Help deciding on a Nikon lens...

[Daniel Bailey]

I am interested in purchasing a new Nikon telephoto lens for my new found love of backyard bird photography. Unfortunately my budget greatly reduces my options. I am no professional by any means but I do have a pretty good grasp on wildlife/landscape photography. My good friend has a 300mm 2.8 (with all of the TCs) and an 80-400mm. He has been gracious enough to let me borrow both any time that I'd like (which I do with great frequency). It has come to the point where I want my own. I cannot afford the 300mm 2.8 at this time. I am getting married this year.... enough said.

I think that I can swing the 80-400mm or the 300mm f/4. I am not overly impressed with the focus speed of the 80-400mm, especially of BIF. It does take crisp photos if the subject is stationary or if the BIF is big enough and close enough. I am getting a little more serious about backyard bird photography and this lens is WAY to slow for that.

The reviews for the 300mm f/4 are pretty good from what I've read. The only draw back is it's lack of reach. How bad will a 1.4 or 1.7 affect it. Reviews are still positive with the TCs attached.

The pics I take are for the enjoyment of me, my family, and friends. I regularly print my photos up to 20x24. I'd like to continue to do so.

I don't expect to win Image of the Year with either of these lens. I just want to continue to take quality pics I'd be proud to hang on the wall. Which would you advise? Or would you suggest going with a Sigma or other off brand? Or should I continue to borrow my friends lenses and save until I can afford a super telephoto?

Thanks for any and all help!!!

[Ed Grella]

Borrow the 2.8 as often as possible!

The 300, f4 AFS is a very sharp lens. A bit slower focus speed with the 1.4X but still super sharp lens. With the 1.7X I found it pretty slow to focus unless you are in the super bright sunlight. Only thing this lens is missing is VR. Prior to the AFS, Nikon used to make the 300/f4 D lens which is slow focusing and does not work with multipliers.

Good Luck!

[Harshad Barve]

300/F4 plus 1.4x , You can see my profile for IQ if you have any doubts , best luck

[George Wilson]

Personally, I like prime lenses and the 300 f2.8 would be my choice. I would also purchase a 1.4x and 2x converter. The most important lesson I learned about photography equipment many years ago was: Don't through good money after bad. That means select the lens you want and save for it, it may take a while to get there, but you will. If you sell an image, save the money for the lens. If you work some overtime - do the same.

Borrow the lens as often as you can - that is great. You can also rent lenses too.

My home in Florida is great for backyard birds and other critters (I have a resident alligator as well that has staked a claimed to part of my waterfront). I have a southern exposure in back, so my birds were often back lit. I painted the house an off white color, which bounced sunlight back on the birds for more even light. I have feeders close to the house and plenty of perches. I mounted braches in PVC irrgation pipe made into ground spikes. Using spray paint each ground spike was marked to indicate lens configuration based on distance from my shooting location. No paint was using a 300 2.8, blue was 300 2.8 with a 1.4x and green was 300 2.8 with a 2x.

Next watch the behavior of the bird. they will do different things at different times and different postures indicate different actions. You will learn with patience which ones mean flight and so forth. shoot through the entire action so as not to miss anything. The D80 gives you about 3fps and then it has to write the image, so paying close attention and developing reflexes is important too. The additional of more sunlight will allow you to increase the shutter speed for stop action. With birds I am reluctant to shoot lower than a 1/500 shutter speed. My comfort range is up near 1/2000. My ISO does not go above 200

Sigma - I also own a Sigma 300 2.8. I use it if I am out in the sand, rain and so forth. It was not as expensive, but I bought it as a back up and for adverse conditions. I use raincovers on my cameras and lenses. The lens is great, sharp, fast - I have no complaints whatsoever.

[Daniel Bailey]

Thanks everyone for their input! George, I love your painted spike idea!

I will need to upgrade my camera as well. I'm not overly impressed with the D7000. I think I'm going to wait it out until they release another. I agree the D80's 3fps is ENTIRELY TOO SLOW! I love the camera though. It has served me well (bought when they first released it).

I know it's worth the money to invest in the f/2.8 but I'm sure I can wait that long

[Mitch Carucci]

Take a look at the Sigma 150-500. It won't break the budget, and is better than you might think. You can always sell it later to upgrade when finances improve. It is also OS (VR in Nikon terms). The Nikon 80-400mm is a much better lens than you might think, but the AF is too slow for birds.

[Mitch Carucci]

Thanks everyone for their input! George, I love your painted spike idea!

I will need to upgrade my camera as well. I'm not overly impressed with the D7000. I think I'm going to wait it out until they release another. I agree the D80's 3fps is ENTIRELY TOO SLOW! I love the camera though. It has served me well (bought when they first released it).

I know it's worth the money to invest in the f/2.8 but I'm sure I can wait that long

I am interested to know what your objections to the D7000 are. The buffer size is too small (UHS-1 chips help this somewhat), but what else is wrong with the D7000? (blown out highlights can be controlled also...)