Just Digital

Morning all,

Been reading a lot of late on zooms at he 400mm end and few primes with TC for use on nature/airshows/horse trials.

Options so far are:

Sigma 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM - £600
http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma_120-400_os/pool/

Nikon AF VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 - £1000
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon80-400/pool/

Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4 ED-IF with 1.4x TC - £1200
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikkor300f4/pool/

Nikon/Sigma 70-200 with 1.7x TC - £900
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon70-200mm/pool/

Im currently leaning toward to Sigma 120-400mm (concern on softness), Nikon 80-400mm (conerns on AF speed) or Nikon 300mm (fav thus far - but expensive) options.

Thoughts/opinions.

Hi Wayne, can't really comment on the Nikon lenses.. but 100-400mm is a very versatile range.. especially with a converter..
The 300mm will be the best quality as its fixed and will be sharp, the 100-400mm is (on the canon any ways) very slightly soft at 400mm but not enough that its ever a problem.. I'd think about how much you'll use this lens and what for.. if a zoom is more use to you, more verstatile then go for the best one in your price range. If however you think 300mm will cover everything you need, in that you have shorter lenses for close work then its a good lens and may well be worth the extra.

Blimey where on earth have you found the Nikon 70-200 and a 1.4 TC for £900?? I'd jump on that if you had the chance lol...

Well, the bottom of the red arrow on Sunday was at 220mm, so factor in a 1.5 or so crop, and we're around the 330mm mark, not far off wide open, and it's pretty sharp.

Now given your hesitation at mine because of the lack of VR/OS, you might want to factor this in more to your thoughts..

I honestly think the 300mm would be great but it's very fixed in terms of what you might want to photograph - if say you're doing horses, and they come in closer to you, at least with a zoom, you're going to be able to alter the shots you're getting...

Not an easy choice....

Many thanks ladies.

Diane - my mistake try £1900 appx for Nikon 70-200mm + 1.7TC

Some good points ladies, 300mm could be restrictive in scenerios Im look at and I think the zoom if definatley the way to go until I can afford to 200-400mm

So this narrows down to:

Sigma 120-400mm, check image below chap posted to same query for advice on Flickr - pretty sharp image I think?



Nikon 80-400mm (slow AF and due replacement as 7yr old)

Nikon 70-200mm with TC (very expensive)

I think its Sigma 120-400 or the Nikon 80-400. Anyone know anyone with the Sigma?

Also read a lot about Sigma QC is not good and a lot of Sigma users stop buying due to fed up sending there lenses back within 6-12mth and then pending 2-3mth wait for replacement/fix.

Hmmmm...the reading continues

looks ok to me go for it waddingtons not far away lol

Well I decided Sigma 120-400mm it is - now to get a great deal and beat that £600.

600 dosent seem that bad really as the canon 100-400 is £1200

That deer pic looks very sharp, and so far I've had no probs with my Sigma lens in terms of QC - I had a Sigma SA300N 35mm SLR for years with no problems...

Go on order it, come to Waddington like Nick says