Register · Software · Search · Image Upload · Buy & Sell · Hosting

	Moderated by: Fred Miranda
	Username   Password Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell FM Forum Rules Nikon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews FM Forums | Nikon-mount SLRs | Join Image Upload end D300s and 200-400VR

lxdesign Offline Image Upload: On 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 Offline Image Upload: Off 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 Offline Image Upload: On 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 Offline Buy and Sell: On 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 Offline Buy and Sell: On 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. Offline Image Upload: Off 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 Offline Image Upload: On 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). Exif information Model NIKON D700 Date 2009:11:25 15:10:48 Original date 2009:11:25 13:39:33 Exposure time 1/800 sec Focal length 500mm Focal number f/7.1 ISO speed 5600 ISO Exposure compensation 0.0 Exif information Model NIKON D700 Date 2009:11:25 15:10:59 Original date 2009:11:25 13:47:02 Exposure time 1/1000 sec Focal length 500mm Focal number f/6.7 ISO speed 2800 ISO Exposure compensation 0.0 Exif information Model NIKON D700 Date 2009:11:25 15:11:10 Original date 2009:11:25 14:08:17 Exposure time 1/1000 sec Focal length 500mm Focal number f/6.7 ISO speed 2500 ISO Exposure compensation 0.0 Nov 27, 2009 at 02:17 PM

lxdesign Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #8 · D300s and 200-400VR Thanks guys for all of the replies! Nov 29, 2009 at 03:11 AM

Rodolfo Paiz Offline Image Upload: On 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 Offline Image Upload: On 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. Exif information Model NIKON D3X Date 2009:10:19 10:20:45 Original date 2009:10:03 14:36:01 Exposure time 1/250 sec Focal length 400mm Focal number f/4.0 ISO speed 100 ISO Exposure compensation +0.7 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2009:11:18 10:17:57 Original date 2008:07:28 16:31:28 Exposure time 1/100 sec Focal length 360mm Focal number f/9.0 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.7 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2009:11:18 10:46:23 Original date 2008:07:28 16:38:07 Exposure time 1/100 sec Focal length 400mm Focal number f/10.0 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.7 Nov 29, 2009 at 07:20 AM

Rodolfo Paiz Offline Image Upload: On 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. Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2009:11:18 21:20:02 Original date 2008:07:28 16:50:02 Exposure time 1/100 sec Focal length 400mm Focal number f/7.1 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.7 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2009:11:17 19:04:47 Original date 2008:07:28 17:15:18 Exposure time 1/500 sec Focal length 280mm Focal number f/5.6 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.7 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2008:11:05 16:42:45 Original date 2008:07:30 16:57:22 Exposure time 1/100 sec Focal length 550mm Focal number f/7.1 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.3 Nov 29, 2009 at 07:23 AM

Rodolfo Paiz Offline Image Upload: On 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 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2009:11:27 12:54:36 Original date 2008:07:30 17:42:07 Exposure time 1/80 sec Focal length 440mm Focal number f/11.0 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.3 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2009:11:28 21:28:36 Original date 2008:08:01 15:43:42 Exposure time 1/100 sec Focal length 550mm Focal number f/13.0 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.7 Exif information Model NIKON D300 Date 2008:11:27 12:17:52 Original date 2008:08:02 15:44:29 Exposure time 1/160 sec Focal length 500mm Focal number f/5.6 ISO speed 200 ISO Exposure compensation +0.3 Nov 29, 2009 at 07:26 AM

Rodolfo Paiz Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #13 · D300s and 200-400VR Links to other, previously posted images: D200 @ 210mm: Elephant in shadows D200 @ 550mm: Cheetah at lunch D200 @ 550mm: Cheetah during portrait shoot D300 @ 550mm: Kyle Franklin up close and personal D200 @ 550mm: Kingfisher hunting D200 (can't recall FL): Lion cub learns to climb Nov 29, 2009 at 07:32 AM

	FM Forums | Nikon-mount SLRs | Join Image Upload end

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username   Password   Lost password?