Nikon 300 f4 AFS for BIF Opinions?

[Jared Gricoskie]

I've recently found I need a better 300mm than my 70-300 for mammals and BIF's. The 500mm AFS is too long and too darn heavy for a walk around lense for BIF's for my style.

The Nikon 300mm f4 AFS is just within my price range, bought way too much last year to afford the 300mm f2.8 AFS. I plan on slinging it with my D200 on one shoulder while my 500mm set up on the tripod is on the other.

Any opinions on using the 300mm f4 AFS for BIF's and when using it in conjunction of a Nikon TC 1.4E. I look to shot all kinds of BIF's from Hawks to small perching birds.

[Bill McCrystyn]

Being a Canon guy about to make the switch, the consensus here, with which I agree, is the f/4 200-400mm. This for me however was predicated on it's use with a D3 which extends the EFL of that lens to cover nearly all potential shots. With that system and a 1.7X results in a 510-1020mm range. That's a hard combo to beat and a whole lot less to carry aorund.

[Nancy A Elwood]

Have you thought about the Nikon 70-300VR? The 200-400 is still a heavy lens to handhold all day. I have the 70-300VR for most of my BIF's and it gives me lovely results and you can carry it around all day. Plus I have found anything past 300, especially with a TC, even with VR, to handhold that all day and get good results, well, I could not do that.











It is AFSII and VR.

[Jim Fenton]

Work splendidly together.

I've used that combo for flight shots for a couple of years now when the 500 is too long...which is infrequent, except when I'm in Florida :)

[cappoldt]

Love the Nikon 300mm f4, with a 1.4x. Great optics, and manageable for weight with in-flight stuff.

[Alfred Forns]

Nancy you sure got some nice results with the combo !!! I'm impressed !!!!!

Have not tried that lens so anything said is not first hand From what I understand the AF is not fast? The 300 f4.0 is very fast even with the 1.4X Also with the zoom it would be used at Max zoom most of the time so why not go with the prime?

The 2.8 version is one of the sharpest (is not the most) in the Nikon line up Also the AF is lightning fast I have not gotten one because of the weight It is only one pound less than the 200-400 !!!!

[Nancy A Elwood]

Nancy you sure got some nice results with the combo !!! I'm impressed !!!!!

Have not tried that lens so anything said is not first hand From what I understand the AF is not fast? The 300 f4.0 is very fast even with the 1.4X Also with the zoom it would be used at Max zoom most of the time so why not go with the prime?

The 2.8 version is one of the sharpest (is not the most) in the Nikon line up Also the AF is lightning fast I have not gotten one because of the weight It is only one pound less than the 200-400 !!!!

The AF is very fast, at least attached to my D300. It is AFSII with the newest VR and ED glass. The 300 f4 is wonderful, but I do find the zoom with the 70-300VR very useful., plus it is very handholdable, especially all day.

[Emory Moody]

Here is another vote for the 70-300VR. I have used the 300 F/4 and got some pretty good results with it. The problem with the 300 is the autofocus speed is just too slow. If you can pre-focus then the lens works great, but if it has to react quickly they you are pretty much out of luck. On the other hand, the 70-300VR will focus very fast, the lens is very light, and the VR is a great plus. Here is a sample from last year at the Alligator Farm.

[Scott A. Flaherty]

Emory, what version of the 300 f/4 are you using? My AF-S 300 f/4 is very fast and I love using it for BIF.

[Alfred Forns]

Thanks Nancy Will be getting one from NPS to try !!!

[Emory Moody]

Scott,

I have used both versions of the 300 F/4. My current one is the AFS. The last camera I used it on for BIF was the Nikon F5.