Nikon 70-300 VR for wildlife?

[Fotophilic]

Thinking of getting this lens to try some birding and wildlife stuff soon.

Reason is that its considered pretty cheap, has a useful VR and reaches to 300mm (or 450mm on my sensor). Been looking around and this one seem to be good.

Does anyone has other recommendations? Still in the midst of consideration.

Thanks in advance!

[kool81]

Originally Posted by Fotophilic Thinking of getting this lens to try some birding and wildlife stuff soon. Reason is that its considered pretty cheap, has a useful VR and reaches to 300mm (or 450mm on my sensor). Been looking around and this one seem to be good. Does anyone has other recommendations? Still in the midst of consideration. Thanks in advance!

Go for the 200-400. try a 300mm lens before. Still find it quite short. Best is a 600mm but the cost also best.

[Mendis]

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366146

[BUZ_BUZ]

You might want to consider the
Nikon AFS 300mm f/4

One of the cheapest 300mm prime lens with superb lens quality.
I package it with a Teleplus 2x teleconverter ( ard $200+ ) to get 600mm reach. The results is very good.

[Fotophilic]

Originally Posted by Mendis http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366146

Thanks for all the replies. Will put in some thought into all your suggestions.

Mendis, your pics are great! Thanks for sharing!

Any other suggestions?

[giantcanopy]

Hi Fotophilic

I also second the 300mm/4 with a TC2 ( though u might not get to AF well in dim lights cause of the small aperture of f8 ), but it gives u sufficient reach with good IQ and good bang for buck.

Else can consider an 80-400mm

or a Mirror lens

or a manual focusing Nikon 600mm like me :P
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=359830
Almost all are done with the MF 600mm/5.6 with or without a TC1.4

Ryan

[Mendis]

Originally Posted by Fotophilic Thanks for all the replies. Will put in some thought into all your suggestions. Mendis, your pics are great! Thanks for sharing! Any other suggestions?

Well, I use the 70-300VR together with a 600f4 MF. The 70-300VR is used for flight shots of fast moving birds like the terns and other birds which need me to be highly mobile. If I shoot flight with the 600f4, I need to station the whole setup in one single location for extended periods of time.

The 80-400 is too slow for flight shots of many small birds. If you use the 80-400 for herons and egrets, no problem.

The 300mmF/4 AFS is currently the best for handheld, sharp and ultra fast flight shots at an affordable price. I chose the 70-300VR simple because I can use the zoom for sports, protraits and wildlife.

Hope I did not confuse you. Btw, I will just share with you my dream setup of lenses for wildlife.

70-200f/2.8 VR w 1.4TC
300f/2.8 AFS II or AFS VR w/TC20E II
600mm f/4 AF

[Fotophilic]

No it wasn't confusing. Thanks for the sharing! Looks like so far the 70-300 VR is a good option for someone like me to "try" shooting some creatures of the wild. If i am really interested in it then I'll invest more getting something better.

Anymore?