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Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Egg Salad
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Hi,
I know there have been several threads in the quest for 300mm options. Now with the Sony 300/2.8 there will be a native option but at this price point it's still a no. But since my question is too specific, I couldn't find an answer. I hope someone can.

I shoot mostly static subjects; be it nature/landscape stuff or portraiture.
I currently have the Nikon 300/4 PF that I use in conjunction with an A7 III and Commlite ENF-E1. In theory, it's the perfect lens for me: compact, lightweight, great magnification (1:4). But it adapts poorly: AF and VR barely work. Most of the time, AF helplessly hunts, VR doesn't seem to do anything. MF is horrible because the gearing is super steep. It's a lens I like optically but hate using.
I've gone through a lot of threads to learn that the Commlite is the allegedly the best adapter.

Because of this I've actually already set my eyes on the Sony 100-400 but f/5.6 isn't particularly exciting. 400mm and f/5.6 delivers similar blur potential as 300mm and f/4 but this is a lens that would make most sense for traveling. At home, I'd rather have f/2.8 - AF isn't that important to me.
Which brings me to the Canon (new) FD 300/2.8: a lens which can be had for 800€ but is neither travel friendly, allows the use of polarizers nor boasts a useful magnification figure.

I'd prefer to keep the Nikon but find an adapter that actually makes it work.
If there wasn't a better adapter than the Commlite what would you do?

_________________________________________________________
EDIT: I've ordered the Monster Adapter LA-FE1 for my Nikon 300/4 PF.

Edited on Nov 11, 2023 at 10:45 AM · View previous versions

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:26 PM

hatch1921
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

I've owned the 300PF when I shot Nikon, I've not shot it with an adapter. The lens as you know is very light and easy to use... and can produce great results.

I made the move to Sony and the 100-400GM beats the 300PF hands down IMO. It's super sharp, not heavy(subjective), and you get the benefit of the zoom range. Plus... it's native. I love using it for hummingbird shots, favorite by far. Size wise for travel, it's pretty compact. The only slight negative is f/5.6 on the long end. That being said, I don't find it a limiting factor, if I had to make a decision like yours, the 100-400GM wins.

Hope this helps?
Hatch

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:33 PM

Alan Parker
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

I actually had both the Canon FD 300/2.8 and the Sony 100-400 GM before... both excellent choice that have their limitations. I personally went with the 70-200GMII + TCs in the end. The idea of a 300/4 PF is great too; but sadly it won't be a good native speed option.

The Sony 100-400 GM is probably the most sensible option given your choices.

Nov 09, 2023 at 01:49 PM

QuietOC
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Note that the GM zoom loses focal length with closer focus, its background blur potential is less than the infinity numbers suggest.

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:01 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

I own both the 100-400GM and Canon FD 300/2.8L, and have owned the Nikon PF with the Commlite pro adapter. I agree with you about manually focusing the PF- it's sooo touchy. Not fun at all. So I understand why you're looking elsewhere.

My recommendation is to start with what's going to be the most immediately satisfying, then immediately start saving your Euros for the other one. I resisted the zoom for a long time, but I do find it the most practical option for a wide range of uses. So that's the practical place to start. That said, with winter coming and all the beautiful lights in Berlin and the gorgeous across-the-frame performance of the Canon from wide open, there are certainly reasons to throw practicality aside.

One correction; there is a drop-in 48mm circ pol available for the Canon. It's the same one used in the original EF 300/2.8L and both the FD and EF 500/4.5L.

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:15 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

hatch1921 wrote:
I've owned the 300PF when I shot Nikon, I've not shot it with an adapter. The lens as you know is very light and easy to use... and can produce great results.

I made the move to Sony and the 100-400GM beats the 300PF hands down IMO. It's super sharp, not heavy(subjective), and you get the benefit of the zoom range. Plus... it's native. I love using it for hummingbird shots, favorite by far. Size wise for travel, it's pretty compact. The only slight negative is f/5.6 on the long end. That being said, I don't find it a limiting...Show more →

With f/5.6 starting at 162mm, it's hardly the "long end". That's my main gripe with it.
But your comment does help since I've struggled to compare the Nikon's and Sony's performance.

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:43 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Alan Parker wrote:
I actually had both the Canon FD 300/2.8 and the Sony 100-400 GM before... both excellent choice that have their limitations. I personally went with the 70-200GMII + TCs in the end. The idea of a 300/4 PF is great too; but sadly it won't be a good native speed option.

The Sony 100-400 GM is probably the most sensible option given your choices.

That's like 2600€...ouch. That said, I've thought about this option. Fortunately, I could get it out of my head.
With the Nikon it's not even about AF speed: it's about AF working reliably at all.

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:47 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

QuietOC wrote:
Note that the GM zoom loses focal length with closer focus, its background blur potential is less than the infinity numbers suggest.

I'm well aware that focus breathing is bad. At its MFD of 0.98m it's a mere 190mm. But I wasn't aware this becomes relevant way earlier than around MFD. This is very relevant to me!

