to get another as stocks are low and they may have the same issue. They have been very good to me in the past and in all honesty there goods are import so cheaper than the UK stock too.
My problem is Im going away on holiday in April to Turkey and Don't wish to take the 500mm with me as it's my first holiday abroad in many years and I don't want to deal with any problems from having a big lens in my luggage, plus it's mainly just a get away for me and my girlfriend not a photography focused one. However not having been abroad before while being into Wildlife and photography It's going to be great to see new species of Birds and Reptiles etc and hopefully photograph them. So I was hoping the 300mm F4 VR would have been the lens for the job with the 1.4x Thrown in at the close focus of 1.4 meters. The other reason for getting this lens is for my girlfriend and my mum to use as on occasion as there both into photography. I was hoping to team it with a DX Crop body like a D7100, or D7200. This would also give me the DX body to use for extra reach.
with on going issues with the 300mm F4 VR lens Im thinking now I might be better off getting a 100-400 MK II Canon and a 7D MK II as a secondary kit option to use for speed and reach when needed and keep to the higher quality FF body for the 500mm. Im not sure if this is just a stupid idea or not but Art seems to love this combo and the 10fps of the 7D Mk II is better for speed than the 6fps of the DX body and DX Crop mode I have on my D810. My other option is wait and see if I can source a 300mm without problems which will give me a great lens if a little less flexible than the 100-400 MK II.
I'd like to hear some thoughts, perhaps Im crazy even thinking this way. Any opinions are welcome.