Experience with Nikon 300mm f/4 w- TC-17II and TC-20II or III?
I'm planning on buying the Nikon 300mm f/4 lens. (I currently have the 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 and the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6.) Everything I've read says that it's very sharp and does great with the TC-14II, which I also plan on getting. Depending upon who is writing, it sounds like it can reasonably take the TC-17II and possibly even the TC-20II or III, though I suspect that f/8 would be really pushing the autofocus.
I'd like to hear from people who have actually used this lens with either of the larger TC's for bird photography. This includes both still and flight. Thanks in advance.
Paul,
I had a D300, 1.4 TC, 300mm f4 and the 70-300mm and the 80-400. Heres my conclusions after using all of them for well over one year. I now use only the 300mm f4, 1.4TC, usually on a tripod or monopod only. I also switched to the D7000.
Started with the 70-300mm and it was OK but too soft from 200-300. I thought the 80-400 was a great piece of glass for the money, still is, and with the 1.4TC and VR gave very good to excellent results . I then went on to the 300mm F4 and it was a noticible improvement in image quality, even without VR. Then I did my testing with the 1.4 in a never ending quest to try and get closer by zooming while still expecting stellar sharpness and contrast. Bottom line for me and my testing is that the 1.4 does provide almost as good results as a 300mm. I found that with the 1.4 the best results were at f8. period. A tripod/monopod is recommended. If you look closely at the pics on this website, ( and I truly find myself pixel peeping with bird photography) after a while, I can almost tell what camera the photographer is using, (Canon or Nikon) before even looking at the stats, because of the color rendition and contrast, and I can always see slight degradations in image quality as soon as it starts getting farther and farther out, ie with longer and longer lenses and TC's etc. Pixel peeping is a whole separate sport. Once you print out your pics, most small imperfections disappear anyway. I once took a photo of a Sparrow hawk landing on top of the highest point on a tree branch with wings flapping on a D300 and the 70-300mm. On the computer it looked niosey and out of focus, almost a throw away. I printed it out to 5x7 and everyone who looks at it just raves about it, so there you go. Such is the nature of the game I guess. It all depends what you are trying to achieve in your results. Sometimes I am satisfied just recording an uncommon species regardless of its sharpness or noise.
Right now I am getting the best results to date with the D7000 and 300mm f4. I can't believe the D7000 isn't getting the same amount of attention the the 7D did. The level of detail and sharpness and contrast in the D7000 pics blows away the D300/ 300s, and the high ISO noise is very close to that of a D700 which I also had. Next step would be the 500f4 or a 200-400 I suppose. Onward and upward.
Have a great 2011..
Paul,
I use the 300AFS f4 lens on a D200 and it is a super sharp lens. My only complaint is the lack of Vibration Reduction, especially in less than ideal light. It works very well with the 1.4TC. Focus performance does suffer when I use the 1.7TC, but as long as i am out in the bright sun it is tolerable.
Be sure the purchase the 300 f4AFS lens, not the older AF-D which uses a slow screw type of focusing motor and does not work with TC's.
Ed
I use the 300 with a 1.4. Like (almost) all others the IQ is very good. I find I do not like the 1.7. It is not terrible, but the focus is slow and you can tell the IQ is not as good. However, if you have the 300 already, it is a pretty good 510 for the money.
I do not like the 2.0 on any of the f/4 lenses I own(ed) - the 300 - 500 - 600. It worked acceptably well on the 400 2.8 I used to own.
I have the 80-400, 300 f/4 AF-S, 1.4 and 1.7TCs. Despite trying them all in different circumstances, I keep going back to the 300+1.4TC for birds, especially when using a tripod. My experience is ---
80-400VR, overall pretty sharp, especially around f/8, good VR, good for travel, as I can hand-hold it easily, zoom is useful for non-birds or very close birds. Slow ++ autofocus, and even worse with any TC. Not a good choice for BIF, although in good light with large birds it can work well.
300+1.4TC, very sharp, gorgeous bokeh, quick to autofocus, best on a tripod but OK to hand-hold in good light. IQ good enough for quite heavy crops.
300+ 1.7TC, very similar pros and cons to 80-400, and hunts more with autofocus than 1.4. But focal length is longer than the 80-400, and this can be good. I find myself hardly using the 1.7 these days.
Thanks for all the responses. Getting the 300mm f/4 and the TC-14II is a gimme' at this point. I'm twisting a bit more on the TC-17II. I think the TC-20III is completely out for this lens, and probably any lens slower than f/2.8. All your feedback has been very helpful.
Dan: I don't have an eye for what brand of camera took what image like you, but there is one popular model that I've actually picked out multiple times due to the noise it produces at anything above ISO400, and sometimes even at ISO400. I'll leave it unmentioned as I'm not up for a conversation on religion, but I figure if a newbie like me can pick it out fairly often... :)
Is there any chance you will be using this ON A BOAT?!?!? Or should I say, is there any chance you will NOT be using this on a boat? This seems like a no-brainer... get it!
John: A no-brainer? Hmmmm. Sounds right up my alley.
And yes, if I get it quickly enough I would expect to have this on all 4 pelagic trips we're running this winter. As a beginning photographer, I still need good shots of all kinds expected birds like Northern Gannet, Black-legged Kittiwake, Iceland Gull, Razorbill, Common Murre, maybe Puffin, and Dovekie on the longer DE trip.
I just co-authored an article on finding Dovekies with Dick Veit for Winging It, and all of the signs seem to point to this being a great year for Dovekies. Maybe this year will bring another multi-thousand day, though we'd be hard pressed to beat the 9,000+ record we set in NY or even the 4,000+ day out of DE. Still, a boy can dream.
I have the Nikon 300 f4 and have given it up in favor of the Nikon 70-200 f 2.8 which takes all three teleconverters and gives great images. it is easly hand held. The zoom helps when the birds come in close
I used to own the 80-400 and the focusing speed was unacceptable to me. I sold it and purshed the 300mm f/4. I agree with most of the posts above...it it s a great lens and I use it most of the time with the 1.7tc.
I am going to sell 300mm f/4 soon and replace it with the 70-300 as it fits better into my other gear and shooting needs.
if you're interested in purchasing a pristine used one, let me know! :)