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Archive 2014 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR

  
 
TGallagher
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


Looking for sample shots at 300mm and low light shots at any focal length.

I will be going to Botswana on Safari and want to upgrade some gear but I want to (actually need to) travel light and ideally want to go with one lens. I realize it's not ideal but interested in hearing some thoughts on this setup.

Thanks.



Jul 15, 2014 at 02:42 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


I don't have examples- maybe Will/Trenchmonkey can help you there. Comparing the 18-300VR with the 28-300VR and 70-300VR on the D7100 at DxOMark shows the 18-300VR (current f/5.6 long-end model) to be the clear superior of the three, assuming a good copy; it even looks pretty good at f/8.


Jul 15, 2014 at 03:38 PM
runamuck
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


Everything I've seen of the 18-300 does not paint a pretty picture. DXO says it is best at 18MM. It goes down from there. WAY down.
http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1525/cat/13

http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/992/cat/13 At anything over 105MM it's not even a contest. With the 18-300 it looks like paint may be the better option



Jul 15, 2014 at 07:47 PM
johnctharp
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


runamuck wrote:
Everything I've seen of the 18-300 does not paint a pretty picture. DXO says it is best at 18MM. It goes down from there. WAY down.
http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1525/cat/13

http://slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/992/cat/13 At anything over 105MM it's not even a contest. With the 18-300 it looks like paint may be the better option


Knock the lens but don't provide an alternative? How is that helpful?

The lens will provide usable results- the real question will be whether or not the noise will be too high in lower light with the slower apertures.



Jul 15, 2014 at 08:07 PM
ckcarr
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


Well, is a safari a commonplace thing for you or a once in a lifetime adventure?
What is your budget? Is this what you can afford? What do you want to come back with?
Is it possible to rent?

It seems there have been a couple threads recently requesting advice on lenses for Africa.



Jul 15, 2014 at 08:12 PM
runamuck
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


One lens? Rent the new Nikon 80-400VR and use a 1.4 TC if you need longer. Toss in a Sigma 17-50 for wide stuff. Do NOT try to cover everything with one lens. You will be very severely disappointed.


Jul 15, 2014 at 08:36 PM
OccAeon
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


Do you already own the D7100? Low light shots from one lens aren't going to be any different than from another.

If I were you, I would consider renting an 80-400 for the trip. The quality will be far better, and it is still very versatile - you'll be covered for most any wildlife shots. Then add maybe a 35 f/1.8 for wider shots. In my experience, if you are just walking around taking shots, you probably don't need the 18-34 range that badly anyway -- it's too hard to compose a great shot on the fly. Another option is to buy or rent the 18-35 f/1.8, but that is a much bulkier lens.

All of the 18-xxx lenses are good, but none of them are spectacular on the long end. The 80-400 will get you much better results.



Jul 15, 2014 at 08:37 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


TGallagher wrote:
Looking for sample shots at 300mm and low light shots at any focal length.

I will be going to Botswana on Safari and want to upgrade some gear but I want to (actually need to) travel light and ideally want to go with one lens. I realize it's not ideal but interested in hearing some thoughts on this setup.

Thanks.


Using two crop bodies, put a 80-400 on one and an 16-85 on the other.

EBH



Jul 15, 2014 at 09:21 PM
Ghostinz
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


big trip!! don't sacrifice!! take the stuff that is going to give the best results. 80-400 for sure. Can you do two bodies? maybe a second body with the 18-35 1.8


Jul 16, 2014 at 12:26 AM
TGallagher
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


Appreciate all the feedback folks.....lots of thinking to do now


Jul 17, 2014 at 02:44 PM
trenchmonkey
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


runamuck wrote:
One lens? Rent the new Nikon 80-400VR and use a 1.4 TC if you need longer. Toss in a Sigma 17-50 for wide stuff. Do NOT try to cover everything with one lens. You will be very severely disappointed.


Wouldn't use a TC on the already slow 80-400...just crop.

---------------------------------------------

Ghostinz wrote:
big trip!! don't sacrifice!! take the stuff that is going to give the best results. 80-400 for sure. Can you do two bodies? maybe a second body with the 18-35 1.8


I 2nd this line of thought



Jul 17, 2014 at 03:10 PM
ariel777
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


It is my experience that the 1.4 TC on the 80-400 causes far too much IQ degradation to be worth using. The Monkey is right on as usual.


Jul 17, 2014 at 07:33 PM
EB-1
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


ckcarr wrote:
Well, is a safari a commonplace thing for you or a once in a lifetime adventure?
What is your budget? Is this what you can afford? What do you want to come back with?
Is it possible to rent?

It seems there have been a couple threads recently requesting advice on lenses for Africa.


Even if you go every year of two it makes sense to have the right gear.

It bears repeating that there should be some redundancy in bodies and lenses if at all possible. Not to scare the OP, but I've seen so many accidents and failures. Things like 500mm lenses and bodies flying in or off the vehicle, 200-400 lenses jamming on bodies, lenses with zoom or focus issues, bodies with error messages, shutter failures, flaky flash units, etc. It seems to happen most to the people without backups.

EBH



Jul 17, 2014 at 09:14 PM
Joseph.
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


The problem with the 18-300 is focus breathing. You will never get 300mm out of it in closer to mid distances. I would rent the 300 f/4 AF-S, it's really not that heavy. You will be thankful that you did.


Jul 17, 2014 at 11:00 PM
TGallagher
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


So if anyone is interested I decided on two lenses - Nikon 17-55 2.8, Sigma 50-500 OS version. Using a D7100. Looking forward to the trip only 3 weeks now.


Aug 28, 2014 at 12:19 PM
JimFox
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · D7100 and 18-300mm VR


TGallagher wrote:
So if anyone is interested I decided on two lenses - Nikon 17-55 2.8, Sigma 50-500 OS version. Using a D7100. Looking forward to the trip only 3 weeks now.


That sounds like a much better choice than the 18-300mm. Don't forget to bring a tripod, there should be lot's of opportunities for low light sunrises and sunsets where a tripod will really come in handy for 1 or 2 sec exposures. Also a polarizer for the 17-55mm would be useful. And last but not least, a way to clean your sensor. That can be a dusty environment and to be able to clean your sensor could be priceless.

Hope you don't mind the additional thoughts.

Jim



Aug 28, 2014 at 12:36 PM





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