Never thought i would ask but need opinions on lens change.

[mikew_RIP]

A prime will give better results compared to a zoom. It will also be faster and lighter. If you do not plan to use TC17 or TC20, then the older 300mm F4 D AFS is a better option. Reviews state that there may be QA problems, so the lens is not as sharp at edges as the old one, and some report VR issues. The major advantage of the newer 300mm F4 is VR and its lack of weight. If these are not your priority, then the older lens is a better buy, as you will get the lens and TC14 for less than the new lens only.

Thanks aroy,i had a feeling i knew which you would recommend in all the conversations we have had in different threads about lenses i dont think i have ever disagreed with you on the IQ of that combination,its a strong possibility at the moment,i would consider getting a 30-110 for the V2 to give me the zooming facility whilst out and about,it would be negligible extra weight to carry.

 

[rocketman122]

if you dont like your tamron 150-600, I dont think the sigma will be any different. MAYBE slightly if any or possibly not at all. as J-see recommended, try doing an AF tune. I only re

the 80-400 AFS-the new G lens? reviews say its great. if its the gen 1, ask Scott, he has it.

if it were me, like Rick, the choice would be very easy. 300mm f/4 AFS gen 1 with TC. no hesitation.

dont know why people forget how good the older gen lens is once a new one comes out. its like "thank god we finally have this lens nikon because the other was just a POS" there was a reason why this lens has been around for 15 years. well maybe 5 years too much but its that good. its fast and its brilliant. I think the new PF is overpriced for the minute increase in IQ and no tripod collar as well. but if you have the money and the size is a turn off then go for the PF.

Nasims test shows the mtf sharper by a smidge at open (in the center only-corners GEN 1 is superior!) with the new PF but the gen 1 is no slouch as is and paying so much more for a minute difference seems unnecessary.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-300mm-f4e-pf-ed-vr/3

 

[mikew_RIP]

if you dont like your tamron 150-600, I dont think the sigma will be any different. MAYBE slightly if any or possibly not at all. as J-see recommended, try doing an AF tune. I only re

the 80-400 AFS-the new G lens? reviews say its great. if its the gen 1, ask Scott, he has it.

if it were me, like Rick, the choice would be very easy. 300mm f/4 AFS gen 1 with TC. no hesitation.

dont know why people forget how good the older gen lens is once a new one comes out. its like "thank god we finally have this lens nikon because the other was just a POS" there was a reason why this lens has been around for 15 years. well maybe 5 years too much but its that good. its fast and its brilliant. I think the new PF is overpriced for the minute increase in IQ and no tripod collar as well. but if you have the money and the size is a turn off then go for the PF.

Nasims test shows the mtf sharper by a smidge at open (in the center only-corners GEN 1 is superior!) with the new PF but the gen 1 is no slouch as is and paying so much more for a minute difference seems unnecessary.

https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-300mm-f4e-pf-ed-vr/3

Done the AF tune its not the problem,as i dont need to sell my images i dont have to chase that last fraction of IQ, thats a round about i stepped of years ago,my pictures now only have to please me so i can afford to trade some IQ for convenience,the only problem the Tamron has is it focus freezes on occasion,not hunt just sits there doing nothing.
Unfortunately the gen1 300mm has no VR and have just done a test i need that assistance now and its a case of that probably getting worse to the point of having to give up long lenses at some point,the PF would be a nice option but ime concerned about losing the convenience of a zoom and finding i have spent so much money,i have had the early 80-400 on loan and was not impressed,the screw drive focus is just too slow,the latest looks interesting though.
Still i hope the thoughts keep coming in.

 

[cbay]

My research that led to getting the Tammy showed nothing close in price was going to give me the reach and IQ without paying up and carrying a bunch more weight. I hate to hear the focus freeze is causing you much grief. It happened to me a couple times as well. I immediately switched to release priority and only had it happen once since. Maybe not enough use in different scenarios though.
I can't help but think you may be sorry later if you sell the Tamron. You seem to have a sharp copy. Then again, maybe you would get another one later and have no issues with focus freeze??
Hope it works out for you whatever you decide.

 

[mikew_RIP]

My research that led to getting the Tammy showed nothing close in price was going to give me the reach and IQ without paying up and carrying a bunch more weight. I hate to hear the focus freeze is causing you much grief. It happened to me a couple times as well. I immediately switched to release priority and only had it happen once since. Maybe not enough use in different scenarios though.
I can't help but think you may be sorry later if you sell the Tamron. You seem to have a sharp copy. Then again, maybe you would get another one later and have no issues with focus freeze??
Hope it works out for you whatever you decide.

Ime going around in circles and could vanish up my own ar$e with this,nothing but nothing gives me what i want apart from the Tamron,even with a limit less budget to buy better lenses i would struggle to find any thing that fits my requirements.

 

[mikew_RIP]

I thought typing it out and putting it on the forum would help me find a different lens it hasn't, though what it has done is made me look at all the alternatives more closely, look at there good and bad points for me,they all fall short in the overall package they offer for the way i like to work,its looking like i may be buying the Tamrom T shirt.

 

[jay_dean]

The old 80-400D was apparently bloody awful. I couldn't really get on with the 80-400G, i certainly didn't think it trounced the Siggy 50-500 (non OS) version i traded it in for. I found it soft at the long end where i used it most tbh. The 300mm f4 +14TC might be an option if weight is a problem

 

[Woodyg3]

Sorry the Tam is giving you fits. I know I really like my old 300mm f/4 with 1.4x, but I use the Tammy 95% of the time. I really don't think there is a better alternative in terms of IQ in the price range you are looking. The new 80-400 is apparently amazing, but it should be for $2700.

 

[J-see]

When I go through the list of lenses, the only one that is "light" is the new 300mm f/4 but when you have to attach a TC to that, you're looking at 2.5k € which is quite some more for less focal length than the Tam.

 

[mikew_RIP]

Sorry the Tam is giving you fits. I know I really like my old 300mm f/4 with 1.4x, but I use the Tammy 95% of the time. I really don't think there is a better alternative in terms of IQ in the price range you are looking. The new 80-400 is apparently amazing, but it should be for $2700.

Its not too bad for me if i act soon,full value back for the Tamron (after all it is faulty) £275 cash back from Nikon,so looking around £600 to pay out,possibly looking at that amount to move on the the D7200 if i keep the Tamron,part with it and i dont feel the need to upgrade the body at the moment.

 

[mikew_RIP]

When I go through the list of lenses, the only one that is "light" is the new 300mm f/4 but when you have to attach a TC to that, you're looking at 2.5k € which is quite some more for less focal length than the Tam.

Your right but it is the way forward and would be a great lens for my V2

 

[J-see]

Your right but it is the way forward and would be a great lens for my V2

The test I've seen at Cameralabs showed the new 300mm did very well even with the TC1.4 attached but they tested it on the D810. You have to check how it'll do on yours since it has not the same low light ability when it comes to focus.

If doing the calculation 4 * 1.4 should be 5.6 but you'd have to ask someone to verify if that is the case in reality.

 

[gqtuazon]

You keep going back to IQ, like me you will only be happy with a top notch result. The 80-400 is a good lens, but no where near the IQ of the 300 f4. It might be "good enough" like the Tamron, but that's not good enough. Get one of the 300 F4's. On your D7100 you'll have stellar results and a bokeh monster and 420 with the TC will be sharper than the other choices. With the V2 adapter you have a razor sharp 810mm!, which will blow away everything else on the list and some you can't afford.

I actually like this idea.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Horoscope Fish]

You keep going back to IQ, like me you will only be happy with a top notch result. The 80-400 is a good lens, but no where near the IQ of the 300 f4. It might be "good enough" like the Tamron, but that's not good enough. Get one of the 300 F4's. On your D7100 you'll have stellar results and a bokeh monster and 420 with the TC will be sharper than the other choices. With the V2 adapter you have a razor sharp 810mm!, which will blow away everything else on the list and some you can't afford.

I have no earthly need for a 300mm f/4, don't own a V1 or a TC but after reading your post, even I'm ready to buy this lens!

...

 

[Elliot87]

D7100 with 300mm f4 and 1.4x teleconvertor is my dream set up, that is somewhat affordable. First part is checked off and should arrive early next week I hope. The rest will follow in 2016 if I get saving! Would have been looking at the Tamzooka but these issues with it freezing up on the D7100 have put me off the idea.

It will almost certainly have to be the older D version for me unless I run into some unexpected cash. How does that lens perform with 1.7x and 2x teleconvertors? Also is the Nikon teleconvertor much better than other brands like Sigma and Kenko?

 

[mikew_RIP]

D7100 with 300mm f4 and 1.4x teleconvertor is my dream set up, that is somewhat affordable. First part is checked off and should arrive early next week I hope. The rest will follow in 2016 if I get saving! Would have been looking at the Tamzooka but these issues with it freezing up on the D7100 have put me off the idea.

It will almost certainly have to be the older D version for me unless I run into some unexpected cash. How does that lens perform with 1.7x and 2x teleconvertors? Also is the Nikon teleconvertor much better than other brands like Sigma and Kenko?

Most reports i have read say forget the 2 and 1.7 times stick with the 1.4,as for the Tamron lets see what its like when i get it back again ,ime fed up of waiting for you to get the D7100 hurry up

 

[jay_dean]

Also is the Nikon teleconvertor much better than other brands like Sigma and Kenko?

Apparently yes. Nikon TC's don't fit many Siggy lenses, so many convert the Nikon TC by removing a tab on the TC connection that prevents their connectivity. This is a permanent conversion, thereby 'damaging' the TC, but it shows how far some go to use the Nikon TC over third party ones.

 

[Elliot87]

Most reports i have read say forget the 2 and 1.7 times stick with the 1.4,as for the Tamron lets see what its like when i get it back again ,ime fed up of waiting for you to get the D7100 hurry up

1.4 is what it will be then.

As for the waiting, it's killing me! Ordered on Tuesday, 3-5 days for dispatch and then usually arrives the next day. I was hoping it would be dispatched yesterday as I need to sign for it, so if it comes in the week I'll be making a trip to the post office.

Hope the Tamron problems get resolved for you as it seems like if you can get it working right, its the ideal lens.

 

[mikew_RIP]

1.4 is what it will be then.

As for the waiting, it's killing me! Ordered on Tuesday, 3-5 days for dispatch and then usually arrives the next day. I was hoping it would be dispatched yesterday as I need to sign for it, so if it comes in the week I'll be making a trip to the post office.

Hope the Tamron problems get resolved for you as it seems like if you can get it working right, its the ideal lens.

Thanks it is the one i want,really cant come to a conclusion over an alternative.

 

[jay_dean]

Thanks it is the one i want,really cant come to a conclusion over an alternative.

I chose the 1.4, as the 1.7 was a small step too far in IQ quality degradation in the sample photos i saw.