What Nikon lens to get for wildlife photography? somewhat in depth here...

matthewo · Dec 2, 2012

I agree, wish there where more options out there. I did think about a tc20e III for the 70-200 I have, but I heard image quality is OK and still isn't really huge reach. I have heard the 300mm f4 and tc14e is better and a little more reach. also the 70-200 with tc14e ii I have now does pretty good when in dx crop mode, it can work good for BIF, then I can use the 500mm with tc16a for other stuff that I can get away with limited autofocus. still just want to use the 500mm f4 without the teleconverter too, wide open at f4 on full resolution 36mp just to see it, lol, tell me that wouldn't make a sick picture if I had something fill up the whole frame

matthewo · Dec 2, 2012

oh well, guess I made up my mind, should be fun

Nikon AI s 500mm F 4 0 P Ed If AIS 500 F4 4 Lens with Trunk Case 0577300 | eBay

cgipson1 · Dec 2, 2012

SCraig said:
I've heard several times that the Sigma 150-500 is not very sharp at 500mm ...

I tend to disagree with that statement.

Scott, You must have gotten lucky! I have had two of them.. both sucked (maybe I am too picky!)

. Like a lot of third party lenses, it is a crap shoot.... you get lucky, or you don't! I wish they were good.... lol!

matthewo · Dec 2, 2012

I heard the newer version of the 50-500 was better the 150-500 sigma. but who knows really. like you said the only sure shot you get is with Nikon or Canon really. but you pay the price.

Aloicious · Dec 3, 2012

matthewo said:
oh well, guess I made up my mind, should be fun Nikon AI s 500mm F 4 0 P Ed If AIS 500 F4 4 Lens with Trunk Case 0577300 | eBay

I've wanted a good super-tele for quite a while too. please let us know how you like that AIS 500...I've contemplated a third party 50-500 or 150-500 but I'm a little wary of them...and my experiences with third party lenses have been pretty good thus far (I LOVE my 150mm sigma macro lens)...I think something like what you got with an older faster lens is probably a good route to go, but I'm really interested in how you like it and how it performs.

matthewo · Dec 3, 2012

Yes no question the Sigma 150 macro is an outstanding Lens that is up there in quality with Nikon/ canon counterparts.

Seems like sigma, and tokina can make lenses just as good as Nikon / canon in most áreas. Just super telephoto not so much. Its Also not Fair to compair a Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 to a Nikon prime. I guess a better compairison would be the Nikon 80-400.

I look at it like this, I would rather have fewer outanding shots then more good enough shots. I think thats what a High end fast manual focus Lens will get me, compaired to a cheaper slower zoom

Aloicious · Dec 3, 2012

matthewo said:
Yes no question the Sigma 150 macro is an outstanding Lens that is up there in quality with Nikon/ canon counterparts.

Seems like sigma, and tokina can make lenses just as good as Nikon / canon in most áreas. Just super telephoto not so much. Its Also not Fair to compair a Sigma 50-500 or 150-500 to a Nikon prime. I guess a better compairison would be the Nikon 80-400.

I look at it like this, I would rather have fewer outanding shots then more good enough shots. I think thats what a High end fast manual focus Lens will get me, compaired to a cheaper slower zoom

yeah, I totally agree. I'm looking forward to hearing how you like it once you have a chance to really test it out.

matthewo · Dec 3, 2012

I will report back. it will be interesting to see how a lens designed and starting being built in the 80s designed for film, will work on a high resolution dslr like the d800 with its 36mp. I can only find one example on the web of a d800 and 500mm f4 p, and he really doesn't have any pictures. most people are using a d300s or a d2h or d2x or some fast FPS crop camera, which make sense.

2WheelPhoto · Dec 3, 2012

My big brother bought the Nikkor 200-400mm for wildlife and loves it

matthewo · Dec 3, 2012

2WheelPhoto said:
My big brother bought the Nikkor 200-400mm for wildlife and loves it

Little out of my price range

matthewo · Dec 3, 2012

modified my tc14e ii to work with it by cutting off that small tab on the mount. wont have limited auto focus like the tc16a, but it will give me 700mm with less IQ loss, and not require any more money to be spent right now.

matthewo · Dec 6, 2012

wow got it today, 4 day shipping from japan, haha.

what a lens. its serial number was early so my guess it was made in the early 90s. for a 20 year old lens, these thing age well, im guessing it was taken good care of, the lens is in excellent shape for its age. paint issues are minimal and amazing for a lens that is 20 years old.

lens is a tank. focus ring is smooth throughout the whole range. very acurate too, which is very much needed with a manual focus 500mm lens. focus ring is very long, going the whole focus range takes at least one hand reposition. this thing feels like its made for the military or something. its all metal. the weight really isnt too bad for what it is. i measured 8 lb 9 oz with it attached to my nikon d800 with tc14e teleconverter. i guess the lens alone is around 6-7lb, not really important as it will always be used on a d800. actually i havent tried it on the nikon v1 yet. the nikon v1 would be 1890mm equivelent with teleconverter.

of coarse a manual focus super telephoto isnt easy. but i guess most people really dont have an option if the budget doesnt allow for a $5000 used 500mm f4 AF-S lens. so this 500mm F4 P is the next best thing. if you cannot have AF-S this lens is about as good as its going to get. the focus ring is huge and acurate and manual focusing is not very hard.

IMO with the tc16a autofocus teleconverter, i bet birds in flight are a possiblity.

will post up more stuff, but this lens is just great to jump into the super telephoto. just think after using this for a few years, when its time to get an AF-s or VR version, how much better your technique will be.

matthewo · Dec 8, 2012

here it is attached to the nikon v1 with tc14e teleconverter, just for 1890mm haha. fun

here is a little sample, d800 at 700mm using the tc14e ii teleconverter. not sure aperture readout was 6.3, but with a 1.4 teleconverter is like f8 i guess.