Hello!
I'm looking to get my wife an "ok" setup for bird photography. My budget is approx. $1000-$1200-ish...
I'd consider anything in that range, but I'd prefer something compatible with Nikon F Mount, since I have a D5100 (with Nikon DX 55-300mm), so would be nice if our lenses were compatible.
So, I guess a used or new body, and a lens... She wants more zoom than my 300mm. Not sure if that's possible to get decent quality in my price range. ..maybe something in Tamron/Sigma/etc?
Thanks!
Z30 + FTZ here
I've got the AF-P ff 70-300 5.6E and that means 150-450 for me.
While it's nice with a shooting weight of 1350gr, it's still short.
I'm currently thinking to add an (850€ Mint) Sigma 150-600 F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
- the new version "C" with a shooting weight of 2450gr and a 900mm reach.
It's reconisable by the terminal's shape
and eventually add a (200€ Mint) Sigma TELECONVERTER TC-1401.
I have no idea if the TC-1401 is compatible with the AF-P 70-300 and/or with the FTZII
( adding 200gr and giving me 600mm effective on the 70-300)
it would maybe a better option to start with, being also a lighter option.
So I'm interested in what you get as a suggestion from more experienced users.
Another choice for me is the Nikon TC-17E II >450mm >> 750mm
- but again no idea if compatible with the AF-P 70-300
( I cannot walk a lot - I cannot wield too much - big issue )
I use the 200-500 f/5.6 Nikon lens. It's very heavy, so for prolonged use I have a monopod. I also have the 70-300 AF-P DX lens which is good, light and cheap, while the 70-300 AF-P FX lens is more expensive, faster and slightly better. Cheap, long, good, fast and light are not easily combined in telelenses.
PS, for a camera I'd get a D7200 as the focusing is pretty good (better than the D5xxx but not as good as the D500); should be able to find one second hand at a reasonable price.
Looks like you could get a lightly used (less than 30K shutter count) and a Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD lens in "Like New" condition at MPB for less than $1,200.
Part of a front runner from Nikon is a second hand 200-500 - remarkable value for the optical performance despite this lens being big with relatively slow AF
As Flashlight mentioned, it's "very heavy", just a bit over 5 pounds without any sort of mounting collar attached.
Yep - that 200-500 is a beast of a lens when it comes to weight especially if you compare it to a 75-300 or almost any zoom that is smaller in the consumer-grade product line.
I had that TC; with a 70-200 f/4 it sort of worked although the AF was finicky. With the f/5.6 of the 200-500 AF was useless even for static subjects. So if it fits on the AF-P 70-300E f/5.6 (I don't know) you can forget decent AF for birding.
Thanks for the useful feedback.
(One idea less to worry about )
PS: I've found a kit TC-1401 + Sigma 150-600 C for <850€> from a shop.
I'm very tempted by the <650€> for the lens alone
