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Archive 2019 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

Amol Thorat
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

Recently bought 200-500 fully knowing it is not something I would carry as part of my kit all the time, heck it doesn't even fit in my bag. So I am looking at smaller telephoto lens as travel lens. I already have incredible results from AF-P DX 70-300 but how does the FX version stack up against aforementioned Sigma and Tamron?

Did anyone here ever compare these 3 lenses in real life and then decided on one? The lens will be used on Z 6 with FTZ so Tamron has me a little worried. I do like Tamron otherwise and have found its AF more reliable than Sigma's (in my limited experience. It could be personal preference, please don't hurt me).
About Sigma: Stellar IQ in general but mixed bag experience with Sigma zooms' AF so far. Worst offender being Sigma 18-35 DX, followed by 17-70 C and then 17-50. One saving grace is the 105mm DG OS HSM Macro lens that focuses surprisingly well and worked well right out of the box with FTZ against all my expectations.
Have newer Sigma zooms improved as far as AF is concerned?

Thanks for your time!

Apr 05, 2019 at 05:02 PM

Two23
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

The Nikon 70-300mm AF-P for FX is supposed to be one of Nikon's best consumer lenses. I'm using a Nikon 300mm f4 PF plus TC-14E for compact hiking lens. Very nice!

Ken tin SD

Apr 05, 2019 at 05:13 PM

Amol Thorat
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I'm leaning towards 70-300 too but wanted to know how those two stack up against it. Are you using 300pf with TC on Z camera?

Two23 wrote:
The Nikon 70-300mm AF-P for FX is supposed to be one of Nikon's best consumer lenses. I'm using a Nikon 300mm f4 PF plus TC-14E for compact hiking lens. Very nice!

Ken tin SD

Apr 05, 2019 at 10:50 PM

indusphoto
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I am trying out Nikon Z cameras right now, and I am actually very surprised by the quality of 70-300 AF-P DX lens. It is only 300 grams, but it is sharp and AF is fast. The non-VR version works well with Z's IBIS.

The only thing is that Nikon enforces DX crop on Z body. So you are left with only 10MP. If you can live with that, I will suggest this lens as a very light weight option for hikes and travel (it is only about $100 on the bay), and Sigma 100-400 for other stuff (I have tried it and AF is decent on Z6/7, even for BIF). If you get a good copy, this lens is crazy sharp.

Apr 06, 2019 at 02:39 AM

Luftwalk
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

Hey,

the Tamron won't work on your Z6. So don't even look at it

I have the same setup as you and wanted a lighter travel lens as well. Went with the Sigma 100-400 and am really happy with it. It's sharp wide open, focuses well enough (faster than the 200-500) and works fine on the Zs.

Apr 06, 2019 at 02:44 AM

Chris Dees
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I went for the 70-300E as my telezoom for the Z6 (until Nikon comes upon with something comparable/better for the Z-mount). Very lightweight zoom for travel.
The 300PF + TC-14E III or 200-500 are on my D500 (depending if I want to carry the weight).
The 300PF is my favorite of the 3.

Apr 06, 2019 at 04:26 AM

bgorum
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I've been using the 70-300E for over a year now and am very happy with its performance. I've only had my Z6 for a couple months, but I think the lens actually works better on the Z6 than it did on my D750. On the D750 I had some minor back/front focus issues that varied with focal length and focusing distance, but those are all gone on the Z6. I will say though that even on the D750 the 70-300E was much better in pretty much every way compared to the 70-300VRG I owned before. Really a very nice, light, sharp, lens if you can live with the modest maximum aperture!

Apr 06, 2019 at 10:32 AM

Amol Thorat
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I had a crazy sharp copy of 70-300 AFP DX VR which I sold along with my DX setup and now I'm missing it. Everything you said is true. I got my VR version for $140! I am pretty sure FX version is the same but I just wanted to see how Sigma/Tamron compete against Nikon. Looks like Tamron is pretty much out of equation on account it doesn't work with Z!

indusphoto wrote:
I am trying out Nikon Z cameras right now, and I am actually very surprised by the quality of 70-300 AF-P DX lens. It is only 300 grams, but it is sharp and AF is fast. The non-VR version works well with Z's IBIS.

The only thing is that Nikon enforces DX crop on Z body. So you are left with only 10MP. If you can live with that, I will suggest this lens as a very light weight option for hikes and travel (it is only about $100 on the bay), and Sigma 100-400 for other stuff (I have...Show more →

Apr 06, 2019 at 10:53 AM

Amol Thorat
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I was thinking Tamron's firmware update for their G2 lenses convered this lens too. Thanks! That narrows the choice.

