I have been using this combination almost exclusively for the last 2 months in order to really get to know what the camera and lens can do. I just thought I'd share my thoughts for any wondering about buying either or both.
I started off using these on a monopod but once I got the hang them i switched to handheld only with a blackrapid strap. Most of the images in the gallery below are handheld. There are near and far, still and fast, good light and bad light as well as birds in flight.
My first impression is that this is the best bird combination I have. When I first started bird photography I used a D90 and Sigma 150-500 with or without a monopod and enjoyed the freedom of relatively light weight gear and zoom flexibility. Since then I have used primes (300&500) with a D800 and almost always need a monopod.
This new combo has brought back some of the fun I had in the beginning which came from freedom of movement and light weight. It is almost as sharp as my primes both near, middle distance and far, has amazing DR and IQ, good low light capability, autofocus aquisition and speed close enough to the D800 and certainly fast enough for swifts, swallows and raptors. Unlike the Sigma it is sharp wide open at F5.6
The pixel on bird reach is about the same as the 500 f4 on a D800 in DX mode or a 300mm f4 on a V1. The only compromise is the aperture but the increase in iso ability of the D7100 over the D90/D300 generation gives a stop back.
I am so confident in them that i have decided to just take them on a trip to the Farne islands and feel sure I well get good puffin, tern and guillemot flight shots and the ability to back off with the zoom. I shall still use my other lenses and cameras while I am able but it is good to know that there is a combination that works well when these other lenses are too heavy or when I just want to travel light.
The D7100 set is here and mainly has images with the new 80-400
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_birder/sets/72157633409947519/
or The 80-400VR afs set is here, mainly with the D7100
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_birder/sets/72157633211093293/
I'd be happy to answer questions and also for this thread to be used for others with images or links from this combo.
I started off using these on a monopod but once I got the hang them i switched to handheld only with a blackrapid strap. Most of the images in the gallery below are handheld. There are near and far, still and fast, good light and bad light as well as birds in flight.
My first impression is that this is the best bird combination I have. When I first started bird photography I used a D90 and Sigma 150-500 with or without a monopod and enjoyed the freedom of relatively light weight gear and zoom flexibility. Since then I have used primes (300&500) with a D800 and almost always need a monopod.
This new combo has brought back some of the fun I had in the beginning which came from freedom of movement and light weight. It is almost as sharp as my primes both near, middle distance and far, has amazing DR and IQ, good low light capability, autofocus aquisition and speed close enough to the D800 and certainly fast enough for swifts, swallows and raptors. Unlike the Sigma it is sharp wide open at F5.6
The pixel on bird reach is about the same as the 500 f4 on a D800 in DX mode or a 300mm f4 on a V1. The only compromise is the aperture but the increase in iso ability of the D7100 over the D90/D300 generation gives a stop back.
I am so confident in them that i have decided to just take them on a trip to the Farne islands and feel sure I well get good puffin, tern and guillemot flight shots and the ability to back off with the zoom. I shall still use my other lenses and cameras while I am able but it is good to know that there is a combination that works well when these other lenses are too heavy or when I just want to travel light.
The D7100 set is here and mainly has images with the new 80-400
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_birder/sets/72157633409947519/
or The 80-400VR afs set is here, mainly with the D7100
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_birder/sets/72157633211093293/
I'd be happy to answer questions and also for this thread to be used for others with images or links from this combo.