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300mm F4 AF-S or 80-400 VR

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Chris Bohannon

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Hi all, I was looking for your thoughts on this lens change. I was thinking about getting rid of my 80-400 and getting the 300mmf4 afs. I was hoping to get sharper pics and a little faster lens since I have to shoot my 80-400 at around F8 for very sharp results. I anyone has any comments on this possible lens change I would love to hear them.

Thanks,
Chris
--
http://www.pbase.com/daddyscooltv
 
Chris Bohannon said:
Hi all, I was looking for your thoughts on this lens change. I was
thinking about getting rid of my 80-400 and getting the 300mmf4
afs. I was hoping to get sharper pics and a little faster lens
since I have to shoot my 80-400 at around F8 for very sharp
results. I anyone has any comments on this possible lens change I
would love to hear them.

Thanks,
Chris
--
http://www.pbase.com/daddyscooltv
Click to expand...
I had the same dilemma and I tried both.
300 f/4 just blow 80-400 at F/4

Sharp, fast. So i bought 300 f/4 non-afs for $450 in Adorama demo condition , one world GREAT, PRIME lens

http://www.pbase.com/alex_volk/image/40481440

http://www.pbase.com/alex_volk/image/40481274
 
Alex_Volk said:
Chris Bohannon said:
Hi all, I was looking for your thoughts on this lens change. I was
thinking about getting rid of my 80-400 and getting the 300mmf4
afs. I was hoping to get sharper pics and a little faster lens
since I have to shoot my 80-400 at around F8 for very sharp
results. I anyone has any comments on this possible lens change I
would love to hear them.

Thanks,
Chris
--
http://www.pbase.com/daddyscooltv
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I bought a second hand 300 f/4 af-s for $1080 singapore dollars, about 600-700 US dollars. It is the only cheap Nikon telephoto prime out there, with superb sharpness. Add a 2x and you get 600 f/8. Not fast but at least you still get 600mm with slight degrade in image quality. And it still autofocus fast enough for slow moving birds.
 
Chris Bohannon said:
Hi all, I was looking for your thoughts on this lens change. I was
thinking about getting rid of my 80-400 and getting the 300mmf4
afs. I was hoping to get sharper pics and a little faster lens
since I have to shoot my 80-400 at around F8 for very sharp
results. I anyone has any comments on this possible lens change I
would love to hear them.
Click to expand...
Hi Chris,

I'd guess the prime is sharper. Add the 1.4xTC to get 400mm, gives you f/5.6. I'd be quite surprised if you could attain the same levels of sharpness, if you're hand holding the lenses at the same shutter speeds, that VR is designed to work at. Use a monopod and the 80-400 should still better the 300+TC. If you're using a tripod all the time, then I'd guess you'd have no use for VR and the 300+TC probably would be a better choice.

--
my gallery of so-so photos
http://www.pbase.com/kerrypierce/root
 
The 300/4 AF-S is a super lens in every way if you replace the tripod collar with a good one, such as made by Burzynski, Kirk or Really Right Stuff. Amaziing lens. You can also go 420/5.6 with the TC-14E (II).

My only regret is that it is a little too long for my digital bodies.
Kerry Pierce said:
Chris Bohannon said:
Hi all, I was looking for your thoughts on this lens change. I was
thinking about getting rid of my 80-400 and getting the 300mmf4
afs. I was hoping to get sharper pics and a little faster lens
since I have to shoot my 80-400 at around F8 for very sharp
results. I anyone has any comments on this possible lens change I
would love to hear them.
Click to expand...
Hi Chris,

I'd guess the prime is sharper. Add the 1.4xTC to get 400mm, gives
you f/5.6. I'd be quite surprised if you could attain the same
levels of sharpness, if you're hand holding the lenses at the same
shutter speeds, that VR is designed to work at. Use a monopod and
the 80-400 should still better the 300+TC. If you're using a
tripod all the time, then I'd guess you'd have no use for VR and
the 300+TC probably would be a better choice.

--
my gallery of so-so photos
http://www.pbase.com/kerrypierce/root
Click to expand...
 
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