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:49 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

freaklikeme wrote:
I own both the 100-400GM and Canon FD 300/2.8L, and have owned the Nikon PF with the Commlite pro adapter. I agree with you about manually focusing the PF- it's sooo touchy. Not fun at all. So I understand why you're looking elsewhere.

My recommendation is to start with what's going to be the most immediately satisfying, then immediately start saving your Euros for the other one. I resisted the zoom for a long time, but I do find it the most practical option for a wide range of uses. So that's the practical place to start. That said, with winter...Show more →

I've hoped to get the idea of the Canon FD out of my head lol
That f/2.8 though...
For travel, I'd definitely prefer the Sony. Very versatile, AF, sealed.
But for home use, that f/2.8 is way more tempting. That's exactly what I wanted to avoid: ending up with both lenses!

As for the c-pol: I suppose that's a sought-after and thus expensive piece?

Nov 09, 2023 at 02:53 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Another “vote” for the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens. You have to add the 1.4 X TC though, adding to the cost. It is expensive, I agree, but you spend it once and you won’t look back. And better yet, you won’t second guess yourself about getting the right lens.

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:08 PM

Peire
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

If you were happy with 300/4,GM 100-400/4.5-5.6 will be the best out of all lenses you have mentioned.Full compatibility,versatile,very good AF,effective OSS,convenient MF, handy close up at 400 mm/f5.6 and shallow dof at 400/5.6 plus close distances.

They are of course more options not pointed out by you,but more expensive and/or less versatile.GM 70-200/2.8 MK2+1,4TC is probably the best but roughly 1000 Euro costlier.

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:16 PM

hatch1921
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

I stumbled upon a thread (different site) where the photographer was using a Monster Adapter LA-FE1 Magic Ring Nikon F Lens to Sony E-Mount with the 500pf and the 300pf and really loved it. He mentioned since they hit firmware 4.0 the AF and tracking were great. I checked the product page and it looks like they are on version 5.0 now. I owned the pair in the past, should have kept them

Something to consider/try if you want to keep your 300pf.

Hatch

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:28 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

The 100-400GM has gnarly bokeh transition zones, and super gnarly foreground bokeh the longer you are shooting. If that is a consideration at ALL, I would advise against it.

It is of course the most VERSATILE lens of your options.

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:37 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

RoamingScott wrote:
The 100-400GM has gnarly bokeh transition zones, and super gnarly foreground bokeh the longer you are shooting. If that is a consideration at ALL, I would advise against it.

It is of course the most VERSATILE lens of your options.

That, apart from its mediocre speed is totally a consideration and the main reason I'm not too thrilled about it. I've gone through all 81 pages of the image thread and found several cases where even the background bokeh was very rough. The Nikon's bokeh is also not outstanding but better than the Sony's.

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:42 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Egg Salad wrote:
That, apart from its mediocre speed is totally a consideration and the main reason I'm not too thrilled about it. I've gone through all 81 pages of the image thread and found several cases where even the background bokeh was very rough. The Nikon's bokeh is also not outstanding but better than the Sony's.

I'm sure plenty of those examples were mine

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:44 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

AGeoJO wrote:
Another “vote” for the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens. You have to add the 1.4 X TC though, adding to the cost. It is expensive, I agree, but you spend it once and you won’t look back. And better yet, you won’t second guess yourself about getting the right lens.

For that money, I could get both the Canon and the Sony. For now, I don't see this as an option. That said, with the TC it would offer a very impressive 1:2 (if my calculations are correct).

Nov 09, 2023 at 03:45 PM

Egg Salad
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Ok, so considering all answers, I'll firstly look into the Monster Adapter LA-FE1 since the Nikon 300/4 PF ticks most of my boxes.
If that turns out to not bring a sufficient improvement, I'll follow the stupid option and go for the Canon FD 300/2.8 because - unlike the Sony 100-400 - it gives me that tingly feeling...down there.
No idea what I'd bring to my next trip then but this would be a problem for future me.

Thanks!

Nov 09, 2023 at 04:36 PM

Alan Parker
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Egg Salad wrote:
I'll follow the stupid option and go for the Canon FD 300/2.8

It's a lens that I still miss sometimes. It was special, but goodness was it always a pain to pack.

Nov 09, 2023 at 04:51 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Egg Salad wrote:
I've hoped to get the idea of the Canon FD out of my head lol
That f/2.8 though...
For travel, I'd definitely prefer the Sony. Very versatile, AF, sealed.
But for home use, that f/2.8 is way more tempting. That's exactly what I wanted to avoid: ending up with both lenses!

As for the c-pol: I suppose that's a sought-after and thus expensive piece?

Oh, it is rare and a bit pricey for it. I got lucky and it was included with my Canon. Right now, this is the only one I can find...

Canon CP-L (48mm) on US eBay

Nov 09, 2023 at 08:07 PM

freaklikeme
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sony 100-400, Canon FD 300/2.8 or keep Nikon 300/4

Nov 09, 2023 at 08:15 PM

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