D300s and 200-400VR

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Archive 2009 · D300s and 200-400VR

lxdesign
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p.1 #1 · D300s and 200-400VR

Hi all,

I have been toying around with the idea of getting a 200-400VR for sometime now. After selling my 300mm f/2.8 AF-I last year, I miss having a long lens, but if I am to get another one, I would like something that will fullfill my needs. I am thinking that I will sell my D90 sometime in the next month, and pickup a D300s, and I am wondering if anyone has had a chance to play with the D300s or D300 and 200-400VR? How does it all handle, and would you recommend the combo. Are there any cons of the 200-400, as I haven't really read many dislikes about this lens. I am just starting to do some more serious research on people's opinion's of the 200-400. I also have the D700, and occasionally will use the D700 and the 200-400. Thank you, and appologies if there is already a similar posting.

David

Nov 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM

EB-1
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p.1 #2 · D300s and 200-400VR

Yes, the D300/s handles fine with the 200-400. It does gets heavy for more than short periods. Have you an aversion to the tripod?

EBH

Nov 26, 2009 at 10:16 PM

Go4Long
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p.1 #3 · D300s and 200-400VR

I shot with this combo for the nationals superbike weekend here in calgary...it's quite the combination. personally I'm a bigger fan of the 300 2.8, but that's entirely a subjective opinion, I just find it to be that little bit sharper, and faster to focus. Don't get me wrong, you'll never be disappointed with the 200-400.

It's not something that's a lot of fun to hand hold, but it is possible for some time(I generally shoot from a mono pod). I am by no means a pro photographer, but here's a couple galleries...everything from the saturday and sunday was shot with the 200-400.

http://www.stevenszabophoto.com/Motorcycles/Nationals

Nov 26, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Gary Irwin
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p.1 #4 · D300s and 200-400VR

The D300(s) and 200-400VR is a great combo. Most of my owl gallery was taken using the D300/D300s 200-400VR...

http://www.pbase.com/garyirwin/owls

The sharpness of the 2-4 cannot be beat at close distances and the close-focusing feature (2.0m) of this lens is great (I use it for dragonflies). It performs well at longer distances too but it can't compete with primes when the chips are down and doesn't take TC's nearly as well (both in terms of IQ and AF speed).

The only thing you might want to think about is whether the 300VR (2.8) would be more suitable. Aside from superior IQ and AF, you get better subject isolation from the shallower DOF with the 300VR. But of course no zoom.

So it comes down to what's most important to you.

Nov 26, 2009 at 10:43 PM

sithbk
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p.1 #5 · D300s and 200-400VR

I do like the combo but I normally shoot at daylight but notice when you are shooting at low light af is a little slower. It's normal for f4, maybe because I'm used to my 300/2.8vr and will get it again one of these days. The best is the flexibility to zoom. I can set up at one spot and enjoy a variety of crop or wide sport shots.

Here are some shots I took with d300/s/200-400 combo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sithbk/Nikon200400SampleImages?pli=1#

But here is the real deal from Keoni.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/837708

Nov 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM

martyn.
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p.1 #6 · D300s and 200-400VR

D300 + 200-400VR, works great with 1.4 and 1.7 TC, even wide open, AF works fine.

Bare lens

With 1.4 TC

With 1.7 TC

Nov 27, 2009 at 12:13 AM

baumgarten0712
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p.1 #7 · D300s and 200-400VR

For what its worth, the 300 f/4 af-s is a real gem for the price. With the 1.7x converter it becomes a 500 f/6.7 and the weight is much lighter than a 200-400. When I owned the Canon 300 2.8 IS & 500f/4 (when I was with Canon) I did leave them at home often (and the 300 2.8 is even lighter than the 200-400) because of their weight. I am sure the D300s would do very well with the prime combo below.

Attached are some recent shots taken with my 300 f/4 + 1.7x combo (on my D700).

NIKON D700 500 mm f/7.1 1/800 sec 5600 ISO 0.0 EV

NIKON D700 500 mm f/6.7 1/1000 sec 2800 ISO 0.0 EV

NIKON D700 500 mm f/6.7 1/1000 sec 2500 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 27, 2009 at 02:17 PM

lxdesign
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p.1 #8 · D300s and 200-400VR

Thanks guys for all of the replies!

Nov 29, 2009 at 03:11 AM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #9 · D300s and 200-400VR

I put easily 50,000 clicks through a D300/200-400 pair. Loved it to death. No cons to the lens at all... it's the lightest of the big guns except for the 300/2.8, it's the cheapest way to get those focal lengths, it's excellent optically, and I disagree with some comments above... I've never even been able to detect a difference between images with or without the 1.4x TC.

This thread is a must-read, compares the 200-400 to 400/2.8:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/829361/

This was someone comparing to an 80-400:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/819133/

Nov 29, 2009 at 07:18 AM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #10 · D300s and 200-400VR

All handheld...

1. C-17 at Cocoa Beach, on D3x

2. Wiskus in LucasOil biplane, D300 and 1.4x.

3. Patty Wagstaff, D300 and 1.4x.

NIKON D3X 400 mm f/4.0 1/250 sec 100 ISO +0.7 EV

NIKON D300 360 mm f/9.0 1/100 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

NIKON D300 400 mm f/10.0 1/100 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

Nov 29, 2009 at 07:20 AM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #11 · D300s and 200-400VR

Still handheld...

4. D300: Gene Soucy and Theresa Stokes (wingwalking) in the Grumman ShowCat.

5. D300: Boeing DreamLifter.

6. D300: Kyle Franklin.

NIKON D300 400 mm f/7.1 1/100 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

NIKON D300 280 mm f/5.6 1/500 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

NIKON D300 550 mm f/7.1 1/100 sec 200 ISO +0.3 EV

Nov 29, 2009 at 07:23 AM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #12 · D300s and 200-400VR

Did I mention the D300 and the 200-400 handhold well?

7. D300: Red Bull helicopter

8. D300: Debby Rihn-Harvey

9. D300: F-22 Raptor

NIKON D300 440 mm f/11.0 1/80 sec 200 ISO +0.3 EV

NIKON D300 550 mm f/13.0 1/100 sec 200 ISO +0.7 EV

NIKON D300 500 mm f/5.6 1/160 sec 200 ISO +0.3 EV

Nov 29, 2009 at 07:26 AM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #13 · D300s and 200-400VR

Links to other, previously posted images:

D200 @ 210mm: Elephant in shadows

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D200 @ 550mm: Cheetah at lunch

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D200 @ 550mm: Cheetah during portrait shoot

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D300 @ 550mm: Kyle Franklin up close and personal

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D200 @ 550mm: Kingfisher hunting

This image is copyrighted by the owner

D200 (can't recall FL): Lion cub learns to climb

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 29, 2009 at 07:32 AM


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