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Archive 2014 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8

  
 
Todd
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I have my big 20-inch Dobsonian telescope for sale and with that money (if it sells soon), I plan to buy the 300 or 400mm f/2.8 lens. What I want to know is....whom among you has either or both and can you tell me if the 300 is good enough for nature and wildlife or should I go with 400? I hear the 400mm is difficult to hold (10lbs) where as the 300 is not. I want to start photographing birds and wildlife from either hiking or from behind a bird blind. And I realize that if I get 400 mm, I will always either have to use it on my mono pod or tripod. I just more or less wanted to know who among you that use these lenses can tell me your personal experience with each and help me to avoid with settling with either one of them. I can only afford one and I want to make the right choice. I do use the Nikon D800E Camera and I'm thinking that the 300 mm may be the best choice due to ease-of-use of Cary and portability. Please provide me with some of your opinions and experiences with each to help me out. Thanks


My telescope

http://www.toddhargisphotography.com/photos/i-jbXFJvH/0/XL/i-jbXFJvH-XL.jpg

Todd



Mar 27, 2014 at 10:00 PM
Driveitputtit
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I shoot the 400vr, but always on a mono. Would only hh it very briefly in necessary. I'm shooting sports more than wildlife and birds, so that's why I have the 400. If you really want to hh, get the 300 and tc's (it takes all 3 very well). The other option, if you don't need 2.8 is the new 80-400vr/g.


Mar 27, 2014 at 10:33 PM
egd5
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I have the 300 and D800. I use it 90% of the time with the 1.7tc to give me 500mm. If you can set a blind close enough then this combo does well. But for small birds, if that is your target, a 600 would be much better. I think it's about the same weight, and maybe not too far off in price from a 400, esp.used.
The D8oo does give you some wiggle room with cropping, but for birds, reach is important.



Mar 27, 2014 at 10:35 PM
Lance B
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I was in the same situation as you about 3 years ago and decided to go with the 300 f2.8 and use TC's. I now also have the 500 f4 VR.

My reasoning was that 300 was a length I would use bare and I could use TC's to get to 420 f4, 510 f5 and 600 f8, all handholdable and the whole kit is reasonably small and easy to carry round as well as easy to take on planes. The IQ from the 300 is exemplary and even with the 1.4x TC it is nigh on impossible to see any IQ degredation. With the 1.7 and 2x TC, there is minimal IQ degredation. If you go the 400, you may need a shorter lens for under 400mm and it really ceases to be a lens you can throw in your bag and take on a plane.

I can fit my 300 and my 500 in my Lowepro Flipside 500 as well as the camera and TC's.

I have handled the 400 f2.8 VR and it is handholdable for a short while, but that front element all the way to the front makes it quite unwieldy and heavy to use. However, it has excellent results with the TC's and you can get to 800 f5.6.

Whatever you choose, the resultant IQ will be excellent, it all depends on what you are prepared to pay for and what you are prepared to carry around and handhold.



Mar 27, 2014 at 11:15 PM
m.sommers00
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


If you had one lens to choose from, Lance, which would you prefer and why? The two lenses you own are the ones I'm most considering.

My next big lens purchase is a long one and I'm having a heck of a time deciding what's best.

The 400 2.8 is the only one that's out, it's too big and heavy for what I'm willing to haul around.



Mar 27, 2014 at 11:20 PM
Todd
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


Those are all fine responses and replies. That makes my decision a lot easier and I think that I will go with the 300mm. Teleconverters aren't too expensive and that would be a really nice way to go. I really appreciate all of the input that I have received so far and reading your experiences has really helped a lot.



Mar 27, 2014 at 11:24 PM
hijazist
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


Todd, I also second the 300 2.8 + TCs, it's very light and a joy to use with a BlackRapid Sport. I used it on a D800 and D7100 which I also recommend as a brilliant TC

BTW, that's such a beautiful dobsonian! Obsession?



Mar 28, 2014 at 12:54 AM
Todd
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8




hijazist wrote:
Todd, I also second the 300 2.8 + TCs, it's very light and a joy to use with a BlackRapid Sport. I used it on a D800 and D7100 which I also recommend as a brilliant TC

BTW, that's such a beautiful dobsonian! Obsession?


I appreciate the feedback and the 300mm sounds like a good one to use. Now all I have to do is sell the scope. It is not an Obsession, it was actually locally built in Georgetown Tx, just north of Austin. A man in my astronomy club built them as a business and he called them Spacewalk Telescopes. He only made 13 or 15 of them before he had to stop due to his wife's illness. I guess she's ok, I' believe he got int cycling. He should've got back into telescope making, he's a fine and talanted craftsman.

Thanks agin for the 300mm suggestion, I think I'll go that route.

Todd



Mar 28, 2014 at 03:17 AM
pjheller
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I’ll echo the recommendations for the 300 but throw out another option for you to consider, which is the Nikon 200-400 f/4.


Mar 28, 2014 at 05:15 AM
Lance B
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


m.sommers00 wrote:
If you had one lens to choose from, Lance, which would you prefer and why? The two lenses you own are the ones I'm most considering.

