nikon 80-400mm VR vs. Nikon 300mm w/ 1.4 TC

I am at the threshold of pursuing a purchase of either one of these setups.
I have been reading for what seems like a straight week on the two lenses. I am just as confused after all the R&D.. My goal is to have better luck "birding" when I walk through regional parks.:2

I will be using this system with my D300.
The closest lens I own is a 70-300 VR.

Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus VR Zoom Nikkor Lens

Its variable power. It's a VR, its able to be used hand held.
A negative is I hear its slow as molasses (to focus).
It's Heavy
I hear its not an easy lens to use



Nikon 300mm AF-S fixed with 1.4 TC
Fixed lenses are sharp?
It's lightweight?
its still fast enough for birds in flight?




Can anyone guide me in a direction.

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Originally Posted by brian kirksey

Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus VR Zoom Nikkor Lens

Its variable power.

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:2

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It's a VR, its able to be used hand held.

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So can many other lenses without VR. Photographers have been photographing hand-held with lenses without any sort of VR or IS for many, many years before any sort of image stablisation technology appeared.

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A negative is I hear its slow as molasses (to focus).

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Heard that, too.

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It's Heavy

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You'll get used to it. Or use a tripod, monopod.

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Nikon 300mm AF-S fixed with 1.4 TC
Fixed lenses are sharp?

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Of course.

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It's lightweight?

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That's relative.

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its still fast enough for birds in flight?

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How about it's good enough to shoot flying swallows?

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Can anyone guide me in a direction.

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You knew the answer already: 300f4 it is.

Yes, I suppose your right. I guess I kind of knew, just needed moral support. Couple of pats on the back really make one feel good when they are thinking about spending lots of $$$.. But it is important I confirm my beliefs with other people who have done what it is I am thinking about doing.. Thanks for the confirmation..

Hi Brian. I think the 300 + converter would probably be better overall but I have the 80-400 and have shot many, many BIF's with it, including swallows. I haven't used the 300 but hear it is faster focusing. The one thing about the 80-400 that I would miss though, is the ability to zoom back when needed (which isn't that often). If I was using the 300+1.4, I would never remove it, to keep sensor dust down to a minimum, so 420mm it is!!

Hope to bump into you in the NoCal field someday!

IQ is better on 300, even with tcs.

Hi,

300 4f/4 AF-S is heavier than 80-400, even without the TC. Using the focus limiter switch AF isn't that slow on a D300, but the 300 f/4 even with 1.4TC is still faster. IQ and sharpness of 300 at f/4 is about same as the 80-400 at f/8,a nd Bokeh is better. 300 focuses closer (good for flowers and bugs).

I use 300 f/4 +1.4TC and a good quality p&s (currently Panny ZS7) when traveling, but I have also kept my 80-400 just in case!

Richard

I have owned both of these lenses. I first got the 80-400. I had it for about a year and after missing too many shots due to the slow focusing of the 80-400 I sold it and got the 300mm f4. While I didn't think the IQ of the 80-400 was bad, I thought the 300mm was sharper, definitely focused faster and just seemed like a much better lens all around.