Luftwalk wrote:
Hey,

the Tamron won't work on your Z6. So don't even look at it

Apr 06, 2019 at 10:55 AM

Amol Thorat
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

Chris Dees wrote:
I went for the 70-300E as my telezoom for the Z6 (until Nikon comes upon with something comparable/better for the Z-mount). Very lightweight zoom for travel.
The 300PF + TC-14E III or 200-500 are on my D500 (depending if I want to carry the weight).
The 300PF is my favorite of the 3.
300pf is such a great (and little) gem. If 70-300 is about 80% of the 300, I'm good. The versatility is unbeatable even if it is a slow lens.

bgorum wrote:
I've been using the 70-300E for over a year now and am very happy with its performance. I've only had my Z6 for a couple months, but I think the lens actually works better on the Z6 than it did on my D750. On the D750 I had some minor back/front focus issues that varied with focal length and focusing distance, but those are all gone on the Z6. I will say though that even on the D750 the 70-300E was much better in pretty much every way compared to the 70-300VRG I owned before. Really a very nice, light,...Show more →
True and the AF is unreal on 70-300 (was at least on DSLR). I loved how silent AF was and had a "firm" feeling to it that even 200-500 doesn't have. Good to know it works the same or better on Z6. I'm ok with modest aperture as it would be mostly a good idea landscape lens.

Apr 06, 2019 at 11:04 AM

Laslo Varadi
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

indusphoto wrote:
I am trying out Nikon Z cameras right now, and I am actually very surprised by the quality of 70-300 AF-P DX lens. It is only 300 grams, but it is sharp and AF is fast. The non-VR version works well with Z's IBIS.

The only thing is that Nikon enforces DX crop on Z body. So you are left with only 10MP. If you can live with that, I will suggest this lens as a very light weight option for hikes and travel (it is only about $100 on the bay), and Sigma 100-400 for other stuff (I have...Show more →

The OP is referring to the full frame AF-P 70-300 lens not the DX version.

Apr 06, 2019 at 01:25 PM

walts.photo
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

Hey, I'm in exactly in the same boat!

Tamron 100 -- 400 very nice and sharp but the POS doesn't work on a Z6/7!!!! BTW, though the VR is good, it's not as good as the Nikon 200-500. I sold my 200-500 thinking this would do it all, but not on the Z series!

Nikon 70-300 DX is sharper than expected, but, probably too much cropping.

So, I'm thinking 300pf. Or maybe the 70-300 full frame.

I was thinking the 500pf, but if my wife kills me, then I won't end up taking many pictures with it.

Apr 06, 2019 at 02:10 PM

Amol Thorat
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I'm bummed about Tamron too. I'll say skip 70-300 DX. The FX version is as good and has metal mount as well VR on/off buttons on the barrel. DX version has none and is built super cheap. Even the mount is plastic. IQ is incredible though. No primes for me right now, I prefer zooms in travel kit... And yes 500pf is way out of my budget anyway. I'll probably play safe and opt for FX 70-300.

walts.photo wrote:
Hey, I'm in exactly in the same boat!

Tamron 100 -- 400 very nice and sharp but the POS doesn't work on a Z6/7!!!! BTW, though the VR is good, it's not as good as the Nikon 200-500. I sold my 200-500 thinking this would do it all, but not on the Z series!

Nikon 70-300 DX is sharper than expected, but, probably too much cropping.

So, I'm thinking 300pf. Or maybe the 70-300 full frame.

I was thinking the 500pf, but if my wife kills me, then I won't end up taking many pictures with it.

Apr 06, 2019 at 09:48 PM

sirhawkeye64
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nikon 70-300 AF-P VR (FX) or Sigma 100-400 or Tamron 100-400?

I know this thread is older but I thought I'd offer an "update" to those who might find this thread via Search.

So the Tamron 100-400 can work with the Z cameras via the FTZ adapter.

You will first have to update your lens using the TAP-IN console.

You will then have to update your FTZ adapter to the latest version (as of this writing I believe it is v1.1 for the FTZ).

Lastly, update your camera body to one of the newer firmware version (I'd say go with v3.1 or later for best chances of this working, as it worked on my Z6 when I had firmware v3.1 installed). It may work on older firmwares but I couldn't verify myself because I had already upgraded prior to trying out the Tamron on the camera.

(The FTZ update and camera firmware update need to be done from the within the camera's menus. You can save a little time and load both the camera firmware update file and the FTZ update file onto the card and then just do one right after the other. It doesn't matter the other, although I would recommend doing the body first, and then the FTZ).

Jan 28, 2021 at 05:59 PM


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