My first telephoto - quick sense check before I splash the cash! (1 Viewer)

Hi all

Have been researching options for my first telephoto lens. I have a D90 with the standard 18-105mm lens. Also have a Panasonic FZ50 with a 1.7 tc that I have previously used for wildlife photography with some good results (see eg http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulandbecs/sets/72157604361984351/).

Will be shooting in Namibia this April, then back in the UK in the usual mixed conditions we have. "Static" birds mainly (as opposed to in flight) but also wildlife in general (especially in Namibia!). Use a Manfrotto 190xb tripod with their 222 joystick head. Unlikely to be doing handheld, but have done handheld with the FZ50/1.7tc with acceptable results.

So, I've distilled the "sensible" options to:

Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VRII + Nikkor AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III
£1400 + £450

Nikon 300mm f/4.0D ED-IF AF-S + Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x AF-S TC
£750 + £300

Sigma 150-500mm
£750

Tamron 200-500mm
£800

I feel that the Nikons are just too expensive for me at the moment, so I'm pretty sure that I'll be getting the Sigma. The F4/300mm + 1.4tc might just be possible in terms of budget.

The reviews/comments on here and elsewhere aren't ecstatic when compared to the Nikons but it seems like it does an OK job for the price, and would be a sensible first telephoto. Namibia is going to be bright, so I don't need a desperately fast lens.

Would be good if someone can provide some reassurance that this is a sensible decision before I purchase!

Cheers
Paul.

PS have read about the QC issues with the Sigmas, so am thinking of purchasing new so I have warranty, rather than risking 2nd hand.

I've seen this kind of question posted elsewhere, and it seems that flexibility is key for safari shooting, so you'd probably want a zoom (if you were with Canon this would be easy: 100-400, if affordable). The Sigma and Tamron lenses can produce some good results in good light (best below 400mm).

Nikon 80-400vr is a worthy contender, it may be getting a little long in the tooth but can be picked up at a reasonable price. Mifsuds have one that would come with a warranty for £800.00, would prefer that to a Sigma or Tamron. I know that a few people on the forum have the Sigma version of the 80-400 with os so again another worth a look at. new from @ £700.00.
I have a Nikon 300/4 and a 1.4 and its a sharp setup but if its flexibility you're after a zoom will be hard to beat and it will save you from changing lenses all the time.

If it was me I would get the Nikon 80-400vr as it may be easier to sell or px in the future.

I really liked my Sigma 80-400mm OS on my Nikon bodies - just as sharp as the Nikon equivalent, and faster focusing than the Nikon because it has its own AF motor - the Nikon has no in-lens AF motor, and relies on the AF drive from the camera body.

I still have the Sigma as a matter of fact - never got round to selling it.

Having owned and sold the Nikon 80-400 VR I very much regretted not having it on a wildlife safari in India as most of the animals were too close for using my 300mm. I would suggest a zoom of this range is perfect.
The 80-400 is very sharp and I found excellent in bright light but slow and noisy to AF in typical British weather. For birds it was nearly always at 400mm. The VR is useful and I am sure you will be hand holding more than you think. You can't set a tripod up in a jeep and even if you could the engine vibration would be intolerable.
I can't speak for the non Nikon lenses but for birds the 70-200 is too short for birds and if you add the 2.0TC you are then looking at an expensive option of 140-400 f5.6 although the lens without the TC would probably be good for early morning and sunset safaris.
Have you considered Grays of Westminster as an option for buying second hand ? That way you get a guarantee too.
You can always resell the lens after your trip too, or consider renting a lens.The latter option always seems very expensive to me and besides, I think you need to spend time practising with it before you go. Good luck in your choice , cheers Dave

I have no experience with the Sigma or Tamron, but between the Nikkors I vote for the Nikkor 300 f/4 + 1.4TCE. I think it's a stellar lens, and you'll not regret it. Flexibility in Namibia for non-bird subjects might tilt the balance more towards the zooms, but I think for birds, the Nikkor is the way to go. You'll find, for birding, you'll have the zooms racked all the way out most of the time, anyway.

There are perennial rumors of the VR version of the 300 f/4 coming along, but that hardly matters for tripod use. If a VR version does show up, it will be significantly more expensive, I'm sure.

Jim

gvca1 said:

I have no experience with the Sigma or Tamron, but between the Nikkors I vote for the Nikkor 300 f/4 + 1.4TCE. I think it's a stellar lens, and you'll not regret it. Flexibility in Namibia for non-bird subjects might tilt the balance more towards the zooms, but I think for birds, the Nikkor is the way to go. You'll find, for birding, you'll have the zooms racked all the way out most of the time, anyway.

There are perennial rumors of the VR version of the 300 f/4 coming along, but that hardly matters for tripod use. If a VR version does show up, it will be significantly more expensive, I'm sure.

Click to expand...

I agree. If it were me, I'd go for the Nikon 300mm f4 before any zoom. In my experience it's an excellent hand-held lens and optically first-rate, even wide open.

Many thanks for all the useful replies.

I'm now erring towards the 80-400 VR, mainly because of the flexibility. Slow AF not a major worry as I tend to manual focus anyway where possible. I've just emailed Grays so thanks for the tip there - I'd not heard of them and visit London with work fairly regularly.

Btw, with the vehicles we have the tripod can poke out of the roof, and we're driving ourselves (!) so easy enough to kill the engine. We did this in Kenya and it worked a treat - animals (even birds) tend to ignore the vehicles so you're up close and with a tripod.

Cheers
Paul.

I had the Sigma 150-500 on the D90 and found it to be a nice lens with excellent contrast. In your case, I would look at the new Sigma 50-500 OS HSM. I would not bother with the older Nikon 80-400. Unlike the pro bodies, the motor drive in the D90 cannot focus this lens fast enough.

Hi all

Thanks again for all the replies.

Ended up getting the Sigma 50-500 os, and we've really enjoyed using it.

Here's a link to bird photos we took using it in Namibia, most using it handheld
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulandbecs/tags/namibiabirding/

although it was also great for flowers, insects, and even a few scenery shots at 50mm (have a look at the general Namibia set if interested) - although switched to the 18-105mm for most of those.

Cheers
Paul.