Sharp, affordable 1000mm for D300
I own a Celestron C90 1000mm f11 mirror lens, but it is one of the early model (late 70s), and it is just plain soft, agreeing with comments from others about this lens.
I am trying to figure out what my options are to find a sharp 1000mm lens for my D300 for less than $1500. My #1 criteria is that it be capable of producing SHARP photos on the (rather demanding) D300 sensor, photos I can blow up to 100% magnification and not groan.
My other criteria:
- Used is OK
- 3rd party lenses OK
- MF OK (AF always preferred)
- 500mm + 2x TC (or similar combo) OK
- mirror lens is OK (glass is nicer)
- 3rd party lens OK (e.g. Sigma, Tamron, Tokina)
So far one of the few choices I have tracked down is Nikkor Reflex 1000mm f11, last version (with the rotating collar). I can't afford a Nikon 500mm f4, and don't know if any third party 500/600mm lenses are sharp enough to stand up to the torture of a 2x TC.
To help you see where I am coming from, my primary birding lens at this point is a Nikkor 300mm f4.5 AIS, which is capable of producing sharp photos (when I nail the focus). Maybe what I want is not out there, but I am interested in ideas on where to look. (Prospects of having $4000+ to get the setups many of you have are slim to none in my lifetime.)