Recommend a long lens, pls

jtk

Senior Member
Hi guys,
Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask this :)
I've recently sold my beloved D7100 along with an arm & a leg & purchased a Z6 which I'm absolutely thrilled with & enjoying getting to know... but I'm looking to get a (most probably) 2nd-hand long lens to shoot wild life with... any help & advice would be very gratefully received, thanks in advance.
Tina

P.S. I've been trying to update my profile & it won't save stuff, every time I do it the fields go blank :-(
 

jtk

Senior Member
Hi Mike,
I'm sorry I should have mentioned both in my op, my bad, apologies...
I've got the FTZ adapter & 24-70mm F4 S kit lens. The only other lens I have is the Tamron 10-24mm wide-angle, I know this is a DX lens but I'm still happy with the photos I'd get with it.
The budget is a difficult one, anywhere between €400-€1,000 but towards the lower end if poss.
Thanks,
Tina
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
I would look for a good used Tamron or Sigma 150-600mm, or for more money the Nikon 200-500mm lens. I have the Sigma 150-600mm C lens and it is great.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
As Bikerbrent mentioned, the super zooms by Sigma, Tamron, and Nikon are the most popular for long lenses. Since I'm in the USA, I'm not sure how much those pre-owned lenses cost. Another option would be a pre-owned Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S. It lacks VR but is extremely sharp.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207356-GREY/Nikon_1909_Telephoto_AF_S_Nikkor_300mm.html

It can be paired with a Nikon 1.4x teleconverter which is the equivalent of 420mm f/5.6. Just be aware there are a couple other versions - one is an AF-D lens which won't accept the Nikon teleconverter and is slower to AF. This is the one you don't want (it's a screwdrive lens) although it is extremely sharp:

https://allenscamera.com/af-300mm-f-4-ed-used-s-n-232560/

The other is the Nikon 300mm f/4 VR PF which costs considerably more and most likely is out of your budget right now. Another alternative would be some type of 70-300mm zoom, but generally those aren't long enough for wildlife. But any of the superzooms or the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S with a teleconverter might work well for you.
 

Danno

Senior Member
I really like the results I get with the 200-500 f5.6 with my Z6. I do not use it as much as I would like because of the weight of the lens. It is a bit more than I can handle these days, but I cannot say anything bad about it. If I could afford it, and find one, I would go with a the 500 f5.6 Nikon.
 

mikeee

Senior Member
I would look for a good used Tamron or Sigma 150-600mm, or for more money the Nikon 200-500mm lens. I have the Sigma 150-600mm C lens and it is great.

I am also a Sigma Contemporary 150-600mm ownser and really like this lens!
I think I found a sale for $799 on this one, brand new.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Some good suggestions above, if for any reason ie the longer ones are too pricey/heavy both Tamron and Sigma make 100-400 though obviously you have less reach and with FX that can be a problem.
 

Clovishound

Senior Member
I know this is an old thread, but I hope to resurrect it, as I'm in the same situation. The cheapest Nikon z mount lens over 200mm is the 100-400. It's too rich for my blood. I have an FTZ (the old style with the tripod mount) on the way. I'm going to try out the Pup's Nikon FX 70-300e lens on it. I was noticing the Sigma FX 100-400 comes in under a grand. I hear good things about it, thought maybe I'd ask here to see if any have had any experience with it. Nothing else looks like a reasonable fit.
 

bluzman

Senior Member
I own the Sigma 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens. I bought it on sale from B&H back in 2019 for just over $600 including the USB dock...what a deal. I haven't used it on my Z50 with its original FTZ adapter other than to verify that it functions properly in that set up; it does.

The lens itself produces excellent images both on my D7500 (for which I originally bought it) and on my recently acquired D500. Here are some samples taken with the Sigma lens.

500_0029_01_sm.jpg


500_0047_01_L_Sh_sm.jpg


500_0049_03_L_Sh_sm.jpg


I'll note that I also have the Nikon AF-P FX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR. I bought it to pair with a D750 that I later sold to help fund the D500. It is also a very good lens IME. Here are a couple of shots using it.

500_0034_LSh_cr_sm.jpg


500_0079_LSh_sm.jpg
 
Last edited:

Danno

Senior Member
@Clovishound, If you can handle the weight the Nikon 200-500 f5.6 works very well on the Z6. I have taken a couple shots of the moon with good results. For me it is a tripod only lens. I am using the 70-200 f2.8 Z S with the TC 2X Tele Converter for carrying around.
 
Last edited:

BF Hammer

Senior Member
I will chime in on the subject of the Sigma 150-600mm C. I myself have recently bought a Z5 and a FTZ-II. I already had the Sigma lens and I have no complaints about using it with my previous D7000 and D750. However adapted to my Z5 it is less satisfactory. I need to get it outside and try it on a bird or squirrel in the backyard and verify more but the autofocus seems sluggish and hunts a bit too much as I aimed it around the room indoors. It may be the light is too dim. My experience in a D750 is that the focus locks nearly immediately and stays there. Z5, it just keeps "grinding" trying to microfocus it seems. Tried AF-S and AF-C modes. Again, I will give it a chance in good daylight and see what happens then.
 
Top