Purchase Nikon's 70-300 mm lens?

egosbar

glad i went the 70-300vr g fx its an excellent lens, tried the 80-400 and yes nice lens but a lot of money , i think the 200-500 represents much better value , man the 80-400 is a heavy lens and the 200-500 even heavier

DaveyJ

Yes the lens egosbar now owns is my favorite of my fleet of 70-300mms! The twin New 70-00 mm Nikkors , in DX, one with VR and one without are a puzzle to me. I personally think the new AF-P 70-300 Nikkors are best on smaller cameras like the D3300, D3400, D5300, D5500.
On a bigger pro featured camera like the D7100, D7200, D500 the FX lens seems better to take photos with. On those bigger cameras the new AF-P DX 70-300s are NOT confidence builders, but they are smaller. In low light watch out as they are a crop failure.

NSXTypeR

Wow DaveyJ, thanks for testing that out for us, it's really helpful that you have such a wide span of DX bodies to be able to do this with. Nikon really is doing a head scratcher, it would be nice if the old FX 70-300 VR had an update. Not entirely necessary as it's not that old of a lens, but a lot of prosumers buy it honestly.

Honestly Nikon is being very unfriendly to folks who own the D7000/D7100, especially when they're not compatible with the70-300 P twins.

heartyfisher

I would expect a little firmware upgrade to fix the "incompatibility" soon for the d7xxx and d500.

DaveyJ

Nikon technical support hotline doesn't think this firmware will go back and fix things. Worst case is the D3200 which cannot use the lens at all. I may get a D3400 and 18-55 kit lens just to have a light travel DSLR, although my D3200 has been a faithful companion. Not a D7200 though....

But sometimes lighter, smaller is better. I wish I could try the B700 cool pix Nikon but having used the P600 my bet is I'd get a smaller image on played back slideshows which I find disturbing. But the zoom factor for the small sensor Cool Pix is hefty. I myself am still miffed the D3400 dropped so many features, like panoramic.....not missed by many, but for me, not a good move.

DaveyJ

I would primarily be buying a D3400 and kit lens to have a good match for the 70-300AF-P DX VR new lens. On a D7200 it to me is a less than perfect lens, but the tests I did with the D7200 and the 18-55 VR kit lens were very impressive. So the D3400 and kit lens is an expensive workaround for the new 70-300 AF-P DX VR lens.

spraynpray

I Dunno @DaveyJ, seems to me that you would get a great camera with the new Olympus OM. Smaller lighter, higher quality and super lenses.

DaveyJ

Guess after careful reflection I am getting a Nikkor 200-500 (another) instead as a trip,to Yellowstone and Grand Teton is now in the serious planning a ticket buying phase. I will run these lens 10-20, 20-35, 16-80, 70-300 x2 , and 200-500 with two Nikon D7200s. I have great setting here, but the Bison, rutting Elk, splendid scenery etc. are calling me back to a place the US Draft called me away from years ago. That was over half a century ago and I got drafted out of Grad School out there. Hope the weather Gods are smiling, etc.!

Photobug

DaveyJ we returned in July from the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone NP. I had the 70-200 F2.8 and the 200-500 on the D7100 all the time. Use a 24-70 on the D750 and that was an excellent combination. Those lens on two D7100 will work well. North of Jenny Lake are some terrific pull offs and walk both ways on the paths along the lake for outstanding views. I gave my polarizer filter a work out, sure helped pull the blue in the sky up and maid the clouds pop.

On your DX cameras the 10-20 and 16-80 will be your work horses. You want to drive from West Yellowstone to the figure "8" loop in the early morning and after 2/3 pm. The amount of wildlife is amazing. There were times I left the 200-500 in the car because the Bison were so close to the road. I think your two telephoto lens would be a good combination.

Don't forget to check out the two barns, you want to avoid mid day when photographing them due to the harsh light.

I could go on and on and on with tips. When are you going?

heartyfisher

@DaveyJ !! I am excited for you !! Hope you get some nice shots !!

DaveyJ

We are planning for two weeks in September as bugling Elk are one of the targets. I will probably fly back out of Jackson Hole to home on about September 22nd. The US Army called me away last time....this time I am going with a senior travel agent who loves the trip so much she has done it at least twice. Today I was shooting my D7200 in the usual snow and for some reason could not lighten video? I will call Nikon USA and try to solve this problem. Sure would not want to get out there and have what we call in the farm business....
A crop failure! I may even use a D7100 as well. I don't like to change lens in the field. Two nights we plan on staying at Jackson Lake, towards the end of our trip. My work horses for photos will be two D7200s I think. Our D500 now is pretty much a underwater housing camera. Despite being known for aerial photos I probably will do nothing in that arena due to public land regulations. On private farmland we absolutely rely on them! That will put me back here where the color peak will be about right, but I expect I will be leaving a little too early from the western photo safari to hit the real color peak there.

I have been a National Park Foundation supporter, but recent politics has made me leary there. Our farmland will stay in family hands if we are able to percevere
I am very fond of Ken Burns.....National Parks, America's Best Idea. Nice to see wildlife that is not getting shot!

Photobug

Nice trips, I'll come back with some specifics for photo opportunities.

BabaGanoush

"We are planning for two weeks in September as bugling Elk are one of the targets. I will probably fly back out of Jackson Hole to home on about September 22nd."

The center line of the total solar eclipse in August 2017 passes through Jackson. And you are not going to be there? My wife and I will be....along with thousands of others, I'm sure.

