New Nikon 300mm f/4 VR (1 Viewer)

micloi · Mar 28, 2015

Based on a clever suggestion of a forum member I tried something that seems to shed some light to the VR issue that some people experience.

I tried 3 copies of the 300mm pf lens on many cameras and never had an issue with VR in low speeds as suggested from some reviews and forum members.

After a suggestion that mirror slap could be the issue on ungripped cameras (and especially the D810) I tried the test below which I was able to replicate.

The D7200 works ok at every speed with or without a grip.

ON THE OTHER HAND the D810 works ok with the grip (how I was always using it thus I never experienced the issue before) BUT as soon as I removed the grip the VR issue surfaced!

D7200 GRIPPED:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D7200 gripped.jpg

D7200 NO GRIP:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D7200 no grip.jpg

D810 GRIPPED:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D810 gripped.jpg

D810 NO GRIP:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D810 no grip.jpg

Neil · Mar 29, 2015

micloi said:
Based on a clever suggestion of a forum member I tried something that seems to shed some light to the VR issue that some people experience.

I tried 3 copied of the 300mm pf lens on many cameras and never had an issue with VR in low speeds as suggested from some reviews and forum members.

After a suggestion that mirror slap could be the issue on ungripped cameras (and especially the D810) I tried the test below which I was able to replicate.

The D7200 works ok at every speed with or without a grip.

ON THE OTHER HAND the D810 works ok with the grip (how I was always using it thus I never experienced the issue before) BUT as soon as I removed the grip the VR issue surfaced!

D7200 GRIPPED:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D7200 gripped.jpg

D7200 NO GRIP:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D7200 no grip.jpg

D810 GRIPPED:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D810 gripped.jpg

D810 NO GRIP:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/VR test/D810 no grip.jpg

Good test. Lucky I have the Battery Pack on the D810.
Neil.

Pasquier · Mar 29, 2015

Ditto - good idea and useful info…!

:t:

micloi · Mar 29, 2015

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/D810 and D7200/D7200 510mm ISO1600.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u...810 and D7200/D7200 500mm f.6.7 ISO1600 c.JPG

Neil · Mar 31, 2015

I took the new 300/4 PF lens out to the wetlands yesterday. I spent 12 hours out there and had most of that time with with hundreds of egrets and spoonbills , with some in good breeding colour. I used the lens on the D810 and the old,reliable D3s. It was really fast on the D3s. I remember now why I loved that camera. I also have the new tele converter TC 14E 111 (1.4x). The speed of AF was at least as fast if not a tad faster than the 300/4 afs. The number of "keepers" with the D3s was more than with the D810 as the action around the hide was fast and furious. I didn't test the 1.7x and 2x yet as although it was sunny it was still a bit hazy at distance ( over 50 meters).
The impressive thing is the size and weight. I can wear it in it's bag on my belt.
I'll be taking it down to Sydney on Thursday so will give the teleconverters a go.
The first 3 with the D810 and the last 2 with the D3s.
Neil.

jascha777 · Mar 31, 2015

Hi Neil,

very nice indeed, just wondering..are you still using the 80-400 at all?

Mark

Neil · Mar 31, 2015

jascha777 said:
Hi Neil,

very nice indeed, just wondering..are you still using the 80-400 at all?

Mark

I wish I could. I dropped it and it's "out of order". Too expensive to repair unfortunately.
Neil.

jascha777 · Mar 31, 2015

Very sorry to hear that Neil, bad luck. Mark

RMWD · Mar 31, 2015

Nice images Neil.
It is amazing how Nikon is really going for light but high quality optics and being quite innovative about it.
I love this lens. I have so far found it very good on the D810, D7100, D810 and V3. It has great performance even with the new 1.4TCEIII and is sharp using the 1,7TCEII though AF is slowed though accurate there.
Glad yours arrived.

Neil · Apr 7, 2015

Took the 300PF down to Sydney for Easter. Rain the first few days kept it indoors but then the sun came out and I was able to shoot about 2,500 frames. I would say number of keepers is very high with this lens, both with VR and without. I shot all with the TC 14E111 on. I still haven't tested the 1.7x and 2x. I will soon.
Neil
Nikon D810 and Nikon 300/4 PR afs vr lens and TC 14E111
Sydney,Australia
April 2015

micloi · Apr 7, 2015

A few more with the D7200. 300mm and 1.4x TC

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/hill/1.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/hill/2.JPG
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/hill/3.JPG

Neil · Apr 10, 2015

I shot some video on Wednesday with the 300/4 PF on the Panasonic GH4. It didn't balance well on the tripod as I don't have the collar so I guess I will have to get one.
The video was also shot with the Panasonic 14-140 mm in 4k and the clips were mixed together.
The manual focusing was a bit tricky as there is very little focusing distance between focus or not so Focus Peaking was a great help here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BhxJjYY53U&feature=youtu.be
Neil
ps watch the video at the resolution of your monitor.

Neil · Apr 11, 2015

I needed a tripod collar for the 300PF and found that the collar that I had for the Panasonic 100-300 mm lens is a good fit. I may fit a sliding plate on it too for best balance.
Neil

micloi · Apr 11, 2015

Hoverfly on a daisy

D7200, 300mm pf and 1.7x

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16187250/Nikon 300mm pf/Cyprus2015/720_1743.JPG

Neil · Apr 12, 2015

I'm going to shoot the 300/4 PF lens on the Nikon V2 tomorrow out in the wetlands. I tested it out today at home. Fast AF and it felt good in the hand. At 1/50th second at iso 1600 VR seemed to work well.
Neil.

hoodlum · Apr 15, 2015

Neil said:
I'm going to shoot the 300/4 PF lens on the Nikon V2 tomorrow out in the wetlands. I tested it out today at home. Fast AF and it felt good in the hand. At 1/50th second at iso 1600 VR seemed to work well.
Neil.

Did you get a chance to try it out on the V2 ?

micloi · Apr 15, 2015

A sparrow:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7704/16539854273_7efc5941fa_o.jpg

and a spectacled warbler:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8827/17146038482_614f20200c_h.jpg

Neil · Apr 16, 2015

hoodlum said:
Did you get a chance to try it out on the V2 ?

I took it but didn't get to use it on the 300/4. I'll try again tomorrow.
Neil.

micloi · Apr 17, 2015

Cretzscshmar's bunting

Mahairas mountain, Cyprus
Nikon pf, 300mm f4.5. Large crop

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7634/16988441328_9f03dae47d_o.jpg

Neil · Apr 18, 2015

I did take the 300/4 PF out with the V2 again today and actually used it. It balances quite well and the VR works effectively.
Unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative and it was dull most of the time but I was happy to see thousands of birds in good colour on the roosting ponds.
Neil.
Nikon V2 and Nikon 300/4 PF afs vr
Mai Po Nature Reserve
Hong Kong,China
18th April 2015

New Nikon 300mm f/4 VR (1 Viewer)

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread