Lens recommendation

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telscossie
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Lens recommendation

Post by telscossie »

Can anyone recommend some nikon fit lenses for airshows i already have a 70-200 vr II and a nikon 200-500 but am considering selling the 200-500 as feel its to big and heavy so what could i replace it with that is my question really ? . any advice is much appreciated

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BMrider
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by BMrider »

Wont go far wrong with a good used or new (Depending on your budget) 300mm F4 AFS prime plus a genuine Nikon 1.4 teleconvertor, what Nikon body are you using?

Most of my shots on my Flickr (Link Below) are with this combo

telscossie
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by telscossie »

I have got a D800 and D300s

Alan425
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by Alan425 »

Another vote for the Nikon 300 f4, although I use the newer PF lens. Very sharp, compact and light, even with a 1.4x converter attached.

Bad news is that Nikon have just hiked up their prices!

Alan

John_E
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by John_E »

The 300mm PF would certainly tick the sharpness and weight boxes but, whilst stating the obvious, there’s quite a difference between 300mm and 500mm, particularly when shooting fast jets at the average UK airshow. If you’re at a show before you make the change then it may be worth shooting the 200-500 at 300mm for a while and seeing how you get on.

Nikon are rumoured to be releasing a 600mm f5.6 PF which would work nicely on full frame.

Stagger2
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by Stagger2 »

Isn't a 300 + 1.4 Converter equivalent to 420 mm?
Shooting at 300mm only clearly won't work with today's display parameters, whereas 420 is close to the 500mm? :dizzy:

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BMrider
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by BMrider »

Stagger2 wrote:Isn't a 300 + 1.4 Converter equivalent to 420 mm?
Shooting at 300mm only clearly won't work with today's display parameters, whereas 420 is close to the 500mm? :dizzy:


300mm +1.4 teleconvertor = 630mm approx. on a D300 taking into account the crop factor

John_E
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by John_E »

Stagger2 wrote:Isn't a 300 + 1.4 Converter equivalent to 420 mm?
Shooting at 300mm only clearly won't work with today's display parameters, whereas 420 is close to the 500mm? :dizzy:


Personal preference and all that, but I wouldn’t want to be spending just short of £1500 for a lens that needs a converter more or less permanently attached to it in order to make it usable at airshows. :dizzy:

If the OP is happy with that arrangement then great.

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flashman8
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by flashman8 »

if you don't mind buying second hand, then you could look at this Nikon 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 AFD VR line up

http://www.ffordes.com/product/18042610490281 at £399

http://www.ffordes.com/product/18021914430251 at £399

http://www.ffordes.com/product/18030917115581 at £349
Sony A700, A550, , Minolta 135, 500, Sigma 10-20, Sony 18-70, 50,70-300GSSM,Tamron 17-50,90mm

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trebleone
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by trebleone »

BMrider wrote:300mm +1.4 teleconvertor = 630mm approx. on a D300 taking into account the crop factor


With my pedantic head on :wink: I feel I should point out that 300mm +1.4x TC = 420mm and the focal length will always be 420mm regardless of sensor size.

A more meaningful comparison would be to say that a 'full-frame' camera would require a lens with a focal length of 630mm to achieve the same field-of-view as 420mm on a DX format camera.

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Beefy
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by Beefy »

flashman8 wrote:if you don't mind buying second hand, then you could look at this Nikon 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 AFD VR line up

http://www.ffordes.com/product/18042610490281 at £399

http://www.ffordes.com/product/18021914430251 at £399

http://www.ffordes.com/product/18030917115581 at £349


Except for the fact that this is a crap lens! Try reading some reviews about it :grin:

John_E wrote:
Stagger2 wrote:Isn't a 300 + 1.4 Converter equivalent to 420 mm?
Shooting at 300mm only clearly won't work with today's display parameters, whereas 420 is close to the 500mm? :dizzy:


Personal preference and all that, but I wouldn’t want to be spending just short of £1500 for a lens that needs a converter more or less permanently attached to it in order to make it usable at airshows. :dizzy:

If the OP is happy with that arrangement then great.


Indeed it is personal preference but have you actually used it yourself? Many people on here have touted using the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 with a 1.4 converter permanently strapped to it for airshows, so why not this lens?

The drop in sharpness is negligible with the 1.4 converter fitted on the new(ish) 300mm F4 (and even with a 1.7 converter fitted the loss is barely noticeable. This also gives a focal length of 510mm) and it is far cheaper than buying a Nikon 400mm (the new version costing around £10k :shock:), so what's your issue with it?

It is a fantastic combo, used by many, including myself. It beats the pants off any of the Tamron, Sigma and Nikon super-zooms for sharpness, focus lock and speed of focus.

Why waste your money on anything other than this!? :dizzy:

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flashman8
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by flashman8 »

@Beefy.

As I am not a Nikon user, I don't read reports about Nikon lens`, I was just throwing out some ideas................ :biggrin:

But like most lens` out there, you will get good and bad copies of the same lens, not all are identical
Sony A700, A550, , Minolta 135, 500, Sigma 10-20, Sony 18-70, 50,70-300GSSM,Tamron 17-50,90mm

Bomber Command
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by Bomber Command »

I have a sigma contemporary. 150-600mm and it does the job pretty damn well to be fair and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I bought it for legends last year and was pretty impressed.

It does the job, no teleconverter needed either.

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58Hustler
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by 58Hustler »

Use the 300 f4 all the time,the AFS IF-ED that is,not heard good things about that horrid little plastic thing (PF).
I would say that I use the 1.4 converter about 50% of the time.Drop off in IQ is negligible.
In terms of 'bang for your buck' unbeatable IMHO especially if sourced second hand.Built like a tank also.
Having seen examples of other peoples work would say the Sigma 150-600 'sport' is well worth the premium over the 'contemporary'.
Nikon 200-500 suffers from sample variation and feels built down to a price.
Just my two penneth worth,regards Jay.
www.flickr.com/photos/jaysoncork
If a man speaks when he is alone in a forest and there are no women around to hear him, is he still wrong?

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Weather Watcher
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Re: Lens recommendation

Post by Weather Watcher »

There are so many considerations regarding lens choice, and a lot comes down to personal preference. In this case perhaps it would be useful to look through the airshow photos you are really happy with and what focus length they were shot at. Also would you be happy with a fixed focal length rather than a zoom? Finally how much too heavy is the 200-500? Once you know the answer to these questions the number of options available should become smaller and the choice easier to make.

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