Parke1953

Remind us a few months before the eclipse maybe some can make it.

Pistnbroke

I find with all these xx to 300 lenses that they all run out of steam at about 200mm so I don't buy anything until I have seen a DXO review...I want to see green at 300mm

DaveyJ

Running out of steam in a bench test is one thing.......running out of long zoom range is another. I personally have had some of my best photos with the 70-300s and the more expensive and my highly rated 70-200 got sold. However I do find that I purposefully crank down to somewhat less than 300 if at all possible.

Since I use these for two purposes, action wildlife, product shots, work photos where needed to document construction work....the 70-300s get the job done. I here refer to EVERY Nikon 70-300 I have owned, at least 6, I have never sold one! The new Nikkor 70-300 AF-P DX VR is doing pretty well....I have had a partner who sent me CD full of out of focus shots taken with D7200 with that lens when we bought two to test
....I have had really good results up very close.....about 3.2 ft out......I have a close friend with the quite large Tamron. 70-300 for Nikon and he uses that very effectively for most of his tele shots although he owns much bigger, more expensive and stronger zooms. As to DXO reviews.....I think they are pretty accurate, but to me it is about having a good enough lens at the right place and the right time.

Please note....all the positive results were from lens aperatures from about f9-f11. Very few stellar photos at wide aperature. Also most of the noted lens hardly have wide aperatures by design. They are field lens! We have fine tune adjusted almost every body and lens to get the best results possible.

DaveyJ

It does indeed seem like camera lens designers......certainly Nikon......design 70-300 lens to be pretty good, but not great! Being able to max DXO tests would push price up, personally I think it would way more than double the price. My own use indicates all of the 70-300 Nikkors have certain benefits, or capabilities. I also find myself choosing a different one for different needs. The new 70-300 AF-P DX VR seems quite good for close up well lit shots, if I want higher speeds I'd pick up the older VR f5.6 FX capable 70-300. This indicates to me that these lens are quite ways off optimum design. They were though.....affordable.

Photobug

+1 on DaveyJ's comments. At that price point you have comprises and the 70-300 is affordable for most people. A good universal lens. Have had friends move on to the 70-200 F2.8.

Pistnbroke

If you are happy with your 70 -300 that's fine with me but I cannot see a 100% crop from 300mm on DX making me happy though I have not tried one at f11 in the field. I would go buy a 70-200 2.8 tomorrow but I need to cover 14- 200/300mm ( FX equivalent) for weddings. I know many wedding photographers use this lens but I don't see what to put on the other body to complete the range.I never change lenses ..one lens per body is my rule and I only carry two.
I have a 14mm Samyang on one and a 28-300 on the other....not the best lens but Nikon don't give me the 24-200 I would like.

DaveyJ

I use the 10-20 Sigma a lot. The 14 Samyang I am not familiar with. It should,give pretty good results for clarity and sharpness. What would worry me is not being able to zoom. My results with zoom lens has been excellent. I have done some weddings, wedding photographers have asked me to photograph their weddings......I certainly do agree that switching lens is not appropriate in that setting.

Pistnbroke

The Samyang is so sharp using 27 of the 810s 36 MP you can crop crazy if you have to . Sigma 10-20 on DX ..been there done that . Wide is where FX gains . Was just commenting to see what people added to the 70-300 at the lower end which does not seem to be much better than the 28-300 at the long end.

NSXTypeR

Well, I just purchased a 70-300 VR FX. $525 after gift cards and tax, and they throw in a UV filter and a circular polarizer and give 4% back. It should be here in about a week or so. I never got around to trying a 70-300 AF-P on the D7000, and any sort of deals on the 70-300 would have come up already.

I'm a little surprised it's very slightly heavier than a 105mm macro, but I hope that's not too big a deal. I was considering a 70-200 F4, or a 300 F4, but honestly, I just want it to be fairly light. I'm also planning on going to Hong Kong next year anyway, so this should be far more useful for cityscapes and such.

spraynpray

I hope it does well for you @NSXTypeR. I had one and up to 240mm it was OK, after that it was 'meh'. Opened up it was 'meh' and the VR was 'meh', but I did get one cracking shot with it at 180mm/f8 once...

The 70-200 f4 that I replaced it with on the other hand is very sharp, great VR and pretty good opened up. I accept that I may have had a poor copy though because @Dissent has a very nice copy.

DaveyJ

I shoot the 70-300 Nikkors at f8 thru f11 when possible. My 70-200 was too heavy, good lens, never at the right place at the right time.

NSXTypeR

spraynpray said:

I hope it does well for you @NSXTypeR. I had one and up to 240mm it was OK, after that it was 'meh'. Opened up it was 'meh' and the VR was 'meh', but I did get one cracking shot with it at 180mm/f8 once...

The 70-200 f4 that I replaced it with on the other hand is very sharp, great VR and pretty good opened up. I accept that I may have had a poor copy though because @Dissent has a very nice copy.

I hope so too, thanks!

DaveyJ said:

I shoot the 70-300 Nikkors at f8 thru f11 when possible. My 70-200 was too heavy, good lens, never at the right place at the right time.

Weight is definitely a factor, I was considering the 55-300 too, but build quality puts me off. I don't like the focus rings on that.

Price certainly is a factor too, if the AF-P models worked on the D7000, I might have strongly considered them because they're also smaller. Too bad.