300 mm f4

PB_PM

The 300 f4 is out of stock at both amazon and BH.
Hopefully that's a good sign of an eminent update!
Here's hoping for a simultaneously announced 300f4 with the D4s!

The 300mm F4 constantly goes in and out of stock, so unless it is out of stock for several weeks, it could mean nothing.

Nik0n2011

D4s announced with new shoulder strap and software
waiting to see if something gets announced in these 24 hours (same release day)

manhattanboy

The site admin responded and said no simultaneous lens announcement =((
Nikon is a company specializing in optics.
Here's hoping someone wakes up in the leadership and they get back to that quickly.
Right now all of their moves look like the CFO made the division heads do an ROI to see what had the greatest potential for $$$. We've gotten overpriced primes and zooms, some products with Nikon-branded mark-ups like the new black rapid straps, and some products that target small segments where there is less competition to help keep revenue high.

Nik0n2011

I readed that, i am keeping an eye at how the 80-400 was rumoured-announced last March (2013)

apparently NR had 'infos' about sameday/4/10 days the announcement/release

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/03/04/nikkor-af-s-80-400mm-f4-5-5-6g-ed-vr-lens-to-be-announced-on-march-14.aspx/

http://nikonrumors.com/2013/03/04/nikkor-80-400mm-f4-5-5-6g-ed-vr-lens-announcement.aspx/

before than that there was no clue a part the 'long awaited refresh'
(someone may correct me if i am wrong )

so basically if it pops out in 10-15-20 days, it's absolutely normal that there's no 'fly around' yet

i'm optimistic about march/april
after that i give up even if nikon has to show up a cascade of lenses from august to the end of the year.




ps: btw even if it was announced tomorrow and be for sale in 20 days at the price we suppose (2200/2600) i wouldnt have the 'liquids' and need to save some more months + a couple of months for testers and reviewers to confirm how good it is, i wouldnt run on day1.
i have saved enough for the actual version.

Nik0n2011

one thing i was considering, hopefully the new version (if it ever comes) will be optimized for the tc17 and 20
that would just be amazing and have an incredible value

(i readed to keep the quality of the 300 you should go no longer than tc14ii
if you just want the reach then go on..)

shawnino

@Nikon2011: An outsized lens-only rebate on the old 80-400 made a lot of us suspicious last February.

dissent

Clock is ticking for me. Will go with current version if I don't hear something soon. Very soon.

manhattanboy

Thom has summarized Nikon's current strategy:

Things trickle down folks, and right now the FX pro trickle is "it's a bit of a mess" and the prosumer trickle down is "they haven't updated what I want" and the consumer DX trickle down is "great camera, where are the lenses?"

The 300 f4 falls into the prosumer category (IMHO).

manhattanboy

Clock is ticking for me. Will go with current version if I don't hear something soon. Very soon.

I have given up. With the clock ticking down on the 80-400 rebates I am leaning towards a 300f4, maybe a refurbished one so I don't feel that bad about spending the money on a product near the end of its life. I primarily want to pair it to a 7100 and what has me scared about the new 80-400 is that DXO seems to think the image quality is not that much better then the much much cheaper and much much smaller 70-300. Is it worth $1100 for a refurb 300 f4 or should you double up and go for $2200+ for the 80-400. I am leaning towards the former given that I want it exclusively to shoot tele. Thanks to everyone in this thread btw as the discussion has been greatly useful.

PB_PM

Go for the 300mm F4, it is a great lens. If you don't think so, look on the first page of this thread, or search on Flickr for images made with it. If someone cannot get good images with the current model the problem is not the lens.

dissent

Yeah, I'll go for the 300 f4+1.4 TC. The bargain way to 400mm. And lighter too.

WestEndBoy

Yeah, I'll go for the 300 f4+1.4 TC. The bargain way to 400mm. And lighter too.

I think you are making a good choice. The IQ is usually better on a prime. IF the MTF charts are to be believed, you are buying a superior (sharper and faster) lens for half the price (at 400 mm)

manhattanboy

Go for the 300mm F4, it is a great lens. If you don't think so, look on the first page of this thread, or search on Flickr for images made with it. If someone cannot get good images with the current model the problem is not the lens.

