Nikon 200-400 + TC?

[arash_hazeghi]

Hey guys,
I'm loving my D700 tracking performance for in flight and landing shots, I usually use my 40D+400 f/5.6 but I am kinda leaning toward Nikon and want to experiment a little bit:p. I used a 300 f/4 AF-S and 1.4TC and results were better than I expected see these crops, they are all 100% of original no resize @ f/7.1








My question is how does 200-400 f/4 VR compare with 300 f/4 + 1.4X TC and how good is the 200-400 + 1.4X TC at 560mm relative to above crops. Is it better or similar or worse? I imagine the AF speed is also similar?
Thanks! :D

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Arash I've had both lenses and used them with D3/D300 bodies. I feel the 300 f 4.0 will focus faster and will be sharper than the zoom.

When I used the 200-400 it was mostly with the crop factor camera which gave a 400-600 effective focal length. I think the only way you will be able to make a choice is trying for yourself by borrowing/renting one so you can shoot some frames. The images above I would not call critically sharp, understand they are just out of the camera converted but they should be sharper.

I posted last year a head shot of a Vulture taken with the 200-400 and 2.0 X that everyone says it doesn't work ... image was critically sharp. One thing to note is the distance, it seems to perform better at the shorter range? ..... bottom line is to try it on a tripod, locking down at a good target ... then make your decision.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thank a bunch Al for comments,
So you are saying that 300 f/4 + TC is still sharper than the zoom? Also I really don't know how sharp is considered sharp:confused:, I just compared it againts my Canon 400 f/5.6L prime @ 100% pixel view.

20D + 400 f/5.6 @ f/7.2 100% crop



40D + 400 f/5.6 @ f/10 100% crop



D700 + 300 f/4+1.4X TC at f/6.3 (almost wide open) 100% crop


Do you think these are sharp enough are they should be sharper for 100% ?

[Alfred Forns]

The last is for certain, not sure about the pelican but probably is ... the first is soft.

Again to test the lens to see if its sharp or not do use a proper target. Don't think you are going to find out doing birds in flight. Under certain light conditions it is difficult getting a bird to look sharp. If you don't have a resolution target try a newspaper perfectly flat and lock the tripod down ... trigger the camera with the self timer.

[arash_hazeghi]

Thanks Al, I will rent the 200-400 and do a controlled test on tripod, thanks for feedback.

[Alfred Forns]

I got my computer in the shop for some memory problems Will dig up the vulture image with the 2X so you can judge !! I think the biggest limiting factor is the slow AF

Interesting on the Nikon side the 2X is very slow and on the Canon seems to work better .... no speed demon by any means but not as sluggish !!!

[arash_hazeghi]

I got my computer in the shop for some memory problems Will dig up the vulture image with the 2X so you can judge !! I think the biggest limiting factor is the slow AF

Interesting on the Nikon side the 2X is very slow and on the Canon seems to work better .... no speed demon by any means but not as sluggish !!!

Thanks Al,

what about 200-400 naked and plus 1.4X TC? the 300 f/4 + 1.4X is amazingly fast for a 5.6 combo. I don't think I will ever use the 2X TC as the loss in sharpness and contrast is too much for me and the combo will be pretty slow at f/8. I was actually surprised with the Nikon 300 f/4 + 1.4 combo since I was using a Canon 300 f/4 IS+1.4X TC II three years ago and AF was so painful, (but that was a 20D body), my keepers tripled when I switched to 400 f/5.6 and I hadn't used any TCs since then:eek:

[pauloanjo]

Hello arash

could you post some 100% crops of the canon 300mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC combo.

I have that lens, and want to buy the 1.4x TC, but don't know how good are the images with that combo.

best regards,

paulo anjo