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Nikon 300mm F4 + 1.4 TC or Tamron 150-600mm F5-6.3 VC

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HNassif

HNassif

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I am in need for a birding lens and these are my 2 options. The Nikon +TC is $1800 while the Tamron is $1070.
I am interested in hearing your advice regarding this choice and I would love to hear from people who have both lenses.
I will be using a D700 and D200.
 
Hi:

A couple of month ago I was in the same situation about deciding between this two. I opted for the Tamron. I'm very happy with that decision. The lens is super sharp and the autofocus is very fast. I used it with the D810 for birding. You could see more pictures taking with it on my flickr page.



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--
My Flickr Photo Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/minguela/
 
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HNassif said:
I am in need for a birding lens and these are my 2 options. The Nikon +TC is $1800 while the Tamron is $1070.
I am interested in hearing your advice regarding this choice and I would love to hear from people who have both lenses.
I will be using a D700 and D200.
Click to expand...
No Tamron advice, but a suggestion about the 300/4. I got mine from KEH, complete with both caps and the case, classified as condition EX, and I cannot find any reason to think it's anything but brand new, and it came with a 6 month warranty. I paid about $950 for it. I bought a TC-14EII at the same time for $250. That makes the 300+TC more price competitive with the Tamron.

However, the two setups have competing advantages that can only be decided by you. The 300 f4 with the Nikon TC really is the standard by which other cost-effective long lenses are judged, where "as good as" is the best you'll see in a review, and "almost as good as" is still a very positive review. But it's not a zoom.

The Tamron will have the versatility of the zoom capability. You have to decide whether the zoom will be valuable enough to you to get you to give up some small amount of image quality, or is image quality important enough to over-rule the zoom's convenience. Each has its merits, and the choice will always nothing but personal.
 
I am in a same boat and will wait for new sigma 150-600 to appear in a local shop together with tamron then i will test them all myself using my own camera. Issue i am concerned most is what amount of effort will it take to adjust and tune focusing to camera body. Sigma has usb dock that is extremely useful for tuning and in my opinion its focusing systems are better than tamrons.

All i am saying any lens is as good as it is able to work correctly with your camera. Until i will will be able to put all 3 options in a local store and test them all it is pointless in my opinion to spend any $ on them.
 
I was using 300 F4 afs lens with 1.4 and 1.7 TCs and decided to switch this year to the Tamron 150-600. I am totally pleased with this decision...the Tamron is crazy sharp (yes, even wide open @ 600mm) and the VC works great.
 
I suggest the Tamron 150-600. here are some of my reasons:



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Reach, sharpness, focus , used with the D750.
 
Opps, the Koala was not a Tamron shot, that was the Nikon Macro...sorry! I have rented the 300 f2.8 and paired it with the TC 20E III and looking at those images looks like the Tamron just edges the combination of the Nikon + TC at 600mm, its very close though.
 
I have both the Nikon 300mm F4 + 1.4 TC and the Tamron 150-600mm which I use on a D610 or a D7100.

I prefer the Tamron, I've hardly used the 300mm since getting the Tamron.

The only advantages the Nikon 300mm(with or without the TC) have is that it's slightly faster (tamron is f/5@300mm and f/6@420mm), smaller/lighter and is able to focus closer than the Tamron.

The Tamron has VC, it's 600mm vs 420mm, and it's convenient to be able to zoom.

I'll post two full size images, not very good images but pretty sharp for BIF.

The Nikon 300mm stopped down to f/5.6

The Nikon 300mm stopped down to f/5.6

The Tamron stopped down to f/8 at 600mm

The Tamron stopped down to f/8 at 600mm

And a shot at 450mm wide open with the tamron.

14523697018_892ddc2d28_o.jpg


I can't find any full size images from the nikon 300 + TC1.4 so i'll just post one more with the naked 300mm.

This one is probably less sharpened then the others

This one is probably less sharpened then the others
 
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The nikon combo will be sharper and have better contrast,but the Tamron run thru LR will get you there afterwards. I have both set-ups and use the Tamron 100% of the time. And you can't beat having the zoom and the vr is great. The weight difference is about 14oz heavier for the Tamron.(not much and you go from 420 to 600 difference).

Here is a recent shot of mine. Hand-held wide open at 600mm.

5a456313c0854f658af5a0510bc93025.jpg

--
Ed Kelly
' It is what it is '
http://edkelly.smugmug.com/photos/294340097_rFpBz-S.jpg
 
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Nice shot Ed. One has to click on the "Original" link on these photos to see the true quality and detail.
 
Lovely picture. Is it re-sized or just cropped?
 
Thank you a lot everyone for your input. It has been very helpful for me in making a decision before a southwest Florida trip where I will be using the lens. I am leaning towards the Tamron. After all the Nikon 300mm F4 is 12+ years old and a new one with VR must be around the corner. The photos you proveded and that I have seen in lens review articles have been very convincing.

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photographylife.com

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Nice - are those from the SanDiego zoo? I was just there last month and the animals look familiar. :)
 
Actually - its from the LA Zoo. I did not have this lens the last time I was down there. I am thinking the wild Animal Park in Escondido next! After that maybe an African Safari.
 
I just recalled some one stating that the AF was not that great with the Tamron and older bodies.

I don't know if it's a real issue I just recall reading about it. Maybe someone here has a D700 and the tamron and can comment on that?
 
Tamron is more versatile, but my choice is the 300 f/4 AF-S. It's one tack sharp lens, focuses very close, and smaller. It's also not $1800, especially if you buy used. You can get the 300/4 for around $800 and the TC-14E for $200.
 
mansod said:
I just recalled some one stating that the AF was not that great with the Tamron and older bodies.

I don't know if it's a real issue I just recall reading about it. Maybe someone here has a D700 and the tamron and can comment on that?
Click to expand...
I do believe it is better suited for the new camera bodies,in particular,the full frame bodies. I would have to assume the D7100 would be close in quality to my D750. IMHO. By the way it focuses very fast with the D750.
 
Ritz Camera has the Tamron in stock right now.
 
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