The long lens companion to my 18-140, do I need one?

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Borga Voffe

Senior Member
Sorry, I am not into birds just flowers. But if a Common Snipe (Wilsons Snipe) should "walk by" ......

I have three options

On a Norwegian second hand store;

1) Old Nikkor 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 -- the first with AF
2) A bit newer Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D AF VR ED


The first costs usd 50. the 80-400 costs usd 600

Or
3) A brand new 70-300 VR which costs about the used 80-400

The one I wish most, the new version of 80-400 VR is waaay out of question, not in my lifetime I can spend that much on a lens :)

This lens must be compact enough to reside in the bottom of my backpack.
 
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Danno_RIP

Danno_RIP

Senior Member
Borga Voffe said:
Sorry, I am not into birds just flowers. But if a Common Snipe (Wilsons Snipe) should "walk by" ......

I have three options

On a Norwegian second hand store;

1) Old Nikkor 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 -- the first with AF
2) A bit newer Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D AF VR ED


The first costs usd 50. the 80-400 costs usd 600

Or
3) A brand new 70-300 VR which costs about the used 80-400

The one I wish most, the new version of 80-400 VR is waaay out of question, not in my lifetime I can spend that much on a lens :)

This lens must be compact enough to reside in the bottom of my backpack.
Click to expand...


I would look at the AF-S 70-300 with VR. Lots of folks here have them and use them with great success. You might look online as well. There are quite a few used out there in good condition that you might pic up at a very good price. If you do look at used make sure you confirm that it is the model with VR. there is another older version without VR. You would want to make sure you got the VR version.
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I guess you have a camera body with a focus motor built in.

I would forget the older 70-300s and if you want that length go for the latest with VR in,as for the 80-400D i used one for a while and didnt like it but looking back at the pictures i got ime not sure why,perhaps the screw type focus was too slow for bird action shots.

With 70-300 and you wanting to do flowers ect the latest version of the Tamron focuses fairly close you could look at that if the Nikon 70-300 is out of budget.

A couple of shots from the 80-400.

DSC_2871.jpg


finnished.jpg
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Nikon's 70-300mm VR lens is a terrific lens for the price. I purchased mine after watching this video. Since I've never used the 80-400mm lens you mentioned, I can't offer a comparison.

 
H

hrstrat57

Senior Member
hark said:
Nikon's 70-300mm VR lens is a terrific lens for the price. I purchased mine after watching this video. Since I've never used the 80-400mm lens you mentioned, I can't offer a comparison.

Click to expand...

Yep, this.....mine is wicked fast and wicked sharp at 280mm

Moose is da man.....
 
B

Blacktop

Senior Member
When I was shooting strictly with a DX camera I had the 18-140mm and the 70-300mm VR combination. I could shoot most anything with those 2 lenses.
I tried a few other 70-300mm lenses, like the Sigma and the older Nikon but you can't beat the 70-300mm VR for quick focus and IQ.

Spend the extra if you are able and get that lens. Nice used ones are going for around 300 USD here in the States.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Blacktop said:
When I was shooting strictly with a DX camera I had the 18-140mm and the 70-300mm VR combination. I could shoot most anything with those 2 lenses.
I tried a few other 70-300mm lenses, like the Sigma and the older Nikon but you can't beat the 70-300mm VR for quick focus and IQ.

Spend the extra if you are able and get that lens.
Click to expand...


Same ones I used with my D7100. Add a Tokina 11-16 and you cover the range pretty good.
 
B

Borga Voffe

Senior Member
Well my setup is d7200. And tokina 12-28 which is the most useful and best lens I ever have owned, stays on my camera most of the time. And just recently, this 18-140 which also turns out to be a all time favourite, cant leave home w.out it
i am about to buy the sluggish old ver of 80-400 for the same price as a new 70-300.
Or maybe not. Have some days to canccel the order.
The 70 300 is easy to get, many 70 300 on second hand markets in Norway, in fact four just now. All at 50 % off retail price.
 
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