My next big lens purchase is a long one and I'm having a heck of a time deciding what's best.

The 400 2.8 is the only one that's out, it's too big and heavy for what I'm willing to haul around.


Probably the 300 f2.8 VRII because it is so versatile and the IQ is about as good as Nikon makes, I love the 300'sIQ and rendering. As I said, it works brilliantly with all the TC's and is still quite compact to be able to take on a plane if needed. An often overlooked advantage of using the 300 + TC's is that you get closer focusing than with a longer lens. If you compare it to the 600 f4, it's closest focus is something like 5mts, whereas the 300 + 2x TC gives you 60mm but with the 300's minimum focus of 2.2mts!

Don't get me wrong, the 500 f4 VR is a real gem as well, but the 300 is more versatile as you have 300, 420, 5210 and 600 with the tC's. When birding, length is everything and you can use the 500 + 1.4x TC for 700 f5.6 but it isn't a huge advantage over the 300 + 2x TC for 600 f5.6.



Mar 28, 2014 at 06:15 AM
Spectro
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


Regarding the 200-400 as another option, I have both the 300 and the 200-400. I can hand hold the 300 or 300 and 1.4TC for extended periods but the 200-400 needs to be on a monopod. It's an excellent lens but also very heavy. I have used the 400 as an NPS loaner to cover Indy racing for a weekend and felt like my arms stretched about an inch in length. It's a beautiful optic but uncomfortably heavy to walk around with.


Mar 28, 2014 at 08:00 AM
kylehess10
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I've owned both the 300 2.8 & later upgraded to the 400 2.8 and I without a doubt believe it was one of the best decisions in my career. It may be just an extra 100mm focal length but it really comes in handy for pretty much anything. It also takes TC's very well. I've tested both 1.4 & 2x teleconverters on the 400 and both work great (the 1.4 is fine shot wide open and the 2x looks best when stopped down a little).


Mar 28, 2014 at 09:04 AM
DGC1
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


IMHO, the 400 is primarily a sports lens although it is used for nature by some. The 500 and 600 are better choices and the 400 and the 600 are about the same size, weight and price so I would get the 600. As stated earlier, the 300 with a full set of TC's will cover all your bases in a much smaller package.


Mar 28, 2014 at 09:14 AM
OccAeon
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


I'm impressed that you are willing to hike while slinging a 6lb lens :-).


Mar 28, 2014 at 09:31 AM
evan47
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


go for the whole hog and get the 600 and a tc. if needed get the 300f4 later on.


Mar 28, 2014 at 09:54 AM
ShutteredMe
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


evan47 wrote:
go for the whole hog and get the 600 and a tc. if needed get the 300f4 later on.



This is exactly what I did. Went from a 500mm f/4 VR to a 600mm f/4 VR. Toyed around with a 300mm f/2.8 AF-S II, a 200mm f/2, 400mm f/2.8 AF-S I, and a 300mm f/4 AF-S. I've sold the 300mm f/2.8 and the 200mm f/2. Still have the 600f4, 400f28, and the 300f4. I've used the 600f4 the most and then the 300f4. The 400f28 has been out a total of about 3 times since I got it. Although it is a beautiful lens, it is just not the focal length that fits me, but I am having a hard time letting it go.

-Quang



Mar 28, 2014 at 06:40 PM
DocsPics
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


Spent a week in the Tetons shooting wildlife with a 300 plus TC. I now own the 400/2.8 and not the 300. No regrets.


Mar 28, 2014 at 06:50 PM
Christian H
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


It's not a decision you can make w/o working with one of these lenses for a while. Converters suck on all of them so it's crucial to get the focal length right. I have the 500 but if I could do it again I would get the 400 - its IQ is pure magic and the extra kg is hardly worth mentioning if you are physically capable of handholding any of these lenses.


Mar 28, 2014 at 07:17 PM
Todd
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


Wow! Now you guys are making me think I'm not sure what type of wildlife I'll shoot, but I want a lens that wouldn't be a burden to hike with. A 10lb lens or 6.4lb lens doesn't seem to be too heavy to carry. I lift weights, should be able to handle it. But over time I'm sure it will get tough. I think something like elk and deer from Rocky Mounting Natl' park the 300mm should be good. I'm not looking to fill the frame with them, but zoom in close enough to know what's going on. I'm guessing small birds are captured best with 600mm...not sure I need that large of a lens. I have a 500mm f/8 mirror lens (Nikon model) and I've got a good feeling of what that FL is like. I shoot from fixed bird blinds mostly that are found at our local state parks and I want to stay around the f/2.8 range for low light and low ISO. So I'm thinking of either the 300mm or 40mm, that will depend on how much I get for my Dob.

So, thank you all for posting to this thread, I'll keep looking and reading

Todd



Mar 28, 2014 at 08:12 PM
egd5
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Need help: 400mm f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8


FYI There's both a 300 vrII and a 600 on the B&S boards right now.
Ain't that what credit cards are for



Mar 28, 2014 at 10:10 PM
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