Thanks

Yeah, I'll go for the 300 f4+1.4 TC. The bargain way to 400mm. And lighter too.

Thanks

Yeah, I'll go for the 300 f4+1.4 TC. The bargain way to 400mm. And lighter too.

I think you are making a good choice. The IQ is usually better on a prime. IF the MTF charts are to be believed, you are buying a superior (sharper and faster) lens for half the price (at 400 mm)

Thanks.

Pulled the trigger. 300 f4 hopefully will be coming. I'm actually content with 300mm in the 1.3 crop on the 7100. Do you think the TC is necessary? I plan to leave the 300 glued to the 7100 now as I have far superior shorter lenses on a FF body for everything else. I've seen it posted that the back is open and will get dust. Is the TC necessary to prevent this or is leaving it glued to the camera good enough?

And COST was a factor. Spent $1100 for me today...so had to spend $2200 on a gift for the Mrs... For anyone wondering this is a ratio that suppresses all questions about new camera gear

PB_PM

If you keep the lens on a camera you wont have a problem. I had a 300mm F4 for almost five year, and never had any major dust problems.

As for the TC, it's always nice to have more reach. Do you need the TC? That's totally up to you.

Nik0n2011

enjoy
i'm nervous also, being a nature lover i dont want to lose the 'awakening' + summer + authumn

Nik0n2011

Do you think the TC is necessary?

if you used the 70-300 at the 300 end, what was your feeling ?
i will put my tc1.4 to it (have it) , if you used to think 'damn, wish i've had something longer' then put it on
it's not a must, it's up to ur preference for shooting
in the other hand if you are shooting something that requires 'more distance' you have to start changing 'perspective or approach' i dont think it's an issue, it's as much an issue as getting yourself closer, if you know it beforehand, it won't be an issue (unless you are shooting a lion inside a shoes-box, face to face

however if it's a dark day-period i may consider to take off the TC (1 stop of light)

if you add-remove your TC a couple of times in the year, in a controlled situation i dont think you have to worry
but if you do daily 4-5 times in the middle of a dusty desert, start worrying



with wildlife THE FAR THE BETTER (far enough, not too far)
animals used with human contact will come close to you, but i guess that's not what you are looking for
i've had great tits coming on my hand once you have shooted 100 pics, you have had enough, you will be looking for who is hiding

tcole1983

I waited a while and decided I was missing opportunities for a lens that still hasn't come. I say buy now and sell later if the new one isn't ridiculously expensive. The lens as is now is awesome. Not sure why people have such reservations about it. It doesn't have VR....neither does the 17-55 or 24-70 and that doesn't seem to stop anyone. I love mine and don't regret getting it one bit.

WestEndBoy

I think that people get hung up on "what is new".

Nik0n2011

> tcole1983
17-55 /24-70 are 2.8 lenses

this (300f4) is f4, it will get less light, VR would allow (correct me if im wrong) a slower shutter in darker situations : wildlife is not always in the best of skies on sunny days (most animals love to be active in the early morning or late evening)

yes you might up the Iso, but at the cost of quality

imho the VR would allow to get MORE keepers not only to take care of our parkinsons (excuse me the bad joke)

dissent

No doubt the extra stop for the 2.8 would be nice, but it comes at the price of an extra 4 grand for the lens (new). For that kind of scratch, and at this point in my skill development, I'm willing to learn to live within the limitations of the f4. I can still dream about finding a bargain AF VR f2.8 out there somewhere. Someday.

Nik0n2011

of course cash willing to spend is a personal consideration (worth or not, have or not)

one has also to consider the place where he lives
living in mexico gives different results than living in north of usa, canada, iceland and north of northern hemisphere
(available light all the year round)

PB_PM

VR is not really needed for wildlife work, unless you have hands that shake a lot. Unless you can get the needed shutter speed the wildlife will be blurred anyway.Having a camera with good high ISO performance is far more valuable.

Nik0n2011

VR, if you say so i believe it then ty

Nik0n2011

im pulling the trigger because of you PB
15 days and i shall have it

PB_PM

You wont regret it.