Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

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DaveOls
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p.3 #1 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

On one of the photo forums, someone said that Nikon was going to announce rebates on lenses on Saturday. I don't know if it will be on one you want, but it might be worth looking into.

Feb 15, 2013 at 04:11 PM

montym
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p.3 #2 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

DaveOls wrote:
On one of the photo forums, someone said that Nikon was going to announce rebates on lenses on Saturday. I don't know if it will be on one you want, but it might be worth looking into.

I saw it at Nikon Rumors

I'm hoping for the 70-200 f/2.8
My fingers are crossed

Monty

Feb 15, 2013 at 06:54 PM

IPSjeff
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p.3 #3 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

Has anyone "Adapted" Canon lenses to be used on Nikon bodies? I know I've read of the 14-24 being used on Canon's so just curious.

Currently I use my D800 for 200mm and shorter and 7D for 300mm and beyond (300/4 has IS for same price as Nikon, 100-400 IS is excellent as is the 400/5.6 and 400/4 DO is an option. Used price of the 500/4 IS is $1000 cheaper on average than the 500/4 VR and the savings are considerably more on the 600/4 IS Ver1. If you are really splurging the Canon 600/4 IS II is the best game in town and a clean 800/5.6 IS can be had for right around $10k Vs $17-18k new for the Nikon.

That being said, I may try to find a good deal on a 500/4 AF-S II for BIF. I rarely use tripods so I rely on IS/VR too much to think I'd be happy with extended hand-held results.
Jeff

Feb 17, 2013 at 01:37 PM

binary visions
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p.3 #4 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

You can't use an adapter to go from Canon lense -> Nikon body.

The sensor to lens mount distance is larger on Nikon than on Canon, so you can adapt Nikon lenses to Canon by having a little extra working distance between the exit pupil of the lens and the sensor. But since you can't stuff the lens further back past the lens mount, to adapt Canon -> Nikon, you'd have to have optics that make the adjustment.

Feb 17, 2013 at 03:35 PM

BenV
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p.3 #5 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

IPSjeff wrote:
Has anyone "Adapted" Canon lenses to be used on Nikon bodies? I know I've read of the 14-24 being used on Canon's so just curious.

Currently I use my D800 for 200mm and shorter and 7D for 300mm and beyond (300/4 has IS for same price as Nikon, 100-400 IS is excellent as is the 400/5.6 and 400/4 DO is an option. Used price of the 500/4 IS is $1000 cheaper on average than the 500/4 VR and the savings are considerably more on the 600/4 IS Ver1. If you are really splurging the Canon 600/4 IS II is the best game in town and a clean 800/5.6 IS can be had for right around $10k Vs $17-18k new for the Nikon.

That being said, I may try to find a good deal on a 500/4 AF-S II for BIF. I rarely use tripods so I rely on IS/VR too much to think I'd be happy with extended hand-held results.
Jeff

thats umm, way over the $1500-2000 limit I wanted to spend.

Feb 19, 2013 at 03:14 AM

IPSjeff
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p.3 #6 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

BenV wrote:
IPSjeff wrote:
Has anyone "Adapted" Canon lenses to be used on Nikon bodies? I know I've read of the 14-24 being used on Canon's so just curious.

Currently I use my D800 for 200mm and shorter and 7D for 300mm and beyond (300/4 has IS for same price as Nikon, 100-400 IS is excellent as is the 400/5.6 and 400/4 DO is an option. Used price of the 500/4 IS is $1000 cheaper on average than the 500/4 VR and the savings are considerably more on the 600/4 IS Ver1. If you are really splurging the Canon 600/4 IS II is the best game in town and a clean 800/5.6 IS can be had for right around $10k Vs $17-18k new for the Nikon.

That being said, I may try to find a good deal on a 500/4 AF-S II for BIF. I rarely use tripods so I rely on IS/VR too much to think I'd be happy with extended hand-held results.
Jeff

thats umm, way over the $1500-2000 limit I wanted to spend.

A used 7D and either the 100-400 or 400/5.6 can easily be had in that budget.
I would rather not have two different systems but short of biting the bullet and getting a 500/4 Nikon is short on options.
Jeff

Feb 19, 2013 at 06:05 PM

fpimentel
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p.3 #7 · Lens recommendation 400mm+ for birding

BenV wrote:
Quick question: I want to start doing more birding photography. The longest lens I currently own is the 300 f/4 AF-S. Obviously a lot of times I find myself wanting more reach. Is there any reasonably priced way to get 400mm? I don't have the budget for the 400 f/2.8 unfortunately. And I'm a few dollars short from the new 800 f/5.6

Anywho, back on track. Besides adding a TC to the 300 I already have, are there any good quality 400+ primes, from 3rd party manufactures I might have over looked, that won't break the bank? I'd really like to not go over $1500-$2000 as birding is a rare hobby I have.

Within that range ($1500-$2000) there are not too many Nikon telephoto lenses that you can buy. You may need to consider third party lenses (like the new SIGMA 50-500mm OS) or old Nikon telephotos that will not be served by Nikon since they don't have many parts for lenses than are older than the AFS 400 f/2.8 II. And even a AFS 400 f/2.8 II sells for $4500-$5000 (that would be a fair price).

FP

Feb 22, 2013 at 01:27 AM

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